Soniccouture

SOUND ON SOUND OCTOBER 2010

"..Upholding Soniccouture’s ‘record everything or die trying’ philosophy, all 72 notes were sampled in 24-bit quality at 50 different settings, resulting in 3600 samples requiring 3.5GB of disk space. As a starting point, 38 dual-layer patches feature various unadulterated permutations of the Novachord’s six powerful filters, with a choice of vibrato, attack and decay settings. This provides a large array of characterful, vintage organ-like timbres, ranging from fat Lowrey and reedy Farfisa-like tones to a passable imitation of a Clavioline (the buzzy instrument heard on Joe Meek’s ‘Telstar’).

Soniccouture also created a large number of more complex Kontakt instruments in which the six individual filter tones may be freely mixed and matched. Each tone can have its own vibrato, envelope and filter settings, while an alternative, more deeply programmable synth screen introduces modern-day features such as resonance, filter envelope and filter LFO.

The net result is a unique, highly varied collection of mysterious and atmospheric instruments, including some beautiful pad sounds: spooky electronic flutes, string patches with a sweet, singing high register and a weirdly romantic pre-war flavour, and dark, throbbing theatre-organ-like warblings that evoke the eeriness of early horror films. In contrast to these moody sustains are bright, percussive, metallic patches that you can use for stabs and sequenced rhythm parts.

The surprisingly hi-fi sonic capabilities of the instrument have been extended by smart programming and a terrific effects section (which includes convolution reverb) to create Theremin-esque portamento glides, 1970s analogue synth-style filter and phaser sweeps, muted brass straight out of the 1930s, thunderous basses and one or two screaming leads of alarming ferocity.Preset-surfers and hardened tweakers alike will find plenty of material to enjoy in this library."

Dave Stewart, Sound On Sound Magazine

Neil Davidge, Massive Attack

"I'd never heard, let alone seen a Novachord before, I didn't quite know what to expect when I hit purchase, it was a leap into the unknown (although I've never yet been disappointed in a Soniccouture purchase).

I dislike fussy and plastic, self conscious and gimmicky 'modern' synths;  this instrument has heart even when it bleeps. I used to spend hours trying to warm and add texture with amps and tubes, filters, mics, booths and assistants just to make a synth sit in the track and give it life; every Novachord patch feels matured straight out of the box. The 2039 'update' in no way compromises any of this;  the additional features to the original are sympathetic and choice, as are the effects, giving the instrument a long life expectancy beyond the initial infatuation period."