Retcon is an ambient virtual instrument with a dual-voice engine, custom chord sequencer, and color-coded HEX interface for crafting atmospheric, lo-fi, and cinematic soundscapes.
Purpose and Design
Retcon is a virtual instrument built for ambient and synth music, evolving from the BOCS series by unifying three previous libraries with substantial new material. Its design centers on a color-coded HEX layout that organizes controls for intuitive navigation across six pages: Voice, Filter, FX, Options, Modulation, and Sequencer. Each page uses a consistent color scheme to speed up workflow.
The instrument is tailored for creating atmospheric, lo-fi, heavily modulated pads, leads, keys, and plucks. It draws inspiration from Boards Of Canada but extends beyond by offering deep mixing and manipulation of sounds. The dual-voice wave-based architecture includes eighty-four unique patches that can be blended, controlled separately, or used in unison, giving composers flexible sound-shaping options.
Key Capabilities
The centerpiece is a custom sixteen-step chord sequencer that enables long, evolving progressions up to four bars, or fast, complex modern chord sequences. It includes legato and retrigger modes, latch hold, auto fade, and sixteen unique patterns switchable via MIDI keyswitches, offering extensive creative control for demanding users.
The filter page provides three filters per voice, with dynamic modulation via LFOs and envelopes. Filters can operate in parallel per voice or in series for combined processing. The FX page adds substantial sound-shaping tools, allowing users to sculpt tonal character and texture, while the modulation page offers further depth for evolving atmospheres.
Workflow and Integration
Retcon integrates deeply with Native Instruments hardware, specifically Maschine and Komplete Kontrol. It includes one hundred thirty snapshot presets with plugin mapping, enabling seamless browsing and loading of sounds directly from hardware. This integration streamlines live performance and studio sessions, allowing hands-on control of parameters.
The instrument is organized for fast navigation: the HEX layout with nineteen controls per page ensures that tweaking settings is quick and visual. The sequencer, patterns, and modulation can be triggered and adjusted via MIDI keyswitches, making it suitable for both step-by-step sound design and real-time improvisation. Compressed .NCW files keep the library efficient without compromising accessibility.
Practical Applications
Retcon is best suited for ambient and cinematic composition, where evolving pads and modulated textures are essential. The chord sequencer supports building long progressions for film scores or creating rhythmic, pulsing sequences for electronic music. Its lo-fi character fits genres like downtempo, chillout, and experimental synthwave.
For live use, the latch hold and keyswitch patterns allow performers to switch between sequences on the fly, while the dual-voice blending enables layering sounds for richer output. The filter and FX pages are ideal for sculpting sound in real time, making Retcon a versatile tool for both studio production and on-stage exploration.
Key features
- Dual-voice wave-based engine with eighty-four analog patches
- Custom sixteen-step chord sequencer with four-bar progressions
- Six pages of nineteen hexagon controls: Voice, Filter, FX, Options, Modulation, Sequencer
- Three filters per voice with parallel or series routing
- Legato, retrigger, latch hold, auto fade, and sixteen MIDI-switchable patterns
- Integration with Maschine and Komplete Kontrol including one hundred thirty snapshots
- Compressed .NCW sample format
Best for
Retcon is ideal for ambient and cinematic composers seeking evolving pads, lo-fi textures, and complex chord sequences. It also suits electronic musicians needing live performance tools with hardware integration, offering deep modulation and filter control for atmospheric soundscapes.