Propellerhead Software Europa Synthesizer Plugin (VST/AU) Review

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Other Features & Factory Library

Europa features also a key mode (poly, retrigger and legato) as well as portamento support. Unfortunately, there is no arpeggiator or sequencer built-in. If you want to build melodies, you have to switch to the loopable envelopes, use a sequencer plugin or inside the DAW.

It comes also with more than 500 presets that are well arranged in various categories. I am very satisfied with the quality and you will find many classic bread and butter sounds as well as industrial or experimental presets in the collection.

Design

Through the interface design, many Synthesizers friends smile. It’s a beautifully designed GUI, but to be honest it’s very similar to the Eurorack modules by Mark Verbos. These have red colors as well as the same knob design as Europa. Now you can ask yourself: where come the interface inspiration for Europa? probably from Mark Verbos Eurorack lineup.

Europa Player Is A Free Browser Version

In order for everyone to enjoy Europa, the team has developed a free Europa Player browser version with which you can play the engine and some selected sounds. A nice and clever idea to bring the synth to the user without installing a demo. The Google Chrome Browser is sufficient here.

Sound Quality

Europa can convince in the sound above all not to sound like other Wavetable Synthesizer on the market. Its large number of wave-shapers and spectral filter allow you to design new complex sounds that are full of harmonics that are difficult to reproduce in other wavetable synths. Europa does not sound classic fat analog but is a combination of a warm and cold sound character.

It can sound very analog on the one hand, but also very digital on the other hand. Since the spectrum is so far, it’s possible to design a variety of different sounds in Europa: analog style basses, big poly patches, evolving soundscapes, gritty distorted sounds, metallic plucks using Karplus strong etc. The sound quality was completely convincing in the test because users have heard both worlds that’s interact nicely.

Sound Demos & Review

Pro

  • sound quality
  • detailed sounds full of harmonics
  • sound shaper heaven
  • huge modulation section
  • low CPU consumption
  • mostly a one-screen interface
  • easy-to-use
  • free for all Reason 10 users

Contra

  • no arpeggiator
  • no sequencer
  • only use one sample per patch (three engines & spectral filter)

Summary 

Yes, Propellerhead Software can also design VST / AU plugins! With Europe they released a Synthesizer that has a very good sound quality, offers a lot of sound and modulation possibilities, and on top doesn’t consume a lot of CPU. Europa is for musicians who like to use Synthesizer plugins that have a West Coast synthesis approach where you add harmonics and less eliminate them. Friends of analog, as well as digital sounds, would have their pleasure here.

Europa covers both worlds in a very interesting way. If the developer team will be screwed on the small sound design problems, you can certainly talk about a perfect start in the VST/AU world for the Propellerhead Team.

More information here: Propellerhead Software

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