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It's a virtual Arp 2600!

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How does it compare?

So how does the TimewARP compare to the Arturia ARP 2600V? We put them literally side by side and have to say that they're quite different beasts.

The Arturia has a much more modern feel and features a bigger sound that's bolstered by a host of onboard effects.

TimewARP demands about twice as much power as the 2600V when it's running in Ableton Live, so you really have to be careful playing chords with some patches.

On the upside, it's £30 cheaper than Arturia's model, though we think that the best way to choose is to ask yourself if you want purity or sheen. In fact, die-hard ARP fans might even be tempted to buy both, as although these synths are based on exactly the same hardware, they actually sound quite different.

Ultimately, if you like the argument that says that virtual versions of classic synth emulations should retain the quirkiness and character of the hardware they emulate, Way Out Ware's ARP will almost certainly appeal to you.

With this version, the programmers have delivered a straightforward software emulation that doesn't mess with the original formula, and that's exactly what a lot of people will be looking for.