The impOSCar

Overview
The impOSCar is modelled on the unique and wonderfully esoteric British synthesiser, the OSCar.
OSCar was manufactured between 1983 and 1986 and was used to great effect by artists such as Ultravox, Jean-Michel Jarre, Stevie Wonder, Underworld, Orbital and even Oscar Peterson. Because it was released at the same time as MIDI and early affordable polyphonic synthesisers affordable the instrument wasn't a huge commercial success and only 2000 were produced before the company ceased trading.

However, to those in the know, OSCar has been a highly prized item and the secret weapon in many programmer's sonic arsenal. In a sea of monophonic subtractive synths available at that time it was unique and refreshing in many ways: It looked interesting, it had an additive synthesis section, it had memories, it was duophonic and monophonic and, with the exception of the filter, it was all digital. All of these features contributed to its sound which could be summed up in one word- Awesome. From sublime to screaming, from clean and clinical to phat as phuck, the OSCar did it all.

The impOSCar was two years in production and since its release it'amount of s become one of the most respected virtual synthesisers on the market. All the notable features of the original instrument are evident here as well as several enhancements including a more intuitive additive section, polyphony, increased LFO waveforms and a chorus and delay effects section.

The filters are a particular highlight of the impOSCar and feature two stunning 12dB filters running in series, a filter overdrive and sublime separation control. With these and the huge waveforms on offer the impOSCar is capable of a range of sounds far beyond that of any standard subtractive synthesiser.

Awards
Since its release, the impOSCar has won numerous industry awards including:

Future Music Platinum Award
Computer Music EditorÕs Choice & Performance Awards
Keyboard Magazine Key Buy Award
Music Tech Magazine Recommended Award
Electronic Musician Best Software Emulation of 2004 Editor's Choice Award.

Paul Wiffen - (original OSCar sound designer and
OSCar programmer to Stevie Wonder & Jean Michel Jarre)

Suggested Listening
Underworld - Dirty Epic, Leutin & Cowgirl
Ultravox - Love's Great Adventure (All synth parts)
Stevie Wonder - Skeletons (bassline & riffs)
Jean Michel-Jarre - Industrial Revolutions
Band Aid - Do they know it's Xmas (bassline)
S-express - Theme From s-express (bassline)

Selected Quotes
Chris Huggett - (designer of the original OSCar)
"It looks right and sounds right. I was impressed with the attention to detail on all fronts."

BT
"impOSCar is nothing short of flawless. Quite simply the best softsynth I have ever heard. The filters alone are astonishing and I must say, although my pair of Oscars have mad sentimental value to me, I can't believe I can carry them around with me in AudioUnit versions on the very laptop I write this on! Kick ass guys, a home run."

Richard Barbieri - (Japan, Porcupine Tree)
"The original Oscar was one of only a few analogue synths that I never had the pleasure of playing but after only an hour or so with the impOSCar it's pretty clear that I missed out on a great synth. This is a programmer's dream, a real variety of sounds are possible ranging from pure evolving textures to hard driven and modulated lead lines. The LFO section is one of the most natural sounding on a soft synth and the effects are a welcome bonus. A modern classic."

Billy Currie - (Ultravox)
"The impOSCar is the most exciting synth in my set up. It has a unique sound and the Overdrive was quite literally MADE for me. Come On England!"

Lee Groves - (Programmer for Terminalhead, Britney Spears, Basement Jaxx, Janet Jackson)
"Fuck me, the impOSCar is immense!" Trent Reznor "I'd bought the Oddity and ImpOSCar a few months ago and couldn't believe how great they were."

Phil Hartnoll - (Orbital, DJ)
"I've been using the imposcar for about a month now and feel it is one of the best soft synths on the market. I own a hardware oscar and am finding it hard to notice the difference between the two. The harmonic waveform section of the imposcar goes much further than the oscar and is much easier to control. The functionality of the imposcar, ease of use and the ability to save makes it my soft synth of choice. I LOVE IT."

Formats
Stand-alone or host use - VST 2.0
(PC/MacOSX), RTAS (PC/MacOSX), AU (MacOSX)
NB. You cannot save patches in Standalone mode.

Minimum System Requirements

Windows
Intel Pentium IV 1GHz with 128MB RAM
Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000, and XP
VST 2.0 or RTAS compatible host application for plug-in operation.

Macintosh
PowerMac G4 733MHz with 256MB RAM, OS X
OS X VST 2.0, RTAS, or Audio Unit compatible host application for plug-in operation.

impOSCar T-Shirts

Available in two colours and various sizes, the impOSCar "Screams like a bastard" T-shirt can be ordered at our online store here.