AudioThing SX1000 is a new authentic emulation of the JEN SX1000 analog Synthesizer from 1978 for macOS, Linux, Windows, and iOS.
Minimoog, ARP Odyssey or 2600, Sequential Circuits Pro-1 or Prophet-5, Roland SH-101 or Jupiter-8. Yes, we know many legendary analog synthesizers from the 1970s and 80s. These are absolute classics of analog synthesis. During these prosperous times, many more releases of analog synths were made, which are now only known by insiders.
AudioThing is now bringing one of these into your DAW, the JEN SX1000 Synthesizer from 1978. It was one of the earliest affordable analog synthesizers designed for musicians with a lower budget.
AudioThing SX1000
AudioThing SX1000 is an authentic emulation with extra features. I’m not sure, but this is the first-ever emulation of the JEN SX1000. I have a Kontakt library packed with multi-sampled sounds in a neat interface, but I have never seen a modern emulation.
According to Carlo of AudioThing, they have carefully emulated the M110 chip to achieve the same sound.
The original JEN SX1000 is a straightforward monophonic subtractive synth with a single DCO, a lowpass filter, and modulation. Much of that was carried over into the emulation, but there is also much difference.
It starts with playability. The new AudioThing SX1000 plugin is a polyphonic Synthesizer, while the hardware is just a mono synth. Then, it offers the same multi-wave oscillator (sawtooth, square, and pulse) with tuning, octave, vibrato, level, PW, and PWM controls. Plus, it has the original noise generator.
Only the SX1000 plugin has an added sub-oscillator (down to -3 octaves), giving the synth an extra bottom end. However, a vintage mod was available to add this to the hardware.
The filter features a hardware-modeled 24dB/octave resonant lowpass filter with a distinct organic sound, self-oscillation, and classic modulation options.
SX1000 is very similar to the original hardware on the modulation side, with two ADSR envelopes (filter, amp) and an LFO for vibrato, tremolo, or filter modulation. AudioThing added additional waveforms and a sync mode to make it more versatile.
Effects
Also new on the AudioThing SX1000 plugin is a Roland Juno 60-inspired advanced arpeggiator with a 4-octave range, four modes, adjustable rate and sync, hold/latch mode, and more.
Further, you refine your sounds with a multi-FX processor with four stripped-down effects from AudioThing’s FX plugin portfolio: tape echo (Outer Space plugin), spring reverb, a Serge Wave Multipliers-based wave folder, and a BBD-based flanger.
The plugin also has additional controls for legato modes and a preset browser with factory presets to explore. Neat, it also has a patch randomizer for instant new sound inspiration.
First Impression
There are countless emulations of the same classics. If it’s not a Juno, it’s a CS-80 or a Prophet-5. A soft replica of the JEN SX1000 is a nice change, mainly because it’s the first emulation made by a known company.
The developers have released two shorts comparing the original with the plugin. It sounds very authentic to my ears, but I can’t say for sure because I have never owned a JEN SX1000. But I am looking forward to trying out this new release. Big plus also for the iOS version.
AudioThing SX1000 is available now for an introductory price of 49€ instead of 69€. It runs as a standalone and VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+), and Windows. A demo version is on the website.
The iOS version (iPhone/iPad) is available now for an introductory price of $12,99 instead of $19,99 on the Apple AppStore.
More information here: AudioThing /AppStore
ugh, minikeys. lol.