Analog String Machines bundles two vintage-inspired instruments: XILS V+ (strings, human voices, vocoder) and XILS 505 (string, synth, bass, choir). Both offer deep layering and vintage effects for rich analog textures.
Overview and Heritage
Analog String Machines pairs XILS V+ and XILS 505 in one license. XILS V+ recreates a legendary versatile machine used by notable musicians, featuring a vintage 10-band vocoder, top-octave-divider strings, and an octave-divider human voice module. You can layer these three elements extensively.
XILS 505, originally advertised as ‘The Analog Orchestra’, functions as a string machine, synthesizer, and bass synth simultaneously. The bundle captures the essence of classic analog stringers with modern control, delivering a broad palette of rich, evolving sounds for composers and producers.
Key Capabilities
XILS V+ offers sophisticated layering of strings, human voices, and a 10-band vocoder, allowing you to blend vocal-like textures with orchestral pads. It provides a vintage character that suits film scores, electronic music, and pop productions seeking analog warmth and complexity.
XILS 505 goes further with a quadruple BBD chorus unit, giving precise control over all four inputs for rich stereo width. It also includes a juicy analog phaser and a vintage reverb, plus an added human choir oscillator source, expanding its sonic range beyond its predecessor.
Workflow and Control
The user-friendly control panels in XILS 505 provide many additional parameters for tweaking, allowing you to fine-tune the balance between string registers and precisely adjust the mix in the chorus unit. This enables detailed sound shaping for both subtle adjustments and bold transformations.
In XILS V+, the layering of vocoder, strings, and voices is designed for intuitive exploration. You can morph between pure string ensembles and vocal-like pads, making it easy to craft evolving timbres. Both instruments are built to integrate into a modern DAW while retaining vintage behavior.
Workflows include building lush pad layers, creating hybrid string-vocal textures, or designing bass lines alongside string chords. The vocoder adds a classic effect that can process external audio or synthesize formant-like movements. The phaser and reverb provide final polish within the instrument.
Practical Applications
Use Analog String Machines for cinematic soundscapes, retro electronic tracks, or ambient music. The strings and choir layers are ideal for film and TV scores, while the vocoder suits experimental pop. The synthesizer and bass modules in XILS 505 allow for full arrangements from a single instrument.
For live performance, the combination of strings and bass in one UI simplifies sound switching. In studio settings, the extensive effects and layering encourage deep sound design exploration. The bundle is well-suited for producers seeking classic analog vibe without hardware maintenance.
Key features
- Vintage 10-band vocoder in XILS V+
- Top-octave-divider strings and human voice modules
- Quadruple BBD chorus unit with individual input controls
- Analog phaser and vintage reverb effects
- Human choir oscillator source in XILS 505
- Layer strings, voices, vocoder, and synth modules
- Fine-tune balance between string registers
Best for
Producers and composers seeking vintage analog string and choir textures, with additional vocoder and synthesis capabilities. Ideal for cinematic scores, electronic music, and layering complex pads. Also suits live performers wanting versatile string, bass, and synth combinations, as well as sound designers exploring retro tonalities.