XILS 4 Release Intro Offer

The XILS 4
Ultimate Analog Matrix Modular Synthesizer
Introductory Offer until June 17th
Buy the XILS 4 now and XILS-lab offers you :
a FREE USB-eLicenser, XILISTICS (160+ patches), and on top a 30€ discount
(You save 25+16+30 = 71€ -$100-)

http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS-4.html

OK - I see the demo is released, albeit a limited one if you don't have a eLicencer or iLok. I am at the end of the slowest Internet connection in the world at the moment (hardly suprising in the middle of the Sahara) so it will be next week before I can give it a spin.
 
119 euros to upgrade from XILS 3 LE is far from chump change so it will need to be good.

First Impressions of the Demo
 
I have spent a couple of hours with the demo and I am quite impressed. Beware my views are tainted by my nostalgic connection to EMS synths.
 
First, be aware that the GIU needs a screen bigger that 1280x800, not an issue on most desktops these days at the 1280x800 maximum on my laptop some controls get hidden by the windows task bar.
 
There are some really nice presets including a few variations on the Pink Floyd "On The Run" sequence, all different enough to avoid litigation, but the intentions is clear. The pre-sets seem to cover all genres
 
A nice improvement on XILS3 LE is that every matrix connection has a level control, instead of being straight on/off.
 
The advanced matrix on each synth core has two fully assignable rows that enable modulation connections between the two cores. While I like to think it would have been better with more I think for most purpose this will be enough. Also while the two inputs on the right synth are primarily intended as audio links so output from the left synth can be processed by the right, there should be no reason why modulation signals could not be passed through.
 
Because of the screen resolution issue I can't get at some of the keyboard routing controls, but I am looking forward to getting it on a decent size screen.
 
Its probably worth mentioning that there is only one Sequencer, Keyboard, Sample/Hold, and LFO shared between the two cores, however any of the three oscillators in each core an be used as an LFO.
 
There are many excellent synths available in this price range and I don't think XILS4 would be your one go to synth, but if you are looking for something quirky and different it has a lot of potential. What you do get is something that is both limited and very versatile at the same time.