I never actually pulled the trigger on the original Ensoniq SQ-80 (mainly because of its size), but I tested Arturia’s SQ80 V when it was released in September 2021. I’m starting with SQ80 V because Ensoniq’s classic 80s hybrid synthesizer has been on my wishlist since… forever. Let’s take a closer look at the new Arturia V Collection 9 instruments first. Arturia included four brand new instruments, four improved versions of old V Collection classics, and fourteen exclusive soundbanks. V Collection 9 brings enough fresh material to whet any synth aficionado’s gear appetite.

The results in Augmented Voices are a little less compelling if you ask me, but it’s still great to see Arturia try something new and bring something other than emulations of vintage synths to the V Collection.Arturia releases V Collection 9, the latest iteration of their flagship virtual instrument collection, containing 32 plugins. Choirs and soloists get processed and smashed up against various synth engines to create everything from ‘80s-inflected synthpop arpeggios to guttural wails for your next Hans Zimmer tribute. The twist is that, instead of using string and orchestral sound, Augmented Voices uses, well, voices. If your whole thing is cinematic sound design, the Augmented series will probably pique your interest.Īugmented Voices follows the same basic formula as Strings: Combine four layers (two sample and two synth) to create unique blends of acoustic and artificial textures. You can swap in samples or synth engines, dial in separate envelopes for each of the four layers, and choose whatever effects you want. The core UI and sounds are all the same, but the addition of an Advanced tab give you complete control over the instrument. But the one included in the V Collection is far more robust. We already got a taste of Strings a few weeks ago when Arturia launched the Intro version for free. The biggest additions to the family, though, are definitely the Augmented Voices and Augmented Strings.

Upgrade analog lab to v collection