MUSEWIRE – NEWS: UVI launches latest version of the acclaimed VINTAGE VAULT, now at version 5, expanding the legacy virtual instrument collection with 7 brand-new instrument series, each capturing the “soul of iconic hardware with authentic recordings, expert programming, and modern creative depth.” Vintage Vault 5 introduces seven new additions to the collection: HX-20, HX-Oddy, PX WaveFrame, PX Guitar Syn, Mission 6, KAWAI Vintage Legacy, and Vintage Casio Legacy.

I’ve been a huge UVI fan (and customer) for 20+ years because what makes the UVI collections different from “emulations” touted by the likes of Arturia, Cherry Audio and the rest, UVI starts with sampling the vintage synthesizers, so what you hear is the real deal, not a re-creation. UVI then expands the playability by using its sound engine to allow for filtering and modulations, similar to what the real world hardware was capable of. Not to make light of software emulations, but samples are the real sound of the real instrument.

As the company describes it, “Every instrument in Vintage Vault 5 begins with the original hardware, professionally sourced, fully restored, expertly programmed, and captured through class-A signal chains at the highest available resolution. The process is painstaking by design, because the results are irreplaceable: 43 UVI instruments, 271 hardware synthesizers and drum machines, over 1 million samples meticulously recorded, more than 18,000 hand-crafted presets, instantly playable in any DAW.”

WHAT’S NEW:

Vintage Casio Legacy is the centerpiece of the new additions, a landmark 6-instrument suite built from deeply multi-sampled original hardware, exploring the instruments that helped bring synthesis to the world, including CZ, FZ, VZ, HZ, CTK, and RZ. A unified Multi groove engine combines the RZ drum machine with four assignable synth slots, delivering a complete performance and production environment drawn from Casio’s remarkable legacy.

PX WaveFrame captures the groundbreaking essence of the WaveFrame AudioFrame, a high-end digital sampler and audio production system that made waves in the late 1980s. Developed in Boulder, Colorado, this system was a formidable competitor to the Synclavier and Fairlight, featuring advanced capabilities like non-aliased transposition, phase-coherent polyphony, and 24-bit processing features that were light years ahead of their time.

HX-ODDY is based on the world’s first duophonic analog synth, a capable and expressive 3-octave keyboard instrument with design heritage from the renowned 2500 and 2600 modular synthesizers. With heaps of configuration potential, oscillator cross-modulation, and its ARP 4023 SVF-like filters, the ODDY explored a broad and unique sonic range, notable both for its ability to mimic natural instruments, and an exceptionally rich analog character.

HX-20 is based on one of the most recognizable and well-loved analog monosynths around, known for its versatile semi-modular architecture, iconic front panel design, and starred musical history. Launched in the late ’70s, this small two-oscillator monosynth has a lot to offer, and continues to be an inspirational studio compadre for artists around the world.

KAWAI Vintage Legacy is a collection of 5 instruments, featuring hand-crafted synthesizers and a drum module, created for music production of any style. Based on vintage KAWAI synthesizers from the 1980s, these instruments may not be as well-known today, but their sounds feature a distinct character and unique edge that make them a true hidden gem for today’s producers and composers.

This collection (Kawai) is of particular interest to me, as I owned a Kawai K5000 additive synth for many years, and it was always a favorite.

Each instrument includes an ADSR envelope, a multimode filter, vibrato, tremolo, and filter frequency controls that can be linked to a MIDI controller’s modwheel, as well as effects including drive, bit reduction, chorus, phaser, and 3-band equalizer. Additionally, the multi version includes bus effects, along with 2 configurable delays and reverbs available as send effects from any of the 4 synth layers or the drum machine. Finally, all instruments feature a powerful arpeggiator for added creativity.

PX Guitar Syn: Delivering the raw sounds of this beautiful guitar and synth was indeed where this adventure began, but it didn’t take long for us to find ways to add our own touch. Reaching for a number of our favorite stomp boxes and effects, from classic fuzz, drive, and diy pedals to the S550 Tape Echo (used for the chorus section), we’ve added to the base tones with a number of unique combinations that extend the range and palette possibilities of the instrument well beyond the factory sound – all easy changeable by way of the Main page ‘Mode’ switch.

Mission 6: Mission 6’s aesthetic was adapted to closely follow the design cues of the Alesis Andromeda 6 hardware, “giving you the feel of this radically styled instrument as you edit the dual-layer sounds.” You’ll find complete control over everything from oscillators, envelopes, multimode filters, LFO and step modulator, dual arpeggiators and a featured effect section including EQ, drive, Thorus, ensemble, Phasor, delay, and Sparkverb, all clearly labeled and easy to tweak.

I sold my Andromeda long ago due to long-term stability concerns (the hardware contains proprietary circuits that cannot be replaced if they fail). So, this one will be my “play first” library.

UVI Mission 6 Sound Presets Demo Video (YouTube):

 
LEARN MORE: https://www.uvi.net/vintage-vault-5

The complete collection is priced from $499 for new owners, and $299 upgrade for some customers who own at least one of the newer instruments in the collection, and $149 for upgrades from prior vault editions. Login to your UVI account to see “your price” if an existing customer of UVI sound sets and instruments.

ABOUT UVI:
UVI is a leading developer of audio production tools, leveraging over 20 years of applied DSP research, recording expertise, and design. We are a small but spirited team with a global footprint, crafting instruments and effects from the ground-up, built to inspire and empower musicians and audio professionals of all backgrounds.

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Ethical disclosure: no fee or any other consideration was paid to the author for publication of this article. This original article is copr. © 2026 Christopher Simmons, and MuseWire.com. Images courtesy UVI.