The Usual Suspects, the developers of the DSP56300 emulator, have dropped Vavra, a new Synthesizer plugin recreating Waldorf microQ.
Many well-known 90s virtual analog synthesizers are based on the Motorola DSP5630 DSP. For example, the Access Virus series A, B, C, TI, the Clavia Nord Lead 3, Waldorf Q, or the Novation Nova synthesizers.
A group of developers is working on an open-source DSP5630 emulator (DSP56300) to replicate this synths in software. One of the first projects was Osirus which recreates the features and sounds of the Access Virus B and C as a plugin. The TI version is already in alpha. With Vavra, the developers are releasing the next emulation.
The Usual Suspects Vavra
Vavra is an emulation of the Waldorf microQ from 2000—one of the first virtual analog synthesizers. It featured 25 voices (expandable up to 75) with 5 oscillators per voice, two multitype filters with FM and distortion, four envelopes, three audio rate LFOs, effects, and more.
The project’s core is, once again, the DSP56300 emulation plugin. It’s available as a free download, but there is a catch.
The developers only offer the DSP emulator as a plugin here, but not the required ROM file for the respective synth. Offering this on the website would be against copyrights, but the emulator itself is not illegal. Sharing of the hardware ROMs is, however, illegal.
So the user must provide the ROM file of a Synthesizer that it wants to emulate. It works similarly to game console emulators, where the emulator itself cannot execute any game until you provide a ROM, say the developers.
The Waldorf microQ version is less advanced than the Virus B and C versions in development. Vavra is currently in the alpha version, a very young emulation with many teething problems.
Update: the developers say:
For the microQ, no ROM is needed, just the OS update as .mid file. You can download it from the Waldorf website. The Virus TI is finished but held back as the hardware is still being sold.
First Impression
Reviving old virtual analog synthesizers thanks to an emulator is exciting. Both Virus emulations sound very good and authentic. I support the concept as long as they don’t try to emulate synths still on the market. Mainly because this is not an emulation from scratch but based on a ROM file that is still copy-protected.
According to the developer, talks are being held with Waldorf, but no agreement has been reached so far. It would be very welcome if Waldorf would release the ROMs so one could relive the microQ with 100% legality.
DSP56300 is available now in an alpha version for project donators.
More information here: DSP56300
The rom files is actually available in the archives section of the Waldorf website.
Hi, thanks for the article. For the microQ, no ROM is needed, just the OS update as .mid file. You can download it from the Waldorf website.
The Virus TI is finished, but held back as the hardware is still being sold.
Man, how much better can it get… thanks a lot for your work. 👍👍👍
When I read this, I couldn’t believe my luck. 🙂 Last thing I read is that you didn’t plan to do other synths, and now the microQ, which is the synth I was the most interested in apart from the Virus, will drop. Yes!
Personally I would have been very happy about a software “Q” cause the Terratec Komplexer is already a very good software “µQ”. But okay, you can’t have everything in life;)
Why can’t we download Vavra from the same page. as Osirus?
It makes no sense at all.