Unusable Engineering has released Currents & Nostalgia, a software synthesizer built around a pair of circuit-modeled oscillators and an unusual system for sequencing oscillator and filter settings independently, according to Synthtopia.
The developer describes the instrument as an original design inspired by classic synthesizer architecture rather than an emulation of a particular vintage instrument, the report states. The synth uses two main oscillators based on a saw-core circuit design developed for an earlier hardware project, with component tolerances introducing small differences between the oscillators that users can control.
The instrument’s central feature is its two independent slot systems. One stores oscillator and waveform-mixer configurations, while the other stores filter settings. Each system can hold up to eight configurations, which can be stepped or swept through using different patterns. The two systems can operate at different speeds, follow the host clock or respond to keyboard activity, and their operating rates can extend into audio frequencies.
The independent slot systems provide an alternative to conventional modulation-matrix programming. Rather than assigning an LFO or envelope to individual parameters, users can move between complete oscillator and filter configurations, creating sequences that evolve through different stages of a sound.
Currents & Nostalgia is available now for macOS 12 or later in AU and VST3 formats, and for Windows 10 and 11 in VST3 format. The price is €89, including Danish VAT.
For more information, visit synthtopia.com.
