* The behaviour of the MIDI clock output has been fixed when the host DAW’s transport is in cycle mode.
* A ‘Panic’ button has been added, to remedy any stuck MIDI notes etc.
Silent Way v1.7.1 is released. This version fixes the behaviour of the Silent Way Sync plug-in when the host’s transport is in cycle mode.
* A new plug-in, Silent Way Sync, is added to the suite. This takes the DIN sync generator from the ES-4 Controller plug-in and expands on it to become a general purpose clock/trigger/sync plug-in.
* Fixes various issues with parameter automation and GUI updates.
* Fixes the ES-4 Controller plug-in’s response to MIDI channels (previously it would respond to mes- sages on any and all MIDI channels) and adds a ‘Channelise’ capability to the MIDI Out section.
Augustus Loop v2.3.4 is released. This is the first release of a 64 bit Windows VST version of Augustus, and indeed of any of our plug-ins.
Note that an updated Licence Manager is also available, which is required for activation on 64 bit systems.
This video shows a comparison of the timing of MIDI clock generated from a MOTU FastLane USB MIDI interface, and from the Expert Sleepers ES-4 module.
As you will see, the timing of USB MIDI isn’t particularly tight.
* Added a Trigger Length control to Silent Way Voice Controller and Silent Way Trigger.
* Fixed a bug in the behaviour of Newest note priority mode in Silent Way Voice Controller.
* Added Trigger Length controls to Silent Way ES-4 Controller, allowing the 40 independent gate outputs to operate as triggers instead.
Download now from the downloads page. Note that there is an updated version of the user manual for this release.
In this version DINsync and MIDI clock generation has been largely rewritten, offering much improved behaviour. Also, an offset control has been added to each, to allow the timing to be brought forward or pushed back by a small amount, to compensate for any timing delays in the hardware being synced.
•	The AU Generator variants of the Silent Way DC, Silent Way CV Input, Silent Way LFO and Silent Way Step LFO plug-ins have been replaced by AU Instrument variants, so as to be compatible with AU validation under OS X Lion.
•	Added a ‘Reset By Note’ option to Silent Way LFO, allowing the LFO to be reset by incoming MIDI note-on messages.
•	Added visual feedback of the LFO’s position in its cycle to Silent Way LFO.
•	Added a ‘Create ES-4 Calibration’ button to Silent Way Quantizer, removing the need to load a suitable calibration file when using the Quantizer with the ES-4 module.
•	Made a slight adjustment to the ES-4 Controller’s input processing to match that in the Silent Way Voice Controller and Silent Way Quantizer.
ES-4 & Ableton Live Drum Rack on Vimeo.
Shows how to set up a Drum Rack in Ableton Live to drive the Expert Sleepers ES-4 Gate Expander. Here the Gate Expander is triggering a selection of drum synth modules.
ES-4 & Silent Way LFOs on Vimeo.
Simple demo of using Silent Way LFOs with the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV Interface.
ES-4 Audio Demo on Vimeo.
Shows how the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV Interface can also be used to output audio. Here we process the audio with a modular synth's filter, modulated via an LFO also produced from the ES-4.
The ES-4 and ES-4 Gate Expander modules are now in stock at Analogue Haven for immediate dispatch. Go there.
ES-4 Controller Simple Setup on Vimeo.
A simplest-possible setup of the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV Interface module and the ES-4 Controller plug-in, in Ableton Live.
ES-4 and Silent Way Voice Controller on Vimeo.
A demo of the new 'ES-4 Mode' in the Silent Way Voice Controller, making integration easier with the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV Interface module.
- ‘ES-4 mode’, allowing direct use with the Expert Sleepers ES-4 module without routing through the ES-4 Controller plug-in.
The ES-4 modules are now available for purchase direct from Expert Sleepers from our store.
UK/USA customers please remember that we do not accept direct orders from your countries - please use Post Modular/Analogue Haven.
The ES-4 SPDIF/CV Interface module is now available. The first units are in stock at postmodular.co.uk, and schneidersladen.de are taking pre-orders. Other dealers will have stock soon - in particular Analogue Haven will have them around September 8.
The first release of the Silent Way ES-4 Controller plug-in is also now available from the downloads page.
Crossfade Loop Synth has been updated to v3.2.0.
- The Mac OS X AU & VST versions now support 64 bit operation.
- The timing of note playback is much improved in the synth versions of the plug-in (now sample accurate).
This version also fixes a minor bug which would cause the plug-in to attempt to load an empty filename when loading a song in Plogue Bidule.
Here’s a quick update on compatibility of Expert Sleepers plug-ins with the recently released Mac OS X 10.7 ‘Lion’.
So far, we have only one reported problem, which is that the AudioUnit validation tool in Lion is objecting to the few Silent Way plug-ins classed as ‘AU Generators’, resulting in Logic objecting to loading them. The plug-ins themselves work fine - it’s just a detail of the validation process that is tripping things up, which is arguably a bug, and we’ve reported it to Apple as such.
So if you use Silent Way and Logic, there seems to be reason to hold off upgrading to Lion. If you use our other plug-ins, or other DAWs, there are no known problems as of now.
Australian distributor Equinox Oz will soon have stock of Expert Sleepers modules. Pre-orders are being taken now.
The Expert Sleepers Newsletter is sent to all our customers every now and then, containing a summary of recent news and announcements. We’ve recently given it a major facelift, and added the option to subscribe to the list manually (without actually becoming a customer).
You can read the July 2011 newsletter here, and you can sign up to the mailing list here.
The ES-2-2 module is back in stock at the Expert Sleepers store, and will soon be back in stock at SchneidersBuero. A consignment of ES-3 modules is also winging its way to Schneiders.
DIN sync from the ES-4 from Andrew Ostler on Vimeo.
This video shows how the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV module can also be used to send DIN sync, via a simple cable adaptor and using features of Expert Sleepers' Silent Way software.
Because the DIN sync is being sent via an audio interface, it is sample-accurate with the audio.
Silent Way and the Expert Sleepers modules (ES-1, ES-2 & ES-3) are the subject of a lengthy review in the current edition of Synthesizer Magazin.
Jitter-free MIDI from the ES-4 on Vimeo.
This video shows how the Expert Sleepers ES-4 SPDIF/CV module can also be used to send MIDI, via a simple cable adaptor and using features of Expert Sleepers' Silent Way software.
Because the MIDI is being sent via an audio interface, it is sample-accurate with the audio and free from the timing jitter normally associated with USB MIDI interfaces.
Our iOS app CV Generator has been updated to v2.0.0. It is now an iPhone/iPad Universal app and so works at full screen resolution on iPads.
Silent Way and the ES-3 module were reviewed by Sonic State - read the full review and watch the video here.
The Expert Sleepers ES-3 module is back in stock. Orders are being taken now, for shipping around June 20th.
A new panel option is now available - orange aluminium, to match the ES-1 and ES-2-2 orange aluminium designs.
The ES-4 page has been updated with some preliminary information on the ES-4 Gate Expander module.
Paul Chambers pointed out that he’s using Silent Way to control the analogue gear in these videos.
Some preliminary details and specifications of the forthcoming ES-4 module are now available here.
A new skin for Augustus Loop called ‘duochrome’ has been sent in by lindefelt. Get it from the skins page.
Silent Way v1.6.7 is released. This version adds an ‘output configuration’ option to the VST versions of the Silent Way Voice Controller plug-in (Mac OS X and Windows), allowing the plug-in’s outputs to be presented to the host as either a 6-channel bus, three stereo busses or six mono busses.
Silent Way and the ES-3 module got a great review in Future Music Magazine, Issue 239 (May 2011).
More stock of the ES-1 module has arrived, including a new aluminium-panelled version of the ES-1 Jack. Order now from the Expert Sleepers Store.
Replacement aluminium panels are also available for existing owners of the acrylic-panelled ES-1.
The Sonic State podcast episode 214 says some very nice things about Silent Way, the ES-3 module, and Expert Sleepers in general. Check it out here - skip about 30 minutes in for where they start talking about Expert Sleepers stuff.
Crossfade Loop Synth has been updated to v3.1.4.
This release fixes a rare crash that could occur when automating parameters in Cubase, using the 64 bit version of Cubase and the 32 bit plug-in bridge.
I’m back from the Musikmesse.
sonicstate.com did a very nice video interview with me, in which I explain the ES-3, Silent Way, and show the ES-2-2 in action, which is not something you often see - if you’re still unclear on what this module does, this video should help. You can watch it here.
Expert Sleepers will be at the Musikmesse Frankfurt from April 6 to April 8.
I will be demonstrating Expert Sleepers hardware and software on the Schneidersbuero ‘Superbooth’ (Hall 5.1 Stand C70).
If you use the Musikmesse’s iPhone or Android app’s ‘Buddy Finder’ you should find me under ‘Andrew Ostler’ or os at expert-sleepers.co.uk.
Silent Way v1.6.6 is released. This version fixes a major problem in the Windows VST version of the Silent Way CV Input plug-in, preventing proper operation with the ES-2 module.
Augustus Loop v2.3.3 is released. Only the Mac OS X AU & VST versions are updated - the Windows VST is unchanged.
* Fixed an issue introduced in v2.2.0 which would cause unpleasant audio artefacts at certain pitch settings.
Augustus Loop v2.3.2 is released. Only the AudioUnit version is updated.
* Fixed an issue with keyboard handling that could interfere with shortcuts in the host application when the Augustus Loop UI was open.
Silent Way has received a very positive review in Tape Op magazine, issue #81.
The ES-3 Lightpipe/CV Interface module is now available for ordering from the Expert Sleepers store. International distributors will have stock within the next few days.
Modular audio processing with Expert Sleepers Silent Way and ES-3 on Vimeo.
A real-time demo of processing audio samples using Expert Sleepers Silent Way and a modular synth, connected via the Expert Sleepers ES-3 Lightpipe/CV interface.
A drum loop is processed first with a phase shifter controlled by Silent Way LFO, and then with a VCF controlled by Silent Way Step LFO.
We’re happy to report that Swedish webshop Escape From Noise will be selling Expert Sleepers products. They will have stock of the ES-2-2 and ES-3 modules very soon.
Modular patching with Expert Sleepers Silent Way and ES-3 on Vimeo.
A real-time demo of using Expert Sleepers Silent Way and a modular synth, connected via the Expert Sleepers ES-3 Lightpipe/CV interface.
First the oscillator is connected and calibrated using the Silent Way Voice Controller plug-in. Then a simple patch is made using a VCA and an envelope generator, triggered by a gate signal from Silent Way.
Other modulation options are then explored, using another envelope from the Voice Controller, the Silent Way Step LFO plug-in, and the Silent Way LFO plug-in.
Silent Way v1.6.5 is released.
This release adds a new plug-in: Silent Way SMUX.
Silent Way SMUX provides a hack to workaround the reduction in channel count over ADAT connections when running the audio system at 88.1/96kHz.
When using an audio interface to produce your CVs that is connected via ADAT (for example, the Expert Sleepers ES-3 Lightpipe/CV Interface), and when the audio system is being run at a ‘double speed’ rate (typically 96kHz), the number of audio channels that can be sent down the ADAT connection is reduced from the usual 8 down to 4. The 4 double-speed channels are multiplexed onto the 8 ADAT channels - this system is usually referred to as ‘S/MUX’, or sample multiplexing.
The Silent Way SMUX plug-in gets around this reduction in channel count by providing a complementary multiplexing scheme, which takes 4 channels of CVs and combines them onto 2 channels of the double-speed audio stream. When the ADAT output is then decoded by a normal-speed interface (such as the ES-3 mentioned above), the channels are demultiplexed, and so you get your 4 channels of CV back again.
Spectral Conquest v1.0.2 is released. Only the VST versions (Mac and Windows) are updated.
- Fixed reporting of plug-in latency to host.
- Fixed GUI issues in REAPER on Windows.
- Mac VST version now supports native 64 bit usage.
We’re proud to announce a new Eurorack module - the ES-3 Lightpipe/CV Interface.
The ES-3 is a Eurorack format module which converts eight channels of ADAT Lightpipe input to DC coupled outputs on 3.5mm jacks, for the ultimate convenience in connection of a DAW directly to analogue synthesizers.
The outputs can be used as control voltages (CVs), for example with software such as Expert Sleepers Silent Way, and can also be used as audio outputs at high, modular synth-compatible levels.
With the ES-3, a single optical cable is all that is need to bring direct CV control from your DAW right into the heart of a modular system.
The ES-3 is expected to be available from February 2011. Pricing TBD.
A reminder of why I started writing Silent Way in the first place - so I could use it to make music.
Here are some videos that my band Darkroom recently produced. You can see and hear Silent Way in action fairly prominently.
Ahead Finitely from Andrew Ostler on Vimeo.
The Making of 'Ahead Finitely' from Andrew Ostler on Vimeo.
Crossfade Loop Synth has been updated to v3.1.3.
This release fixes a bug in the plug-in’s response to a MIDI All Notes Off message. In Plogue Bidule, this could cause a problem with the drones not reactivating when a plug-in was switched in and out of Bypass mode.
A small number of ES-1 modules are now available with aluminium front panels. The panels are also available separately, for those wishing to replace their existing acrylic panel. See the ES-1 page for ordering details.