I know it's been quiet for a while on the update front so thought I would fill you all in on what I am doing. I am currently coding modules to streamline the synths for the version 2's. I am mainly focussed on reducing the load times, although there a few new feature enhancements, such as:

Microtonal Tuner

The new Microtonal Tuner supports patches up to 128 notes, provides direct scala import, and a new hgs scale format loosely based on scala files. It can also import the old hgs patches. Additionally the patch system works like the Astralis C sample system and has no limit to the amount of patches in a bank, although all might not be visible on the dropdown menu in extreme cases, but the menu size is also user configurable.

Extended Randomization

Suppport for large scale randomization for quickly creating new patches, which works over multiple levels as used in Astralis CM.

GUI Optimizations

* New slider system which should make a dent in synth load times. The slider output is also output to a display which shows last edited name and value.

* Astralis C has been decluttered to hopefully improve on its appearance.

Other Stuff

* The Gate Sequencer has been optimized and now has shift left/right.
* The BPM clock can now be switched to Manual Tempo for old style arpeggiors
* Lots of other small enhancements.

The Version 2 synths will be in beta for registered users soon. They will also be new instruments and install alongside version 1's.

take care
Andy

There are a couple of problems with Astralis CM:

1 - The microtonal patches do not auto install. To install them go to the folder where you installed Astralis CM and double click on MTPatches_v2.exe and follow the on screen instructions. The patches not being installed can cause a crash with randomization set above level 9, once they are installed the problem will go away :)

2 - Module not found message - This can happen on a minority of machines, and is fixed in the next release.

If you spot any more bugs please leave comments here.

take care
Andy

Astralis C 1.0.1 has a newly developed dedicated file system module which solves all the incompatibility problems experienced in some hosts. The new module is a complete self contained file/bank management system and the main benefits are:

• No more limitations on the number of files in a bank
• Sub Directories are now scanned
• Randomize will now select a sample from any installed bank
• Refresh button for rescanning the directory
• Banks are now selected via a popup menu instead of the old browse button
• New randomization back-end throughout the synth to reduce load times slightly.

Astralis C is available for download in the Astralis Private area, license holders can login to gain access. New users gain access immediately upon payment. Astralis A and B are still available as shareware.

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

When I upgraded the site I somehow forgot to put the demo files for all the sample CDs back in place, oops :) Sorry about that they should all be ok again now.

Astralis C is the 3rd Synth from the Astralis VSTi synth pack and uses either 16 or 24 bit Mono/Stereo Samples as it's sound source. The Samples are stored in banks of around 50 in a custom samples folder which can be installed anywhere on your PC. Each folder in the main samples folder becomes a Bank of selectable samples from within Astralis.Astralis C also comes with 2 banks of High quality samples and a bank of 128 presets.

• Two Stereo Samplers which can load 16/24 bit samples.
• Loop points selectable between embedded or user edited as well as a fine tuning screen.
• Gate Sequencer now has 2 new Destinations, sample 1 and 2 and can be used to shift the playhead position for beatslicing type effects.
• Wavetable Synthesis via Mod Matrix.
• Start or end Loop Points can be modulated.
• Sample Start Position can be Modulated.
• Normalize Sample to 5 different Levels
• Progressive Lofi modes
• Forward or Reverse Modes
• Attack Section On Off
• One shot/ Loop with Release or Loop Only playback
• Loop Section Fwd or Alternate
• Random Sample selection from Banks
• Optimized CPU usage

In the current edition (August 2007), here are a couple of excerpts:

"Astralis includes an excellent combination of effect options, including Drive, Reverb, Delay, Ring Modulation, and Organic (a further delay based effect). For me, however, the highlights are the Arpeggiator, Modulation Sequencer and Envelope Gate Sequencer. Whether you want disco style arpeggios or Trance style rhythmic gated effects, Astralis has plenty of potential...

...The presets do an excellent job of demonstrating what Astralis is capabale of. There is some truly wonderful stuff amongst this lot, from scary sci-fi pads and soundscapes through to trance-friendly, mod sequenced, analogue style beeps. The presets also demonstrate that Astralis can do both subtlety and in your face aggression."

Sound on Sound Astralis Review

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

Another great review on KVR by user jodejo:

Read Astralis Review on KVR

"Currently Astralis is compose by three synths: Astralis A, B and C (still in beta version at this time). Astralis A and B are waveforms based synths with various possibilities (see main features) concerning effects, modulations options, routing and to handle waveforms. It's simple you can do all you want with waveforms and create your own sound easily (bass, rythmic sounds, pads, athmospheres). All these sounds are moving wich is perfect for soundscapes. Astralis B is the same but with reduced cpu. That's great with Astralis A to produce sounds with more space.

Astralis C is a sample based synth. It's a beta version at this time but works very well and increase greatly the possibilities. To summarize, the Astralis pack is a real quality sound factory : almost all sounds can be created and give a total control on these sounds. And in this point of view it offer me more that I expected."

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

I'm Pleased to announce that Astralis 1.1 has been favourably reviewed:

Inspira Sons (French)

Inspira Sons (English Translation)

"si vous aimez créer des sonorités d'orientation électro-acoustique expérimentale, c'est le prototype du programme qui vous vaudra des nuits blanches. Et un son s'y transforme vite, après quelques modifications mineures, en une variante fort différente, donc quand vous l'aurez bien en main, votre sonothèque s'accroîtra rapidement."

Tom very kindly translated the conclusion for me:

"Astralis introduces itself as an instrument dedicated to textures creation and other spatial explorations. This allows you to expect the usual bath of flabby reverbs and spongy echoes that this kind of lyricism generally promises. Surprise : such is not the dominant colour. Astralis's deep nature proves to be more muscular than the one of your average "space synth", sometimes with a well-tempered aggressivity, without turning into FSU/destroy mash. Its armada of effects and its many features make it very versatile, but of course, buying it to program standard basses and classical leads will not be the most logical use. On the other hand, if you like to create experimental electro-acoustic oriented sounds, this is the perfect example of a software that will keep you awake at night. And a few minor variations are enough to transform a preset into a very different variant, so once that you will master the software, your patches library is bound to grow quickly."

New beautiful atmospheric track submitted by Hodje which makes good use of Astralis, many thanks Johan :)

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

A few fixes, enhancements and 1 new feature :)

28.06.07 v1.1.1

- Changed C1 to CC (Custom Clock).
- Improved Visibility of Envelopes.
- Fixed a crash which could occur in certain situations when changing presets.
- Removed Manual Mode from MS1 as it was not possible in poly mode, MS2 still has Manual Mode.
- Fixed a bug where 4 x tempos were not working as expected.
- Added Fine Pitch to the modulation matrix.

Astralis Downloads

Astralis C is now available to licence holders in the private section. It has all the features of Astralis A but uses 16/24 bit samples as the sound source. It is still in beta testing, the only area which may not work correctly is the custom sample locations.

Samples are stored in banks of up to 50 samples. This all depends on how long the names of the samples are due to a 1000 character limit on text synthedit pins, so the shorter your names the more samples will be seen. There is no limit to how many banks you can create however.

Please let me know of any bugs you find on the forums and have fun :)

take care
Andy

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

Finally launched the new website. main features/differences:

• Private Astralis area for license holders. Once you pay for Astralis you get instant access. Some free samples\banks for Astralis C will be added in the next week.
• I now only accept Paypal and no longer store address information on the website.
• Anonymous or logged in Comments can be left almost anywhere
• Users can choose to be notified of new content
• Alternatively you can use the RSS feed
• User Forums

Homegrown Sounds has updated the Astralis Synths to v1.1, offering some major enhancements and bug fixes. Tim Conrardy has programmed 16 patches for Astralis B, the Microtonal Patches can now be stored in any location, Fine controls have been implemented to all sliders, and a Pitch bend zone plus individual Pitch Bend on/off switches per oscillator have been added.

Astralis C which is the sample based version is now complete and in the final testing phase. It allows banks of any 16/24 bit samples to be used as the sound source and the release date is set for the 25th June at which time the Astralis introductory price will end.

Changes:

• A Bank of 16 patches by Tim Conrardy added for Astralis B.
• Added Pitch Bend on/off per synth/oscillator.
• Pitch bend Keyboard range limiter so that only a specific area will be affected by pitch bend.
• All slider ends are now fine controls for moving small increments.
• Microtonal Patches can now be installed anywhere.
• All synths now display the correct version number.
• Register box now displays correctly.
• Arp now correctly stops all notes when switched off.
• Performance Optimizations.
• Blank template Banks included.
• Default Bank backups now included.
• Numerous other minor enhancements and bug fixes.

Astralis Microtonal VST Synthesizer Pack for PC

If interplanetary excursions are your thing, you will love Astralis, a synth to lose yourself in. Astralis is packed with soundscaping features, an intuitive hands on professional sound design environment. Ideal for any style of music though particularly suited to Ambient, Psy, and styles requiring atmosphere. It is a tweakers synth though be warned whole nights can vanish very easily!

Debut album from Stumble, an Astral Pedestrian project featuring 11 songs available as a zipped download in high quality MP3 format (256kbs)

Long playing EP from CPS featuring the classic tracks Hey Har and '2'. Available as a zipped collection of hi quality MP3 files.

'Shining' is a slightly different story to the previous Astral Pedestrian album 'Aural Illusions,' recorded in 2006 after AP had completed both the 'NEU World Order' and 'Stumble' album, both having clearly influenced the sound.

Debut album from CPS available as zipped Hi-quality 256kbs MP3 files (93mb)

This DVD was created with a Jerry Jones Electric Sitar, the modern equivalent of the original 60's Dan Electro Sitar made popular by artists such as the Beatles, the Stones, and more recently Paul Weller It is a conventional guitar with a specially designed bridge and pickups to create a unique sitar like sound.

This Sample CD has a distinctly electronic feel, TIMBRES is a collection of vibrantly retro sounds spanning the musical spectrum, suitable for any kind of electronic music (with some outstanding techno leads along the way!), from krautrock through to Vangelis, Orbital and the Aphex Twin

This Sample CD is a sometimes gritty assortment of unpredictable pads and volatile textures, SAND IN THE SARNIES combines a series of dark ambient landscapes, with eruptions of industrial noise and constantly shifting rhythmic elements. Great for composing film scores and creating distinctive moods, the sample CD also contains a wealth of material for strange or dramatic sound effects, making dynamic use of high and low frequency contrasts. Echoes here of The Residents, Hammer Horror, and Eraserhead.

This Sample CD is a new collection of Pads and textures to add to the Homegrown Sample Library. This collection ranges from angelic beautiful 'scapes in the region of Eno, Budd through to darker harsher sounds, Trans Global Underground and Coil etc... The sounds can be used for any project requiring an interesting flavour, and will be a great addition to any studio.

This sample CD contains Constructive and Destructive elements to grungify and elevate your musical projects. The pads and textures comprising. ORGANIC CHAOS have all been remixed by an unknown deity residing in a distant galaxy, a master of otherworldy orchestrations and evocative ambience, a being whose sonic powers can re-inspire artistic creativity at the touch of a key, and whose earthly reference points include, among others, Autechre, Faust, Sun Ra and Apocalypse Now.

Winner of a prestigious Future Music Platinum Award, Organic Breakbeats is a collection of 950 Original Breakbeats and drum loops, with a distinctively dirt ridden heavy sound. A purposeful collection designed to create a heavy rhythmic core to any production. The loops are suitable for Hip Hop, Trip Hop, Breakbeat, Heavy Dub, Illbient and other Downtempo genres, but can also be used for any type of music requiring heavy rhythms.