Introducing Supercritical Redshift 6 - Six voice analog Variable Character Synthesizer

Preorders starting now at supercriticalsynthesizers.com
Supermassively dense analog oscillator combined with a chameleon analog filter with versatile gain staging. Now sixfold.
Redshift 6 combines technology from the company’s previous products, the Demon Core Oscillator and the Neutron Flux Filter. Each of the six voices features a DCO with analog waveforms generated under digital control. The filter core is an analog 4-pole state variable filter also digitally controlled to act like almost any classic vintage synthesizer filter and more. In addition to the oscillators and filters, Redshift 6 has all the features expected of a modern synth - plenty of modulators, flexible voice routing, multitimbrality, MPE, and DSP effects.
Redshift 6’s idea is something that is wrapped in the moniker “Variable Character Synthesizer”. Each voice’s analog path regarding tuning, gain staging, filter, and more is under strict digital control. Redshift 6 has as lush and warm sweet spot inspired by the analog polysynth tradition, but it can also cover the full range from almost digitally sterile and clean to distorted misbehavior and beyond. No modeling here - it’s all analog until the bypassable stereo DSP effects processor.
The oscillator, already road-tested in the Demon Core Oscillator eurorack module, is featured in each of the six voices. The oscillator has multiple tricks up its sleeve, each one wrapped as an Engine for the user to choose between. Traditional twin oscillator engines, supersaw engines, flanging phase sync engines, and transistor organ engines are all powerful modes in user-friendly ways that are easily controllable and modulatable.
Redshift 6’s six voices can be configured in plenty of ways. Choose between true six-voice polyphony, classic vintage poly dual layer mode with 3+3 voices, six individual voices each with their own patch and physical output, or any combination of the above. Each of the six voices can also operate as a paraphonic voice with up to 16 note paraphony. Additionally, multiple filters can be chained by routing audio from one voice to another.
The form factor of Redshift 6 is a modern, compact desktop device with a 2.7-inch color screen. Menu diving is reduced to a minimum, with quick navigation via the shortcut button grid. A selection of familiar synth controls are featured on the front panel. A macro mode is included with six user-assignable controls. The back panel features main audio outputs with a DSP effects processor and four auxiliary voice outputs.
One of the major design principles of Redshift 6 is to have a versatile and capable analog platform and a flexible UI for new Engines, easily updateable via software updates.
Supercritical Redshift 6 Desktop synthesizer module - Technical specifications
● Six voices each featuring:
● Full analog signal chain
● Digitally controlled analog Supercritical Demon Core Oscillator
● Analog four pole Variable Character Filter
● Flexible gain staging with an analog boost circuit
● Physical audio output per voice (2 main outputs and 4 aux outputs)
● Optional voice chaining
● Bypassable digital effects in main outputs 1-2
● 2.7" TFT IPS color screen with a bank of 8 endless clickable potentiometers and quick navigation via button grid
● Quick powerful controls for oscillators and filters.
● Six user-assignable macro controls
● Six parts multitimbral
● Modern MIDI implementation with USB-B connection and DIN IN/OUT
● MPE
● 12V power supply
● Physical dimensions: 378 mm x 254 mm x 63 mm
The Supercritical Redshift 6 will be available in summer 2024 with an MSRP of 1259€

[@Beatsbasteln]

whoever made the demotrack should be hired again next time. this build up is sweet

[@Maaahthew]

Absolutely. Who made this track? I want to follow them. It’s stunning

[@KeithRowley]

Me too! I'll follow this composer!@@Maaahthew

[@sinewaymusic]

I have zero interest in the synth but watched this video twice because of the music. Well done!

[@bubblepipemedia3414]

#credityourdemomakers !!! :P Seriously though, this demo is fantastic

[@inthefade]

It has some really cool chromatic progressions you usually don't hear in music like this. Gives me YMO or Telex vibes.

[@leave-trace]

Multitimbral! Thank you! It's silly how this useful feature has been neglected in the vast majority of modern synths.

[@osrthejourney]

I’m getting it for that reason alone!

[@Lokua]

This is the biggest selling point for me and the same reason why I bought a Xena (aka Ambika) recently. Will probably sell that to help fund this because the filters are not great. I've heard great things about the Supercritical filter, though, so fingers crossed.

[@jamaharon]

Have it on many synths, rarely use it

[@JarkkoLaitinen]

Finally a new multitimbral synth that does not cost arm and a leg

[@umscumgamer2003]

This is the first synth I’ve seen in a long while that I wanted to buy on the spot. What an inspired and modern design! 6 voices individual output multitimbrality? Yes please!!!

[@eaglechildkeys]

This demo is pure Chills..The sound quality is absolutely stellar!

[@RedMeansRecording]

Sounds amazing looks great

[@virgilsstudio]

Waiting for your demo Jeremy ^

[@brianlespoir6287]

Looks great, sound awesome. Looking forward to have a go with it.

[@GEOSynths]

I love the Sound of this :)

[@amsterdamned6209]

Weeooow sounds fantastic, and the side glows like magma!

[@ErgoDreams]

Give us a better demo!!! Looks amazing, but it's always nice to see someone get their hands on it to showcase the features

[@Wagoo]

Rack ears would be welcome, looking at the dimensions this should fit very nicely into 6U (although the ports aren't recessed so gonna be another 1U on top for that).. bigger than it seems in the render, which is good. It would also be a nice idea to have VESA mounting holes on the base, so people can easily put it on an arm. Interesting looking design, and lush sounds.. excited to hear more

[@CrisBlyth]

Ever since I saw and heard this demo on the Pro Synth Network, I’ve been returning here to enjoy the magic of this demo track.. I FREAKIN’ LOVE IT !! I guess I need to buy one of these units in the slim hope that I might approximate this track.. and make a longer version :) Bravo to the composer !

[@pietruh13pl]

I can't wait for the demos!

[@aikighost]

Ok I think I found my next main synth. Nice :)

[@dr.gregoryf.maassen2637]

They are smart to introduce a VST approach to a hardware synth like the Waldorf Iridium with a great GUI (love the display) and small form factor. Who has space nowadays for large synthesizers? Smart move by the manufacturer. I will keep an eye on this one.

[@RickyTinez]

wait.. wait.. wait... WHAT?! holy cow....

[@CrisBlyth]

Also.. HOW DID THEY MAKE THIS demotrack.. cos WOW.. it's sounds amazing and WHAT A SONG !!!!

[@thimkthimk]

Sounds great. Some funky side panels, I like it.

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

Here comes my pre-order .....Perfect Circuit

[@mikec3412]

Personally I really love the design, everything clearly laid out and access to the most critical controls. I think this combination is a win all around. Pre-ordered and can't wait!

[@discophone_6214]

Well done guys!

[@CodyGratner]

I was considering getting a second Analog Four, but this seems like a MUCH better option! I absolutely love this sound! The flexible monophonic/polyphonic/paraphonic options with six individual outs for each voice is perfect! And, up to 96 notes of paraphony is absolutely insane!!

[@rfwhyte]

Wow. Looks cool, sounds fantastic, and brings some interesting new features to the market. This seems like a smash hit in the making. Price is a bit high for a 6 voice DCO poly, but not as wildly expensive as some recent "Boutique" synths.

[@IvoSiem]

That´s a tasteful teaser track. I´ll save up some money so I can buy this when it´s released.

[@antagonizingusername]

Reminds me of a modern and affordable Oberheim Xpander. Full analog signal path, sensible “page based” interface, desktop form factor.

[@argiopeMusic]

Needs a Noizzi Hardwood cradle and I'm sold. lol

[@axs203]

It's Redsound Darkstar that imploded and created a new star

[@BXLrules]

which was a horrible synth, at least to me. Since this reminds me of it, it does not spark to much interest, tbh. sounds OK, but the knob layout looks rather meh. like a zoom sampletrak

[@jfracine_composition]

sounds awesome

[@jamaharon]

Any idea when the manual will be available?

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Looks expensive but probably worth it. Sounds beautiful

[@xfloodcasual8124]

demo track reminds me of the Target Earth OST, which itself had a lot of Holdsworth vibes

[@tekrahmuzik2119]

Can't wait to see a full review

[@0e0]

i love this format of synthesizer and the character options make this really interesting.. excited to try it out

[@letmefeelthevibes]

Damn, looks dope!

[@Dudderlyful]

Well that sounds good! Something different here I think

[@HerzAnalog]

Demo song is so dope

[@Justsobusy]

When will you drop a demo video????? Can’t sell a product on pictures and prerecorded sounds

[@atommachine]

Smooth Pallets.

[@ryanperrault8174]

Need!!!

[@djkanyon]

This is gonna be awesome. Not gonna buy it coz i still need my old kidneys but wow. Can't wait for the first reviews.

[@dankeplace]

are you going to wait till they make the 24 bit sampler version?

[@D1SMBD1D]

Will this only have 24db filters or is some MS20-like 12db goodness planned too?

[@jamaharon]

and many many more

[@rickstedt]

Looks and sounds amazing! But please change the labels for the outputs on top, left channel is right and vice versa.

[@argiopeMusic]

Bit of a conundum as it's either backwards when veiwed head-on, or backwards when viewed from the front. But I think most of us plug these things in while facing the front of the synth so I'd rather it be swapped on the back side. My brain pauses when I see "R -- L"

[@rickstedt]

@@argiopeMusic it is confusing yeah 😆

[@schnitzelforce3404]

Beside the synth looks promissing - can anybody tell me what Chord progressions are used in the demotrack?

[@thimkthimk]

It opens on Emaj. Then, very roughly, F#m7, (then Asus2 going into) Amaj7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7. I partially used my ears then confirmed with Ableton Live MIDI to harmony feature. Most daws should let you convert audio to MIDI notes.

[@schnitzelforce3404]

@@thimkthimk WOW! I wished I had you ears and music theory knowledge! Many thanks! 😃🙏

[@thimkthimk]

@@schnitzelforce3404 Keep practising and keep having fun. 🙂

[@JSIsynth]

F#m7 E/G# Asus2 C#m(add2) Bsus4(add2) Csus2 Fmaj7b5 Gsus2 Em7 Bm(add2) Bbsus2 Dm7 C/E Fsus2 and repeat. Hard to write down the exact chords since it's a constant tension/release voice leading -thing with a few modulations, tonal centers shifting downwards whole tone: F#m - Em - Dm.

[@NatLifeSounds]

Finally a real new Synth concept that remind me a great VST Synth that must be realized in hardware) And it's analog

[@Etienne.6329]

Please give us the name of the composer. Someone named a "Mathew Hunter" in the the comments is it him ? Are there any song anywhere ? (and yeah, I will get this thing... a 6 voice MPE compact synth... with a screen and a lot of controls... the dream)

[@JSIsynth]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWbKhnmJbLmlp80

[@christianthompson1473]

Hmm, not much variety in this demo? Sounds like Roland.

[@jamaharon]

sounds like great

[@christianthompson1473]

@@jamaharon I'm sure plenty people like it. Not me though 🤔

[@larseikind666]

No CV in or out? That's a shame.

[@mikec3412]

They already have the oscillators and filters available as individual units for modular people. I imagine that would work better for you in a modular flexible setup than an all in one unit. This feels more like a blofeld killer.

[@Lokua]

This is 100% what I've been needing. But - and Sorry I just have to say it - I think the hexagonal buttons and red lights on the side are very, very unattractive. It makes it look cheap as if it was designed only for a very small demographic of angsty teenage gamers or folks who like to put neon lights on the bottom of their entry level two-door sedans. I really hope you'll be able to disable the red lights (seem like a waste of resources, honestly - let the music be the focus). Everything else visually looks really smart, though, and the buttons, well, perhaps I can learn to live with that (personal flaw but aesthetics are very important to me being a minimalist). I really hope you put some love into the FX. One of biggest pet peeves is that FX on synths are usually an afterthought. ASM Hydrasynth, Waldorf Quantum, etc. all have FX that do not live up to the quality of everything else on the synth. I totally get why the FX are only on the main outs btw. Anyway I'm very excited to learn more about this! Hopefully this can replace my Ambika because while I love the flexible multi-timbrality, the filters on it suck for my purposes, and 6-part multi-timbrality is not exactly easy to find these days!

[@aikighost]

Funnily I have the exact opposite feeling on the aesthetics, I think it looks very attractive (and Im well past my 20s 🤣). Im looking forwards to demoing one in the flesh.

[@jamaharon]

I think the button looks great and I'm also way over 20 too, i would prefer all the buttons and knobs to be all black.

[@iswm]

Can't say I understand the hype. Looks menu-divey and tedious to use. Would be happy to be wrong though.

[@jamaharon]

It's a “Variable Character Synthesizer", or at least this is how the creator defines it. So the hype is because of the versatility of the analog oscillators and filters in a polyphonic configuration. It's not for everyone, you may need to read the manual or invest some time to learn it. Some people confuse matrix control with menu diving. Many times matrix control synths have less manu diving compared to big synths, even the one with lots of knobs, since they feature lots of dedicated buttons for all parameters. Matrix control means you press a button, twist a knob, that's it, manu diving is kept to a minimum.

[@EvilWorldOfGreed-do1ox]

Going the way of future cars, the more flashy LED's the better, wrong! Nobody except little children want silly flashing cool LED's let alone fully autonomous death machines. Get rid of the flashy red side panels and save everyone at least 100 off the price please. Hmmm must be some fancy tiny little electrical components inside this synth to produce this part analogue monster, which instantly becomes digital when recorded into a DAW anyway. Might as well make it fully digital also, save even more bucks haha.

[@jamaharon]

Or make it a free vst or don't make it at all, ideally lets end life everywhere!

[@tyranic1]

Sounds promising, what would round this of nicely is sub oscillator/s and some slop parameters for each oscillator so to get some fat basses and pads. A lot of digitally controlled polyphonic synths tend to be weak in the low end. Possessing a lot of unique features could make this a must buy and can't wait for a loopop review.

[@CodyGratner]

The oscillator is based on their Demon Core oscillator module, which is up to 16 “voices” on one DCO. It does the “slop” thing in spades. The marketing copy on their site also confirms each of the 6 full voices can do 16 notes of paraphony: “The oscillator, already road-tested in the Demon Core Oscillator eurorack module, is featured in each of the six voices. The oscillator has multiple tricks up its sleeve, each one wrapped as an Engine for the user to choose between. Traditional twin oscillator engines, supersaw engines, flanging phase sync engines, and transistor organ engines are all powerful modes in user-friendly ways that are easily controllable and modulatable. Redshift 6’s six voices can be configured in plenty of ways. Choose between true six-voice polyphony, classic vintage poly dual layer mode with 3+3 voices, six individual voices each with their own patch and physical output, or any combination of the above. Each of the six voices can also operate as a paraphonic voice with up to 16 note paraphony. Additionally, multiple filters can be chained by routing audio from one voice to another.”