EastWest Forbidden Planet is a cinematic synth collection with over 600 morphing presets, combining analog, acoustic, and futuristic sounds via an XY pad, powered by the OPUS engine.
Core Concept
Forbidden Planet is a synth collection built on hybrid sound design, merging electronic layers with orchestral, world, choral, and effect samples. It avoids traditional oscillators, instead offering preset-based morphing between contrasting sources. Over 600 presets span categories like Arpeggiator, Bass, Drones, FX, Leads, Pads, and Poly Synth, captured through an analog signal chain.
The collection targets producers seeking cinematic inspiration without patch-building from scratch. Producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix designed it to reduce filler, focusing on usable, dramatic sounds. The OPUS engine powers deep customization, allowing users to reshape presets fully. This approach suits soundtrack work, EDM, hip-hop, and hybrid genres, offering a fresh palette beyond standard analog emulations.
Morphing and Filter Tools
Central to the design is a large XY pad for crossfading between two sound sources and controlling filter frequency. Horizontal movement blends between contrasting timbres, such as analog versus acoustic or synthetic versus cinematic. Vertical movement sweeps the filter cutoff, enabling dynamic gestures. A separate Orbital Control captures smooth timbral and frequency shifts in real time.
Beyond the pad, the filter section includes modulation depth controls. The Mod Envelope adds an ADSR-style envelope to the cutoff, automating movement per note. A Step LFO creates gated, rhythmic filter patterns, producing sequenced textures. These tools let you build evolving drones and atmospheres, with the XY pad free for expressive, progressive changes during performance.
Arpeggiator and Categories
Forbidden Planet features dual arpeggiators, one for each sound source, supporting staccato, legato, portamento, and glide. The two sequencers can run at different speeds, creating polyrhythms or synchronized patterns. You can also sustain one layer while the other provides rhythmic foundation. Settings are adjacent in the UI, enabling quick automation without deep menu navigation.
Each preset category serves distinct roles. Basses add layered FX pedal tones and overtones for soundtrack depth. Drones offer mechanical, organic, and environmental textures ideal for atmosphere building. FX includes unclassifiable one-shots from voices and instruments. Leads provide organic, mix-ready tones, while Pads use the XY pad for warm or gritty morphing. Poly Synth presets bridge styles for experimentation.
Workflow and Applications
The library is designed for immediate use; presets combine dramatic contrasts, so you can load and play without designing from scratch. Modifications are straightforward, with full customization via OPUS. This makes it suitable for scoring sci-fi, horror, or world music, as well as EDM and hybrid tracks. The morphing capabilities encourage real-time manipulation during recording.
Practical workflows include layering bass drones with morphing pads for tension, using arpeggiator polyrhythms for action cues, or selecting FX one-shots for accent hits. The included post-processing and effects rack further shape sounds. For producers needing quick, cinematic inspiration or unique textural shifts, Forbidden Planet offers a streamlined path from preset to final mix across diverse genres.
Key features
- Over 600 morphing synth presets
- Dual sound sources with XY pad crossfade and filter control
- Mod envelope and step LFO for filter modulation
- Dual arpeggiators with independent speeds and polyrhythm options
- Post-processing suite and effects rack
- Categories: Arpeggiator, Bass, Drones, FX, Leads, Pads, Poly Synth
- Powered by OPUS engine with fully customizable presets
Best for
Best for soundtrack composers, EDM producers, and hybrid music creators seeking ready-made cinematic synth textures. It excels at morphing between analog and acoustic worlds, ideal for sci-fi, horror, and world-influenced cues, plus rhythmic arpeggiated patterns and evolving drones, without requiring deep synthesis programming.