In one way or another, wavetable synthesis is similar to conceptualizing a cubist work of art. Thinking of an otherwise complex sound, trying to break it down to simple waveforms, and reconstructing it into a new sound seems like an approach a cubist painter would do his own work, had it been his paints were sound waves. Owing reference to the deductive-inductive philosophy of cubism, the similarly named wavetable synthesizer, ConcreteFX Kubik, has now been updated to version 2.5.

One of the most significant changes in this new version is its availability for both Mac and Windows systems, existing in both Mac Universal Binary AU format and VST. The graphics have been totally redesigned. Oversampling capabilities being raised up to eight times guarantees better anti-aliasing and resolution to deliver clearer and more powerful sounds. XY modulation via an XY panel allows mouse control plus the mouse path can also be recorded as well to automate XY modulation and improve expressivity. This new version comes with an updated manual, over 100 new presets, as well as more general improvements and bug fixes.

Probably out to give Waldorf MicroWave and PPG a run for their money, Kubik has adequate power to create that vast array of moving sounds by changing waveforms played over time. Just like a Picasso painting, assembling various waveforms to make a somewhat congruent whole makes a testament to Kubik's power. Such great synthesis power comes at a reasonable price of $75. Demo versions for both PC and Mac are also available via the ConcreteFX web site.