About u-he
PLUGIN WEEK 2023: Founded in 2001 by industrial designer / synthesizer aficionado Urs Heckmann as a one-man show, the Berlin-based audio software company u-he has since evolved into a tightly knit team of employees, active associates and 3rd-party contractors – with ambitious plans.
Known initially for Zebra2, and later for the popular virtual analogue synth Diva, u-he have released several other highly acclaimed products over the years, and regularly contributed freeware plug-ins to popular music tech magazines. u-he products are often praised for their audio quality and ease of use.
In the recent past the u-he developers have been exploring new technologies for vastly improved analogue synthesis and delay emulation (Repro / Colour Copy), for smoothest possible wavetable interpolation (Hive 2) and for new physical modelling approaches to effect design (Twangström).
They have also moved into the Eurorack hardware field (CVilization): All valuable groundwork and inspiration for exciting future products!
What's new in HIVE 2
Despite their underlying complexity, u-he synths and effects are widely acclaimed for their ease of use. This is often attributed to Urs Heckmann's background as an industrial designer.
Heckmann sees the seemingly unconventional decision to start an audio software company as a direct result of his equal love for industrial design and for synthesizers.
Metaphorium for Hive 2.1
Most recently, u-he has been exploring concepts for analogue synthesizers, and the first results can be heard in the software synths ACE / Bazille (audio-rate modulation paths) as well as Diva, Presswerk and Satin (accurate simulation of electronic circuitry). Hive is u-he's first foray into the world of low CPU performance-oriented synths.
