The Sound Board

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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I'm a little less picky about absolute fidelity to the original - especially since it is not possible. I am extremely picky about staying true to the vibe (can't think of a better word I'm afraid). And I am not against multiple interpretations or emulations of the same product.

I have an MKS-80 in my rack, I love it, not sure I would ever let it go. I was not thrilled with the Arturia version, and I'm still wary of subscription deals (sorry Roland). The TAL version sounds good in the demos, but didn't convince me to open my wallet.

Right about now I can get it for just over $100, and while I really don't want to spend any more studio money at the moment I am sorely tempted. Acustica has a well earned reputation, the demos sound great, what the heck am I waiting for?

And what do you know - Aquarius is an installation manager and I can try this out in my system for 30 days.

Oh yeah...

We shall se.
It’s just the TAL that had convinced my ears it’s kinda close to the hardware marvel I once posessed.

I used to do a lot of score prep work for composer David Michael Frank and he had a Jupiter 8. It cost around 6k then. With the possible exception of the MemoryMoog, to my ears it was the warmest and fattest sounding polysynth out there and I envied David.

But now, I simply cannot imagine a scenario where having this would make a qualitative difference on a cue or a song for a client or to me over the arsenal of soft synths I already have.

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 14, 2024 12:30 pm I used to do a lot of score prep work for composer David Michael Frank and he had a Jupiter 8. It cost around 6k then. With the possible exception of the MemoryMoog, to my ears it was the warmest and fattest sounding polysynth out there and I envied David.

But now, I simply cannot imagine a scenario where having this would make a qualitative difference on a cue or a song for a client or to me over the arsenal of soft synths I already have.

Did you use any Oberheims back in the day, Jay?

Lawrence wrote: ↑Dec 14, 2024 1:38 pm

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 14, 2024 12:30 pm I used to do a lot of score prep work for composer David Michael Frank and he had a Jupiter 8. It cost around 6k then. With the possible exception of the MemoryMoog, to my ears it was the warmest and fattest sounding polysynth out there and I envied David.

But now, I simply cannot imagine a scenario where having this would make a qualitative difference on a cue or a song for a client or to me over the arsenal of soft synths I already have.

Did you use any Oberheims back in the day, Jay?

I never played any personally, but I played piano on some jingles with a guy who had an 8 -voice Oberheim.

A free "Poly2" version has been released:

https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/TH2

"TH2 is a FREE entry-level virtual instrument in VST3, AU, and AAX formats, part of the THING family. It features POLY2 mode for polyphony, six VCF filter modes, customizable envelopes, AGE control for vintage character, and SUB control for deep low-end shaping. With over 100 professional presets, it delivers surprising versatility and iconic sound."

Best,

Geoff