Years ago I owned a Lexicon MPX1. I was amazed to see they still sell the unit! Today I use Lexicon reverb impulse responses inside Altiverb. It gets me a good retro 80s reverb sound I like. I didn’t try the new native LXP bundle so I can’t tell you if it has that Lexicon sound. Honestly I doubt it but if anyone has tried these and they are “it” let me know. The main obstacle here as will be the $750 price. Many of the old hardware units are still around and operating. Will this software still be up and running in 15 years?
“Lexicon’s LXP Native Reverb Bundle provides your music with an engaging aura that brings it to life by placing it in the perfect resonant space.” – lexiconpro.com
For more info: lexiconpro.com
This entry was written by , posted on June 9, 2010 at 4:05 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged Lexicon, plug-in, reverb. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Sonic Charge’s MicroTonic is one of the best software drum machines. Now you can browse patterns and drum sets on their website in the Patternarium. You can thumbs up or down patterns, save patterns and if you have MicroTonic running simply copy the pattern with a few clicks. I think it’s a pretty interesting web meets sequencer diddy!
“What you are experiencing above are computer generated patterns for µTonic created through principles of evolution. All the sounds and rhythms you are hearing are produced by algorithms running on our servers (even the names are made up by random). Think of Patternarium as a giant collaborative patch randomizer. Our servers are regularly spawning new generations of a thousand unique patterns, each one being the cross product of two other patterns picked at random. The higher votes a certain pattern receives, the more likely it is to get picked and bear offspring into the next generation. This means that you may participate and influence the outcome of Patternarium simply by voting.” – soniccharge.com/patternarium
Check out the Patternarium: soniccharge.com/patternarium
This entry was written by , posted on June 7, 2010 at 3:54 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged drum machine, MicroTonic, Patternarium, plug-in, software, Sonic Charge, µTonic. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Chris Randall has released an updated version of his nice stereoizing delay, pitchshifter, modulator named Discord. This plug-in always reminds me of the effect Meat Beat Manifesto used on breakbeats on their early albums.
“The pitch-shifter consists of three separate algorithms: a “vintage” mode (the original Discord algorithm, modeled on the Eventide H910 and H949), a “clean” mode for more modern shifting sounds, and a “granular” mode for experimental effects. Each mode has its strengths, depending on the input material, and Discord3 has a broad palette of capabilities as a result. The P1 and P2 algorithms have full control over the buffer (window) size of the shift effect, for fine tuning the shift to the input signal, or for stranger sound effects. At the extremes of the six-octave shift range, some truly strange aliasing and artifacts can be had with this control. Now, to be clear, if you’re looking for a nice, clean diatonic pitch shifter for fine surgery and re-pitching the full program, you need to look elsewhere. Discord3 is a tool for sound design, barberpole shifting delays, and special effects; think Eno, Visconti, Bowie, or Dirty Mind-era Prince and you’ll be on the right track.” – audiodamage.com
You can read the Discord 3 manual: click here
Available for instant download for $59: audiodamage.com
This entry was written by , posted on May 29, 2010 at 4:11 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged Audiodamage, delay, Discord, Discord 3, pitch shifter, plug-in. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Dutch based Fabfilter plug-ins are some of the coolest looking. However, it can take you a bit to get used to the futuristic interface. Here’s some videos to get you going with Twin 2. FYI my personal favorite and highly recommended plug-in from Fabfilter is Timeless.
For more info: fabfilter.com
This entry was written by , posted on April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged audio unit, fabfilter, plug-in, synthesizer, tutorial, Twin 2, vst. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCYhtB-H_Vc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdTJP7eDb1A
Here’s a plug-in from German developer Vengeance called Metrum. It’s for Mac/PC, costs $200 and gives you a computer generated sub-oscillator, mixes it with a few sample layers and has a mod-matrix and randomizer solely for creating kick drums. For those all ITB (in the box) it could be good however I think your money is better spent on a Jomox MBase 11.
“Kick Synthesizer VSTi / over 330 Kick Drum Presets / over 1800 Attack Sample Presets / over 150 Sine Oscillator Presets / ability to integrate own WAV samples / realtime & smooth graphic envelopes / flexible pitch & velocity routings / play tonal kicks! / huge mod matrix with every parameter / every presets comes with assigned modwheel and 3 GUI controls / GUI control knobs freely re-nameable / 6 high quality effects built in / 2 filters for every layer / 3 drive distortion models / 2 band parametric EQ / randomizer function / all parameters automatable / output limiter (you can turn it off if wanted) / 100% timing accurate and click free.” – vengeance-sound.de/eng/VPSMetrum.html
For more info: vengeance-sound.de/eng/VPSMetrum.html
This entry was written by , posted on March 27, 2010 at 4:15 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged bass drum, drum machine, kick, kick drum, Metrum, plug-in, Vengeance. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxbx-fvvsGI
There are similar products to Xfer’s Nerve yet I am still interested. Mac/PC VST/AU. $199. What do you think? Is there something unique to Nerve that should be mentioned?
“Nerve is a software drum machine which brings powerful beat creation and manipulation to your Host Sequencer. Nerve runs as a VSTi or AudioUnit plugin. Nerve was designed and coded by veteran dance music producers, with a diverse sample library included from many of todays top sound designers. Create your own beats entirely from scratch using sounds you already have (AIF/WAV/REX/RX2/AKAI .SND), or utilize the factory-included Drum Kits, Presets, Patterns, and Sounds.” – xferrecords.com
For more info: xferrecords.com
This entry was written by , posted on February 27, 2010 at 10:33 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged audio unit, drum machine, Nerve, plug-in, vst, Xfer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
I believe melody is hardwired into human’s brains in a way different than hearing just sounds. We remember notes as they hum up and down scales. Every time I leave The Gap I end up singing whatever song was playing over and over in my head for hours. So I always say piano lessons beat a new Apogee interface for making your tunes better. I really like helper applications like Harmony Navigator or even something like Microsoft SongSmith. Harmony Improvisator is a new plug-in from Germany in the same vain. The cochleor website says videos and a demo download are coming soon. It’s Mac/PC VST for 99 EUR.
Improvisator is a programmable chorder and sequencer VST plugin which outputs chords as MIDI data or sound from an internal synthesizer. It can be controlled via MIDI input or by clicking the harmonic functions of the graphical user interface. The first thing in the process of working with Improvisator is to click chords with the mouse which you hear immediately. – www.cochleor.de
For more info: www.cochleor.de
This entry was written by , posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:30 am, filed under plug-ins, song writing and tagged chords, generator, harmonies, Improvisator, plug-in, vst. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
http://www.youtube.com/v/_sJrZ1nHBOo?hl=en_US&fs=1
I like almost all the plug-ins from Berlin based Sugar Bytes. I can see thier new plug-in Consequence being really useful. Sometimes it’s good to have a virtual helper in the room. You know the scenario: You’re in the studio and you hit middle C, next it’s D# and up to G. You can’t seem to hit any new keys. Your melodies are your melodies and you can’t seem to go anywhere else. Consequence can help by having it’s “Sound Generators” spit out sequences, chorus, envelope curves, etc… It can’t hurt right?
http://www.youtube.com/v/0bO_8-G6stQ?hl=en_US&fs=1
“The word Synquencer describes the combination of a powerful synthesizer and complex step sequencer which creates pitch-, modulation-, and trigger data. Consequence uses 16 chords to play them in sequence, extract melodies to trigger a unique sound section with lots of available instrument sounds and intelligent trigger interpretation. The Consequence VST plugin sends MIDI data, so all kinds of MIDI-compatible gear can be controlled by Consequence.” – Sugar Bytes
There is a demo version available. Consequence is $199.
For more info: sugar-bytes.de
This entry was written by , posted on December 4, 2009 at 6:28 am, filed under plug-ins and tagged Berlin, Consequence, plug-in, sequencer, software, Sugar Bytes. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
I don’t know how to pronounce D16′s new synth Shioitor. However, I clearly know how to say Roland SH-101 (Wikipedia link) and that’s the target of the Polish crew this time. I used to own a red Roland SH-101 with a handle and it was always the first thing anyone made a comment about when they entered my studio. A few months ago D16 asked me to make some presets for Shioitor so I’ve heard this synth in action. If you liked the original you won’t be disappointed.
“D16 spent many hours analysing analogue synthesisers and creating DSP code to replicate the hardware in software. As a result, Shioitor has a very true sounding analogue filter with constant Q and a very warm character. Resonance is constant across the whole frequency domain which makes the filter sound totally authentic – especially when controlled using envelopes or an LFO. Turning resonance to maximum and turning off all oscillator volumes will produce a pure analogue sine wave as the filter self-resonates. Innovative oscillator algorithms developed by D16 make Shioitor sound like the hardware synth which inspired it. There is no aliasing in the oscillators – even at 22kHz from the note’s base frequency. The level of aliasing around the highest produced frequency is about -70dB.” – d16.pl
Besides presets you get a few niceties the original didn’t have including arpeggiator shuffle, polyphony and key zones. You also can choose your favorite color!
For more info: www.d16.pl/shioitor
This entry was written by , posted on September 17, 2009 at 5:46 am, filed under synthesizer and tagged d16, plug-in, roland, SH-101, Shioitor, synthesizer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SbRSHlJVyE
Here’s a video preview of a new software modular synthesizer from Urs Heckmann called Bazille. He’s the Berliner known for the acclaimed Zebra and Filterscape plug-ins. Bazille definitely adds something new sonically to the software landscape. For an example, take a listen at 1:06 to the when he uses an Oscillator on the Filter Resonance. In case you were wondering Bazille is the German word for bacteria.
“This synth combines FM-Synthesis, Phase Distortion and subtractive in a rack-like appearance. Here are some early examples for unusual patches. Note that the sound quality here is really bad, but I guess you catch the drift. No fx used of course, just raw output of the synth.” – UrsHeckmann
A few more videos of Bazille are on the UrsHeckmann YouTube channel: click here
For more info: www.u-he.com
This entry was written by , posted on August 6, 2009 at 1:30 pm, filed under plug-ins, synthesizer and tagged Berlin, modular, plug-in, software, synthesizer, Urs Heckmann. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
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