Synapse Audio The Legend HZ: Update Brings EQ, Saturation to Hans Zimmer’s Minimoog Soft Synth
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Synapse Audio The Legend HZ Update · Source: Synapse Audio
Synapse Audio The Legend HZ · Source: Synapse Audio
Synapse Audio’s The Legend HZ six-oscillator Minimoog is now even better with a paragraphic EQ, saturation in the compressor, and more.
Synapse Audio The Legend HZ
Update 2.1
Hans Zimmer never does anything by half measures. The famed composer loves to be bigger than life, whether that’s bringing a massive custom modular rig on tour or delivering huge scores for movies like Dune. Or making a software version of the Moog Minimoog with six oscillators with developer Synapse Audio.
Called The Legend HZ, the soft synth has just received a free new update, adding more to the already bursting-with-features plugin. Update 2.1 brings a 10-band paragraphic EQ to the back panel, “giving more tonal shaping options directly within the instrument,” according to co-creator and sound designer Kevin Schroeder. It’s also got a new saturation circuit in the compressor, “adding warmth and character to the final output.”
Further additions include microtuning support via MTS-ESP and 50 new factory presets from Schroeder.
Owners of The Legend HZ can update via the Synapse Audio homepage (link below).
The software is available at Thomann* for $163 / £149 / €169.
- Synapse Audio The Legend HZ product page
Hans Zimmer’s Souped-up Minimoog Now Available for Reason
[19 September 2024] Synapse Audio The Legend HZ – an expanded Minimoog emulation created in collaboration with Hans Zimmer – is now available as a rack extension for Reason. And it’s currently on sale!
The Legend HZ for Reason
[19 September 2024] The Legend HZ came out earlier this year as a collaboration between Synapse Audio and Hans Zimmer. While it’s essentially a Minimoog emulation, it adds a slew of additional features such as extra oscillators, a 32-step sequencer, a multi-segment envelope generator, and a 914 Fixed Filter Bank. You can find out more about the plugin in our original news story below.
Good news: the instrument is now also available as a rack extension for Reason! Reason users can now download it for a reduced introductory price (€129 instead of €189) from the Reason Studios website.
Reason Studios Reason 13 and Reason+ are available at Thomann*, as is the regular VST/AU/AAX version of the software synth*.
Synapse Audio The Legend HZ
[06 May 2024] Six oscillators, 12-voice polyphony, MPE and a 914-style fixed filter bank bolster Synapse Audio The Legend HZ, an upgraded Minimoog emulation.
The Moog Minimoog must be the most modelled synthesizer in the soft synth universe. Many go for authenticity in their emulation. Others add extras like polyphony and additional modulation. Synapse Audio has done both with The Legend HZ, an upgrade to its 2016 virtual analogue original. And yes, the HZ in the name stands for Hans Zimmer.
Six Oscillators? Oh My
The first thing you’ll notice on the soft synth is the addition of extra oscillators, upping the count from the original three to a swarmtastic six. Given that they’re Minimoog oscillators, they can also act as LFOs, meaning you won’t have to steal any sound sources for advanced synthesis.
With those additional oscillators come more voices. The Minimoog on steroids ups the polyphony count from the original soft synth’s four to a very pleasing 12. Of course, it can do mono (it’s a Minimoog after all) but there’s also a Unison mode complete with detune and spread.
What Else Is New?
While the original 2016 The Legend took things further than the physical version (as Robin talked about in the original news story), 2024’s version now comes with a modulation matrix, a 32-step sequencer, an MSEG (that’s Multi-Segment Envelope Generator, as on synths like Massive and Pigments), and an expanded effects section.
Speaking of effects, while the new section is pretty comprehensive-looking with all the usual suspects like chorus, reverb, delay and compression, I’m most intrigued by the fixed filter bank. Based on Hans Zimmer’s personal module, it’s an emulation of a Moog 914 Fixed Filter Bank. Essentially a bank of 12 bandpass filters, you can create formant filter-like effects with it and much more.
Finally, The Legend HZ features MPE.
Not That Dune
Synapse Audio have a soft synth called Dune. Hans Zimmer did the soundtrack for a movie called Dune. Clearly, the two were meant to work together. Zimmer has lent not only his support and some presets to the The Legend HZ but also his initials.
You can see him in the promotional videos below.
Price and Availability
Synapse Audio The Legend HZ is now available in VST, AU and AAX formats for $179. Owners of the original The Legend can upgrade for $79.
More Information
- The Legend HZ product page
- All about synthesizers
- All about plugins
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