UVI Falcon

Introduction

UVI Falcon stands as a true powerhouse in the world of sound design and synthesis. Originally introduced as MachFive under MOTU, Falcon evolved to become UVI’s flagship software, setting a new standard in versatility. From straightforward sample manipulation to creating complex, multi-layered instruments, Falcon offers an unparalleled level of creative freedom for musicians and sound designers alike.

Behind this impressive tool is Olivier Tristan, Falcon’s lead developer, alongside a team of talented programmers and sound designers, myself included. Over the years, Falcon has grown into a sophisticated platform thanks to continuous refinement and dedicated teamwork.

During my work at UVI, I had the opportunity to contribute to multiple aspects of Falcon’s development, including sound design, preset creation, the development of DSP modules, low-level programming, as well as higher-level functions like scripting in Lua and MIDI effects processing.

Below is a screenshot of the editing interface, where you can focus on the sound design of your creation.

A selection of overview and promotional videos is available below.

Building DSP Modules and Audio Effects

One of my contributions to Falcon was the development of DSP modules, which include both audio effects and modulation tools that form the backbone of Falcon’s flexibility.

Here are a few examples of the modules I worked on:

Developing MIDI Processors

One other of my technical contributions was working on Falcon’s MIDI processors. These processors play a crucial role in Falcon, allowing users to generate or manipulate incoming MIDI data to create unique performance effects. I wrote Lua scripts that enabled advanced MIDI effects like arpeggiators, chord strummers, custom MIDI processors, and much more, and feed them with my personnal knowledge of music, as I get a strong jazz piano formation.

A few examples of the MIDI processors I developed include:

Sound Design Contributions

Sound design has always been a passion of mine, and working with Falcon allowed me to push my creativity to new heights. I had the opportunity to design presets for both Falcon’s factory library and its expansions, covering a wide array of synthesis techniques, from subtractive and FM synthesis to wavetable and granular sound design.

Falcon’s semi-modular environment enabled me to combine layers of synthesis and effects to create unique, expressive and creative sounds. Additionally, I crafted presets for various effects and designed custom wavetables.

Here are a few examples of my contributions:

Final though

Falcon is truly a sound design monster, with an impressive range of features that have evolved from its early days as a rompler, similar to Kontakt and other early 2000s workstations. Its scripting engine, spearheaded by Rémy Muller, opened up Falcon to endless expansion possibilities.

However, as powerful as Falcon is, I believe there’s room for improvement. In my experience, building complex patches in Falcon can sometimes be time-consuming. That’s why I’ve been dreaming of creating a modular synthesizer that would be simpler, more intuitive, and more efficient.

While this idea remains a work-in-progress, it has fueled my passion for learning more about DSP, programming, and synthesis design. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll turn this dream into reality. Until then, Falcon continues to be an incredible platform that has shaped my journey as a sound designer.

Get more information here.