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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
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What makes the Arturia Buchla Easel V different from other synth plugins?
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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.
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Is the Arturia Buchla Easel V compatible with my DAW?
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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.
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What are the system requirements for running the Arturia Buchla Easel V on a Mac?
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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.
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Can I use the Arturia Buchla Easel V on a Windows PC?
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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.
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Does the Arturia Buchla Easel V offer polyphonic or monophonic synthesis?
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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.
Videos
once upon a synth
Arturia Buchla Easel V Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Captures the essence and essential sound of the original Buchla Easel
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Offers deep parameter editing and flexibility for sound design
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Unique features that expand its use beyond typical synth plugins
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Provides an easy-to-use interface with fantastic sound quality
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Enables exploring unique sound worlds not found in other commercial products
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Software version is more durable than original hardware
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First accurate recreation of Don Buchla’s iconic instrument
CONS
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Significant CPU usage can strain computer performance
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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
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The internal sequencer defaults to 5 steps, which can cause rhythmic issues; adjusting to 4 steps often improves synchronization.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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Tinkering with the envelope filter and "pulser" switches is necessary to resolve sound inconsistencies in the Dueto preset.
Source
Software and compatibility
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Using the Arturia Buchla Easel V in Ableton Live 11, users may experience sync issues with the default settings in the Dueto preset.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 8 Ratings
355
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
2049
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
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”.
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
𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄
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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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