This post is a supplement to our feature review of the FXpansion DCAM SYNTH SQUAD and is written to profile some of the outstanding qualities of DCAM Synth Squad’s – Fusor.

Simply put, Fusor is a sound designer’s silver dream machine.  It is an extremely powerful semi-modular performance workstation which allows up to 3 instances of any of the DCAM synthesizers to be loaded into its ‘Synth Channels’.  Fusor’s  ‘Synth Channels’ located on the front ‘Global Page’, are a vertical strip much like a channel strip in a DAW which provide a signal flow starting at the top the channel where the DCAM synths are selected and loaded into Fusor.  There is a bank of 3 slots made available for loading Fusor’s Insert FX which include a comprehensive suite of  more than 20 circuit modelled and digital effects. Fusor’s Synth Channel also features an Auxillary Send section with a further 3 FX slots to affect the channel signal, when FX are assigned, before reaching the channel’s output stage.  Fusor’s channel outputs function as multi-outputs and can be routed to separate audio tracks in a host DAW offering the additional benefit of ‘in the box’ processing.

Also featured on the ‘Global Page’ in Fusor is a MIDI Input Channel Router which routes MIDI destinations directly to any of the 16 MIDI channels Fusor can receive. By default, Fusor is mapped to control the Key Mapper and the 3 synth slots with different MIDI channels.  At the top of Fusor’s interface is a bank of 8 Macro rotatries to which multiple synth, effects and modulation parameters can be assigned through the Transmod or Fusemod systems.  Fusor’s Macros are a really cool way of controlling parameters and introduce variations of tone colour, timbral morphing and additional animation in performance.

Under the hood of Fusor’s remarkable engine is an advanced modulation system of immense power called ‘Fusemod’.  Similar, to the ‘Transmod’ system in the DCAM synthesizers, with ‘Fusemod’ you can use the LFO’s and envelopes from one DCAM synth to control another synths parameters and FX.  Fusor provides an expansive wealth of sound design tools all subject to the alchemy of the ‘Fusemod’ system.  Including the already mentioned Multi FX suite, there are a further 4 LFOs, Envelope Followers, a sophisticated Step Sequencer/Arpeggiator with 4 engines called ‘Animator’ and a Key Mapper which charts MIDI Key Splits for each loaded synth and routes synth destinations to Fusor’s ‘Animator’ sequencer engines.  Using the Fusemod system and Fusor’s power to combine sounds and arpeggios from any 3 DCAM sysnths in one instance of Fusor, creates an amalgam of rich and dynamic multi layered textures.

The ‘Animator’ in Fusor plays a key role in the instruments sound design capability, it is a beast of a feature boasting 4 engines each with a vast array of option and opportunity.  Naturally, at a basic level, Animator will arpeggiate the sounds of a synth or the sounds of multiple synths it is assigned to (through the Key Mapper destinations router) using the tools normally associated with basic arpeggiation.  However, switching Animator into advanced mode and assigning modulation sources to its extraordinary feature set (to the power of four!) produces amazing results and is more than worthy of the time spent exploring its creative possibilities.

As a layering environment Fusor is phenomenal and should be regarded as a treasured asset in the DCAM Synth Squad bundle.  Within its technological measure you will find an exceptional depth of versatility which excites the imagination by constantly presenting new ideas which appear to flow in abundance.   Trust me when I say this; Fusor should be issued with a warning, because once your head is inside this machine you are oblivious and time passes to the exclusion of all else!

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Brought to you courtesy of Soundwrx Digital