production

Synthetic Vortices [Plugin Edition] is a collection of 90 ambient loops generated by the Ensoniq Fizmo and embedded in a VST plugin instrument. The Ensoniq Fizmo is 48 voice synth which was commonly used to create SFX for 80s movies and games. It has a distinct organic sound which can now be harnessed through the VST.

The Fizmo was released at a time when the market for hardware synthesizers was in decline, and it was not a commercial success. However, it has gained a cult following among synthesizer enthusiasts and musicians for its unique sound and capabilities. It has been used by a variety of artists in a range of genres, including ambient, electronic, and experimental music.

Using the Ensoniq Fizmo synthesiser, SampleScience produced a variety of atmospheric sounds that were then turned into continuous loops. The Synthetic Vortices plugin’s sound source consists of these loops. With the help of a multi-mode filter, a reverb effect, an ADSR envelope, and a multi-mode LFO, the provided sounds can be further customised. Three playback options are available to users: polyphonic, monophonic, and legato. The instrument has 188 MB of 16-bit WAV sample data.

Features:

• 90 ambient loops generated by the Ensoniq Fizmo
• Multi-LFO
• Room reverb
• Highpass/Lowpass filter
• Amplitude range controls
• 3 voice modes: polyphonic, monophonic, and legato

Click here to download the plugin and do consider supporting the developers at through a donation if you can.

Sinnah (VST) is a unique synth based on a single complex oscillator that includes five wave shapes brought to you by NUSofting. This is the first freeware plugin from NUSofting we have used but it has made a lasting impression, we can’t wait to give their other plugins a test drive too.

Having only one oscillator might sound like a limitation but this plugin’s strength lies in its harmonics level, noise level controls for all wave shapes. However, the most interesting thing about Sinnah can be found in its delay matrix.

The delay matrix can have various configurations, from a “triple chorus” per voice to highly randomized resonators, or tuned relatively to the note played. The delay matrix can also do multiple slapback echoes.
The feedback control of the matrix can go from zero to extremely saturated and it’s modulated by its own envelope. The output of each voice is stereo via the delay matrix, which features a stereo spread knob.
The main analogue modelled ADSR envelope is loopable: two, three or continuous repeats.

The single oscillator is anti-aliased and can play eight voices or mono, and features standard transpose controls. The GUI is composed of vectors and is therefore resizable and can be conveniently moved around in your DAW of choice. With eight color schemes to boot! With mouseover ToolTip displays, you don’t need much trial and error to figure out how this plugin works.

Apart from the delay matrix, you pretty much have a standard VST plugin with relevant EQ, LFO and reverb controls. If you’re looking for a quick way to create evolving sounds with a lot of variation, Sinnah definitely deserves a place in your plugin library. Experimental sound artists or music producers looking for a VST which can produce unpredictable and dense soundscapes have a lot to gain from this and all for a grand total of zero in whatever your currency might be.

Download it here.