Time to review another plugin, yet ANOTHER virtual version of an analog classic.
Jim Heintz over at Way Out Ware did some secret ninja circuit modeling/creation to come up with the ONLY ARP 2600 plugin to be endorsed by Alan R Pearlman…
Yes, he created the actual ARP 2600 synthesizer
Must be some plugin right?
I mean, if the creator of the real ARP synths endorses it…
then uhhh…it better be good.
let’s find out!
What’s so special about timewARP 2600?
It has it’s own proprietary oscillators and filters…
It includes ALL of the control features from the ARP synth…
And you can save all your patches… yeah, back in the day, this wasn’t even an option…synth programmers would keep huge notebooks and even take pictures so they could recreate the sounds they came up with!
Makes you appreciate technology a bit more huh?
Oh yeah…it can be used as an outboard fx processor too.
Quick Specs
- Format: RTAS, AU, VST
- Price: $249.99
Yeah, so how does it sound?
FAT!!! lol
Seriously, it has this fat, mean, pulsating, metamorphisizing evolutionary sound that isn’t found in many plugins.
The fact that I can hold down a key and the sound will change, over time, not just like an evolving pad or whatever, but like an analog circuit with real voltage flowing through it…
that is amazing.
The basses are deep and the leads cut through precisely.
Patching things randomly can yield some sick results…but be careful…you may blow a speaker or two!
What about the interface man? Can I create my own sounds easily?
Interface is great…everything is right in front of you.
Sure, you may not understand all the sections and patch points in a modular synth…that’s fine, neither do I
That makes it even more fun! You can drag and patch and see what you get.
Also, browsing through the included presets can give you a crash course in modular synthesis.
Patches and sliders…move em, tweak em, make em your own.
It definitely has a retro feel.
So what’s the bottom line?
bottom line is this plugin gets a 5 out of 5 subs…I mean, if it’s good enough for the creator of the synth it’s modeling…then it’s good for me too!
The bottom line is that if you want to mix a lil analog fatness into your music without breaking your back…or your bank on sourcing one of these ancient machines, checkout this digital/analog/magical reproduction of a classic.
I’ve never touched the original…but I have no desire too…I’m spoiled by technology, I like saving patches, and I like instant recall of sounds. The interface is easy to use.
Sure, it’d be fun to play with a real one, but for quickly adding new analog textures to digital music…gotta have a timewARP in your arsenal..
Of course…if you like that sorta thing 
Check em out at wayoutware.com you can also purchase it at sonivoxmi.com
leave me a comment.
