Roland Zenology GX is a new multi-timbral ZEN-Core-based Synthesizer plugin with over 11000 tones with seamless GALAXIAS integration.
With the ZEN-Core engine, Roland has built a large synthesis ecosystem. Whether hardware (Jupiter-X, Juno-X, etc.) or plugins, ZenCore or parts of it are found in nearly every Roland synth product. With the Zenology Pro plugin, you can also explore the engine virtually in your DAW.
The ultimate Roland plugin is GALAXIAS, which allows you to combine any Roland virtual instrument with it to create multi-layered instruments. With the new 1.8 update, they are merging the Zenology Pro plugin with GALAXIAS to create the new Zenology GX Synthesizer.
Roland Zenology GX
Zenologx GX is a new multi-timbral Synthesizer built into GALAXIAS 1.8. Roland describes Zenology GX as the latest evolution of its acclaimed ZEN-Core synthesis system for DAWs.
At its core is the ZEN-Core synth engine, which features four partials. Each partial is an independent synth voice comprising an oscillator, filter, three envelopes (pitch, amp, mod) and two LFOs.
The oscillator section offers nine virtual analog waveforms, superaw, noise, PCM (7,000 PCM waveforms), and PCM sync. From here it goes into a mixer, and into a multi-mode filter with ten filter types: Jupiter, Moog, Prophet-5, and other models.
Then, you can craft the perfect modulation for each partial with three envelopes and two LFOs with eleven LFO shapes, including tempo-synced Step LFOs with 37 curves per step. There is also a modulation matrix, giving you access to every partial’s modulation.
At the end of the signal path, you can find a global multi-FX processor with over 90 Roland effects, including reverbs, JUNO-106 and CE-1 choruses, SDD-320 Dimension D, and DJ-FX Looper. Yes, everything that Zenology Pro can also do with synthesis.
Multi-Layering
The highlight of the Zenology GX is the seamless integration of GALAXIAS, allowing you to create multi-layer sounds, using the Roland plugin catalog.
It has the same convenient sound browsing and in-app content discovery as the dedicated GALAXIAS plugin. You can layer up to four instances with definable key ranges, per-layer effects, and sophisticated macro-controls. You can use any Roland plugin here and layer them.
It’s a shame that third-party plugins still can’t be loaded in GALAXIAS 1.8. Further, it also hosts GALAXIAS’s powerful and inspiring arpeggiator and chord sequencer.
There is also option to export sounds to Zenology Pro and ZEN-Core hardware instruments like the FANTOM, JUPITER-X, JUNO-X, RD-88, MC-101, MC-707, and others.
Important note: Zenology GX does not yet import SVZ files from hardware synths so you need to use Zenlogy Pro until GX is updated to support both import and export.
GALAXIAS 1.8 Update
Alongside the new Zenology GX, Roland also updated GALAXIAS to version 1.8. It comes with a newly designed high-DPI interface with major speed optimizations. According to Roland, GALAXIAS is up to 90% faster then the previous versions and uses up to 40% less RAM.
Additionally, the new EARTH Electric Piano is now available as an instrument in the GALAXIAS environment, complete with a fresh new template and macro mappings.
GALAXIAS 1.8 also introduces a major workflow upgrade. The new immersive mode transforms GALAXIAS into a compact, DAW-friendly viewport for single-instrument focus—without sacrificing core functionality.
Roland Zenology GX First Impression
Zenology GX is somewhat confusing at first glance. It’s intended to replace ZPro, even though Zenology Pro is still available and it even offers an export function to it. Well, not everyone has to understand Roland’s decision here.
To be honest, I was never a fan of the Zenology Pro interface. The Zenology GX looks better and more modern. The fact that GALAXIAS has been revised again, including the interface and making everything faster, is very welcome.
The Roland Zenology GX is now available to download for Roland Cloud Ultimate subscribers. The Ultimate subscription is $19,99 per month or $199,99 per year.
More information here: Roland
3 envelopes and 2 LFOs….oh Roland.
Interesting but the subscription model unfortunately is a no go
Sub-scription-based synth pitches are sub-standard.
In world full of Surge and similar, people are spending real money to have a synth and then have it taken away again. What is the expression about a fool and his money?
I’m going to have second and third on the subscription model. Not for me and never will be. I have enough quite powerful synths to work and play with that I’ll upgrade on my own time, if ever needed.
Hey, look. It’s Pigments.
What exactly _NEW_ is in Zenology GX vs. Zenology Pro? Apart from the user interface 😉
they melt the GALAXIAS functionality with the Zenology Pro that why it has GX (Galaxias) 😉