Acustica Audio have released their first virtual synth and it’s a remake of the Jupiter-8. But with an Acustica-twist, of course.
Usually, Acustica’s releases trigger heated, often even ugly debates between those who love the company’s output and those who loathe it, but this time most everyone seems to be in complete agreement that Acustica have produced something rather special with the TH8/5. (The official name of this synth duo is THING, in a rather silly nod to the tv-series ‘Stranger Things’, but there’s also widespread agreement that this a stupid name. So let’s keep calling it TH8/5.)
I’ve been working/playing with the TH8/5 for the past 2 weeks and I’ve got to say: it is a indeed remarkable-sounding pair of instruments. (The TH5 is a simpler and less CPU-hungry version of the TH8.) I’m not familiar enough with the Roland legend that inspired it to be able to say much about the accuracy of the emulation — well, not in any geeky detail anyway —, but I can certainly say something about the quality and character of the audio: never heard anything quite like this coming out of a virtual synth before. XILS’ amazing PolyKB III comes close in analog-ness, but that’s about it.
The sound of the TH8/5 has a weight and dimensionality I never imagined virtual synths would one day be capable of.
From the developer:
"THING is powered by a revolutionary technology known as Modular Unified Synthesis Technology (MUST). MUST is a hybrid synthesis technology that integrates the precision of analog circuit behavior modeling with Acustica Audio’s signature convolution-based approach. It incorporates advanced features such as nonlinear convolution, dynamic Volterra series, and time-varying models to faithfully reproduce the complexities and nuances of analog hardware. This innovative combination delivers exceptional sound quality and unmatched realism, providing cutting-edge functionality and dynamic responsiveness. With its state-of-the-art design, MUST establishes a new standard in virtual instrument synthesis, seamlessly blending the authenticity of vintage sound with the versatility and performance demands of modern music production."
Apparently, the TH8/5 is the first release in a new Acustica line called ‘Marea’: "The Marea line by Acustica Audio heralds a transformative era in virtual instruments, embodying the fluidity and dynamism of the ocean's currents. Just as the tide—"marea" in Italian—moves with natural elegance and power, this series is designed to seamlessly connect creativity and innovation in music production. This innovative combination delivers exceptional sound quality and unmatched realism, providing cutting-edge functionality and dynamic responsiveness. With its state-of-the-art design, MUST establishes a new standard in virtual instrument synthesis, seamlessly blending the authenticity of vintage sound with the versatility and performance demands of modern music production."
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