Vacuum Classic

Name: Vacuum Classic
Price: 79 USD
Author: AIR Music Technology

by AIR Music Technology · Synth · Monophonic tube-modelled synth

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Vacuum Classic is the original monophonic version of AIR's Vacuum synth, with two vacuum tube oscillators and high- and low-pass filters.

It has an Age function for drift and dust, and costs $99.

Best for: Bass, Keys & Synths. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Hip-Hop & Trap.

Keywords: tube, monophonic, arpeggiator, basses, leads, subtractive, warm, airy, classic, polyphonic, simple, 70s, 80s, AAX, analog, crunchy, drum machine, gritty, metallic, pads, thin.

What it does

Vacuum Classic is AIR's monophonic analog-style synth and the forerunner of Vacuum Pro. It models vacuum tube circuits to recreate "the crunchy, warm sound of the analog era", aiming at the subtractive sounds of 1970s and 1980s synths.

Oscillators: two tube-modelled oscillators, each with four morphable waveforms, octave range, sync and detune.
Filters: high-pass and low-pass filters, each with saturation controls for pushing the sound harder.
Mixer drive and ring mod: a drive stage in the mixer plus ring modulation for grittier, metallic tones.
Modulation: two retriggerable envelopes and several LFO options.
Age controls: pitch Drift and Dust imitate the instability and noise of aged hardware.
Arpeggiator and effects: an on-board arpeggiator and built-in effects; Vacuum Pro has a larger effects section.
Presets: a library by Richard Devine and Mark Ovenden covering leads, pads, basses, arpeggios, percussive sounds and FX.

Version 1.4.0. A reduced crossgrade price is available for owners of Pro Tools 8+, MPC Software and some other AIR products. Vacuum Pro is the polyphonic upgrade.

Source: AIR Music Technology product page

When to use it

Vacuum Classic is a small, single-voice synth for warm, slightly dirty basses and leads, and it is best value when bought on sale. Compared with Diva, it has far less depth and only one voice, though its tube drive and Dust controls give a rougher colour quickly. Compared with Hive 2 or Serum 2, it has no wavetables or deep modulation, but it is quicker to learn for simple subtractive patches. Against its own sibling, Vacuum Pro adds polyphony and a bigger effects section, so at similar list prices most buyers are better served by Pro.

Best for: warm mono basses, acid-style leads and simple analog arpeggios.
Genres: electronic, synthwave and hip-hop.
Look elsewhere if: you need chords or pads (Vacuum Pro or Diva), or modern wavetable sound design (Serum 2 or Vital).

What producers say

Coverage is thin: one KVR user review, which liked it as a bargain.

KVR users rate it 4 out of 5 from 1 review (2021), calling it "a real steal for just 10 bucks" at a sale price.
Criticisms: the same reviewer found the preset library small.

KVR user reviews

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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