production Archives

Free Plugin of the Week: Crack (VST)

13/02/2024 by mixlab2k22

analog, compressor, daw, electronic, limiter, plugins, production, software, transient, vst

For this week’s free plugin we are happy to introduce you all to ‘Crack’, developed by Surreal Machines. This free VST may appear simple but it is one of the most powerful and resource efficient transient shapers out there. For most modern genres of music getting the drums to hit perfectly in the mix is of paramount importance and Crack (VST) could be the plugin your mix might need to push your drums to the next level. The plugin works best on a grouped track of drums but can also bring individual loops to life.

Primary Features:

Custom Limiter for peak reduction
Soft Analog Modeled Clipping
Low CPU Usage
Simple GUI with a four knob interface

Click here to download the plugin and do check out the developers’ other plugins if you like this one

Free Plugin of the Week : Temper

02/12/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, audio effect, daw, distortion, electronic, music, phase, plugins, production, saturation, software, synth, vst

For this weeks plugin, we have Temper a modern digital distortion plugin created by the developers at Creative Intent. The plugin combines a saturation curve with their own distinct phase distortion algorithm. This plugin is designed to add character and excitement to sounds in the higher frequency ranges. If you need to give any element in your mix some high-end to stand out more. The plugin also features a resonant lowpass filter which can be used to adjust the intensity of the saturation effect.

Detailed Specifications:

Cutoff: The signal chain contains a simple resonant lowpass filter before the distortion unit. This parameter sets the cutoff frequency of that filter.
Resonance: This parameter sets the corner resonance of the lowpass filter mentioned above.
Curve: The first of the three parameters that control the distortion unit, Curve sets the shape of the waveshaper curve used to saturate the input signal before the phase distortion module.
Drive: Like a traditional overdrive, Temper includes a gain step before the waveshaper. Drive determines the gain applied at that step.
Saturation: The Saturation parameter controls the Dry/Wet mix of the waveshaper output; at 0.0, the dry input signal goes into the phase distortion module with the shaped signal modulating the phase offset. At 1.0, the wet waveshaper signal goes into the phase distortion module which is shaped by the same wet signal.
Feedback: The signal chain includes a feedback loop, taking the output of the distortion unit and feeding it back right before the distoriton unit again (after the filter). Feedback here decides the gain multiplier on that feedback loop.
Level: This simply adjusts the output level.

Click here to download the plugin.

Free Plugin of The Week : DIGITS (VST)

08/11/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, daw, electronic, music, plugins, production, software, synth, vst

A unique and powerful phase distortion synthesizer created by Louis Gorenfeld. Inspired by the Casio CZ series of synths, this free and open source VST can successfully produce classic sounds reminiscent of 80s synthesizer. So, what makes DIGITS unique and stand out from the rest?

The extremely simplistic but useful GUI, allows you to create desired sounds with just a few knobs, so this is perfect for beginners looking to learn sound design/synthesis. Not only is it easy but it has a dense and massive sound, surprisingly capable of producing abstract SFX and rich chords. With over a hundred presets and a ton more available on user forums. Digits is one of those essential VST instruments that will always have place in your music, whatever style.

Click here to download the plugin and if you enjoyed this plugin, do consider supporting the developer with a donation.

Mixlabs Exhibit 014 Ft. BNSHRA

26/08/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

academy, bengaluru, classic, dj, house, Mixlabs, music, production, set, showcase

The EXHIBIT series is a display of Mixlabs Academy’s alumni DJ sets which showcases our in-house talents and performances varying across different genres and styles of music.

Listen to Bnshra showcase his selection of deep and groovy house music.

Tracklist:

Joy Orbison, TYSON – born slopping
Move D – Silk Dub
Abacus – We Cookin now
Dana Ruh – TJ Mornings
System Olympia – Night Rise
ID – ID
Takuya Matsumoto- Tape is Rewound
C’est Moi – This Song (Dario D’Attis Remix)
Benno Blome – Abotha
Lazare Hoche – Access
Black Loops – Keep a secret
Mandar – Fouad
Aladdin! – Shhh..T
Jacques Renault – Faith (borrowed identity Remix)
Souffle Caramel – Smoothy Busy Cool
Huerta – Buzz of Like
Mandar – String Theory
Joss Moog – Forever Pimpin
Sune – Call it what you want TAXI C.A.B. – Chunk-A-Nova (Red Dog Mix)

Follow Bnshra:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bnshra.flac/

SC: https://soundcloud.com/bnshra

Free Plugin of the Week – A1 TriggerGate

23/08/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

a1 trigger, ableton, analog, audio, console, daw, digital, electronic, fx, music, plugins, production, synth, vst

A1-TriggerGate is a unique free VST plugin created by Alex Hilton. The plugin allows you to use a sequencer in combination with a gate to chop up audio signals for a variety of rhythmic effects. These gated effects are common in modern electronic music but with additional features like swing and and intuitive FX controls ; the applications can transcend your standard fare of electronic music.

Primary features:

Sequenced Gate
8 patterns, 4 Beats
Triplet mode
Additional internal FX
All parameters automatable
All parameters full undoable
No latency
Resizable GUI

Furthermore, the plugin is extremely user friendly with a GUI that offers a detailed explanation of what each parameter does. Making this a solid plugin for those new to producing in a Digital Audio Workstation.

Click here to download the plugin and if you enjoyed this plugin do consider supporting the developer with a donation.

Free Plugin of the Week – VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

09/05/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, daw, digital, electronic, plugins, production, software, synth, vst

For this week’s plugin, we have the VK-1 Viking synthesizer from the developers at blamsoft. They claim that it is an authentic emulation of a classic monophonic analog synth and through the use of the plugin we feel the same. The VST features three continuously variable wave oscillators, two ladder filters with a low pass and high pass, a multi-wave LFO and two modulation busses.

The synth is perfect for creating thick bass sounds and rich leads with that old school feel which many analog enthusiasts crave.

Here a few features which make the VK-1 stand out from the other hardware emulators on the internet:
– VK-1’s oscillators have been measured from hardware
– VK-1’s oscillators have drift and jitter
– VK-1’s oscillators use advanced techniques to avoid aliasing
– VK-1’s filters are nonlinear ZDF with carefully tuned self-oscillation
– VK-1’s envelopes have been matched to hardware

Click here to download the plugin and do support the developers with a donation if you enjoy this plugin.

Free Plugin of the Week – Helm

03/05/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

daw, digital, electronic, free, music, plugins, production, software, synth, vst

Helm is a low cpu free polyphonic synthesizer created by Matt Tytel, it is completely open source and specialises in modulation with several envelopes and LFOS available for mapping. Sounds can be created efficiently with a simple waveform selector, sub module, filter and a mixer. The open source nature of the VST allows for savvy users to completely customise their Helm experience.

Helm is released as VST, AU, LV2 and standalone.
OS Requirements:

Windows 7 or later
MacOS 10.7 or later
Ubuntu Trusty 14.04 or later
Debian Jessie or later

Click here to the download the plugin and do support the developer with a donation if you enjoy it.

Free Plugin of the Week – BlueARP

17/04/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, arp, arpeggio, daw, electronic, funk, music, plugins, production, software, techno, trance, vst

For this week’s plugin, we have BlueARP from the developer at OMG Instruments while the interface appears complex, it is quite simple for beginners to grasp with everything listed only on one page. The main thing to be noted is that this free VST is a MIDI plugin so users must route midi information to the plugin from any synth of your choice. This however is far from a limitation because this allows for a lot more control over the Arpeggiated sound as opposed to the VSTS with in-built Arps.

Specifications

Compatibility info

Formats: VST plugin 32-bit, VST plugin 64-bit, AU MIDI-FX 64-bit (for Logic Pro X)
OS: OSX (10.7 or later, tested on 10.11.6), Windows XP or higher

Features

Up to 64 steps per pattern;
Up to 128 programs per bank;
«Chains» feature to chain patterns together into longer «super-patterns»
Ability to switch chains on the fly (for live performances);
128 factory patterns to start with;
Intuitive matrix editor to program patterns quickly;
Almost all controls can be automated;
Up to 5 input keys in a chord;
Real-time input quantization;
Chord recognition;
Input range setting for keyboard-split performances;
Separate settings for octave and semitone per step transpose;
Configurable color schemes (skins);

Click here to download the plugin and do support the developers with a donation if you enjoyed it!

Free Plugin of the Week : ODIN 2

05/04/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, electronic, mac, music, norse, odin, plugins, production, software, synth, vst, windows

The ODIN 2 is a free VST plugin from The Wave Warden. The plugin is inspired by classic analog synths but also adds new features and capabilities to keep it up with the times.

One of the standout features of the ODIN 2 are the extensive modulation options. The plugin includes 4 LFOs and 4 envelopes, allowing you to create complex, evolving sounds with ease. Additionally, the ODIN 2 Free Synth comes with your usual range of built-in effects, including reverb, delay, and distortion, to help you further shape your sounds.

The ODIN 2does not hold back on sound quality. The instrument has that warm, rich analog sound which is reminiscent of classic hardware synths. The oscillator section includes several waveforms, including sawtooth, square, and triangle waves, as well as giving users the ability to draw their own.

It is also relatively easy to use, even for novices. The UI is intuitive, with large knobs and clear labels making it easy to understand the various controls. The developer also provides information on each parameter, with a built-in help system.

Click here to download the plugin and do support the developer if you enjoyed it!

Free Plugin of the Week: ModulAir

30/03/2023 by mixlab2k22

Category 1

analog, daw, electronic, music, plugins, production, software, synth, vst

ModulAir is a modular polyphonic software synthesizer for Microsoft Windows (VST2/VST3/CLAP) and Apple macOS (VST2/VST3/AU/CLAP) written in native C++ code for high performance and low CPU consumption.

The developer, FullBucket Music has released a stable “N” version and is currently working on the BETA version. Despite still being a work in progress the beta version in its current state is quite easy to use with an intuitive modular architecture with a clean rack interface that can be as simple or as complicated as you like.

The main features of ModulAir are:

Fully modular architecture
Up to 18 modules per patch
57 module types available
Polyphonic Voice and monophonic Master modules
Up to 64 voices polyphony
External signal processing possible
Supports MTS-ESP by ODDSound dynamic micro-tuning
TUN/SCL micro-tuning file import
Resizable user interface (not “N” version!)
MIDI Learn – all parameters can be controlled by MIDI CC
Plug-in supports Windows and macOS (32 bit and 64 bit)

Click here to download the plugin and if you enjoyed the plugin, do support the developer with a donation.

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