Blamsoft has finally released a Windows version of the VK-1 Viking Synthesizer virtual instrument in VST and AU plugin formats. The plugin is available for direct free download from the developer’s website with the suggested donation of $59/€59.
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer is an emulation of the Moog Voyager hardware synthesizer. Blamsoft’s virtual recreation of the Moog Voyager was first released as a Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason (priced at $59 in the Propellerhead Shop) and later also as an Audio Unit app for iOS devices (priced at $5.99 in the App Store). The synthesizer is now also available as a VST plugin for digital audio workstations on PC and Mac.
The control scheme closely resembles Moog Voyager’s layout. Like its hardware counterpart, VK-1 Viking Synthesizer is a monophonic synthesizer with three continuously variable wave oscillators, a noise generator, two ladder filters, and two modulation busses. The variable wave oscillators allow for seamless transition from sinewave to saw, square, and pulse waveforms. The instrument also features oscillator sync (OSC 1 and OSC 2), frequency modulation (OSC 1 and OSC 3), fine-tuning, glide, and some advanced features like oscillator frequency range reduction, keytracking for OSC 3, etc. The GUI is well-organized although the color scheme (bright metallic background with dark knobs and labels) isn’t too easy on the eyes.
Along with the rather versatile synthesis engine, VK-1 Viking Synthesizer offers a great collection of factory presets. There are 228 presets in total, covering a range of analog bass, lead, pad, and FX sounds. Also included is a set of 50 synthwave presets designed by eXode.
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer sounds very good. It’s not a spectacular sounding virtual analog synthesizer, but it’s certainly capable of generating some great sounds with a bit of skilled programming. There are plenty of good sounding presets in the factory soundbank, especially in the synthwave category. The CPU hit is around 7% on our test machine, which is an average result for a monophonic synthesizer.
As for the pricing, VK-1 Viking Synthesizer can be downloaded completely free of charge from the developer’s website. You don’t even have to sign up for an account or provide your email address. However, this is a pay what you want product. Whereas the plugin can be used freely without any limitations, the users can pay any amount they choose if they find it useful (the suggested price is $59).
VK-1 Viking Synthesizer is available for free download via Blamsoft (197 MB download size, ZIP archive, 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows & macOS).
