Even when information is visible, it isn’t always optimally placed. While this approach keeps the panel compact, it condemns you to an eternal click–fest with no hope of a complete picture of any patch - except in your head. Some, such as the Filter box, offer just two options but if you look underneath, you’ll see 11 buttons each revealing a single LFO, envelope or key–scaler. It’s also a bit obtuse, not necessarily because of any design flaws or shortcomings, it’s simply that there is a wealth of buttons, many of which juggle the contents of the various boxes. I mentioned that the interface, with the supplied skins anyway, is packed. Just prepare to be tempted to upgrade to the Pro version (which can import user banks). If you have an iPad, it’s well worth grabbing the free iOS Player app. Or there’s an inexpensive Player version with limited editing capabilities but 1100 presets. SynthMaster is available in several cross–platform bundles in VST and AAX formats, plus Audio Units for Logic users. Incidentally, the manual hasn’t caught up with SynthMaster’s current version yet, so you’ll need to work out some of the latest enhancements for yourself, or check them out in the web site’s tutorial videos. Having selected the ‘Player’ option from the Settings menu, there was no obvious way to go back - because the new skin didn’t have a Settings menu! Judging by the FAQ, I’m not the first to have done this, but it wasn’t the best introduction. Please try and avoid the rookie mistake I made almost immediately, which was to try an alternative skin without first downloading the manual. It isn’t scalable but comes with several skin choices if you have the time and inclination, an Interface Editor is supplied for making your own. For some, this jack of all trades has been hiding in plain sight for many years - if that includes you, then boo! Getting Acquaintedįor such an ambitiously–named synthesizer, SynthMaster has a fairly small and intense user interface. These are yours to mix, mash and modulate in practically any way you see fit.

From a packed interface, it delivers analogue emulation, wave scanning and vector synthesis, phase modulation, additive synthesis, sample playback and FM. SynthMaster is a single instrument endowed with almost every established synthesis type, yet it’s an affordable alternative to the industry’s big hitters. Having reached a mature version 2.7, it’s a striking example of how a single product can evolve if given enough time and care.

KV331 Audio have been around since 2004, concentrating on making SynthMaster the best soft synth it can be. SynthMaster might seem like an ambitious name, but then SynthMaster is an ambitious synth.

Synthmaster 2.9 crashing