SX1000

The SX1000 is AudioThing's meticulous software emulation of the 1978 JEN Synthetone, the Italian budget synthesizer that democratized analog synthesis for European musicians when costs elsewhere remained prohibitive. The plugin faithfully models the original monophonic architecture while substantially expanding its capabilities through polyphonic operation, a sub-oscillator extending down three octaves, and dual ADSR envelopes controlling both amplitude and filter cutoff.

The sonic foundation rests on the characterful 24dB per octave low-pass filter, which exhibits the organic, slightly unstable resonance typical of the era's component tolerances. This isn't clinical self-oscillation but rather a warm, somewhat unpredictable response that rewards careful tweaking. The oscillator section covers the essentials - sawtooth, square, and pulse waveforms plus white and pink noise - though the real magic emerges from layering the main oscillator with the sub-oscillator, a modification AudioThing's developers implemented on their hardware unit decades ago using simple flip-flop circuitry.

The LFO, expanded with additional waveforms and sync capability, provides genuine modulation depth beyond the original's basic vibrato and tremolo functions. Four effects with flexible routing extend possibilities further, though the plugin's strength lies in its core character rather than modern processing.

The SX1000 suits producers seeking period-accurate textures, those interested in vintage Italian synthesis history, and anyone valuing hands-on interface design. While not a jack-of-all-trades polysynth, it excels at creating the distinctive warmth and slight imprecision that defined late 1970s affordable synthesis. It represents authentic emulation rather than reimagining.