Imaginando VS2

Imaginando VS2 is a dynamic and innovative software synthesizer that revives and dramatically expands upon the concept of Vector Synthesis (VS), a unique form of sound generation pioneered in the late 1980s by instruments like the Sequential Prophet VS and the Yamaha SY-22. VS2 takes this foundational idea—the real-time, dynamic cross-fading of multiple sound sources—and integrates it with a modern, feature-rich synthesis architecture. The result is a powerful virtual instrument that excels at creating complex, evolving pads, shifting textures, and unique, fluid timbres that possess immense depth and motion.

The Vector Synthesis Core

At the heart of VS2 is its four-oscillator vector engine. Vector Synthesis is fundamentally a waveform sequencing technique that uses a geometric field to control the balance between four distinct sound sources:

• The Vector Plane: The plugin features a two-dimensional plane (the joystick or vector envelope) where the four oscillators are positioned at the corners. By moving a central vector point across this plane, the synthesizer continuously and smoothly cross-fades the amplitude levels of the four oscillators.

• The Vector Envelope: Crucially, this movement can be automated using an internal vector envelope or path. By drawing complex, cyclical, or one-shot motion paths, the user can program sounds that continuously morph and evolve over time, giving the sound its signature, restless quality.

Waveforms and Morphing

VS2 moves far beyond the limited ROM-based waveforms of its hardware predecessors. Its oscillators are highly flexible, capable of generating not only classic analog waveforms but also complex digital wavetables.

• Wavetable Exploration: The inclusion of wavetables allows the sound to change not just by cross-fading, but by scanning through the harmonic content within a single oscillator. When combined with the vector cross-fading, this dual-layer morphing capability creates sonic textures that are virtually endless in their complexity and variation.

• Granular Engine: VS2 often includes a small, integrated granular engine or specialized sample playback module, allowing users to import their own audio files and use them as one or more of the vector points. This expands the tonal palette to include acoustic sounds and found sounds, which can then be seamlessly blended with the synthetic oscillators.

Modern Effects and Modularity

To finalize the sound, VS2 includes a high-quality, integrated effects chain and a flexible modulation system:

• Filter Section: The synthesizer includes several analog-modeled filters with different slopes and resonance behaviors, providing the necessary warmth and subtractive shaping to the complex digital tones.

• Modulation: A comprehensive modulation matrix, along with multiple LFOs and envelopes, ensures that every parameter of the synthesis engine—including filter cutoff, pitch, and the vector path speed—can be animated and synchronized to the music.

Imaginando VS2 successfully resurrects and modernizes the unique power of vector synthesis, offering sound designers and musicians a tool for crafting organic, constantly evolving, and deeply dimensional textures perfect for cinematic scoring and electronic music.