Fors - Opal
An ambitious Max for Live plugin!
Fors is probably the best Max for Live plugin manufacturer in the world. When I see a new release from Fors, it is an instant purchase without even knowing what it does, they’re that good. The only downside is that, since all of their plugins are made for Max for Live, you can only use them with Ableton Live and Max.
In the past few years, we’ve used all of their plugins extensively and now, we’ve also tested their latest and greatest plugin, OPAL.
OPAL is labeled as a rhythm machine and drum synthesizer. It has 3 synthesizer engines, a Sampler, and an Effects module that can be sequenced by its powerful, Elektron-style, sequencer. Let’s first go through the multiple engines and then we’ll find out more about the sequencer.
Gem
Gem is an FM synthesizer with two sinewave operators that can be modulated to create basic waveforms but also extreme FM sounds. Its minimal design welcomes experimentation since FM synthesis is always a pain to be explained. By using modulation and feedback you can shape the waveforms and their relation to create harmonically rich sounds from deep basses to soft lead lines.
Mass
Mass is a modal synthesizer which is a type of physical modeling synthesis that employs a bank of bandpass filter to generate its sound. Here, you can design those beautiful plucky sounds you often hear from Modal or Karplus Strong synths like percussion, bells, etc. Its percussive element is great for melodic rhythmic lines.
Dust
Dust is a noise generator that Fors states it’s based around the concept of Pulsar synthesis which is something similar to Granular synthesis. Since you’re working with noise, Dust is very useful on creating metallic sounds like cymbals and hi-hats or even layers of noise to add texture to your sequence.
Slate
Slate is essentially a granular sampler. You load any sound you want and by using its controls you can play them as an instrument. It can be used both for percussion and melodic stuff but also as a regular sample playback engine if you don’t wanna go granular.
Void & Flux
For effects, there are two engines in one plugin. Void is a beautiful lush reverb and Flux is a micro looper and sampler that records sounds and then plays them back in slices creating movement and rhythm.
A very nice thing about OPAL is that all engines can also be used as standalone plugins for Ableton Live. Especially Gem and Mass are some tow little plugins for creating tones while Void can be used as an reverb plugin on any track you want.
The Sequencer
And to glue all these together, the heart of OPAL is a 5-Track sequencer with a ton of features that you can find on high-end sequencers. The sequencer is extremely deep and it would be exhausting to cover all of its functions in this article so if you want to learn everything about it you can check out the very well-written manual here. What we are going to do is to give the feel of using it for your productions.
The engines we’ve mentioned before are not your standard drum machine’s sounds. All engines are melodic and musical while also percussive and rhythmic. So, you should approach OPAL with a music-making mindset instead of making a basic drum pattern. It shines when you are trying to create a complex multi-timbral melodic sequence by combining the widely different tones of the synth engines with samples. The effects are also there to add space and lushness the coolest part is that you can also sequence them too!
Adding steps and setting velocities is very simple and then you can go crazy by adding parameter and note locks, adding probability for each step, creating rachets, or even using Nudge to move the sounds back and forth to add swing and syncopation to your sequences.
Conclusion
OPAL is the biggest and boldest release by Fors. It is indeed a rhtymh machine and drum synthesizer with a lot of depth and high quality sounds and execution. As big fans of this company, we expected nothing less than a robust and exciting release and they delivered. It is an instrument that goes well beyond the standards and sets the bar very high when it comes to Max for Live plugins.
But is it too much? In my opinion, the only con I can think of is at the same time its biggest strength. OPAL has so many features and controls that it can get daunting for the average user that wants something straightforward and easy-to-use. And when you combine that with the fact that it’s a plugin and not a hardware instrument, it gets even more difficult to learn and use daily. Fors has released a lot of devices that are dead-simple to ease, with minimum controls that focus mainly on the high-quality of sound, and while OPAL is definitely made with high-quality standards it’s a lot more complex than the other Fors devices. OPAL is for me, a clear statement that Max for Live plugins can no longer contain the amount of talent of their creator. It is time for Fors to collaborate and make a hardware synth that will definitely be amazing and succesful!
So, if you are willing to take the time and use it properly, then OPAL is one of the most impressive Max for Live devices I’ve ever used. If you want your plugins simple and plain then just go and get all of their other devices, you will definitely love them!
