7 Upgrades UVI Should Include In Falcon 3.0

[@donjohnsmusic3116]

I just released my 14th album using exclusively Falcon! It’s the most powerful tool I’ve ever had as a musician of 45 years! UVI is a solid company and the only one who helped me transition from my old iMac 27 (2012) to the new Mac Mini M2 silicon. Hands down best software and customer satisfaction! I titled one track, “Blue Falcon,” as a homage to UVI Falcon! It will totally blow your mind what this instrument can do!

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Cool, post a link if you don’t mind.

[@donjohnsmusic3116]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 Thanks! Here is the whole album and there isn’t one track that isn’t using Falcon. See if you can spot them! kzbin.info/aero/OLAK5uy_lC_q8P1SfuOx2aasOWbQ4YpqtaBxB1i4Y&si=zdEeALzb3kzwj3_B

[@alchemistrpm82]

Excellent video. Well detailed & thought provoking wishlist. Thanks for making this. I’m still attempting to scratch the surface with Falcon tbh.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, it's a beast.

[@jacobsmith1877]

For me nothing beats Omnisphere 2. The sound quality and variety is enormous. Falcon is great for some of the expansions, but that is an expensive and deep rabbit hole when I already own Omnisphere, Trilian, Keyscape, and the Sonic Extensions.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

You gotta use what you like. The Sonic extensions look cool but I’m waiting to see what they do with the next upgrade to Omnisphere before purchasing those.

[@sadarahurh8794]

great comments and suggestions, agree 100%

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@ProFleer-ep4wq]

Sure hope UVI is listening. And I love the JC Superstar reference :)

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

It's a great musical. Thanks for watching.

[@neilbuchan5088]

I have a lot of sound-ware for Falcon so I would like to see some means of organizing the instruments and packs so I could easily hide ones I'm not using at any time.

[@sethone7590]

Midi output please (for example from the falcon sequencers) out to the daw

[@ProFleer-ep4wq]

Checked these suggestions again. UVI should hire you for advice, Mr. AF.

[@DMG1723]

I'd like to see a bigger Library and a better browser and a better tagging system for favorites

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

I've been suggesting overhauling favorites for several years now. It's probably hard to do with incremental updates though. Maybe they will overhaul some of the core code and we will get that with 3.0. Thanks for watching.

[@francescocarosone5943]

I currently look for a VST synth with at least 4 layers, and I'm considering Falcon, which in these days (10/2023) at v3 touches its lowest price (200$, I wonder if the 100$ voucher still works..). I come from vst synths with less layers and Kontakt 7, which has layers but it's a nightmare to program as a synth. Falcon's upper price competition to me is Halion and Omnisphere, lower price competition I'm considering Avenger and Tracktion F'em. I just thank you because I don't find many videos that compare Falcon and other synths or Halion, as an example. So this is rare!

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Thanks Frances. Falcon is totally worth it, especially if you want to do sound design and at $200 it's totally worth it (yes you should still get the voucher - I bough Falcon years ago on a big discount and got the voucher). If you bought Falcon and Vintage Vault 4 on sale with the voucher, you actually get more patches than with Omnisphere and a TON more power under the hood. Also, layers are really easy to set up once you get used to the workflow and you can have dozens of them, only limited by your CPU. Halion does look pretty cool. Thinking of picking it up myself.

[@jarone9317]

Yes I agree with your Vector Xy pad feature request plus other features you requested I would also like a GUI color change option as I am sick of working in these Grey/ Brown DAW VST environments maybe they can use there new Synth anthology 4 Color scheme a nice Blue tone.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, that would be really nice. Doesn’t seem to difficult to program also.

[@sunnyschramm9650]

so - what do you think of falcon 3?

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Waiting for my download right now. Had a Thursday night gig, so I probably won't be able to try it out until tomorrow after work. The new arps look awesome though.

[@godsmacker744]

So I am just starting out my production journey (which is going quite well so far), and I need some ethnic sounds. I hear that UVI's World Suite 2 (which despite being a mixed bag) offers the best bang for the buck. I also hear that World Suite 2's capabilities will shine the most in Falcon due to its ability to also work with UVI's sample libraries. My plan is to wait for the sale, get Falcon for $244, then use the $100 voucher to get the World Suite 2 for $74 with the discount. The problem is, however, that I am a complete noob when it comes to sound design and synthesis, and most synths make me feel overwhelmed, honestly, and I mostly rely on presets. Falcon does look a bit overwhelming. With all this information considered, what are your thoughts on getting Falcon 2 as an all-purpose plugin, especially for World Suite 2? Is this idea solid or overly ambitious?

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

That absolutely is a solid idea. You should get it. Falcon was one of my first soft synths and I'm really glad I started with it. Just be patient with it and watch a lot of videos. I've got a couple of Falcon tips videos and Venus Theory and a few others have some good ones as well. It look me a while to really get the hang of it, but it's worth it once you really know how to use it. When you do buy it, I would say start by just playing around with adding effects. There are a ton of options and you could spend a lot of time just trying out the different effects to see what they do.

[@dy6682]

Falcon 3 is finally out.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

I saw that this morning. Can't believe it's a free update. How very generous of UVI.

[@spaceiswater6539]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 I just bought it and its kinda blown my mind and I got 100 euros to spend on sound banks and they have them at half price and buy one get one free never seen a deal like this before as you seem to get loads for your money.

[@justincaldwell2527]

Just add a recording module for external sampling or internal sampling. Auto mapping etc

[@jenslempke7501]

For real synth feel/sound/expression - Roland Zencore. I love my Falcon but for straight up pop/electropop, I'll go for Zenology pro or Halion 7 any day of the week. Falcon, Reason and Arturia is more used for pure electronic tracks.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Zencore has been on my list to buy for some time now. I like the Roland sound, but for some reason have never pulled the trigger on their products. Seriously looking at a Roland TR-8S for a one man live show. I need to find one to try out... Thanks for watching.

[@nathanielbrown8718]

If you're looking for a straight up synth that has granular and a crap ton of sound sets is Phaseplant! That whole kilohearts system is very underrated probably because it can get deep with its applications. You'd love snapheap and multipass which goes along with that. Not sure how you'd like the organization of the sounds but it seems pretty cool and in it's own lane

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, I've had my eye on Phaseplant. A lot of synth KZbinrs rave about it and it does look pretty cool. I might pick it up next time it's on sale.

[@Caso-wk9po]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 yes! Phaseplant (especially with snapheap and multipass) is what you think you’re getting when you get something pigments or the other usual suspects. This thing is literally only limited by your cpu lol

[@maxpecas2]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 I agree, Phase Plant is just awesome... Not only because of the power but also because the UI is so much more intuitive than Falcon while being as powerful. I am not sure what do you mean by particle engine, Falcon does have a good granular engine...

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yes, their new granular FX is actually really good. A particle engine is a bit different because it's semi-random and usually it is playing a different sound, not a slice of the original sound. It's really like having accompaniment where you define a range or key for the AI to play along with you. If you've never tried it before, you should. It's really excellent. If you want a cheap but really good particle engine VST, Ekorain would be my suggestion, although you need Kontakt to run it.

[@Caso-wk9po]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 oh! I literally thought they were the same! Learned something new today 🙏

[@appar1tixn]

Btw a very cool example of this “linear array” is the way alchemy (logic stock) implements it. Every preset has 8 snapshots and you can morph between them as they’re laid in 2 rows of 4, as they function like a big wide xy pad. Oh, and for gods sake, this preset browser has to go. It’s ok to be able to select libraries separately but we are in the dire need of tag/category/type/characteristics/genre sorting. But that’s wishful thinking… Nevertheless,we’ll never know, they did implement undo/redo buttons in the end, and that was actually a shocker, kontakt doesn’t have it still afaik

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Alchemy sounds pretty cool. Man, don’t get me started on Konkakt. Not sure why they have not implemented some very basic quality of life things that users are asking for. Oh well, maybe the next version…

[@randallharp7010]

I don't own Falcon, but you certainly make it tempting. I am so with your on the favorites thing. I've thought about creating something like an advanced version of Komplete Kontrol that would let me categorize my favorite presets across ALL of my VSTs (which has me considering Unify from PluginGuru). BTW while Avenger may only ship with about 930 presets, it's sonic potential is virtually unlimited.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Avenger is very tempting. It looks like it has a lot of the capabilities of Falcon, but maybe easier to use in certain aspects. And many of the expansion packs sound excellent. I really don't understand why NI can't figure out how to implement favorites in Kontakt. It's a pretty big feature that is lacking. Have a great 4th Randall.

[@kowloonbroadcast]

i believe that what you’ve described as Linear Array was in fact developed and inmplemented into Alchemy Synth in Logic Pro X. though instead of a line from state A to state B, there is a “Matrix” of 4x2=8 snapshots that you can navigate your position around. it tends to breed unexpected combinations of sounds randomly quite often - by design. ‘cause while you store your parameters’ states into the preset grid, you often don’t have a picture in mind for the crossing over of a top row preset and a lower one, and if you cross over 2 snapshots on a top row, and subsequently 2 of them on a lower row, and that sort of use cases.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Very cool. Never used Logic before, but a big fan of things that cause unexpected results.

[@richardridings7511]

Originally developed by Camel Audio, which Apple bought (presumably for Alchemy)- I just wish they'd also made the Camelspace FX available in Logic too. That was such a brilliant FX unit.

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Crazy thing is, Falcon already surpasses the irridium and people pay silly money for that. Iriduim is only 45% of what Falcon can do and sound like. Crazy!!.

[@xihalijing]

1--The search bar needs to be improved, now it can only search for patches, I hope it can search for anything, including my effect presets, multi-layer sample synthesis. 2--Increase the miniature simplified interface, even the smallest size is still too big for a notebook, I hope to only display the width of the keyboard, and the macro parameters I need to control are displayed on it. 3--Open the FX version, it is estimated that the hope is very slim, because they want to make money, they will definitely not open it. 4--Improved particle and audio boosting algorithm. 5--Optimize the loading speed of the tone, and now the loading speed is too slow. 6--I have sent countless wind emails to them for the above suggestions, but they are indifferent, maybe they just want to stick to their own characteristics. I have no interest in UVI anymore. Basically, I bought most of them. In recent years, they are just standing still. Anyway, the money they earn now is enough for them. The needs of users are really not important. Especially after being acquired, they only need to be responsible to shareholders.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

I'm hoping you are wrong on the needs of the users front after being acquired. I did a video on their buyout several months ago because I had similar concerns. I agree on the search bar and optimizing the loading speeds. Attack EP88 and the Quadra expansions take forever to load patches. Thanks for watching.

[@kimmolaine665]

If I could have only one improvement, I would take a node based editor, something like Hyperion, with better UI, or the the Bitwig Grid

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Falcon with the Bitwig grid would be super powerful.

[@eliaszerano3510]

Falcon should report its introduced latency (of its effects) to the host. atm it simply do not. Phaseplant and other complex synths show that it is possible.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

That would be helpful.

[@stephanearlmusic]

I love Falcon and it's my workhorse and creative sampler / synth. My biggest pain points with it are the current browser. I think Bitwig Studio has one of the best browsers and I wish Falcon was more like that. I biggest wish is for GUI snapshots like HALion 7. I have both Falcon and HALion and use mostly Falcon, but I drool over HALion's Browser and GUI snapshots. Final request is the ability to export Falcon presets to use in UVI Workstation. After I create the sound, I want a simple GUI to play it. HALion achieves this with Snapshots or I can export to HALion Sonic. But I much prefer Falcon's sound and creative posibilities.

[@garyhendrie4001]

The facility to actually sample directly into the program would take it to another place entirely.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Absolutely.

[@peterrees9212]

The number one feature in Halion.

[@orbitfold]

They should make adding and editting modulations not a pain in the ass

[@rayderrich]

Falcon and all the soundware in their SonicPass offering already beats any other VST I own or ever lusted for. I wish I purchased Falcon first instead of dabbling in other plugins before making the move. It was a waste of money, except for one aspect: other plugins actually look and 'feel' like an instrument while Falcon is more of a sound programming environment. I love it, but I am sure this workflow is not everyone's cup of tea. Let's see which of your wishes end up in the next release.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, Falcon was the first VST I bought where I spent more than $50. I dove headfirst into it and it's been probably my favorite synth since. It definitely is geared more towards programmers though.

[@BigMTBrain]

The linear array idea sounds really cool. I don't have it... YET... but I think mPowerSynth (integrated into the newer, expanded mSoundFactory) by MeldaProduction, has the ability to do something similar to linear array - it can embed and control nested instances of itself.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, I think there are probably VST's out there with something similar. The closest thing I've come across is Abyss.

[@towardstar]

Hyperion wavesequences

[@exitthelemming145]

Never mind the potential upgrade, what has Venus Theory done to his normally deep, rich and mellifluous tones in the voice track? Sounds pitch or formant shifted to me? Just realised that erm....this ain't a Venus Theory video. Apologies. Your voice is perfectly fine Arctic Fox.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

LOL! Yeah, VT does have a pretty darn good radio voice. Maybe someday I'll get a robot AI voice to compete. Just glad you're watchin my channel as well as his!

[@issiewizzie]

What you’re asking for? Has been asked repeatedly in the major forums for years. Sometimes I think that CodeBase is hardwired.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, we'll see how much of the core gets overhauled. I have my fingers crossed.

[@issiewizzie]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 I hope so

[@heinzmandala6601]

Almost completely disagreeing here: Surely a better favorites system is very needed, but Falcon also lacks quite a bit when it comes to basic oscillator stuff, like cross-fm, cross-sync, formant stuff and all those modes combined at once, too. Combining all the osc modules in various modes. Then the UI could be improved by a lot, for example, making modulation sources instantly visible, like it is done in other systems, too, using connection lines and up-popping amount knobs. Then you can't route fx busses to other output pairs, so the internal fx becomes quite a bit useless in a proper mixing context. Falcon could be thought as a real synth, not just a rompler/sampler with additional osc modules. Also the oscillator and (old) filter quality could get a hq mode, were aliasing was reduced. I would prefer an overhaul of the base system much more than specific niche features. But changing the core is way more hard than just adding new stuff on top. With the fusion of Image Line, Melda and UVI, there are threee companies joined known for fair price and update politics and a lot of coding skills, too. This makes me hopeful that we won't just get another NI or mindless marketing campaigns. All three companies have individual knowledge when it comes to actual coding and this seems to match nicely. For example, Melda knows how to make oscs aliasfree and still using very few cpu power.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

I'm used to Falcon's somewhat odd method of programming, so don't think about some of the items that you mentioned. Good thoughts for sure. The oscillator stuff would be a welcome add. I am curious if they will try to change the core. That is probably way more programming, which is why I focused more on potential module additions. Omnisphere has the same problem and I wonder if they are planning to hit 3.0 this year or next. I think both UVI's and Spectrasonics releases will be critical and user bases could shift dramatically if one company hits a home run. Thanks for the comments.

[@heinzmandala6601]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 I see it like this: As soon as a company grows and has some success there is a huge danger that they start to reply on the existing, only adding stuff on top, not re-evaluating the existing core anymore. Seen in so, so many software projects, even operating systems. This is the reason no. 1 for the death of software companies, IMHO. I agree with you, that's why I never bought Omnisphere. It is a great product for sure and the quality of the presets is impressive, but when it comes to actual synth features, it also lacks even of the basics. I just look to the left onto my rusty Novation Nova II: It sure does not come anywhere near to the output quality of Falcon or Omnisphere, but it certainly cando all those usual suspects in synthesis. Crazy sequenced cross ringmod + cross sync, fm at the same time. This was 1999 or so, remember.

[@BenCaesar]

UVI is a company I want to support more but...... (I have some of their products. Drum Designer and replacer being some of them.) Drum designer is dope but lacking some basic basic features and doesn't seem to have any plans to update. Their new percussion vst is what designer could be. But it feels like they've forgotten about it. I'm always wary of companies that don't upgrade their older vsts, they have a huge library of tools just not sure how well it's maintained so it doesn't inspire confidence as an investment.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Fully agree. I have both Perc Factory and Drum Designer. If they copied the ideas from Perc Factory to Drum Designer, I would be using it a lot more. It could use more MIDI loops also. Thanks for watching.

[@BenCaesar]

@@arcticfoxstudios2018 oooh been thinking of getting percussion factory, how is it worth it?

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, it's totally worth it. There are so many randomization features and you can import your own sounds very easily. I did a video on it a few months ago. Check it out if you are interested.

[@jno8039]

I rather to have a more robust core engine. More modulation, it's still impossible to modulate an osc with another one. No sync, no analog FM, cross mod, x mod etc... More deep FM, wavetables, midi out, multi core, analog feel simple knob I have Avenger as well, it's another beast, but sonically it's not pristine as Omnisphere and Falcon.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Yeah, I agree. Some of the basic engine stuff could also use an upgrade; FM in particular. I like the idea of a simple analog feel knob. I'd even add parameters to it like amount of drift and the ability to select pitch as well as filter drift.

[@CarlyonProduction]

Native seems to have really lost their way to me. It’s a shame. But they needed to keep working on their core software

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

It's probably like Microsoft having to continually build off of DOS. In order to keep compatibility, they need to keep the core the same which makes it harder to make sweeping changes. Maybe they'll make bigger changes with the next version, but they seem to be interested in partnering with other companies lately.

[@issiewizzie]

Still on native instruments,k13CE……

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Nice!