MUON SOFTWARE Electron
May 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Randy Alberts
Muon Software's Electron is another dual-filter, envelope, and LFO application for VST 2.0 synth devotees using a Mac or PC (minimum requirements, respectively: PowerPC G3/400, 128 MB of RAM, Mac OS 8.5; Pentium II/400, 64 MB of RAM, Windows 95/98/98SE). Though it's not designed to emulate any one synth, the breathy warmth of Electron's pads, organs, and filters is reminiscent of the Elka Rhapsody and early Oberheim string synths, with a little Casio CZ-101 zaniness thrown in for good measure. Boasting three 64-bit analog-modeled virtual voltage-controlled oscillators and voltage-controlled filters per voice (the documentation calls them “virtual computerized oscillators and filters”), Electron can take you on one hell of a sonic joyride.
Electron's manual (a PDF file) explains and shows how to edit the sounds pretty well but fails to say how to load the included bank of Electron presets. Once they are loaded, however, the 32 patches are full of lush, dreamy pads; swirling filter sweeps; rude basses; a handful of mono leads; and lots of space sounds that all serve as good jumping-off points for personal exploration. Electron lacks an onscreen keyboard and pitch-mod wheels, but their absence saves on screen space and CPU power.
Electron includes a cool x-y interface that lets you control two assignable synth parameters with a single mouse move. The futuristic window features knobs for selecting parameters that are controlled by the mouse's horizontal (x) and vertical (y) axis movements, enabling subtle to dramatic morphing between tones. You can create dramatic breaks and emphatic mood shifts by clicking anywhere in this display to jump instantaneously to a certain combination of sounds. You can also slowly drag the yellow dot around the window to morph a sound's timbre gradually. The plug-in's automation capabilities allow you to record all of your parameter moves and play them back exactly as they were originally performed.
Although it's not the ultimate synthesizer plug-in, Electron is very easy to use and provides warm and emotive sounds. I also found the x-y controller interface — similar to the one featured in Arboretum's Hyperprism plug-in suite — useful and inspiring. Electron adds an interesting range to any sound chaser's arsenal.
Randy Alberts is a musician, writer, and audio engineer exploring music and recording technology in his studio in Pacifica, California.
PRODUCT SUMMARY
MUON SOFTWARE Electron
$75
PROS: Unique, breathy sounds. Great control layout with lots of knobs and sliders. Futuristic x-y parameter interface. Three oscillators per voice.
CONS: No onscreen keyboard. Very few presets included.
Overall Rating (1 through 5): 3
Contact: tel. 44-20-7976-939-752
e-mail service@muon-software.com
Web www.muon-software.com
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