Krakli has introduced Arminator, a freeware (Facebook account required to download) virtual instrument in 32-bit VSTi plugin format for Windows which emulates the Yamaha CS-80 hardware synthesizer.
Arminator was released as a tribute to Armin Kujashi who, in turn, created an excellent Vangelis-inspired sound bank for Krakli’s new freeware synth. You can hear some of the patches from Armin’s sound bank in the SoundCloud player embedded below. Some of the preset sounds heard in the demo come very close to Vangelis’ brilliant work on the Blade Runner soundtrack.
Even without the free patches, though, Arminator is a rather capable freeware synthesizer and a well-made emulation of the legendary CS-80 synthesizer by Yamaha. The raw sound, of course, doesn’t come too close to the original, but most of the functionality is the same, making it possible to simulate some of CS-80’s iconic sounds.
The user interface, even though a hair too small for convenient use on modern hi-res screens, is well laid-out and reminiscent of its hardware counterpart. Arminator features two oscillators per voice, each with its own set of filters (low-pass and high-pass) and ADSR envelopes, glide, echo, and velocity/aftertouch modulation controls. The synth also features an arpeggiator, a ring modulator, along with a bitcrusher and a reverb unit which are interesting additions. The user can set the instrument to mono or poly mode and save presets for later use with the built-in patch manager.
Arminator is the type of synth that will truly shine in the hands of an experienced synthesist. It isn’t exactly the best tool for creating bread and butter leads or bass sounds, but it excelles at synthesizing huge pads, brass, and string sounds.
Unfortunately, Arminator also comes with a couple of drawbacks. The first one is that the instrument was developed with SynthEdit, meaning that it will only work in 32-bit VST plugin hosts on Windows. The second one is that it is hosted only on Krakli’s Facebook group at the moment, meaning that a Facebook account is required to download it.
Arminator is available for free download on Facebook (3.6 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit VSTi plug-in format for Windows, made with SynthEdit).
8 Comments
Nest G.
onI use it some days ago, very nice synth.
Brute Fours
on32-bit? Ugh. Disappointing.
Tomislav Zlatic
onYes, 32-bit only, unfortunately.
Michael
on32-bit doesn’t work in Cubase 9 anymore :-( Too bad…
Derek Flint
onFakebook? Ignore mode activated.
Jake Oblivion
onI’ve said it to Ian on his facebook, and i’ll say it again here: ARMINATOR is fakn amazing. thankyou so much for all that effort.
Who gives a fack if it’s only 32bit!?!?
That has NOTHING to do with sound quality incase you didn’t know.
Get a ‘bridging’ program.
This is very worth it.
This gets my “totally bitchin'” vote.
Best synth plug (and it’s freeware) in a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Krakli rules.
Cygnus is quite beautiful too.
Esol
onAwful gui. Too cramped and too small. Its sounds nice though.
Chris Schutte
onFrom Ian (The Developer) Posted on VST4FREE (you can download the synth there too):
“..Actually We have never claimed that this is a CS80 clone, although it is constantly reported as such, obviously due to its layout. This was created as a instrument to be enjoyed by the patch writer who is a mega-Vangelis fan so it made sense to borrow some elements and concepts from the original. The VST world is full of look-alikes that only approximate the sounds of the instruments that they are based upon. I know my limitations in this area, and the limitations of the Dev environment that I use…”
Ian Webster