Saurus 4

True Analog Sound with State of the Art Features

Saurus can do an extremely authentic emulation of analog synthesizers. It covers all important aspects of the most famous and expensive analog synths, but without their disadvantages.

Saurus comes with a clear, easy to use interface. It offers a larger sonic range and a more flexible synthesis engine than conventional subtractive synths. Saurus offers quality high-end sound, but without placing heavy demands on your CPU or budget. At the heart of Saurus are it's top-notch oscillators employing our True Analog Modeling Technology ™, which produces a warm characteristic sound of the hardware units from the past. With  PWM, Sync, AM & FM an extremely broad range of sounds can be dialed-in. Saurus offers a selection of both standard and exotic oscillator types from hard-to-get analog synths. Finally, true analog sound no longer requires any compromises!

The Features:

• Authentic emulation of analog synths: True-Analog-Modeling-Technology™
• Covers all aspects of analog synths, but without the disadvantages
• Ships with 1022 presets from professional sound-designers
• Can replace a large number of very expensive analog synthesizers
• Larger sonic range than other analog emulations
• Many unique features that are not available in competing products
• Low CPU & true high-end sound quality
• Low price
• Free personal support and updates
• Comfortable and easy-to-use interface with 22 sizes and High-DPI support
• Flexibility, expandability
• Analog filter with self-oscillation, FM and feedback
• Powerful arpeggiator
• Many different play modes: Mono, legato, glide, poly, stack, auto-chord
• 4x stereo unison

• Filters - True analog sound requires an excellent filter that's capable of sounding both lush or screaming when overdriven. However, analog filters are far from perfect. They suffer from distortion, noise, phase shift and self-oscillation. Exactly these imperfections add this magic character, which is missing in digital filters. That's why Saurus comes with a filter section which models the most famous analog filters. With precisely modeled non-linearity and self-oscillation they sound and behave exactly like the analog circuits. To top it all off the filter section also includes FM, feedback and an analog-modeled distortion for that little extra grit.

• Arpeggiator & Gate - Tone2 created an arpeggiator that doesn't just offer the basic note step functionality. It takes the concept further by adding features such as custom patterns, chords, swing and per step velocity. Your arpeggio sequence can be as simple or complicated as you wish.

• Modulation & Effects - By using drag & drop or the matrix, Saurus allows you to connect dozens of modulation sources to sound parameters. Modulate almost any parameter up into the audio-rate speed. We've also included midi-learn, so assigning CC's is as simple as a right-click. To compliment its sound, Saurus features various classic effects such as 4x unison, chorus, delay, reverb and tube amp. All effects offer the highest quality possible.

• Microtuning - Saurus offers 7 different microtuning-modes that can model analog oscillator-drift. Furthermore, the engine can slightly detune certain voices to make your chords sound fatter, harmonically rich and warm. Unlike with conventional synths, our innovative microtuning is not limited to the usage of a certain tonality. Saurus is able to analyze your melodies in real-time and enhances your chords automatically. It 'just works' - you do not need to take care of anything.

Fazit

Noch analoger kann digital eigentlich nicht klingen! Der „Saurus 2“ von Tone2 bietet bei einer optisch gelungen und aufgeräumten Oberfläche nahezu authentische Analogklänge allererster Güte, ohne eine Emulation oder Replika „bekannter“ Klassiker darstellen zu wollen.

Ich persönlich kenne kaum einen anderen virtuellen (Software-)Synthesizer, der so analog und druckvoll klingt. Gerade die Reduktion auf das Wesentliche macht es auch noch zu einem leichten, schnell ansprechende Sounds zusammenzustellen, wobei die umfangreiche mitgelieferte Presetlibrary sicherlich ihr Übriges dazu tut. Durch den nicht alltäglichen Arpeggiator und das Trancegate lassen sich jedoch auch Klänge formen, zu denen rein analoge Klangerzeuger bisher nicht in der Lage sind.

Von daher muss ich hier bei einem Preis von 99,- Euro hier ganz klar eine Kaufempfehlung aussprechen.

Plus

+ sehr guter Analogsound
+ umfangreiche Modulationsmatrix
+ intuitive Oberfläche
+ sehr gute Werksounds
+ geringe CPU Last

Minus

– im Standalone keine Zuweisung eines einzelnen Midikanals möglich

gnazer Saurus 2 Test bei Buenasideas

Fazit:

Saurus 2 begeistert als ebenso universeller wie einfach bedienbarer virtueler analoger Synthesizer mit kraftvollem Sound, geringem Resourcenbedarf und einem großen Preset Fundus mit hohem musikalischem Nutzwert. Auch wenn PlugIns wie u-he DIVA den Klangcharakter analoger Synthesizer noch originalgetreuer nachbilden, punktet Saurus nicht zuletzt dank seines mächtigen Arpeggiators und der umfangreichen Modulationsmöglichkeiten vor allem bei modernen Sounds