Decent Samples has launched a new free Casio VL-1 library for the free Decent Sampler.
The Casio VL-1 is a unique device, serving as a monophonic synthesizer, sequencer, and calculator all at once.
Released in 1979, it is touted as “the first mass-produced digital synthesizer ever”, renowned for its warm and fuzzy sound that has become legendary in the electronic music scene.
David Hilowitz of Decent Samples, a name familiar to many, has sampled one of these units, which he mentions had been untouched for decades.
Using his developing skills, he has crafted a sample library from it, allowing you to enjoy the classic tones of the VL-1 from the convenience of your DAW.
Although the VL-1 features a built-in calculator, you won’t need to do any math to utilize this library.
In fact, it is very user-friendly, consistent with what we usually expect from Decent Sampler libraries.
Regarding controls, you have a straightforward ADSR module and an effects module, which includes settings for Cutoff, Q, Chorus, and Reverb.
The cutoff is a low-pass filter control, and Q adjusts the resonance amount. The other two controls are straightforward and can add some depth to the otherwise dry sound of the presets.
The library includes 12 patches in total. The first five are the sampled presets of the original VL-1: Fantasy, Flute, Guitar, Piano, and Violin.
The piano patch is being loved by many for its smooth attack and crisp sound. The flute and violin patches are also excellent for playing chords.
The remaining seven patches are the raw waveforms offered by the VL-1: Piano, Fantasy, Violin, Flute, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, and English Horn.
These have infinite sustain, allowing for further tweaking to your preference in the ADSR section.
It’s worth mentioning that David Hilowitz has also created a more experimental version of this instrument called “VL-1 & Friends”, available to his Patreon subscribers.
The Casio VL-1 runs in Decent Sampler, which is available for Windows (32 & 64-bit), Mac (Intel & M1), Linux (Intel 64-bit), and even iOS devices, in VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, and Standalone formats.
Download: Casio VL-1 (FREE – Requires Decent Sampler)
