The new version of the Modular Synth was made available to download from the Creamware shop on 15th May 2000. This will be available for free to purchasers of the Pulsar II card who register their purchase within a certain time.
Although the fundamentals are the same, there has been a significant facelift to the synth, and there are also a number of interesting new modules, along with new (and much needed) tutorial files a vastly improved reference manual and some new patches.
You can download a 10 hour demo from the Creamware shop.
Creamware have a page devoted to the Modular II. Follow the links from here to 'What's new', and then to 'Pulsar II'
Pictures - here
The interface has had the following changes made to it:
The top of the Modular Window now incorporates a 'control bar' which features:
the patch name (hurray!)
a VOICES fader allowing you to change the polyphony of the patch,
a new set of Routing display options allowing you to display cables selectively according to their function, or to show only those cables attached to the currently selected module, and also to change the color-coding of different types of cable
a Tension control allowing you to 'tighten' the cables
the new module selection menu structure, which allows you to select modules according to their type from within the Modular window, without having to use the file browser
The module surfaces are smaller
You can now move cables out of the way if they are blocking controls
Patch presets now incorporate the new Preset management functionality, allowing you to assign voices to a preset, and use Program change messages to change presets, and also to set up a patch which uses 0 voices (& therefore 0 DSP).
Some modules (eg, the Free Filter bank & the sequencer & drum modules) now incorporate their own preset lists
It is now also possible to specify whether a specific module is monophonic or polyphonic, which allows you to save DSP. For example, it might not be necessary for an LFO to exist for each individual voice in a patch, when one 'global' one is all that is needed. When switched from Mono to Poly, the module colour changes as an indication
Module colors have changed and are easier on the eye.
New Modules
MIDI
MVC A/B - Replacing the old MVC module, there are now options with or without Portamento, and the Midi monitor has been moved to a separate module
MIDI Split
MIDI to Trigger
MIDI Channel Filter
MIDI Monitor (now seperate from the MVC)
OSCILLATORS
The Oscillators no longer have Frequency modulation. Instead, this must be done through a frequency modifier module. This means there are no longer many different variations of a single oscillator, which makes things less confusing.
(Some oscillators now have Sync Master/Sync Slave variants) for allowing you to Sync Oscillators together)
Morphing Pulse
Morphing Saw
Spectral OSC
Tube Resonator
BPF Noise (replaces old Super Noise?)
MIX & GAIN
Linear & Exponential VCA
Micro Mixer
Mix 2/4/8
Static Crossfade
Static Pan
Amp Modulator
On/Off Switch
VU Meter
FILTER
Many filters now have an 'R' (for Retro) version, which can self oscillate
There are also many newly named filters, but most of these look like renamed versions of version I modules
CombFilter A/B
LFO
Pulse LFO
Saw Down LFO
Saw Up LFO
Square LFO
Random Signal Generator
MODIFIERS
Pitch Mod B
Pitch Mod C
Constant Value
Constant Value Bipolar
Constant Freq
Curve Table
Frequency Divider
Xmod
Feedback Connector
DRUM
Drum Synth
Drum Oscillator
Percussion Oscillator
Drum Voice Control
Mute Adder2
HiHat Source
Sample Drum Oscillator
EFFECTS
Flanger
SEQUENCER
Thanks to Paul van der Valk for help in compiling this list.Gate SEQ 1/ SEQ 2
Ctrl SEQ 1/ SEQ 2
Ctrl SEQ B1/ SEQ B2
Pitch SEQ
Pattern SEQ
MDS 8
PS32
Gate OR
4 big modular patches using Modular 2. Note Sequencers & drum Synth modules. 1 2 3 4