Softube has introduced Parallels, a new software instrument that they describe as a ‘dual-source dream synth’.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

There are many possible approaches to take in creating a brand new instrument. Parallels focuses on two main things.

First, it should always sound fantastic, with a minimum of fuss. And second, it should inspire the artist with elegant workflow, superb layout and visual feedback, and a sense of endless possibility.

A huge part of the first point is taken care of by the source material. Almost a hundred high-quality pre-recorded multi-waveforms live at the heart of Parallels. These come from classic synths, digital and analog, hard-wired and modular, FM and phys mod, and from environmental and combined sources too. Even some super-rare and unreleased pieces are represented.

Each waveform has a progression of some kind in its 15 second duration – a filter sweep, or a pitch diffusion for example – and playback can start from any point of the artist’s choosing, providing almost infinite sounds-per-sound, even at the source. The playback method can be described as wavescanning, with pre-calibrated loop lengths per source for the best possible sonic outcome. The artist can choose how far the playhead will move through the source scene, and at what rate, before returning to its start point and settling into its sustain loop. All this with up to fourteen voices at once.

Even just one of these source sections would be an intriguing instrument on its own. Parallels has two; independent and blendable in parallel; and much more besides.

Features:

• A plug-in soft-synth with dual wavescanning source sections
• Almost a hundred high-quality pre-recorded multi-waveforms
• Sonic progression within each waveform means near-infinite source-material
• Two parallel sources means blended sounds, opening up exponentially more possibilities
• Up to fourteen voices (seven per source when both sources are active)
• Hundreds of expertly-created presets from world-leading synth artists, engineers, and sound-designers, including Brian Transeau a.k.a. BT, Richard Devine, Inhalt, and more.
• Three analog-modeled filter types (state-variable, vactrol LPG, and resonant peaks)
• Five sophisticated types of modulation source; LFO, random, Euclidian sequencer, step sequencer, and envelope
• Five top-quality effects options; distortion, chorus, flanger, delay, and reverb

Pricing and Availability

Parallels is available now with an intro price of US $129 (normally $149). A demo version is also available.