Supercritical 'Redshift 6': A Self-Styled Variable Character Synthesizer Marking Its Inaugural Desktop Instrument Release
After captivating audiences with show-stopping showcases at SUPERBOOTH24, May 16-18 in Berlin, Germany, and at Machina Bristronica, October 12-13 in Bristol, UK, Supercritical is excited to announce the availability of its inaugural desktop instrument, Redshift 6. This self-styled 6-voice Variable Character Synthesizer combines technology from Supercritical's previous products, the Demon Core Oscillator and Neutron Flux Filter. Each of the six voices features a Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO) capable of generating up to 16 analog oscillators per voice, with analog waveforms created under digital control.
Supercritical's self-styled 6-voice Variable Character Synthesizer label—subtly highlighted on the front panel of the desktop instrument—perfectly captures the Redshift 6 concept. As a result, the analog path of each of its six voices, based on the DEMON CORE OSCILLATOR, is tightly controlled by digital processes, including tuning, gain staging, filtering, and more. Redshift 6 delivers a rich, warm sweet spot inspired by classic analog polysynths, while also offering a wide range of tones, from digitally clean and sterile to distorted and beyond.
Digging deeper, the filter core is an analog 4-pole VARIABLE CHARACTER FILTER, digitally controlled to emulate virtually any classic vintage synthesizer filter—and then some. Beyond the oscillators and filters, Redshift 6 includes all the features you'd expect from a modern synth: plenty of modulators, flexible voice routing, six-part multitimbrality, MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression), and bypassable stereo DSP (Digital Signal Processing) effects.
Redshift 6 offers versatile voice configurations—choose from true six-voice polyphony, classic vintage poly dual-layer mode with 3+3 voices, six individual voices (each with its own patch and physical output), or any combination of these. Each of the six voices can also function as a paraphonic voice with up to 16-note paraphony. And to satisfy even the most demanding synthesist, multiple filters can be chained by routing audio from one voice to another.
Supercritical has clearly invested valuable time in designing Redshift 6's physical form, resulting in a modern, compact desktop device with dimensions of 378 mm (W) x 254 mm (D) x 63 mm (H). The 2.7-inch TFT IPS (In-Plane Switching) color screen is surrounded by eight endless clickable potentiometers. Thanks to quick navigation via the shortcut button grid, menu diving is kept to a minimum. The front panel features a range of familiar synth controls—such as DCO, VCF (Voltage-Controlled Filter), and AMP (amplifier)—for easy access. Assigning modulations is simple and efficient, with the modulation grid offering access to modulation source parameters, and all assigned modulations can be edited via the MOD MATRIX. Additionally, a MACRO mode with six user-assignable buttons is included.
Redshift 6's slimline back panel is packed with features for connecting to the outside world. It includes MAIN OUT (L and R), fed by the DSP effects, as well as AUX OUT 1 (L and R) and AUX OUT 2 (L and R), all on 6.3 mm jacks. The panel also offers modern MIDI functionality with DIN IN/OUT and a USB-B connection, plus, of course, a headphone output.
One of the key design goals of Redshift 6 was to create a versatile and powerful analog platform with a flexible user interface that can accommodate new engines and be easily updated via software. Its oscillators can currently range from traditional twin oscillators to supersaw behaviors, all while working seamlessly with the multimode filter and incorporating various character profiles. And, with user-friendly controls that are easily modulatable, the compact Redshift 6 is already punching above its weight. Weighing just 3.5 kg, an exciting future undoubtedly lies ahead for Supercritical's inaugural desktop instrument.
Supercritical is a Finnish synthesizer manufacturer that offers budget travels in time and space. Specifically, the company was founded in 2019 with the intention of producing modules for the Eurorack standard. Starting with the Demon Core Oscillator, an MDCO (Multiperiod Digitally Controlled Oscillator) technology-driven affair effectively producing a staggering 16 analog voices that can be controlled separately, its Neutron Flux Filter followup is an 8 Pole Variable Character Filter that can be run as stereo 4-pole filters or as a chained 8-pole mono filter. Taking things to a whole new level, the company has now combined those sonic innovations into the ultra-flexible Redshift 6, a self-styled Variable Character Synthesizer representing its inaugural desktop instrument.
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