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Description

The Arturia Buchla Easel V is a digital reincarnation of Don Buchla's iconic 1973 Music Easel, a defining force in West Coast modular synthesis. This plugin offers a component-level model of the original, capturing its essence while introducing contemporary enhancements for the modern sound designer. Whether you're a sonic pioneer or an experimental artist, the Buchla Easel V invites you to explore a world where sound is your canvas.

Immerse yourself in a playground of complex oscillator designs, AM/FM synthesis, and uniquely percussive gate/filter combinations. With the addition of a noise source and a feedback loop, you can create rhythmic textures and howling harmonics that were previously out of reach. The intuitive interface, featuring color-coded patchcords, ensures a seamless patching experience, allowing your creativity to flow unhindered.

The Buchla Easel V’s semi-modular architecture is complemented by innovative features like the Gravity XY modulation source, which employs the physics of a bouncing ball to generate unique modulation signals. A modern step sequencer, along with a diverse array of effects, provides endless possibilities for crafting and performing complex, exotic soundscapes. With up to four voices of polyphony, your compositions can reach new levels of depth and dimension.

Unleash your creativity with nearly 300 expertly crafted presets, or dive into designing your own sonic landscapes. The Buchla Easel V bridges the gap between vintage charm and modern versatility, making it an essential tool for any adventurous musician.

Key Features:

  • Component-level model of the Buchla Music Easel
  • Complex and Modulation oscillators with dual Low Pass Gates
  • Semi-modular architecture with color-coded cables
  • Gravity XY modulation for unique modulation signals
  • Up to 4 voices of polyphony
  • 256 factory presets
  • Works in Standalone, VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only)
  • Compatible with both Mac and Windows systems

Product specs

Software Type Buchla Synth Emulation
Platform Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full Full
Download/Boxed Download
Bit Depth 64-bit
Format VST2.4, VST3, AAX, AU, Standalone
Hardware Requirements - Mac 2.5GHz processor or higher, 4GB RAM minimum, 12 GB free drive space
Hardware Requirements - PC 2.5GHz processor or higher, 4GB RAM minimum, 12 GB free drive space
OS Requirements - Mac OS X 10.10 or later
OS Requirements - PC Windows 8.1 or later

FAQs

What makes the Arturia Buchla Easel V different from other synth plugins?

The Arturia Buchla Easel V emulates the iconic Buchla Music Easel, offering a unique West Coast synthesis approach with complex oscillators and a distinctive sound palette. It includes advanced modulation capabilities and an intuitive interface that captures the experimental spirit of the original hardware.

Is the Arturia Buchla Easel V compatible with my DAW?

The Arturia Buchla Easel V is compatible with most major DAWs, as it supports VST2.4, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats. It can also run as a standalone application, providing flexibility in how you incorporate it into your music production setup.

What are the system requirements for running the Arturia Buchla Easel V on a Mac?

To run the Arturia Buchla Easel V on a Mac, you'll need OS X 10.10 or later, a 2.5GHz processor or higher, at least 4GB of RAM, and 12GB of free drive space.

Can I use the Arturia Buchla Easel V on a Windows PC?

Yes, the Arturia Buchla Easel V is compatible with Windows PCs running Windows 8.1 or later. It requires a 2.5GHz processor or higher, at least 4GB of RAM, and 12GB of free drive space.

Does the Arturia Buchla Easel V offer polyphonic or monophonic synthesis?

The Arturia Buchla Easel V primarily emulates the monophonic nature of the original Buchla Music Easel, focusing on rich, evolving textures and complex sound design typical of West Coast synthesis.

once upon a synth

once upon a synth

Arturia Buchla Easel V Demo

Video thumbnail for Arturia Buchla Easel V Demo by once upon a synth

Arturia Buchla Easel V Demo

once upon a synth

once upon a synth

Video thumbnail for BUCHLA EASEL V  by Arturia - Let's Surf Some Patches by The Sound Test Room

BUCHLA EASEL V by Arturia - Let's Surf Some Patches

The Sound Test Room

The Sound Test Room

Video thumbnail for Arturia Buchla Easel V Tutorial Ep#1 - Introduction by One Man And His Songs

Arturia Buchla Easel V Tutorial Ep#1 - Introduction

One Man And His Songs

One Man And His Songs

Video thumbnail for Arturia Buchla Easel V - Exploring the Presets  - MVM #99 by Midiverse - TV

Arturia Buchla Easel V - Exploring the Presets - MVM #99

Midiverse - TV

Midiverse - TV

Video thumbnail for Exploring Arturia's V Collection 8: Buchla Easel V by DATABROTH

Exploring Arturia's V Collection 8: Buchla Easel V

DATABROTH

DATABROTH

Video thumbnail for Arturia Buchla Easel V - The Electric Music Box - The Big Sound Test Live by The Sound Test Room

Arturia Buchla Easel V - The Electric Music Box - The Big Sound Test Live

The Sound Test Room

The Sound Test Room

Video thumbnail for Arturia Buchla Easel V by soundrope

Arturia Buchla Easel V

soundrope

soundrope

Reviews

PROS

  • Captures the essence and essential sound of the original Buchla Easel

  • Offers deep parameter editing and flexibility for sound design

  • Unique features that expand its use beyond typical synth plugins

  • Provides an easy-to-use interface with fantastic sound quality

  • Enables exploring unique sound worlds not found in other commercial products

  • Software version is more durable than original hardware

  • First accurate recreation of Don Buchla’s iconic instrument

CONS

  • Significant CPU usage can strain computer performance

  • Layout differences make it unsuitable for designing patches for real Easels

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Arturia Buchla Easel V.

Features and functionality

  • The internal sequencer defaults to 5 steps, which can cause rhythmic issues; adjusting to 4 steps often improves synchronization.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Tinkering with the envelope filter and "pulser" switches is necessary to resolve sound inconsistencies in the Dueto preset.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Using the Arturia Buchla Easel V in Ableton Live 11, users may experience sync issues with the default settings in the Dueto preset.

    Source

User experience

  • Some users find the modulation oscillator in the Dueto preset causes sound fluctuations, unlike the stable Complex Oscillator.

    Source

Critic Reviews

BUCHLA EASEL V Review — DATABROTH

databroth.com

Arturia’s Buchla Easel V is a quirky homage to the original Buchla Easel, capturing its vintage warmth but also its confounding interface. While it offers a unique sound palette perfect for experimental and sci-fi textures, its non-traditional controls can be bewildering. The addition of innovative features like the “gravity” tab adds creative potential, yet the synth's odd setup may deter those seeking straightforward sound design. Overall, it's a niche tool for adventurous sound explorers.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 8 Ratings

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elothesource

West Coast Synth Greatness

I love this Synth to have the soft version is a blast The Buchla Easel V is the first recreation of Don Buchla’s iconic instrument that helped define experimental West Coast modular synthesis in the early ‘70s. I am in sound design heaven amazing sound

adamfiregate

Great sound, great graphics

An original Buchla Easel falls apart from touching. Some of them are badly built up.

I don't have this problem with the software version! ;)

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Tyler Joseph uses Arturia Buchla Easel V

Tyler Joseph

Singer, Bassist

Twenty One Pilots

...
Verified via YouTube

In the song “No Chances” by twenty one pilots, you can hear various presets from this synthesizer emulation. The intro bass comes from the default patch titled: “Volt-Aged Piano”, the siren-type sound comes from the preset: Deckards Drone and an arp during the intro is from a preset called: “Cycling Rotation”. Given that Tyler has been seen with another plugin (Solina V) from Arturia, along with sounds from Jup-8 V, we can infer that he has this one too. This essentially confirms that Buchla Easel V is the source of many of the sounds on “No Chances”.

See how Eats Everything uses Arturia Buchla Easel V

Eats Everything

Music Producer, DJ

Coat of Arms

...
Verified via Attack Magazine

Per this Nov 11, 2020 Attack Magazine feature:

The very last track I made for this EP was ‘Wreckage’. Processed in a similar way, using the IMPusher, Fab Filter Saturn and also Izotope Trash on a lot of things. Strymon El Capistan and Deco also were used, but this time with the main lines I used Arturia Buchla Easel

See how emma essex uses Arturia Buchla Easel V

emma essex

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Bandcamp

𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄

Addictive Keys, Artifake Labs Redtron SE, Arturia Buchla Easel V, CFA-Sound SUPER-7, COMET'S TAIL .nuxx, COMET'S TAIL ambiVAC, COMET'S TAIL bufferer (beta), COMET'S TAIL damascus!, COMET'S TAIL ktso, COMET'S TAIL microdose (beta), COMET'S TAIL phasedist (beta), COMET'S TAIL psykic, COMET'S TAIL real animal, COMET'S TAIL SOTA, D16 Drumazon, D16 LUSH-101, D16 Nepheton, D16 PunchBOX, Daichi Laboratory Synth1, Imperfect Samples Braunschweig Upright, Imperfect Samples White Baby Grand, KORG M1 Legacy, Marvin Pavilion Casiopea, Roland ZENOLOGY, Siegfried Kullman SQ8L, Sonic Charge Synplant, Toontrack EZdrummer, xoxos clap of luxury, xoxos pling4, A.O.M. Invisible Limiter G2, ag-works Chorus CH-2, Airwindows BassKit, Airwindows Channel9, Airwindows ChorusEnsemble, Airwindows ChromeOxide, Airwindows Ditherbox, Airwindows Mackity, Airwindows Melt, Airwindows NonlinearSpace, Airwindows PocketVerbs, Airwindows uLaw, Airwindows Verbity, Auburn Sounds Graillon, Auburn Sounds Panagement, AudioThing Fog Convolver, AudioThing Phase Motion 2, AudioThing Wires, Blue Cat AcouFiend, Cableguys ShaperBox 2, COMET'S TAIL shimmerlite (beta), COMET'S TAIL spacetime (beta), Cytosonic space360, D16 Decimort, D16 Redoptor, D16 Sigmund, dblue Glitch, Dead Duck Compressor, Dear Reality dearVR pro, E-Phonic Retro Delay, GFM Psypan, Glitchmachines Fracture XT, Glitchmachines Hysteresis, Glitchmachines Quadrant, Graham Yeadon GMonoBass, HY-Plugins HY-Filter, Inphonik RX950, iZotope Ozone 8 Imager, Kazrog KClip 2, Kjaerhus Classic Auto-Filter, Kjaerhus Classic Chorus, Kjaerhus Classic Reverb, Lexicon MPX Native Reverb, Melda MFreqShifter, Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5, OD DeEdger, Polyverse I Wish, QuikQuak Pitchwheel, Quilcom Faranear, Quilcom GRECHO, Quilcom Harpverb, Sonic Charge Permut8, Synthescience Autopan Modulator, TAL Reverb 4, TAL Vocoder II, ToneBoosters Barricade 2, u-he Colour Copy, u-he Twangström

See how So Wylie uses Arturia Buchla Easel V

So Wylie

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video titled "4 Producers: my FULL music production process!" by So Wylie, at the 8:20 mark, she is observed using the Arturia Buchla Easel V virtual synthesizer in her track.

See how Shimron Elit uses Arturia Buchla Easel V

Shimron Elit

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via Photo

Screenshot on Shimron Elit's official website.

Album Usage

The Arturia Buchla Easel V has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Arturia Buchla Easel V, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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