The Silent Way tutorials page has been updated with a new video explaining setup in Logic Pro.

Tags: silent way

Silent Way v1.6.2 is released. This update adds multipliers the Silent Way Voice Controller’s envelopes, allowing for very long or very short envelope times.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

The Silent Way tutorials page has been updated with a new video explaining setup in Ableton Live.

Tags: silent way

The Silent Way tutorials page has been updated with a new video explaining setup in Cubase.

Tags: silent way

We’re proud to announce the release of Augustus Loop v2.3.0.

The headline here is that this is our first 64 bit Mac OS X VST, and so is usable without a ‘bridge’ in apps such as the 64 bit version of Reaper, and will be usable in any forthcoming 64 bit Mac release of Cubase.

The AU and Windows VST versions are also updated. Full change list:

* First 64 bit Mac OS X VST release.
* Improved handling of mouse events (dragging knobs would temporarily freeze the host UI on some platforms).
* Improved accuracy of MIDI event handling.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: augustus loop, 64 bit

Announcing the Expert Sleepers Summer Sale 2010!

From now until the end of August, we’re offering upgrades at half price. So now’s a great time to get your plug-ins updated to the latest and greatest.

The upgrades affected are:
* Augustus Loop v2.x upgrade from v1.0-v1.4: now $15
* Augustus Loop v2.x upgrade from v1.5-v1.8: now $10
* Crossfade Loop Synth v3.x upgrade from v2.x: now $19

When upgrading, be sure to grab the latest Licence Manager from the downloads page.

Tags: augustus loop, crossfade loop synth

Spectral Conquest v1.0.1 is released. Changes in this version:

- Improvements to the interactive painting of dense spectral data.
- (VST versions) Fixed issues with slow GUI updates when running scripts or painting spectral data.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: spectral conquest

Silent Way v1.6.1 is released. This update increases the maximum range of the Silent Way Voice Controller’s pitch bend function.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

Slightly old news, but it turns out Silent Way was reviewed in issue 147 (January 2010) of Computer Music.

It got a score of 10/10.

Some extracts:

“It works beautifully. We tried it with a Minimoog, Synthesizers.com modular, Odyssey, Roland SH-101 and even the notoriously cantankerous EMS VCS3. Silent Way was able to get each one to play nicely for at least three octaves.”
“For us, Silent Way is a no-brainer. It’s considerably cheaper than the competition and Expert Sleepers are constantly updating it. It’s a truly brilliant solution to an age old problem and one that might make you reevaluate the practicalities of owning a vintage synth.”

Tags: silent way

The first batch of ES-1 modules is now sold out.

More will be available from around August 9th 2010. To pre-order, please add your name to this thread.

Tags: es-1

The Windows VST version of Crossfade Loop Synth has been updated to v3.1.2. This simply brings it up to date with the Mac OS X releases, already on v3.1.2.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: crossfade loop synth

I posted a couple of example scripts for Spectral Conquest on the forum here - a filter with LFO, and a ‘Freeze’ script.

Tags: spectral conquest

We’re proud to announce the release of a new plug-in - Spectral Conquest v1.0.0.



Spectral Conquest is an effect plug-in that lets you directly manipulate the frequency spectrum of audio signals.

The incoming signal is analysed via a FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), resulting in the familiar spectrum plot where the full audio spectrum is split into a number of narrow frequency bands. The outgoing audio is then regenerated by an Inverse FFT. The interesting bit is that the plug-in lets you modify the frequency spectrum in between.

Spectral Conquest allows you to modify the spectrum in two ways:

• By setting a multiplier for each frequency band. You can simply draw out the multipliers in the GUI.
• By applying a script to the spectrum. Some basic scripts are included with the plug-in to perform operations such as filtering and gating, but you can also write scripts yourself to do whatever you like.

Available immediately for Mac OS X (AU, VST) and Windows (VST), priced at $29.

Spectral Conquest is also available as part of the Ultimate Bundle (now priced at $155) and the Creative Effects Bundle (now priced at $55).

Tags: spectral conquest

Silent Way v1.6.0 is released.

Changes in this release:
- Added support for musical scales to Silent Way Quantizer.
- Changed all the plug-in names (that appear in host UIs) from “Silent Way ...” to “SW ...”, so that more of the actual name is visible when space is limited.
- Fixed a GUI issue in Reaper on Windows.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

Augustus Loop v2.2.2 is released.

Issues addressed in this release:
- Fixed GUI issue in Reaper on Windows.
- Added new OSC command (registerOSCPathForFunction).
- Fixed a keypress issue in certain VST hosts (plug-in would respond to numeric input but not to pressing Return).

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: augustus loop

This video just posted by ‘waveshaper’ shows the Expert Sleepers CV Generator iPhone app controlling an EMS Synthi.

Tags: silent way, iPhone, cv generator

The first batch of ES-1 modules is currently being prepared for shipping.

As you’ll see here, there were far more pre-orders than actual units made. Expect another, larger production run soon.

Tags: es-1

We’re proud to announce details of the first Expert Sleepers hardware product - the ES-1 Audio/CV Interface.

The Expert Sleepers ES-1 Audio/CV Interface is a Eurorack module designed for use with software such as Expert Sleepers Silent Way. It connects to an audio interface using standard 1/4" jack (balanced or unbalanced) or DB25 (aka DSub) connectors, and outputs CVs to your analogue synths/effects on standard 3.5mm jacks. When used with the Silent Way AC Encoder software, there is no requirement for the audio interface to be DC-coupled.

The ES-1 offers the following advantages over directly connecting an audio interface to analogue gear for CV control:

* No requirement for the interface to be DC-coupled.
* No need for special cables (e.g. TRS to TS 'floating ring' cables).
* No danger of damage to the interface - the ES-1's inputs are completely standard balanced audio inputs.
* Much greater output voltage range - up to 9x more than directly connecting a DC-coupled interface via a 'floating ring' cable.

For more details, please see the ES-1 page.

Tags: silent way, es-1

The previously mentioned Silent Way hardware is progressing well. Here are a couple of photos - you can see more on the Flickr set.

Read more on the forum here.

Tags: silent way

CV Generator is now available from the App Store, here.

Tags: cv generator

This video by wetterberg shows Silent Way controlling a Tiptop Audio Z8000 Matrix Sequencer and using it as an oscillator.

This is a pretty unconventional usage but it proves the point that as long as the Silent Way Voice Controller can send out a CV and get a waveform back, it can calibrate it, and doesn’t really care how that waveform was generated or controlled by the CV.

More details are here.

Tags: silent way

‘phono1337’ has posted a video on YouTube showing his Silent Way setup. Other gear in the video includes:
- Roland SH-101
- Dopefer A-111-5 (Dark Energy)
- Dopefer A-137-2 Wave multiplier II
- Roland MC-202

Tags: silent way

We’re happy to report that the first ever Expert Sleepers iPhone app has been submitted to the App Store, and is awaiting approval.

The app is part of the Silent Way family, and is called the CV Generator. Read all about it here.

Tags: iPhone, silent way, cv generator, app

Please see this forum thread for news of a prototype active circuit for use with Silent Way AC Encoder.

Tags: silent way

Silent Way v1.5.5 is released. This update extends the range of the Silent Way LFO’s Beat Divisor parameter down to 1/128th notes. This addresses a problem with setting up the VST versions of the plug-in to output DIN Sync.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

Silent Way has received a glowing review from Sound On Sound magazine, in the May 2010 issue.

“If you dream of controlling your analogue synths from within your DAW software, it may be that your audio interface will let you do just that — with a little help from this plug-in suite.”
“My time with Silent Way was quite a liberating experience.”
“Voice Controller is the star of the show for me. Slick and self-contained, this has the effect of pulling a much-loved analogue synth into the heart of your DAW, with a level of control that is usually the reserve of a virtual instrument.”
“Silent Way is a genuine alternative to a MIDI-to-CV interface, and capable of a greater level of sophistication.”

You can read the full review here.

Tags: silent way, sound on sound

Silent Way v1.5.4 is released. This update fixes a bug in the Silent Way Quantizer plug-in that could cause the quantized note name to be displayed incorrectly when in ‘Calibrated’ mode.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

Tags: silent way

Flamed Raw: Modular Synth Controlling KYMA from bar|none on Vimeo.

Tags: silent way

I’ve made a small interfacing module for use with Silent Way AC Encoder, to show how good it can look and how simple it can be to build.

Custom acrylic panel by ProModular. More photos on Flickr here.

Tags: silent way

Silent Way v1.5.3 is released. This update adds a VSTi configuration of the Mac OS X and Windows VST versions of the Silent Way Voice Controller plug-in, so the plug-in can now be used either as an instrument or as an effect.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

We're happy to announce the release of Silent Way v1.5.2, which adds an important new plug-in to the suite - Silent Way AC Encoder.

Silent Way AC Encoder removes the need for a DC coupled audio interface and lets you use Silent Way with almost any audio interface. The two requirements are

* your interface must have balanced outputs (almost all do).
* you need to make some special cables.

The cables are a very simple job, well within the scope of anyone with basic soldering skills.

Please see this page for more details.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

Latency Fixer v1.0.3 is released.

The AU version is now a 32/64 bit Intel-only build for OS X 10.5 and above.

Mac OS X and Windows VST versions are also now available - previously the plug-in was AU-only.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: latency fixer, 64 bit

Oomingmak v1.1.0 is released. This is a 32/64 bit Intel-only release. Only the AU version is updated. There are no other changes, so unless you need the 64 bit functionality, you do not need this update.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: oomingmak, 64 bit

The microtonal tuning scripts for use with Silent Way Voice Controller have been updated to support Python 2.5 (the version that ships pre-installed with Mac OS X 10.5) as well as 2.6.

Tags: silent way

The wonderful Five12 have posted a tutorial on using Silent Way in their application Numerology.

The tutorial is here. An excerpt follows:

This video shows how to use Expert Sleeper's Silent Way Voice Controller with Numerology. The Silent Way group of plugins allows you to use a "DC capable" audio interface as a CV control source for analog synthesizers. There are a number of advantages to this approach:

• Easy, reliable oscillator calibration for better tuning overall.

• When generating CV values for automation, you are no longer limited to the 127 steps of MIDI CC messages. This allows you to generate very smooth and accurate control values.

• You do not have to worry about "saturating" a hardware MIDI interface by sending it too many messages at once.

As of version 2.2, Numerology provides integrated support for Silent Way by including direct hardware audio input and output routing in the module. This makes setup very quick, as you don't have to create separate I/O channels to route audio around, as you do in some other hosts.

Using Numerology with Silent Way VC from Five12 on Vimeo.

Tags: silent way, numerology

Adam Schabtach (of plug-in developers Audio Damage) has posted a great video showing Silent Way in use with his modular synth. Synth modules in the video are an MOTM-300 VCO, an MOTM-440 four-pole LPF (both by Synthesis Technology), a CGS Wave Multiplier, and a custom-built VCA.

Also of interest in this video is the audio interface, which is a Frontier Design Tango modified by Adam himself for DC-coupled operation. He’s documented the mod here.

Tags: silent way

Augustus Loop v2.2.1 is released. This is a bugfix release addressing some issues with the previous version (v2.2.0). As before, this is a 32/64 bit Intel only release for OS X 10.5 and above, so you only need this update if you specifically need the 64 bit functionality.

Issues addressed in this release:
- Fixed compatibility with OS X 10.5.
- Worked around a bug in Digital Performer 7.1 which would cause a crash when the plug-in prefs dialog was used.
- Generally improved stability of the Cocoa UI.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: augustus loop, 64 bit

Minky Starshine v1.0.11 is released. Only the VST versions are updated.

This release fixes an issue where Ableton Live 8 would not recognise parameter adjustments, resulting in an inability to add Minky Starshine’s parameters to Live’s automated parameter list.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: minky starshine

We’re proud to announce the release of Augustus Loop v2.2.0.

This is a milestone for Expert Sleepers as it’s our first 64 bit release. Specifically it’s a 32/64 bit Intel Audio Unit, and so can be used in native 64 bit mode in Logic 9 and Mainstage 2.1 when those hosts are running as 64 bit applications.

From now on we anticipate that all our Mac releases will be Intel only, will support 64 bit use, and will require Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6.

There are no new features in Augustus Loop v2.2.0 other than the availability of a 64 bit variant. If you’re not using 64 bit hosts, there’s no reason to take this update.

If you are though, download the update now from the downloads page.

Update: there appears to be a problem with this version’s GUI and Digital Performer. Please use v2.1.2 with Digital Performer (which is 32 bit, so there’s no reason to use this 64 bit build anyway).

Update: MOTU have confirmed this problem in DP 7.1.

Update: there is also a problem with this version and OS X 10.5. A fix is being worked on.

Tags: augustus loop, 64 bit

Good news - all Expert Sleepers plug-ins appear to work fine under Logic 9.1’s 32 bit Audio Unit Bridge, when running Logic in 64 bit mode.

The one slight oddity is when clicking on text boxes in order to type values into the GUIs. Normally this requires a single click to activate the text field (at which point it goes green) - when running under the 32 bit bridge, it requires a double click. Other than that, everything works normally.

If you experience any oddness when using the 32 bit bridge, let us know.

Tags: 64 bit, logic

One of the new features of Silent Way v1.5.1 is the ability to load and save calibration data from the Voice Controller. By processing this data, it is easy to retune the Voice Controller to generate arbitrary scales instead of the standard equal tempered scale.

We’ve written some scripts to do this. More details here.

Tags: silent way

We're happy to announce the release of Silent Way v1.5.1, which adds two new plug-ins to the suite - Silent Way Quantizer and Silent Way CV To MIDI.

Silent Way Quantizer is a CV processing plug-in that constrains the incoming (continuous) CVs to a number of discrete values. For example, it can constrain a pitch CV to exact semitone values. This is especially useful when combined with the Step LFO plug-in in order to accurately sequence musical notes, but it can also be used with e.g. the regular LFO plug-in, or with the Voice Controller plug-in to turn portamentos into discrete glissandos.
The Quantizer plug-in is capable of loading the calibration data from the Voice Controller plug-in, in order to output accurately calibrated pitches.

Silent Way CV To MIDI translates CV signals (such as those produced by Silent Way CV Input, for example) into MIDI messages. These can in turn be used to control all sorts of software and hardware devices. Used in conjunction with, say, Silent Way LFO, the CV To MIDI plug-in provides a standalone means of generating MIDI LFOs, giving Silent Way an application to musicians who have no analogue gear at all.

Other changes in v1.5.1:
* Added ‘Random Tuning’ feature to Silent Way Voice Controller.
* Added ability to save and load calibration data to Silent Way Voice Controller.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: silent way

In addition to the previously mentioned bundles, the ‘Analogue Bundle’ is now available from the store.

The Analogue Bundle combines the analogue synth controller Silent Way with two analogue-sounding delays, Augustus Loop and Little Spacey.

The bundle is priced at $90, saving $37 on the price of the plug-ins bought separately.

A summary of all the currently available bundles and pricing is here.

Tags: silent way, augustus loop, little spacey, bundles

Minky Starshine v1.0.10 is released. Only the Windows VST version is updated.

This release fixes a possible crash when opening the plug-in GUI on some low end graphics hardware.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: minky starshine

Little Spacey v1.0.2 is released. Only the Windows VST version is updated.

This release fixes a possible crash when opening the plug-in GUI on some low end graphics hardware.

Download now from the downloads page.

Tags: little spacey