ZENOLOGY GX

What it does

Roland’s ZEN-Core engine on iPad, running standalone and as an AUv3. Tones are built from up to four partials mixing PCM, virtual analog and hybrid sources, each partial with its own oscillator, filter, EQ and LFOs, feeding a mod matrix, more than 90 Roland effects, a sequencer and a chord mode. Version 1.9.3 added AUv3 hosting, a Pro Edit page gathering the deep parameters onto one set of tabs, and ten new sound packs taking the library past 4,500 tones.

In the demo

Jade signs in, walks the sound browser and its filters, then opens one tone to show the partials, oscillator sources, filters, key-range splitting, effects and mixer. She finishes with the sequencer, chord mode and a run through pianos, basses, choirs and guitars.

Worth knowing

A free Roland account and sign-in are required, and Roland has said the free download will not run indefinitely. Editing linked partials has no undo, and they move together unless deselected at the foot of the screen. It records nothing internally, so capturing a standalone session means hosting it or screen recording the iPad. A later update show demos the AUv3 in AUM, Logic Pro and Cubasis.