ANOTHER FRENCH VINTAGE

11 October 2013

Arturia has announced the iSEM, its second subtractive synthesizer recreation for iOS following on from the iMini Moog app which, we have to say, impressed the heck out of us. Like Arturia’s Oberheim SEM V desktop software solution, iSEM uses proprietary TAE (True Analogue Emulation) technology to faithfully reproduce the analogue warmth and ingenious interface of the vintage Oberheim Synthesizer Expander Module (SEM), but brings it all “kicking and screaming” (let’s hope users don’t end up doing the same) into this day and age by making the most of the latest developments available to its iPad host. It’s Audiobus compatible, however Arturia has been quick to take advantage of iOS 7’s inbuilt Inter-App Audio, allowing iSEM (and iMini) users to send MIDI commands and stream audio between apps on the same device – potentially an Audiobus killer, but no doubt the folks at Audiobus are hard at work on a riposte. The iSEM main screen mirrors the original synth with all the extra iOS tricks and tweaks hidden under the vintage GUI. We’ve put our hand up for a review unit and after the Arturia iMini the crew in the office will be squabbling over who gets it. Details at www.arturia.com Price at the Australia App Store is $10.49 and it’s a 60MB download.