Elf Audio Koala Quokka is a new virtual analog Synthesizer built into the famous SP-404-style sampler app for iOS and Android.
There are hundreds of music apps in the AppStore—synthesizers, samplers, effects, etc. One of the most successful is probably Elf Audio Koala, a sampler app based on the iconic Roland SP-404 sampler.
Thanks to constant app releases over the last few years, the app has become more than just a sampler. It is also one of the few that is also available for Android. The latest update adds synthesis to Koala for the first time. With the Quokka, Elf Audio has introduced a Synthesizer into the popular mobile sampler.
Elf audio Koala Quokka
Quokka is a new polyphonic synth built into the Koaler sampler. Anyone who has purchased the Samurai upgrade, which adds more features to the built-in sampler, can access the latest synth.
The new Elf Audio Kaola Quokka uses virtual analog synthesis with four selections: oscillator, filter, LFO, and envelope. The VA engine consists of a single oscillator with four continuously shapable waveforms: sawtooth, square, sine, and random (noise).
Each waveform has a morphing function that shapes it differently. Choosing the sawtooth, the morph parameter adds a low octave, while with a square, you get pulse width modulation. With the sine wave, morph goes from a blending triangle to FM synthesis based on an additive synthesis.
Then, the filter section consists of a multimode filter with lowpass, bandpass, and highpass. They are controllable with classic cutoff, resonance, and drive controls. Modulation is also onboard.
First, you have a single multi-wave clockable LFO with speed and depth controls mappable to a selectable target. Cool, you can modulate the shape of the oscillator or create amplitude modulation (AM).
Secondly, you get an ADSR envelope hardwired to the amplitude, but there is another one. Elf Audio Kaola Quokka offers a decay modulation envelope with time and depth controls.
Further, it ships with various synth presets that will be expanded in the future. If you want it to be even simpler, there is also a possibility to hide the parameters and just play around with X/Y parameters
First Impression
This is a lovely update for the Elf audio Koala sampler. It’s not an innovative synth but one that makes the whole app experience even more versatile. Plus, it also makes the Samurai update even more of a must.
Elf audio Koala Quokka synth is now part of the Samurai Edition upgrade and is available for $3,99 as an in-app purchase. The synth is free of charge for existing Samurai Edition users. Koala is available for $4,99 on the Apple AppStore (iOS/macOS) and Google Store (Android).
More information here: Elf Audio
Nice! Bought 🙂
Wut??!? This is amazing. Koala was already the best value in mobile music making software. This just cements it. Seriously, if you’ve already got a phone or tablet, buying an SP404 or the new P-6 is folly. Koala smokes them both and is something like $15 for everything.
Elf Audio needs to fix their Windows port of Koala.