The Usual Suspects Blue Giant: the long-awaited Novation Supernova II polyphonic Synthesizer simulator.
ROM simulators are very popular, not only in gaming but also in the Synthesizer world. The Usual Suspects is working on several projects. Their latest was JADE, a simulator of the Roland JD-990.
One of the most eagerly awaited releases is the simulator of the Novation Supernova II. This was previously a bit more technically challenging, but it is now a reality. The Usual Suspects is about to release Blue Giant as a beta.
The Usual Suspects Blue Giant
Blue Giant is a new ROM simulator plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows for the Novation Supernova 2 (2000).
According to the first information, the Usual Suspects Blue Giant runs on 9 DSP simulations: eight DSP56362 and one DSP56303.
Like the original hardware, it’s an 8-part multi-timbral synth with 24 voices, expandable to 48. Since the Blue Giant plugin uses the original Novation ROM, it also has the same features.
This includes three multi-wave oscillators with two FM modes, two ring modes, and eight different FM/ring mod algorithms. Then, you have a resonant multimode filter with 12, 18, and 24dB/oct options with low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass. It can self-oscillate and has a built-in overdrive.
On the modulation side, you have two multi-wave LFOs with offset and delay, and three loopable ADSR envelopes, with velocity and delay on the last two. A mod matrix on the left side manages these.
Also onboard is the original multi-FX processor, including 56 different algorithms, of which seven can be used simultaneously. It includes distortion, comb filter, EQ, reverb, phaser, flanger, chorus, quad chorus, and more.
The 42-band vocoder isn’t shown on the interface but should also be onboard.
Performance Control
Each part of the Blue Giant by the Usual Suspects also includes an up-to-64-step polyphonic arpeggiator with plenty of presets.
On a dedicated UI page, you get full control over all eight layers. Each layer has play modes (mono, poly…), channel control, velocity, and more.
First Impression
The long-awaited Synthesizer plugin from TUS is now within reach. Supporters can soon use the beta. And Blue Giant sounds excellent from the first demo. I’m just a little worried about the CPU, which will probably be under a lot of stress.
The Usual Suspects Blue Giant is available soon as a public beta version for supporters on their Discord channel. It runs as a VST2, VST3, AU, LV2 and CLAP on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux and Windows
More information: The Usual Suspects
“I’m just a little worried about the CPU, which will probably be under a lot of stress.”
“4 stereo outputs, 24 voices” ?
I would be satisfied with only 1 main stereo output and less voices, to boost CPU power for maximum emulation accuracy / quality.
* an option setting for the number of voices & outputs would help.
– the hardware can happily output to the main stereo outputs only.