Blamsoft and eXode present VK-2 Viking Synthesizer

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CaliforniaBurrito
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29 Aug 2017

Awesome! I'm so happy with this beast. People might be turned off by heavy CPU but it is sooo worth it. It can't be compared to anything else really even though I see people comparing it to Legend. :roll: :clap: :lol: I'll take U-He Diva over Legend any day though and VK-2 is a match made in heaven for Diva. I must've jammed out on the keys with VK-2 for a good hour yesterday coming up with a lead melody for a track and there is so much delicious timbral character - just can't stop! Anyways, I'm on a good one - time to make some music. :thumbup:

EdGrip
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30 Aug 2017

And remember kids - high CPU consumption means nothing when you're just using VK-2 as a live instrument! It's cheaper than buying a Moog! :thumbs_up:

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miscend
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30 Aug 2017

EdGrip wrote:
30 Aug 2017
And remember kids - high CPU consumption means nothing when you're just using VK-2 as a live instrument! It's cheaper than buying a Moog! :thumbs_up:
Yes just buy a dedicated small form factor PC to run VK-2 and use it as an instrument.

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CaliforniaBurrito
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30 Aug 2017

Haa! I just found that modular drum kit combi patch by Navi Retlav. Fourteen instances of VK-2 - there goes half my DSP! That is really cool though. It's pretty much a minimal modular techno track in itself. :thumbs_up:

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starflakeprj
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31 Aug 2017

I'm sorry if this question has been asked before, or answered in some way, but I couldn't find anything while searching.

Is the VK-2 supposed to be a replacement for VK-1, or are they simply two different synths? I trialed VK-1 a long time ago, but did not purchase it back then, but I purchased VK-2 when it came out. Since VK-1 is now on sale, I thought I might pick it up, but if it's too similar to VK-2, I guess buying VK-1 would just be redundant.

EdGrip
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01 Sep 2017

They are two different (and confusingly named) synths which are supposed to exist alongside one another. VK-1 is older, simpler, and less demanding of CPU.

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fieldframe
RE Developer
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01 Sep 2017

I still don't know why Blamsoft didn't name it something like "VK Modular" or at least a non-sequential number like "VK-10" or "VK-6." If they had, I guarantee they would not have had to keep hitting the "this is a completely new synth, not an update" message; it would have been clear from the outset.

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starflakeprj
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02 Sep 2017

Thanks, makes it easier to decide :)

EdGrip
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28 May 2018

Bumping this thread because I was having a play with VK-2 yesterday (trying to approximate the bassline on "Teachers") and it's such an excellent instrument. The filter is wonderful and you can use it standalone on other sound sources (but still be audio-rate modulating it by the oscillators if you like!). I think its HP/LP mode with adjustable bandwidth is unique in Reason. And it sounds lush as fuck. So yep - just sharing the love. ^_^

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jayhosking
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28 May 2018

Yeah, agreed! It's a really great synth that rewards exploration.

jimmyklane
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28 May 2018

mrnicehat wrote:
23 Mar 2017
you can use low resolution cv-jacks(reason;) or the high quality audio-jacks. This is really cool. isn't it. Blamsoft is amazing.
What do you mean when you state “low resolution”? I’ve always been under the impression that the CV jacks could run at:

Sample Rate/64 samples

In other words, at 88.2kHz, you can get about 1300Hz. Can you amplify on that? I’ve never found any documentation on the resolution of CV within Reason.
DAW: Reason 12

SAMPLERS: Akai MPC 2000, E-mu SP1200, E-Mu e5000Ultra, Ensoniq EPS 16+, Akai S950, Maschine

SYNTHS: Mostly classic Polysynths and more modern Monosynths. All are mostly food for my samplers!

www.soundcloud.com/jimmyklane

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eXode
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28 May 2018

jimmyklane wrote:
28 May 2018
mrnicehat wrote:
23 Mar 2017
you can use low resolution cv-jacks(reason;) or the high quality audio-jacks. This is really cool. isn't it. Blamsoft is amazing.
What do you mean when you state “low resolution”? I’ve always been under the impression that the CV jacks could run at:

Sample Rate/64 samples

In other words, at 88.2kHz, you can get about 1300Hz. Can you amplify on that? I’ve never found any documentation on the resolution of CV within Reason.
CV runs at sample rate/64 samples so you got it right. I guess he means compared to audio rate. :)

jimmyklane
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28 May 2018

eXode wrote:
28 May 2018
jimmyklane wrote:
28 May 2018


What do you mean when you state “low resolution”? I’ve always been under the impression that the CV jacks could run at:

Sample Rate/64 samples

In other words, at 88.2kHz, you can get about 1300Hz. Can you amplify on that? I’ve never found any documentation on the resolution of CV within Reason.
CV runs at sample rate/64 samples so you got it right. I guess he means compared to audio rate. :)
And VK-2 can bypass that for proper audio rate mod... very cool, I’ll have to check it out!
DAW: Reason 12

SAMPLERS: Akai MPC 2000, E-mu SP1200, E-Mu e5000Ultra, Ensoniq EPS 16+, Akai S950, Maschine

SYNTHS: Mostly classic Polysynths and more modern Monosynths. All are mostly food for my samplers!

www.soundcloud.com/jimmyklane

EdGrip
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29 May 2018

I did an acid with VK-2: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7507211

ltbrunt00
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29 May 2018

All hail the power of VK-2
Reason, Nuendo, Studio One
https://soundcloud.com/user-404930848


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Faastwalker
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20 Aug 2018

EdGrip wrote:
01 Sep 2017
VK-1 is older, simpler, and less demanding of CPU.
Wasn't there a fairly recent update to VK-1 that improved audio but increased CPU demands significantly?

VK-2 is awesome. But it's the one RE that really struggled on my PC. Need an upgrade before I can buy it.

two shoes
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20 Aug 2018

i'll just go ahead and say it - both of Reason's flagship synths are made by Blamsoft. Expanse is one of the most versatile, most powerful modern synths on the market in any format (eat your heart out Serum) and VK-2 is the current king of analog style softsynths imo - it really has no weaknesses and is insanely modular with slow cpu options to boot.

I love Grain and Europa would be a worthy flagship if Expanse didn't exist. Nostromo is my personal favorite synth for the style of music I like to make, and Antidote and the Legend are top shelf as well. Spectra, Oberon, Revival, JPS, FM4, 4mer, ES01,Parsec, Driver, Torsion, Redominator - not to mention all the stuff that has been ported to the RE format like the Korgs, Respire, the Papen stuff... We are absolutely drowning in superb instruments with Reason and if I never bought another one I could happily entertain myself for the next few centuries, but Expanse and VK-2 are at the very pinnacle of this embarassment of riches. Bravo Blamsoft!

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FLVZ
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22 Aug 2018

two shoes wrote:
20 Aug 2018
i'll just go ahead and say it - both of Reason's flagship synths are made by Blamsoft. Expanse is one of the most versatile, most powerful modern synths on the market in any format (eat your heart out Serum) and VK-2 is the current king of analog style softsynths imo - it really has no weaknesses and is insanely modular with slow cpu options to boot.

I love Grain and Europa would be a worthy flagship if Expanse didn't exist. Nostromo is my personal favorite synth for the style of music I like to make, and Antidote and the Legend are top shelf as well. Spectra, Oberon, Revival, JPS, FM4, 4mer, ES01,Parsec, Driver, Torsion, Redominator - not to mention all the stuff that has been ported to the RE format like the Korgs, Respire, the Papen stuff... We are absolutely drowning in superb instruments with Reason and if I never bought another one I could happily entertain myself for the next few centuries, but Expanse and VK-2 are at the very pinnacle of this embarassment of riches. Bravo Blamsoft!
VK2 really feels like a secret weapon, only currently available to Reason users and it feels somewhat a privilege. Absolutely love the way it sounds, and the flexibility and ease of use of the interface. BRAVO indeed!

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Exowildebeest
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22 Aug 2018

I agree Expanse and VK-2 have genuinely taken Reason to a higher level. Blamsoft has come a long way since they started with RE's years ago! And I still use that old downsampler/bitcrusher ;)
Faastwalker wrote:
20 Aug 2018
EdGrip wrote:
01 Sep 2017
VK-1 is older, simpler, and less demanding of CPU.
Wasn't there a fairly recent update to VK-1 that improved audio but increased CPU demands significantly?
That's a small stain on Blamsoft's reputation as far as I'm concerned - not that it uses more CPU, but that the upgrade changes the sound drastically and there's no legacy mode/switch. I happen to like the sound of the current VK1 and I'm not willing to give that up. So no upgrade for me. There's the VST alternative of course, but... blegh, VST ;)

ab459
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09 May 2020

Folks, just theoretical interest - do it possible to generate sound in VK-2 without appeal to sequencer\keys (and without gate\cv triggering thru cables in backward panel respectively). I mean - self-generate just thru some configuration in his front panel ? :puf_smile:
At moment i incline to "NO" though. But, i'm unsure, due to his seems semi-modular nature. Need make sure.

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Reasonable man
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09 May 2020

ab459 wrote:
09 May 2020
Folks, just theoretical interest - do it possible to generate sound in VK-2 without appeal to sequencer\keys (and without gate\cv triggering thru cables in backward panel respectively). I mean - self-generate just thru some configuration in his front panel ? :puf_smile:
At moment i incline to "NO" though. But, i'm unsure, due to his seems semi-modular nature. Need make sure.
Exode posts here sometimes and he might be able to give examples...but sure its possibe. Just maybe not the most 'musical' as such .
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xdx8wuodeq45 ... YSL_a?dl=0

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muckmclane
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10 May 2020

Reasonable man wrote:
09 May 2020
ab459 wrote:
09 May 2020
Folks, just theoretical interest - do it possible to generate sound in VK-2 without appeal to sequencer\keys (and without gate\cv triggering thru cables in backward panel respectively). I mean - self-generate just thru some configuration in his front panel ? :puf_smile:
At moment i incline to "NO" though. But, i'm unsure, due to his seems semi-modular nature. Need make sure.
Exode posts here sometimes and he might be able to give examples...but sure its possibe. Just maybe not the most 'musical' as such .
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xdx8wuodeq45 ... YSL_a?dl=0
Thanks man that was very helpful for some reason I never dived in that deep with VK2 and was certain this could not be done.

To simplify in the far right 'control' turn off EG2
and in the far lower left in the Poly window switch it to Modular and you instantly have
countless options with self generation.

Can you think of any other synths that can do this?

The only self generated synths I have that dont require a gate or cv in (also excluding a built in step sequencer):
Vk1(global just set gate to on) and Vk2
Ammo
Little lfo
Pulsar
Movement
Wbl5515 dual triple loop osc

Effects(no incoming audio):
D1-RT line noise injector RE
Etch red(high resonance)


Thor(avoiding the step sequencer):
at first this seemed to be the least interesting of the self generating synths:
as only lfo 2 seems to work as a sound source for some reason
and I couldn't route it into filters/shapers soley using the front panel

then I used a square lfo 2 to modulate itself (lfo2 rate)
then I did another lfo 2 into lfo 2 rate and got some pretty interesting sounds
nothing seems to be able to even affect lfo 2 except for itself


Image

ab459
Posts: 383
Joined: 28 Dec 2018
Location: Minsk Belarus

10 May 2020

Reasonable man wrote:
09 May 2020
ab459 wrote:
09 May 2020
Folks, just theoretical interest - do it possible to generate sound in VK-2 without appeal to sequencer\keys (and without gate\cv triggering thru cables in backward panel respectively). I mean - self-generate just thru some configuration in his front panel ? :puf_smile:
At moment i incline to "NO" though. But, i'm unsure, due to his seems semi-modular nature. Need make sure.
Exode posts here sometimes and he might be able to give examples...but sure its possibe. Just maybe not the most 'musical' as such .
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xdx8wuodeq45 ... YSL_a?dl=0
Oh damn, thanks, really it possible. All the deal was exactly in the "Modular" mode of "Polyphony" dropdown list (I didn’t think to look there heh).
:thumbs_up:

ab459
Posts: 383
Joined: 28 Dec 2018
Location: Minsk Belarus

10 May 2020

muckmclane wrote:
10 May 2020
The only self generated synths I have that dont require a gate or cv in (also excluding a built in step sequencer):
Vk1(global just set gate to on) and Vk2
Ammo
Little lfo
Pulsar
Movement
Wbl5515 dual triple loop osc

Effects(no incoming audio):
D1-RT line noise injector RE
Etch red(high resonance)
Tnx for info, will check it as well (i'm fan of self-generate :redface: )

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