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Basic F.A.Q.

What is the Chameleon?
What can I do with the Chameleon?
How does it sound?
What skins are available for the Chameleon?
Do I have to pay for each skin?
How does it integrate into my studio?
So do I need a computer to use it?
Can it run more than one skin at a time?
How long does it take for an skin to load?
Is there an option to control it from my computer screen?
Is it a PC in a box?
Is it a VST plug-in engine?
But I am a guitarist - how can I use it?
I am a singer - how can I use it?
People say the computer software is taking over from hardware - why do I need hardware?

The Chameleon is the first of its kind. It is a totally flexible piece of audio hardware that can be switched to being a totally different DSP tool. Users can re-skin it from a fast-growing range of tools. What's more, it's architecture is open for anyone to design new skins. The current version is a 1U rackmountable unit. It has stereo inputs and outputs, MIDI connectivity, buttons and knobs on the front panel and two industry standard DSP chips as found in many of the top synths and FX on the market. So, in istelf it is effectively a blank box, but as a result it can do anything. It just needs a skin loaded and it comes to life.

Unlike most digital studio hardware, the Chameleon is not pre-programmed to act as one type of synthesizer or effect unit. Instead you can load different ‘soundskins’ - code that manipulates audio and MIDI signals using the DSP power of the unit. The list of skins is constantly growing as developers bring out their latest creation. A full list of skins can be found here.
When the skin is loaded, the Chameleon ‘becomes’ a synthesizer, or an effects processor, or whatever. This does not require any specialist technical knowledge from the end user - it is no more difficult than loading a file into your sequencer and hitting play to transmit it to the Chameleon.
Of course, you can also code your own skins, if you have the skills or are prepared to learn. If you have ever wanted to design your own hardware synthesizer, this is the way to do it! Coding for high quality DSP chips like this is not exactly a walk in the park, but well worth it as the benefits of working on this kind of technology are numerous, including great stability and ruggedness, low latency, high performance and very deep designer control. See the developer section for more details.

The audio and control chips in the Chameleon are very powerful and are the same as used in many ‘virtual analogue’ synthesizers and audio processors. Many of the top selling synths on the market use exactly the same technology, and their distinctive sounds are created by the talented coders who get the best out of these chips that are born to process audio. Each synthesizer sounds different because manufacturers use different software designs to make their filters, effects, and so on.
Thus the Chameleon is not tied to a particular ‘sound’ - this is purely a characteristic of whatever skin is loaded onto it. There have been many industry comparisons to the market-leading synths and FX. In the end you have to try it yourself! There are plenty of sound clips throughout this website, and to go through the different skins, start here.
And while the ‘character’ of the Chameleon is actually up to the software developer, the quality of the sound path is constant. The Chameleon was carefully engineered to have very low noise and signal coloration, in order to make the most of the analogue/digital converters. It delivers very clean signals at both inputs and outputs.

Since it's launch to the public in Q1 2003 there has been a constant buzz of activity, and the number of skins for the Chameleon continues to grow rapidly. It is now effectively more than 8 powerful rack units in one (and counting...). Each skin makes the Chameleon compete easily with equivalent hardware units on the market that do just that one thing. There is studio quality reverb, a monster vocoder/filterbank/multi-band FX and mastering tool, rich analog polysynth, studio multi FX, guitar tool and amp modeller, delay based warping FX, dirty monosynth, and a dance music production machine that emulates classic sounds of dance music and hip hop with extensive FX and routings.

This list is constantly expanding, and the Chameleon will have even more capabilities as time goes on!
The possibilities are literally endless and even we don't know exactly what will come out next, as the platform is totally open to ALL developers large and small, with no strings attached. So you just have to check back to see what else has come out, or join our mailing lists to be informed straight away.

Right now, all the skins out are free. And Chameleon fans will continue to bring out more and more. As for other developers, that really depends on how the developer chooses to present it. Many 3rd party developers create sound tools for the love of synthesis, and we anticipate a variety of ‘freeware’ skins: for example, there is already the MonoWave II open source project underway. On the other hand, commercial developers who are already established as makers of audio tools will probably ask you to pay a price to use their tools on the Chameleon.

The Chameleon is a stand alone rack unit, that you can integrate exactly the same way as you would any other rack unit, FX or synth. You plug in the audio ins and outs into your desk, the MIDI to your sequencer, and off you go. It even comes ready loaded with the analog synth skin Australis so it will work straight out of the box.

No. The Chameleon is a totally functioning rack unit without a computer, just like most synths or other FX hardware. To change skin you simply play a midi file over to it. This means it can be used only with hardware sequencer set ups and drum machines just as easily as with computer sequencer set ups. It really is just like taking your favourite synth and zapping it with some MIDI and it becomes an FX unit instead.

The Chameleon skins load one at a time, to allow them to use all the resources of the unit to the maximum potential.

It typically only takes around one minute or so to load a soundskin. Some skins are more complex, and are larger files, and so can take a little longer. just enough time to go to the toilet :).
The speed also depends on your sequencers tempo as it plays the MIDI file. While testing we switch between skins all the time, and have run sequencers at up to 250 bpm, loading skins without problems very quickly, often under a minute. We cannot say exactly, because the maximum speed will depend on your MIDI interface and specific set up.

Right now all the current skins are totally controllable from the Chameleon front panel only, with the exception of Australis which can be controlled via a VSTi GUI. We are working on a cross platfrom graphic editor to compliment the unit and other sound skins. There are also third party developers working on creating graphic-style interfaces and modular synths... (this thirdparty development is of course out of our control, but when complete we'll be sure to let you know!).

No. This is a DSP rack unit. This is dedicated audio hardware designed from the silicon chip upwards to handle audio and MIDI, just like other digital rack units. The code that runs on the Chameleon is specifically optimised and dedicated to this hardware. The only difference between the Chameleon and other rack units (like synths and FX) is that it can run different codes, and anybody can go inside and tinker with it. So because it's flexible and changelable it seems like a PC, but it isn't. It is a new breed of dedicated audio hardware. It has all the advantages of hardware (stability, ease of use, reliability, portability, low latency and more) but all the advantages of computers - reprogrammability and endless future growth.

No. Again, a VST plug-in engine is essentially a PC in a rack box. There are a variety of rack mountable plug-in engines appearing on the market like this. They look like rack units, but are still PCs inside and so technically prone to the same general problems and low level inefficiencies. This is not what the Chameleon is - it is a dedicated DSP processor pure and simple.

For guitarists there a number of skins. Firstly, Amp-o-matic is a dedicated guitarists tool, comprising amp modelling, multi FX and tools like metronome and tuner. Secondly there is Chromasonic multi FX.
FX units like Infiltrator and FX Designer allow you more experimental sound worlds. If you have a studio set up, you can also use the Chameleon to get into synths and programming when you dont want the amp modeller. This way you get all the different tools you might need without buying each one.

If you wanted to find the FX that really suits your voice, or have your own reverb that you can take to sessions, gigs and so on, then the Chameleon could provide this while allowing you access to synths and dance music machines when you want to get into writing without investing all over again. This way you have the tool you need in one, reliable, portable unit. Use the synth while practicing, the drum machine while writing and the reverb on a gig. All in one box.

Strictly speaking, it is all hardware. Yesterdays hardware was made from seperate, interconnected pieces. Today, the PC is the hardware, and because it is able to run different software it is taking over all the different tasks that were once performed by individual boxes. But because PCs are designed to cater for general computing tasks (from graphic design to email) they have weaknesses on certain technical levels, and will never be as stable and reliable as dedicated audio hardware. Any good musician knows this and this is why high quality, dedicated hardware is still greatly respected. A hardware synthesiser doesnt do your email, but it doesn't crash either :)

The Chameleon does not pretend to compete with the dominant trend in todays studio world. It instead compliments it. The Chameleon provides the flexiblity and development paths of a computer while maintaining the stability and optimisation levels of dedicated hardware. Side by side, the well maintained PC and the Chameleon are the ideal musical tools.