LONDON, UK: following in the fanciful footsteps of ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: FLUTES relatively recently released to widespread critical acclaim, leading sounds and sample libraries creator Spitfire Audio is proud to announce availability of ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS as the latest addition to its critically acclaimed ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA… series — carefully capturing the superlative sound of a world-class clarinets a2 section performed and recorded in the timeless acoustics of Abbey Road Studios’ iconic Studio One to include two hand-crafted mix signals by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer extraordinaire Simon Rhodes (Skyfall, Avatar), setting a new standard for the instrument in question’s sound in the digital age as a virtual instrument offering a comprehensive collection of articulations for anyone’s compositional needs — as of January 16…

As a welcomed addition to Spitfire Audio’s critically acclaimed ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA… series crafted for professional composers, producers, sound designers, and music editors alike, and, ultimately, bringing every section of the orchestra to the production table in breathtaking detail, ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS is available in two versions: ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL and ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS CORE.

Celebrating the superlative sound of a world-class two-person clarinets a2 section performed and recorded in Abbey Road Studios’ iconic Studio One, ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL offers a comprehensive collection of 22 articulations for anyone’s compositional needs as a virtual instrument that sets a new standard for the sound of the clarinet in the digital age. As such, seven technologically advanced legato techniques — including EXTENDED techniques that are the most advanced patches ever created by Spitfire Audio, such as accented MARCATO (performed with a strong accented front to the note, presented as a shorter note length than STACCATO with the option of timed release triggers) and ‘soft swell’ entries for single long notes triggered by key velocity — work with stupendous sampling depth to provide unparalleled expression and realism. Realistically, in fact, ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL marks the absolute pinnacle of detail, expression, and playability, capturing the essence of the clarinet’s seamless transitions, meticulously recorded for smooth and expressive note changes, allowing anyone to bring their orchestral vision to life and inspire new compositions. Clearly, this is helped by the fact that ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL features 16 curated mic signals for microscopic mix control, including two hand-crafted mix signals by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer extraordinaire Simon Rhodes, resulting in an exquisitely authentic clarinet sound that embodies the timeless essence of one of the most renowned recording spaces in the world — namely, Abbey Road Studios’ Studio One — as a masterfully recorded virtual instrument.

An alternative — admittedly equally enticing — choice is available to those who do not need the tweak-ability of all those 16 signals or extended playability. Please welcome ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS CORE to the production table. This virtual instrument offers 13 key articulations and playing styles; indeed, its LYRICAL LEGATO and PERFORMANCE LEGATO, wide selection of longs and shorts, and control over a variety of articulations allow users to create both intimate and epic soundscapes. Simon Rhodes’ full-sounding room mix may well only feature as a single signal option this time, but being recorded in the timeless acoustics of Abbey Road Studios’ Studio One obviously provides realism of the highest order.

Of course, Studio One needs no introduction as the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio, having hosted celebrated classical recordings ranging from English composer Sir Edward Elgar to Russian composer, pianist, and conductor Sergei Prokofiev, as well as iconic film scores spanning 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark (John Williams), 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (John Williams), and 2001-2003’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy (Howard Shore) to more recent releases, including 2022’s Tár (Hildur Guðnadóttir) and 2024’s Gladiator II (Harry Gregson-Williams). It is also home to one of the world’s greatest in-house collections of vintage and modern microphones, while a 72-channel Neve 88 RS large-format mixing console with a unique and comprehensive surround monitor section acts as the centerpiece of its control room. It is little wonder, then, that Studio One is the perfect setting for Spitfire Audio’s ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA… series sessions, meticulously curated, recorded, and programmed to deliver the world’s most detailed orchestral sampling, starting with ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: LOW PERCUSSION — laying the foundations for the series in question as the culmination of over 20 years of sample experience and innovation to offer incredible precision across an encyclopedic selection of orchestral and cinematic percussion performed by British world-class percussionist Joby Burgess (Black Panther, Mission: Impossible) — and now arriving at ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS as the ultimate tool for anyone’s creative compositional needs. Needless to say, whichever version of ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS anyone might choose to work with, rest assured that they are in good (recorded) company. Create the ultimate virtual orchestra by combining ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS with the aforesaid ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: LOW PERCUSSION, ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: SYMPHONIC STRINGS, and ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: FLUTES.

It is fair to say, though, that for Spitfire Audio co-founder Paul Thomson — also an accomplished composer in his own right — ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS clearly holds a place close to his heart for obvious reasons, as is immediately apparent in his heartfelt closing commentary: “As a clarinetist since childhood, I’m a discerning user, but I could never hope to match the sound of the players in these recordings myself. Moreover, the way that the library has been assembled by the team at Spitfire Audio, it works for virtuosic section playing and that expressive task of the clarinets, as well as giving you a tight, percussive, short note attack. And, besides, these players are among the best in the world; now you can have them play your music.”

The 44.1 GB download-sized ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL is available as a dedicated — AAX-, AU-, VST2- and VST3-compatible — plug-in for MacOS X 11 to MacOS 14 (Apple Silicon computers supported, 64-bit DAW required) and Windows 10 or 11 (latest Service Pack, 64-bit DAW required) at a 20%-discounted introductory offer of £199.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$249.00 USD/€249.00 EUR (inc. VAT) until February 6, 2025 — rising thereafter to its full price of £249.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$309.00 USD/€309.00 EUR (inc. VAT) — from here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-orchestra-clarinets-professional

The 3.0 GB download-sized ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS CORE is available as a dedicated — AAX-, AU-, VST2- and VST3-compatible — plug-in for MacOS X 11 to MacOS 14 (Apple Silicon computers supported, 64-bit DAW required) and Windows 10 or 11 (latest Service Pack, 64-bit DAW required), priced at £99.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$99.00 USD/€99.00 EUR (inc. VAT) from here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-orchestra-clarinets-core

Spitfire Audio’s namesake Spitfire Audio app allows anyone to buy now and download anytime, and is available for free from here: http://www.spitfireaudio.com/info/library-manager/

For more in-depth information, including some superb-sounding audio demos, please visit the dedicated ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS PROFESSIONAL webpage here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-orchestra-clarinets-professional

For more in-depth information, including some superb-sounding audio demos, please visit the dedicated ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA: CLARINETS CORE webpage here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-orchestra-clarinets-core

About Spitfire Audio (www.spitfireaudio.com)
Founded in 2007 by composers, Spitfire Audio is the leading creator of sounds and sample libraries uniting pioneering artists with pioneering sounds and music technology. Its products are used by composers and music makers around the globe in their compositions and productions, with a major percentage of composers — including Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA, GRAMMY®, and César Awards nominees and winners — utilizing them in their journey to scoring films and other projects.

About Abbey Road Studios (www.abbeyroad.com)
Abbey Road is the home of music making. They are the world’s first and most iconic recording studio, and a leader in sonic innovation, with the experience and craft to bring out the best music in any vision or idea. Once a nine-bedroomed house, Abbey Road is now a global community of artists, experts, innovators, and engineers, whose technology and expertise can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Alongside their studios and writing spaces, they work to develop groundbreaking technology that continues to change the future of music making. Through learning and events, they create one-off experiences and empower a new generation of talent. This home has created soundtracks to nights in, nights out, heartbreaks and first loves. Epic adventures and life-affirming stories. Across genres, generations, and continents, Abbey Road helps music makers move the world. Come on in.

© 2025 Spitfire Audio Holdings Limited

MADRID, SPAIN: vintage-sounding recording equipment developer Heritage Audio is proud to announce availability of O.H.M Amp as the world’s first impedance headphone-matching amplifier for studios and audiophiles alike — accommodating all of its user’s headphones to bring out their full potential — as of January 16, 2025…

Whether wishing to use its Amphenol XLR 1/4” combo jack-based balanced input (IN BAL), gold-plated unbalanced RCA input (IN UNBAL), or even its APTX®, APTX LL®, APTX HD®, AAC, and SBC codecs-offering Bluetooth receiver with Burr Brown DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Convertor), O.H.M Amp offers three independently-selectable, top-quality input sources to allow any headphones to shine. Simply select the input source by pressing one of the front panel-positioned (‘Bluetooth’, BAL., or UNB.) buttons as appropriate, then, using O.H.M Amp’s IMPEDANCE selector, match the signal’s output impedance to the connected headphone’s impedance to ensure getting the most out of them — regardless of whether they might be a cheap set of low-impedance earbuds or one of the highest quality, audiophile-grade affairs around.

Also, O.H.M Amp’s front panel provides two different ways to connect headphones courtesy of its independent 6.35 and 3.5mm jack connections (PHONES) — put away those noisy adapters once and for all, folks! It is truly amazing that no one has thought of that before!

Better still, O.H.M Amp’s discrete diamond buffers — taken from Heritage Audio’s acclaimed R.A.M System 2000 and R.A.M System 5000 desktop monitoring systems with Bluetooth — and Burr Brown op-amps — carefully chosen for their extreme fidelity and ultra-low noise — ensure that the OHM HEADPHONE MATCHING AMPLIFIER in question delivers an audiophile-grade response for whichever headphones are connected.

Thanks to the highly-sought-after audiophile-grade Alps ‘Blue Velvet’ output LEVEL potentiometer — itself really representing the icing on the cake, clearly no expense was spared when designing O.H.M Amp to provide users with full control over its output level. Indeed, it is even possible to chain multiple units together using the built-in THRU outputs, or use O.H.M Amp as a premium Bluetooth receiver.

Rendering even more precise proceedings, an external high-voltage, low-noise 30V power supply has been specifically designed for incredible power delivery at any impedance, ensuring an adequate dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio, and an ultra-low harmonic distortion performance.

Whichever way anyone chooses to use O.H.M Amp, its convenient rubber feet will allow it to be used as an elegant tabletop device while the drilled 5/8” hole on its bottom panel permits it to be mounted on any microphone stand in the studio. Surely it is fair to say, therefore, that O.H.M Amp is a studio-grade headphone amplifier with an audiophile’s soul.

O.H.M Amp is shipping and available via Heritage Audio’s growing global network of dealers (https://heritageaudio.com/where-to-buy-international/) with an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of €549.00 EUR (including VAT) in the EU and a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $499.00 USD, US distribution being handled via RAD Distribution (https://raddist.com/en/brands/heritage-audio).

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated O.H.M Amp webpage here: https://heritageaudio.com/ohm-amp/

About Heritage Audio (www.heritageaudio.com)
Heritage Audio was founded in 2011 by Peter Rodriguez. As a civil engineer and music producer, he went from building wind turbines to following his true passion — developing recording equipment with the vintage sound that he himself admired so much and so many others yearned for. Fortunately for all, he was able to master the key elements necessary to make high-quality recording gear affordable and reliable by combining his analytical mindset with his experience as a producer within a relatively short space of time. Today, the 15-person team has expanded its production plant located in the heart of Madrid, Spain, where it collectively continues to follow a philosophy of making vintage sound possible for today’s studios, successfully introducing innovative products to rank amongst the most popular brands with top retailers throughout the world.

© 2025 Heritage Audio

MADRID, SPAIN: European pro audio manufacturer Heritage Audio is proud to announce availability of SYNTH BUDDY — billed as being the world’s first desktop 10 to 1 reversible and fully passive stereo switch as a cost-effective, essential studio solution for seamlessly connecting up to 10 stereo (or 20 mono) line level sources, such as synths, drum machines, or samplers, and toggling between them with the twist of a knob — as of January 15, 2025…

It is fair to say that anyone who has ever dreamed about an inexpensive solution to help have multiple synths, drum machines, samplers, and other line level instruments connected and available with the twist of a knob can wake up and smell the coffee, courtesy of Heritage Audio’s SYNTH BUDDY. Indeed, its top panel-positioned 10 x1 STEREO PASSIVE SELECTOR wording gives the game away as it is possible to seamlessly connect 10 stereo (or 20 mono) line level sources to its 10 stereo/20 mono TS jack inputs and toggle between them with the twist of a knob (outputting via one stereo/two mono TS jacks) — simple as that! Talk about a dream becoming reality. And an all-passive design ensures crystal-clear line level signals with no added coloration — straight from the user’s musical mind to the song with no power source needed.

Needless to say, when creativity hits, there is no time for plugging in cables and switching gear. After all, many have experienced the creativity-killing scenario of having a great musical idea seemingly arrive out of nowhere, only for it to disappear by the time everything is set up and ready to record; no such worries when working with SYNTH BUDDY, of course, since everything is connected and available at the twist of a knob.

It is even possible to use SYNTH BUDDY ‘backwards’ by turning it into a one-input/10-output selector, so users can, for example, easily run one guitar or bass into several amps or effects — applications are (almost) endless! Either way, SYNTH BUDDY is built like a tank with an elegant desktop design — measuring merely 190mm (W) x 105mm (D) x 80mm (H) while weighing in at only 988g — that lends itself to studio or stage usage… and all without breaking the bank!

SYNTH BUDDY is shipping and available via Heritage Audio’s growing global network of dealers (https://heritageaudio.com/where-to-buy-international/) with an SSP (Standalone Selling Price) of €199.00 EUR (including VAT) in the EU and a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $199.00 USD, US distribution being handled via RAD Distribution (https://raddist.com/en/brands/heritage-audio).

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated SYNTH BUDDY webpage here: https://heritageaudio.com/synth-buddy/

Watch Heritage Audio’s illuminating introduction video for SYNTH BUDDY here:

About Heritage Audio (www.heritageaudio.com)
Heritage Audio was founded in 2011 by Peter Rodriguez. As a civil engineer and music producer, he went from building wind turbines to following his true passion — developing recording equipment with the vintage sound that he himself admired so much and so many others yearned for. Fortunately for all, he was able to master the key elements necessary to make high-quality recording gear affordable and reliable by combining his analytical mindset with his experience as a producer within a relatively short space of time. Today, the 15-person team has expanded its production plant located in the heart of Madrid, Spain, where it collectively continues to follow a philosophy of making vintage sound possible for today’s studios, successfully introducing innovative products to rank amongst the most popular brands with top retailers throughout the world.

© 2025 Heritage Audio

VENTURA, CA, USA: Black Box Analog Design is proud to launch its HG-Q as a groundbreaking 3U boutique hardware equalizer and saturator combo — combining the best of analog craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital control, designed to deliver unparalleled sonic shaping and harmonic enhancement that goes far beyond what is expected from an equalizer — as of January 15…

Beautifully beating at the heart of HG-Q is its unique analog topology, offering six independent bands per channel with an ability to simultaneously cut and boost frequencies; for this innovative design creates dynamic phase interactions that enhance harmonic relationships without compromising clarity. And adding to its creative arsenal, HG-Q integrates tube-driven saturation stages that imbue tracks with harmonic depth and energy while preserving clarity and transients.

Duly designed with modern producers and engineers in mind, HG-Q adapts to a variety of workflows with stereo, dual mono, and M/S (mid-side) operation modes. Indeed, its 2X mode amplifies the EQ’s range to 16 dB boosts and cuts, enabling dramatic tonal reshaping with intensified harmonic saturation. So, whether crafting subtle enhancements or pushing creative boundaries, HG-Q offers the tools to achieve extraordinary results.

Being built to last by being encased in a rugged 3U rack-mountable chassis, HG-Q merges reliability with sleek analog aesthetics. Its intuitive LED (Light Emitting Diode) indicators and responsive displays streamline operation, providing actionable feedback that empowers precision and creativity.

One of HG-Q’s standout features is its seamless integration with its (included) HG-Q plug-in counterpart (https://blackboxanalog.com/hg-q-plugin/) that not only provides remote control of the hardware, but also functions as a meticulously modeled digital recreation of the unit itself. Ideal for both studio and remote workflows, HG-Q enhances functionality with a built-in spectrum analyzer and an extended control view, ensuring precision and versatility in any production environment.

Elsewhere, other HG-Q highlights worth drawing attention to include solid-state filters, guaranteeing both clarity and precision when removing problematic frequencies or when compensating for boosts, while interactive control comes courtesy of series and parallel configurations offering nuanced and dramatic ways to sculpt sounds, opening up endless possibilities for tonal experimentation and reshaping of sounds and mixes.

It is evident, therefore, that Black Box Analog Design’s HG-Q is patently poised to become an essential tool for studios and producers worldwide with its hybrid integration and unmatched sonic possibilities.

Available for pre-order as of January 15, 2025, HG-Q should start shipping through Black Box Analog Design’s growing global network of dealers/distributors (https://blackboxanalog.com/contact-dealers/) with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $5,995.00 USD in Q2 2025.

For more in-depth info, effectively experiencing its transformative potential, please visit the dedicated HG-Q webpage here: https://blackboxanalog.com/hg-q

About Black Box Analog Design (www.blackboxanalog.com)
Black Box Analog Design is a small team of award-winning audio professionals who have lived the pro studio life firsthand. It is known for creating high-quality audio processing tools — including its highly-regarded HG-2 mix bus enhancer — that prioritize innovating new products over recreating the products of yesteryear.

© 2025 Black Box Analog Design

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA: Black Lion Audio is proud to announce upcoming availability of the latest additions to its PBR-series as the 2U rack space-occupying PBR TT-LIT and PBR TRS3-LIT patch bays — produced as 96-point, gold-plated TT/DB25 and 48-point TRS designs, respectively, but both equipped with a customizable LED (Light Emitting Diode) display to enable easy interconnection of outboard hardware via audiophile-grade, secure connections — as of January 14…

Beautifully built to proven Black Lion Audio standards for the most demanding of studios, PBR TT-LIT is loaded with 96 TT (Tiny Telephone) connections on its front panel and 12 DB25 connections — labelled INPUT 1-8 through to INPUT 41-48 and OUTPUT 1-8 through to OUTPUT 41-48 — on its rear panel, all of which are of audiophile grade, gold plated for maximum conductivity and signal clarity. Confusion is effectively eliminated by featuring a customizable, brightly-lit display for every front panel connection point — simply connect a USB (Universal Serial Bus) keyboard directly and start typing to customize the display or use the included PatchCAD BLA Edition software application featuring a quick, familiar spreadsheet-like interface to create custom text to show how the display will look via a computer, then export the file to a USB drive to load directly into the patchbay itself using the same KEYBOARD / USB port and pressing the UPDATE button. It is worth noting here that the PBR TT-LIT’s LED display supports up to six characters per channel as channel descriptions, while a quick tap of the DISPLAY button can be used to turn it off. On the face of it, PBR TT-LIT users with experience of traditional patchbays will find it far easier to route their signals while adding instant vibe to their studio, saving sticky labels and messy markers for their next yard sale! Saying that, PatchCAD BLA Edition not only lets PBR TT-LIT users customize the LED display, but also print custom labels for traditional patchbays, so no need (necessarily) to throw away their old patchbay(s).

Put it this way: while easily accessible patching certainly makes studio life a whole lot easier, ensuring premium audio quality throughout every signal chain is essential, something that Black Lion Audio knows only too well. After all, the Chicago-based boutique audio company has been improving already-great gear through its modification service for years, so it should come as little or no surprise to learn that it channeled all that know-how straight into its PBR TT-LIT patchbay. Per-module mode-switching is accessed via recessed switches on the top panel for configuring normalization modes — the switches themselves are rated to 10,000-plus operations without failure, while the aforesaid audio-grade, gold-plated 96 TT and 12 DB25 connections surely speak for themselves. And a grounding connection is also available on the rear panel to prevent noisy ground loops.

As a 48-point TRS patchbay with three-way switching and a customizable LED display suitable for the most robust routing imaginable, loaded with 96 audiophile-grade, gold-plated TRS connectors for maximum conductivity and signal clarity, PBR TRS3-LIT takes the same confusion-eliminating concept of its PBR TT-LIT bigger brother and applies another approach to interconnecting outboard hardware in terms of connectivity and channel count. Indeed, its LED display is able to support 12 characters per channel in the same space as a result (though it is identical in operation to the PBR TT-LIT’s LED display), while the rear panel-positioned three-way mode switches allow for NORM (normal), HALF (half-normal), and THRU operation, delivering unlimited routing potential for mults, bypassing, monitoring, and parallel processing.

Whichever way anyone ends up choosing to work with either of Black Lion Audio’s additions to its PBR-series patch bays, rest assured that they will be reconfiguring their entire studio’s routing at a moment’s notice, cutting down on cable clutter in the process of doing so — surely welcomed in itself. It is fair to say, finally, that PBR TT-LIT and PBR TRS3-LIT are both built Black Lion-tough, with a reinforced steel chassis and black anodized aluminum faceplates that make for a matched and sophisticated look that is sure to look the part in any self-respecting studio setup.

Available for pre-order as of January 14, 2025, PBR TT-LIT and PBR TRS3-LIT should start shipping through Black Lion Audio’s growing global network of dealers/distributors (https://www.blacklionaudio.com/dealers) with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $999.00 USD and $399.00 USD, respectively, and an SSP (Suggested Selling Price) of €1,332.00 EUR (including 19% VAT) and €559.00 EUR (including 19% VAT), respectively, in late-January 2025.

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated PBR TT-LIT webpage here: https://www.blacklionaudio.com/store/patchbays/pbr-tt-lit/

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated PBR TRS3-LIT webpage here: https://www.blacklionaudio.com/store/patchbays/pbr-trs3-lit/

About Black Lion Audio (www.blacklionaudio.com)
Founded in 2006, Black Lion Audio is a boutique audio company based in Chicago. Collectively it takes pride in providing customers with outstanding quality gear for their recording studios at prices that are ridiculously affordable. As such, the company has built a reputation for supplying superior quality sound in a cost-effective manner within the space of a few short years. Yet, given the current economic climate, it is no wonder that major labels, project studios, software companies, and high-profile tracking and mix engineers make up a significant portion of the company’s client base. Indeed, its work can be heard in award-winning major motion picture scores and soundtracks, major television shows and commercials, as well as being utilised by prestigious organisations and major label acts alike.

© 2025 Black Lion Audio

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: XILS-lab is proud to launch The Eighty — effectively acting as a virtual Vangelis soundalike homage to an iconic Seventies-vintage synth classic that the Academy Award-winning Greek musician, composer, and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music made into his signature sound, thanks to its exceptionally complete performer expression features (such as a layered keyboard that was both velocity- and pressure-sensitive in action, albeit, unlike most keyboards of the time, that aftertouch could be applied to individual voices, and a ribbon controller allowing for polyphonic pitch-bends and glissandos), faithful to the original and enhanced for the future as the latest entry into the audio software company’s lengthening lineup of virtual instruments par excellence — as of January 14…

It is fair to say that Bladerunner — the now-classic Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi film from 1982 set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019 — is, for many, inextricably linked with Vangelis’ BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated score, showcasing his superlative skills with that iconic Seventies-vintage synth classic that was arguably as ahead of its time as that trailblazing score to which its sound subsequently became inextricably linked in itself. Much missed, Vangelis left this mortal coil in 2022, sadly, while the relatively few remaining fully operational examples of Yamaha’s CS-80 synth — supporting true eight-voice polyphony, with two independent synthesizer layers per voice each with its own set of front panel controls, in addition to a number of hardwired preset voice settings and four parameter settings stores based on banks of subminiature potentiometers — that musically meant so much to him are highly coveted by high-flying collectors, commanding eye-watering prices extending into high five-figure territory, putting them well beyond the reach of mere musical mortals… not that many could comfortably carry one anyway as they weigh in at a back-breaking 100kg/220lbs (including built-in hard case), regardless of how deep their pockets may well be!

Fast forward to today, though, and XILS-lab’s The Eighty virtual instrument is inspired by the iconic Yamaha CS-80 as a meticulously crafted software emulation, faithfully recreating its distinct sound and character. It includes the original presets and integrates various performance features to mirror an authentic CS-80 experience while offering new enhancements.

Enter the two main synthesis signal paths inspired by the CS-80, featuring the linked HPF (High-Pass Filter) and LPF (Low-Pass Filter) that contribute to its iconic sound, while a third synthesis signal path can additionally be blended through an innovative 2D mixer for expanded sonic possibilities.

Put it this way, though: those meticulously modelled zero-delay 12 dB resonant high-pass and low-pass filters are implemented in each synthesis signal path to maintain an analogue-like sound without digital artefacts, while the meticulously modelled oscillators also include unique CS-80 characteristics such as saw wave creation with short pulses, thereby ensuring distinctive tone and texture.

The Eighty offers polyphonic aftertouch, keyboard followers, and velocity sensitivity, allowing players to shape sounds with nuanced expression — albeit whether they can match that which was demonstrated on so many memorable musical occasions by Vangelis is down to how well the player in question can actually play! Performance options additionally include the SUB OSCILLATOR and RING MODULATOR sections, designed to enhance live playability.

And as if that was not enough to be getting on with, the sophisticated ARPEGGIATOR supports cyclical modulation and muting, going beyond simple up-and-down chord patterns to breathe life into arpeggiated sequences.

Furthermore, four integrated effects — DEL (delay), PHA (phaser), RVB (reverb), and EQ (equalization) — with independent routing options duly deliver a warm and deep sound. Meanwhile, MOD (modulation) options include that RING MODULATOR section with ATTCK (attack) and DEC (decay) envelope control, as well as CHORUS for TREM (tremolo), vibrato, and ensemble effects.

An advanced, single-window preset manager facilitates speedy access to The Eighty’s sounds, with over 500 presets from renowned sound designers — including the original 12 presets that helped shape iconic tracks by the likes of Stevie Wonder and, of course, Vangelis. Ultimately, users can manage, tag, and organize presets efficiently to streamline sound selection. Surely Vangelis — were he still with us — would approve of XILS-lab so successfully recreating the tools that musically shaped Bladerunner and many more cultural milestones.

The Eighty is available to purchase as an iLok-protected virtual instrument plug-in (including computer-based authorization), priced at a time-limited introductory promo price of only €89.00 EUR until January 31, 2025 — rising thereafter to its regular price of €179.00 EUR — directly from XILS-lab here: https://www.xils-lab.com/store/theeighty/

The Eighty is downloadable in 64-bit AAX (native)-, AU-, VST2.4-, and VST3-compatible formats for macOS (10.13+) and 64-bit AAX (native)-, VST2.4-, and VST3-compatible formats for Windows (7/8/10/11) from here: https://www.xils-lab.com/store/resources/#theeighty

A time-limited full version of The Eighty can be requested for pre-purchase evaluation purposes here: https://www.xils-lab.com/store/theeighty/#xils-download-id-3

About XILS-lab (www.xils-lab.com)
Based in Grenoble, France, XILS-lab is an audio software company, created and managed by Xavier Oudin. Having developed some of the best known virtual instruments and effect plug-ins on the market for various companies over the last 20-plus years, today he focuses on bringing his passion for audio, instruments, and music to bear on his own company. Working with highly-skilled professional musicians and sound designers, the company collectively believes that a virtual instrument or effect is not simply a series of mind-boggling mathematical algorithms designed and scrutinized over by bookish PhD engineers but rather a useful and useable musical tool made for musicians. Moreover, XILS-lab loves to create virtual instruments and effects that inspire its users to create more imaginative music than they ever dreamed possible!

© 2025 XILS Audio sarl