Synapse Audio The Legend HZ: feature update 2.1 for Hans Zimmer’s big Minimoog emulation

Synapse Audio teams up with Hans Zimmer for The Legend HZ, a major feature-rich version of its stellar Minimoog emulation.

Hans Zimmer not only builds custom hardware synthesizers but also collaborates with software developers. Following the u-he Zebra HZ, he released The Legend HZ with Synapse Audio in 2024, a souped-up Minimoog emulation with six oscillators, proper ADSR envelopes, and more.

The new update 2.1 is now available. Don’t be confused. In the logic of software releases, it should actually be 1.1, but somehow they start from 2. Maybe because the Legend HZ is a further development of the previous Legend synth.

Update 2.1

Version 2.1 introduces new features, including a new paragraphic 10-band EQ on the back panel, giving you more tonal shaping options. According to HZ, they give it a specific EQ that works particularly well with synths.

Then, the compressor section also got an upgrade with a new one-knob saturator unit. It adds warmth and character to the final output. The new update also adds microtuning support via MTS-ESP, so Angine de Pointrine can now also use the synth properly.

As a bonus, they also added 50 new factory presets crafted by professional sound designer Kevin Schroeder. Many of these were used on Hans Zimmer’s The Next Level tour

Not a huge update, but one that adds nice extra bits that round it out nicely.

 

Synapse Audio The Legend HZ update 2.1 is now available as a free update for existing users on the official website. The update for the Reason Rack Extension version is coming later this month. The Legend HZ is out now for $179/179€.

Available from my partner

AudioDeluxe

Update from September 19, 2024

Good news for Reason users. Their latest soft synth, Legend HZ, in collaboration with Hans Zimmer, is now available as a Rack Extension for Reason.  To celebrate this, they launched an up to 50% OFF sale on Synapse Audio Rack Extensions. 

Article from May 4, 2024

The Minimoog is the legendary Synthesizer of all time. In recent years, it has often been cloned/replicated in hardware or modeled in software. One of the best Minimoog emulations so far is The Legend from the German developer Synapse Audio.

It has a massive and assertive analog-like sound that few can match. After almost eight years on the market, the plugin now has a successor. With prominent help

Synapse Audio The Legend HZ

Please welcome The Legend HZ, the official successor of The Legend Synthesizer. Synapse Audio has brought prominent help on board for this. Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer and sound designer Kevin Schroeder were involved in developing the version, hence the HZ in the name.

According to Synapse Audio, the plugin is based on The Legend but massively expanded in features to make it highly usable and insanely versatile. Only from the new Moog-inspired UI can it be seen that the Legend HZ offers way more to explore. 

Let’s start with the oscillators. Instead of the traditional three Minimoog oscillators, the new version has six, giving you more sound design options. Excellent is that each oscillator offers a low mode. In this case, you can turn some oscillators into multiwave LFOs.

Thanks to the more oscillators, Richard of Synapse Audio also increased the polyphony count to 12 voices. Alternatively, you can play it in mono or fat unison.

From here, it goes into a mixer section with individual controls for each oscillator. The familiar noise, drive, and feedback should not be missing. Then, you have the classic ladder filter and two ADSR envelopes (filter/amp).

Hans Zimmer’s Fixed Filter Bank

Another highlight of the Legend HZ is the new fixed filter bank, modeled after Hans Zimmer’s personal Vintage Moog Modular 914 Fixed Filter Bank. It has vintage and flat modes, giving you two different colors. 

With this excellent addition, the only super authentic Minimoog emulation moves up to the Moog Modular feature set. 

Synapse Audio also has expanded the effects section in Legend HZ. It now features a fully customizable phaser, chorus, reverb, delay, and compressor. Not to forget, the plugin allows you to tweak the behavior of the oscillators, filter, etc on the second page. So full flexibility of your Moogish sound.

Modulation & Sequencing Like A Legend

There is also a new modulation matrix on the bottom of the plugin, with which you can immerse yourself in Moog Modular-like patching, which was not possible in the previous The Legend plugin.

Another new addition is four multi-segment envelope generators in the modulation engine, giving you more advanced parameter animations. It is particularly helpful if you want to design evolving sounds needed in soundtracks. 

Further, it also incorporates an advanced four-part 32-step sequencer with 12 play modes and a preset function. The four-part nature of it is powerful: One part handles the notes, while the three others can modulate parameters. And it supports MPE and NKS (Native Kontrol Standard).

Hollywood Factory Sounds

In addition to the original Legend sounds, the Legend HZ includes 200 new patches developed by Hans Zimmer and Kevin Schroeder. 

The factory soundbank gives anyone access to a wide range of cinematic-style sounds, while The Legend HZ itself provides access to some of the very tools used by them, says SA. 

Synapse Audio The Legend HZ First Impression

Synapse Audio The Legend has long been considered the holy grail of Minimoog emulations. The new version takes it up a notch. With the new features, the plugin even resembles a Moog Modular, or, let’s say, Minimoog Modular.

The attached patch demo sounds massive, and I’m excited to hear what the users say. It sounds like another stellar Synapse Audio release. Congrats to Richard, Hans Zimmer, and Kevin Schroeder.

The Legend HZ by Synapse Audio is available now for $179. Existing customers of the Legend synth can upgrade for $79. It runs as a VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows. A Rack Extension version is now available for the intro price of 129€ instead of 189€. 

A rack extension version of The Legend HZ is under development and scheduled to be released later this year.

More information here: Synapse Audio

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