Robkoo Releases Qithesizer

US Advanced hybrid soft synth designed to work with wind controllers 04/07/23

Robkoo has announced availability of Qithesizer which they describe as an advanced multi-engine hybrid software synthesizer for iPad, iPhone, and Mac (AUv3). They say that it creatively combines physical modelling, virtual analogue, and wavetable synthesis, while working wonderfully with MIDI wind controllers like their own R1 and others, like those from Akai and Roland. Here's the details in their own words...

An appropriate name choice can quickly play a part in helping shape an appreciation for a new product, something Robkoo readily appreciates by effectively combining Qi -- commonly known as the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine, originating from the mandarin dialect and translating to English as air or breath -- with elements of synthesizer -- typically defined as an electronic musical instrument producing a wide variety of sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies -- to create Qithesizer.

Working with wind controllers like Robkoo's revolutionary Wind Synthesizer R1 -- released last year to widespread critical acclaim as a futuristic, cyber-like MIDI wind controller instrument with responsive RGB light bars, motion control, Bluetooth® connectivity, customisable hotkeys, onboard sound banks, and a dedicated app allowing amateur and professional players alike to directly (and literally) light up their performances to audiences for the first time in history, having mastered its intuitive panel design in a matter of minutes and achieved gig-readiness within weeks of first musically making its acquaintance -- and, obviously, others also available from various competing sources such as Akai and Roland, for instance, is integral to the design ethos that brought about Qithesizer as the digital art-facilitating software and hardware company's latest product. Providing users with the possibility of mapping their MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) hardware controller of choice to any Qithesizer parameter to facilitate real-time dynamic effects, enabling MIDI Learn synchronises all displays with their performance. Perhaps this move may well go some way towards securing Qithesizer a firm foothold in an already- oversaturated marketplace. But by creatively combining various synthesis technologies -- to include physical modelling (with multiple physical models), virtual analogue (with basic waveforms), and wavetables (with hundreds of digital waveforms) -- to form a powerful multi-engine hybrid software synthesizer with waveform and dynamic visualisations, bolstered by a 16-step SEQ (sequencer) section with a powerful pattern editor, Qithesizer clearly has what it takes to hold its own, no matter what.

With two wavetable OSCILLATORS, four physical MODELING instruments, three NOISE generators, three classic FILTER types, two (FILTER and AMP) ENVELOPES, and two Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO1 and LFO2), plus a well-specified MODULATORS section -- with eight modulation slots, 11 sources, and 18 destinations -- to its name, there is much scope for crafting original sounds with Qithesizer. No need, necessarily, to rely heavily on any prior synth-centric knowledge since Qithesizer, of course, comes complete with an extensive Factory library of pre-programmed patches.

Put it this way: while Qithesizer positively encourages experimentation by effectively rolling its multiple sound engines into one easy-to-use interface, it also brings the same level of sound design and portability -- playing the onscreen keyboard means that there is no need, necessarily, to work with any external MIDI hardware controllers -- to Apple's iPad and iPhone; its compatibility with AUv3 -- itself a newer version of the AU (Audio Units) plug-in format for Mac with additional features, and the only format currently available on iOS -- considerably broadens its already wide-ranging reach and appeal.

Pricing and Availability:
Priced at $12.99 USD, Qithesizer is available for iPad (requires iPadOS 15.0 or later) and iPhone (requires iOS 15.0 or later), as well as AUv3 (requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later), via Apple's App Store.

More information: