The Simple interface is ideal for preset browsers and live performance, offering real‑time performance controls and smooth morphing between the eight snapshots of the Remix Pad. Video of Muse Research MuseBOX - NAMM 2010 Live & Kicking Alchemy also ships with a 2GB sample library and a collection of 300 presets, but many more are promised for the months to come. Its extremely powerful engine will be great news to those who like to dive in at the deep end of synthesis, and morph and manipulate their own unique sounds, but Camel Audio have included easy‑to‑use performance controls and 'remix pad' variations for those who favour instant gratification. Operating as a VST or Audio Units plug-in and going way beyond Cameleon, Alchemy not only features additive synthesis, but also spectral and granular synthesis and resynthesis, and sample import, along with the more typical virtual analogue engine found in most other software synths (although this one offers up to 600 voices and can be used in unison mode for the fattest sounds imaginable!). After four years of development, with a team of six programmers and 25 sound designers, we finally see the release of Alchemy. Apart from some updates to existing products, and a series of well‑received Soundbanks for third-party products such as NI's Absynth and Massive, little seemed to be happening. After making a name for themselves with plug‑ins such as CamelPhat and CamelSpace, and then wowing us with their Cameleon 5000 additive synthesizer - which was impressive enough to warrant a big review in the April 2004 issue of SOS - we've not heard a great deal from them.

Things have been a little quiet on the Camel Audio front of late. Let's find out what it is that sets Alchemy apart from the soft-synth crowd. Truly original and innovative software is a rare thing these days, but Camel Audio's latest is exactly that.

Alchemy vst cost