Homegrown Sounds harnesses the power of dual sample based synthesis with their release of the otherworldly Astralis Orgone soft synth that runs in PC VST Hosts. It improves the Astralis range after eight months of programming, complete with new features and an enhanced GUI. It's a rounded synth that covers everything from trance rhythms to hard leads with a special penchant for pads, atmospheres and FX.

It has two independent synthesizer sections, and both sections feature quite a bit. This includes two samplers that use 16, 24 or 32-bit .wavs with 150 .wavs already included for you. Synths also have four filter types with two modes that can be cascaded up to eight times. Controls include volume, pan, octave, semi and fine tuning and effects include an auto leveling drive, drive, white noise, lo-fi effects and more.

This sample based synth is also capable of sample reversing, loop alternating mode and loop zero crossing. It has a unique bank system to handle its samples that emulates a hardware synth. Basically, banks are folders full of .wavs that can be created by making a new folder and putting sample sounds in it. A refreshing feature allows you to rescan your hard drive for new files without having to restart Orgone.

Orgone also includes a polyphonic gate sequencer. It's a 32 note sequencer that operates in four modes: forward, reverse, random and alternate. A modulation matrix also allows 12 possible sources that can be mapped to five out of 31 destinations. A Gapper also works this way and can be controlled by an up to 32 step sequencer. Release time, pulse width, attack time and more are all controllable via the Gapper.

Next, throw in an LFO and an arpeggiator. The LFO uses 17 waveforms in either BPM or Free Mode. The arpeggiator features 17 modes with more promised to come.

The FX section operates on a parallel routing mode, and all possible combos of chained effects allow for 127 modes. Effects consist of reverb, echo, ring modulation, stereo BPM / Freeform Delay, Flanger, a very versatile LFO, a unique delay based effect called Organic, a four mode clipper and an eight-band graphic EQ.

Finally, a copious list of other features includes:

• Polyphonic BPM based Modulation Sequencer:
• Can be used via the Modulation Matrix
• Has direct Pitch sends to each synth with many modes plus ability to send through the current Microtuner Patch
• Keyboard Range -- can be limited to a section of the keyboard
• Smooth Mode for creating legato or using as a virtual LFO
• Secondary Raw Output via the Modulation Matrix
• Shift pattern left or Right
• Flip Pattern
• GUI Slider Bars lockable to notes depending on selected mode
• Monophonic Modulation Sequencer
• 32 Stage General Purpose Envelope
• Spread:
• Four Octave Preview Keyboard
• Can use Sticky Keys for easy hands free editing of patches
• Can behave as a normal keyboard
• Animates all incoming MIDI data
• Scroll Mode can be switched off in which case mouse left/right operates pitch bend, up/down the Mod Wheel
• MIDI Reset (Panic)
• MIDI Retrigger -- Retriggers any incoming MIDI notes
• Sophisticated Randomization System:
• A single Random Button is used to randomize all sections selected in the Randomization mixer
• 30 Sections are selectable
• FX has its own Randomize Button, will randomize only the selected Effects
• Randomization has been carefully limited to the most useful setting to ensure more chance of a usable patch
• Every control has its own min/max set to ensure a useful outcome!
• Additionally Local Randomizers are everywhere throughout the synth for each section
• Microtonal Tuner:
• Directly uses Scala Files
• Uses the same bank/patch system as the Sample System, folders can simply be added to the user selected MT Patch location
• Up to 127 Note Scales supported
• Does not use MIDI to retune like many other systems which means that Pitch Bend can be used with MT patches
• Octave Stretch for Acoustic Instrument Simulation
• Root Offset Tuning
• Hz Based Tuning
• Has four Note Layout Modes to provide flexibility on how patches are used
• Unused notes switchable between last note or Octave note
• Switchable per Synth so for example Pythagorean tuning can be overlaid on the Equal Temperement for a harmonically interesting sound