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FEATURES

* 44.1 kHz/24-bit samples
* Advanced Retro Synthesis Engine
* Two mixable layers
* Separate vibrato, envelopes and filters (LP and HP)
* AGE buttons apply retro filtering
* Convolution reverb with hall, plate and spring impulses
* 10 presets

PRICE - £8 + VAT
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CATHOTRON

Antique and old junk shops can be great places to rummage round in, especially the little back street ones run by some eccentric, doddery old bloke in a waistcoat and bow tie. There are loads of them in Britain and our intrepid explorers are never far from one, stumbling across little gems for 're-purposing'. And they have found a real belter in the latest.

At first, it was thought it was some peculiar radio/TV hybrid ... or some old piece of radar equipment. You can imagine our surprise, then, when it was cleaned up, powered up and it started generating bizarre and unusual string and pad sounds coming at us over the decades and reminiscent of the scratchy, crusty soundtracks heard in old black and white movies.

It has two layers, BODY and AIR so named because one provides the foundation of the sound while the other provides a lighter component. Each section has three basic sounds which can be tuned, mixed, have vibrato added and shaped and filtered - BODY uses a simple lowpass filter while AIR features a highpass filter to make that section more 'wispy'.

These then pass through a unique bank of fixed filters with the AGE buttons which impose retro tonalities on the sound from wow/flutter, various fixed formant filters and old vinyl noise. These can be switched in and out as required in any combination.

Finally, the whole thing is rounded off with a convolution reverb that features hall, plate and spring reverbs, each with three size variations.

It also comes with a variety of presets.

It's actually capable of a wide range of old, retro string and pad sounds that have a unique character. The source sounds are already a bit scrapey but these can be enhanced (or degraded) further with the AGE buttons and combining the various sounds from the two layers, each with their own filters, allows surprising flexibility with everything from old film strings to eery cinema organs, interesting vocal-esque textures and it can sound 'clean' to cronky, sometimes reminiscent of an old, beaten up Tron with maybe a hint of Novachord - in fact, this could be how the bastard offspring of a Tron and Nova might have sounded had the limited technologies merged.

These are string and pad sounds with a difference - whereas most such sounds are clean and 'floaty' or 'spacious', mellow, warm, smooth ... whatever adjective you'd care to use ... these are 'earthy' and 'crusty', 'cronky', 'wonky' and wonderfully flawed and will bring a unique character to productions in any number of musical genres.


CREDITS    
Samples : Hollow Sun
Sample Editing : Hollow Sun
Scriptmeister : Mario Krušelj
Programming : Hollow Sun and Mario Krušelj
GUI design : Hollow Sun and Mario Krušelj
Graphics : Hollow Sun and Mario Krušelj
Audio Demos : Hollow Sun / Talion Law
From a concept inspired by HS friend, Harvey Jones

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Kontakt 4.2.4 full version (or higher)
Windows® XP (SP2, 32bit) / Vista® (32/64 Bit), Windows 7® (32/64 Bit), Pentium® or Athlon XP 1.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM
Mac OS® X 10.5 or higher, Intel® Core™ Duo 1.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM
 
NOTE : It will work with the Kontakt Player but only in 'demo' mode and the session will be time limited.


Beautiful sounds, beautiful panel.

Ashley


Must tell you that I appreaciated the Cathotron a lot! Nice mystery sounds, esp. Distant Strings

Keep it up!!!!

Cheers
Christian (Bonamici)


I know it's been said before here but why so cheap? This is worth so much more.

Lovely work.

Tomas


After hearing the beautiful demo (the montage) I bought this immediately. Wonderful. Can't wait to use it!

Kevin


Great stuff as always, Stephen. I don't even listen to the demos cuz if it's from HS Towers, it's going to be great!

As it is, the demos are excellent esp Creepy Movie. Scared the sh*t out of me! LOL

Nathan


Amazing GUI

Stan


Thankyou Steve.
Nice programming - Worn Out Tape being my favourite by a mile.

Harvey Jones


Can I just say that Hollowsun's Cathotron contraption is my new favourite thing ever?

That is all

Ron


I've been playing with the Cathotron for all of twenty minutes and it's already my favourite string machine ever.

Guy


 

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