Spectrasonics Releases Omnisphere 1.5

Spectrasonics has announced the release of version 1.5 of its flagship Omnisphere synth. It's a couple days later than planned, but it's hard to complain when a free update offers so many new goodies.

"Highlights of Omnisphere 1.5

• Innovative “Orb” ‘circular sound manipulation’ interface with Motion Recording and “Dice” button for infinite variations and one-touch sound customization

• Expanded Synthesis capabilities:

-Harmonia: New zoom page shows all Harmonia parameters per layer adding up to 10 oscillators per patch with new independent modulation options for Levels and Fine Tuning on each Harmonia oscillator.

-Waveshaper: New zoom page with extreme new processing modules including polyphonic ‘Crusher’ and ‘Reducer’ sections with ‘Force’ and ‘Animation’ controls that can all be modulated.

-Granular Synthesis: New ‘Speed’ and ‘Position’ modes. New zoom page with new ‘Granular Visualizer’ showing a graphic model of the effect of parameter edits which makes Granular synthesis easier to use.

• Patch Library Update: 780 brand new patches created by renowned Spectrasonics sound development team gives Omnisphere over 5,000 patches and 8,000 total included sounds!

• New 5-Column Browser view displays more sound categories and attributes simultaneously

• Support for new ‘Omni TR’ iPad app

• New “Most Recent” Browser sorting option

• Added support for MIDI devices which send polyphonic aftertouch

• New ‘Clone Part’ feature allows easier editing/setup with multichannel MIDI controllers

• New MIDI Learn hardware control mode follows Live Mode selection

• Modulation Envelope points can be key-command snapped to semitone when modulating pitch

• User-assignable Legato Interval rule added

• FREE update for all registered users of Omnisphere!"