The Grenoble-based developer’s latest release recreates the architecture of a landmark early-1980s polyphonic analogue synthesiser, adding modern features including MPE support and 16-voice polyphony.
XILS-lab has released MemoryTone, a software synthesiser modelled on the Memorymoog, the American manufacturer’s final analogue instrument before it filed for bankruptcy in 1987. The plug-in extends the original’s three-oscillator-per-voice design to 16-voice polyphony, with up to 18 oscillators sounding in unison, alongside modern additions such as expanded modulation, integrated effects and MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) support.
The Memorymoog was originally a six-voice polyphonic instrument built between 1982 and 1985. Notable users included Geoff Downs of Asia, Jon Lord of Deep Purple, and Jan Hammer of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the latter having used it on the score for the television series Miami Vice and programmed some of its factory presets.
The MemoryTone Architecture
XILS-lab says its development process focused on replicating not just the original’s architecture but its behaviour, including how oscillator variations accumulated across voices and how signal levels interacted with the mixer and 24dB/octave self-oscillating ladder filter before saturation occurred.
MemoryTone’s synthesis engine includes three freely combinable waveforms per oscillator (pulse, sawtooth and triangle), variable pulse width, oscillator hard sync, independent detuning for oscillators two and three, a noise generator, and dual ADSR envelopes. It includes modelled analogue drift and voice-to-voice detune variations, plus mono, polyphonic, and circular polyphonic playing modes.
Modulation options include an LFO with a rate range of 0.1 to 10 Hz, six freely assignable modulation slots, aftertouch and expression support, and an arpeggiator with a programmable sequencer. Effects comprise EQ, a three-band resonator, chorus, delay, phaser and reverb.
Preset management lets you filter sounds, including recreations attributed to Wendy Carlos, Herbert Deutsch and Jan Hammer, by bank, type, author, feeling, style and project.
MemoryTone is now available in AAX, AU, VST2.4, and VST3 formats for macOS and Windows, priced at an introductory €79.00, rising to €199.00 thereafter.
Find out more here.
Follow Attack Magazine
Attack Store
Dance Music Producers’ Power Book Bundle
Get 2 best-selling music production books. Buy more, spend less.
The Secrets of Dance Music Production
The world-leading book on dance music production. Comes with samples too.
The Producer’s Manual
Everything you need to take a mix, from initial recording to final master.
Secretos de la Producción de Música Dance
La guía definitiva para producir música electrónica de vanguardia.
Max For Live: Chance Engine V2
Add controlled yet random fluctuations to your most important parameters.
Underground Resistance: The Final Frontier Poster
Anti corporate, political, powerful and progressive the power house of Jeff Mills, Robert Hood and "Mad" Mike Banks needs little introduction.
