Plugin Alliance announces enhanced emulation of Knifonium tube-driven synth sensation
Plugin Alliance, supporting all major plugin formats and uniting some of the best-known international audio companies under one virtual roof, is proud to announce the availability of Knif Audio Knifonium — solidifying sister company Brainworx Audio’s new plugin partnership with Finnish pro audio equipment extraordinaire Knif Audio as an enhanced emulation of the extraordinary Knifonium, an exceptionally beautiful-sounding monophonic synthesizer that is driven by a whopping 26 vacuum tubes.
As an upscale synth sensation, the Knifonium features two tube-driven oscillators, a 4th order ladder filter, a ring modulator, and a gorgeous ‘steampunk’ aesthetic (worthy of American science fiction author K. W. Jeter — originator of the term — himself). Handcrafted in small batches by high-end audio device designer Jonte Knif, the original hardware unit really reflects his incomparable attention to detail. But beautiful as it is, the Knifonium is not just expensive eye-candy capable of making ‘weird noises’ but rather an exceptionally musical and inspiring instrument that offers countless possibilities for shaping and modulating sounds.
Although a new addition to the Plugin Alliance family, the notable Knif Audio name is revered by hardcore synth freaks and audiophile engineers alike. And although lead designer Jonte Knif has been making vacuum tube-based hardware for mixing, mastering, and sound design for years, his Knifonium synth sensation is carefully crafted to be second to none. No one sums it up better than Jonte himself, however, who simply says: “It sounds like nothing else.”
Engineers at Brainworx Audio have taken a great thing and made it even better. Because not only is the plugin version of the Knifonium even more accessible and easier to use than the original, it also adds features that just aren’t possible in the analog world.
Knif Audio Knifonium Features
- Up to 8-voice polyphony driven by up to 208 carefully-modeled vacuum tubes
- A powerful effects section featuring well-known studio-grade effects
- A complete arpeggiator including flexible panning functions
- Over 300 presets included by top sound designers
- Mid/Side processing and onboard stereo field enhancements
- Modeled using Brainworx patented TMT technology for extreme realism
With eight independent voices added to the synthesizer, Knif Audio Knifonium opens up an entirely new universe of possibilities as an enhanced emulation — for instance, imagine an atmospheric-sounding pad produced by a total of 208 vacuum tubes!
The software version also adds M/S (mid-side) and stereo Spread capabilities, a powerful Unison mode, as well as the carefully-curated FX section, including a well-known vintage-style Phaser, plugin partner brand SPL’s EQ Ranger, Wavefolder, and more as a wide range of effects that Knif Audio Knifonium users will actually want to use.
Ultimately, Knif Audio Knifonium sounds uniquely rich and captivating — even at its most basic. But best of all, Jonte Knif confirms that it sounds and behaves just like the real thing. This should come as little surprise since Brainworx Audio meticulously modeled the complete circuits of the original hardware — including all 26 tubes, and applied its patented TMT (Tolerance Modeling Technology) to recreate the natural variations in Envelope parameters, Pitch, LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) speed, and so many more characteristics to make this digital recreation sound as realistically analog and natural as possible.
About Knif Audio
Knif Audio was founded in 2005 and has gradually built a line of some of the best studio equipment ever made, collectively concentrating on mastering studio-grade units with all-Elma rotary switch controls and highest quality mechanical and electrical components.
Knif Audio produces the hardware version Knifonium is a 26 tube monophonic synthesizer with two oscillators, a 4th order ladder filter, and a ring modulator. Third batch is now sold out. More production in 1-2 years. Knifonium is a very carefully designed synth for many purposes, small and light enough to take to gigs despite of the number of electronics and traditional craftsmanship and adequately sized controllers. Built to the highest instrument making standards Knifonium is a joy to operate and listen to.
Demo
A fully-functional, 14-day trial of Knif Audio Knifonium is available to anyone registering for a free Plugin Alliance account here: http://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/registration.html
Pricing and Availability
Knif Audio Knifonium is available for purchase (as an AAX AudioSuite-, AAX Native-, AU-, VST2-, and VST3-supporting, fully NKS — Native Kontrol Standard — compatible virtual instrument plugin for macOS 10.9 through 10.15 and Windows 7 through 10) at an attractive introductory price of $199.99 USD until August 10, 2020 — rising thereafter to an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of $299.00 USD.
