Calc-U-Synth by Heavyocity Reaktor ensemble synth plugin interface

Calc-U-Synth: Casio VL-Tone Emulation for Reaktor by Heavyocity

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (86 ratings)

Calc-U-Synth is a Reaktor instrument by Heavyocity that emulates the Casio VL-Tone, a 1979 digital calculator and synthesizer hybrid. It is a monophonic synth with five presets and a programmable ADSR slot.

REQUIRESReaktorHost player sold separately

ReaktorWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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01Overview

Calc-U-Synth recreates the Casio VL-Tone, a calculator that could also be played as a synthesizer. The developer says the emulation reproduces the original's character, including its built-in speaker, which was analyzed and modeled. Lo-fi key-click sounds were sampled and can be added to the sound. Effects and performance options, including an arpeggiator, circuit-bending glitch controls and a filter and delay module, extend the original voice. The product runs inside Reaktor.

Best for

Lo-fi synth sounds
Retro digital tones
Circuit-bent glitch effects
Vintage electronic music
Reaktor Blocks building

Developer: Heavyocity
Category: Reaktor Ensembles
Requires: Reaktor
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Emulates the Casio VL-Tone calculator synthesizer released in 1979
Monophonic synth with five presets and a programmable ADSR slot
Built-in speaker of the original modeled and reproduced
Lo-fi key-click sounds sampled and included
Arpeggiator, circuit-bending glitch controls and filter and delay module
74 snapshots for storing and recalling sound settings
9 Reaktor Blocks included for Reaktor Full users
Runs in Reaktor or Reaktor Player, version 6.2 or later

03In depth

Sound and Character of the VL-Tone Emulation

Calc-U-Synth is built around the monophonic synthesizer mode of the original Casio VL-Tone. The instrument includes five preset sounds and a sixth user-programmable slot labeled ADSR.

Heavyocity says the developer measured and reproduced the original hardware in detail. The built-in speaker of the VL-Tone was analyzed and modeled, and the key-click sounds of playing the instrument were sampled and included. These elements add lo-fi realism, and you can set how much of them you want in the sound.

The sound can be pushed further with an arpeggiator, circuit-bending glitch controls and a filter and delay effect module.

Workflow, Presets and Reaktor Blocks

The interface presents the VL-Tone's programmable features in a more convenient layout than the original hardware. The product includes 74 snapshots, which store complete sound settings that you can recall quickly.

Calc-U-Synth was created with the Reaktor Blocks framework. If you own the full version of Reaktor, the package includes 9 Reaktor Blocks that you can use in your own Reaktor creations.

The product is available as a direct download only and takes up 19.5 MB on disk.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Heavyocity
Type	Plugin
Category	Reaktor Ensemble
Requires	Reaktor
Formats	Reaktor
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Calc-U-Synth based on?

Calc-U-Synth emulates the Casio VL-Tone, a digital calculator and synthesizer hybrid released in the summer of 1979 and manufactured until 1984.

What do I need to use Calc-U-Synth?

Calc-U-Synth requires Reaktor or Reaktor Player, version 6.2 or later. Reaktor is required to run the instrument.

Which operating systems does Calc-U-Synth support?

Calc-U-Synth is listed for Windows and macOS. The listed minimum requirements are Mac OS X 10.10, 10.11 or macOS 10.12, and Windows 7, 8 or 10 with an Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor.