Indeed, it's actually gained a choice of Assign modes for capturing each take to the next Layer, Pad or both, or sending it to the Slicer, which makes the process of on-the-fly kit creation faster and more fun than ever. More importantly, the Sampler has been greatly reduced in size and prominence from its previous dedicated panel to a pop-out extension of the pad section, with no loss in functionality. The Engine and Global Mixers are now unified, and the previously oversized pattern keys section has been shrunk and moved to the top of the Pattern panel, for example. It's wonderfully liberating and a vast improvement over the previous setup, but we're surprised there's no option to save workspaces for instant recall - big pads for performance, fullscreen sequencer for sequencing, huge mixer for mixing, and so on.Ī few specific elements have been sensibly relocated, too. Not only is the whole window now freely resizable with no effect on graphical fidelity, but every panel within it can also be stretched vertically and horizontally (to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the individual pane), with pads reshaping to fit, scrollbars appearing as required, and multiple automation lanes now viewable for each pad in the Sequencer. While the latter hasn't been lessened (nor should it be!) for Geist2, the GUI has been utterly transformed by the transition to vector graphics and Retina/HiDPI compatibility, and the introduction of a muted, more contemporary new look. The original Geist could be undeniably fiddly at times, due to the awkward disconnect between its inflexible interface and the multi-layered complexity of its architecture. Patterns can be arranged into Scenes, and strung together as arrangements manually or in real time, making Geist2 a full-on production environment in its own right - albeit one that still can't host other plugins. All this functionality is designed to give you very quick and easy access to generating new sound presets, that are unique to you.Sequencing of pads is done using a familiar pattern sequencer that stores up to 24 patterns of 1024 steps each and features automation lanes for Volume, Pan, tuning, timing Shift, effects sends and much more. On top of all this is Shapiro 2’s randomization and morphing system – randomize any number of voices, morph between two different “slots” (and include or exclude any voice in this process) and include or exclude a voice in preset loading. It includes per-voice pitch-bend and per-voice keyboard splits. Shapiro 2 has extensive CC control management and is MPE enabled. Shapiro 2 also comes with a per-voice Arpeggiator (so 4 arps) to allow you to build interesting and unique melodic content. Modulators include Envelopes, User-drawn LFOs, variable-step and tempo Gates, Sample & Hold, Keyboard and Velocity. Shapiro 2 allows an unprecedented control over where and when modulation can be applied, and the shape the modulation takes, to give you shifting and changing audio output. The output of all four voices is then combined and passed through the comprehensive effects section, then into a legato system derived from our work on orchestral ROMplers. Finally there is a dedicated multi-mode filter section. Next is a “classic” Wave Shaper, this is followed by our one-of-a-kind Field processor, that uses impulse responses in a convolution engine to move the timbre of the output. First is an FM shaper – this isn’t FM synthesis, instead its using a sine wave to shape the timbral output of the oscillator pairs. Outputs from the oscillator-pairs passes through their own dynamic “shaping” processes. Shapiro 2 is an eight oscillator synth, offering a different approach to sound-generation, using oscillators in matched pairs and allowing you to modulate the output in a range of different ways. Adding Shapiro 2 will spice up your mixes, add ear-catching unique sounds and help you stand out in the marketplace. Sure there’s a place for those classic synth sounds, and every synth should be able to make them, but to make your work stand out from the crowd you need useful vibrant and original sound content – welcome to Shapiro 2. The trouble is they can all start to sound sorta samey.