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Free Plugin of the Week : ChowMatrix

Chowmatrix is a free delay plugin by the developer at ChowDSP with the basic principle of creating delays using a “Tree” of delay lines. Each of these delay lines have its own properties like time, feedback and pan. The flexibility can allow users to create basic delays that producers are familiar with but also has the capacity to create large reverbs for soundscapes.

The plugin has various nodes from you usual array of filters like HPF and LPF to Distortion and Pitch. This nodes have their own parameters which can be tweaked to process your signal. The most unique aspect of the VST is that the nodes can be physically drawn using the intuitive GUI for a seamless user experience. This might be one of the best alternatives to the Valhalla suite which has taken the internet by storm for good reason.

The plugin is currently available for Windows,Linux, Mac, and iOS, in the following formats: VST/VST3, AU,LV2, AUv3, AAX, and Standalone.

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

Free Plugin of the Week : ODIN 2

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

Modulair free vst plugin

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.

Free Plugin of the Week: Infinite Space Piano 2

Infinite Space Piano is a plugin from ZAK Sound which aims to provide wide piano tones with textures and environmental ambience. This unique plugin provides users with 3 main sliders which control the type of environmental textures that are added, this of course is along with the traditional Attack and Release parameters for the piano tone, the textures and the complete output as well.

Plugin Requirements:

  • Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11 (64 bits).
  • A VST3-compatible DAW.
  • 4GB RAM (Recommended)
  • Compatible with macOS El Capitan to Monterey.
  • A VST3 or AU compatible DAW.
  • 4GB RAM (Recommended)

The plugin does not aim to create the most realistic piano tone out there, the goal is to create textures that evolve and release. With a simple GUI and not too many parameters, this is the perfect plugin to drop in to any lo-fi tracks, dreamy pop or cinematic music.

Click here to download the plugin and do check out the Zak Sound library of other plugins if you enjoy this one.

Plugins of the week: Fracture & Hysteresis

For our plugin showcase of the week, we have two free plugins from the developers at Glitchmachines; Fracture and Hysteresis. These plugins are perfect for adding glitched out artefacts using Delay and Buffer controls.

Here is an overview of the feature set in each plugin:

Fracture:

  • Buffer, Delay & Filter FX
  • 3 Flexible LFOs
  • Effects Chain Configuration
  • Scalable User Interface
  • 100 Factory Presets
  • Win/Mac  VST3/AU  64bit

Hysteresis

  • Feedback-Based Delay
  • Stutter Effect
  • Lowpass Filter
  • Modulation FX
  • 60 Factory Presets
  • Scalable User Interface
  • Win/Mac  VST3/AU  64bit

With Fracture, one can expect to create extremely robotic and sci-fi sounding articulations and textures. On the other hand, Hysteresis offers a more traditional combination of delay effects which can be pushed to extreme lengths but one can control the output with more ease. These two plugins are more than sufficient to liven up anything in your productions from drum loops to pads, if this sound is what you’re looking for.

Click here to download the plugins and if you like what’s on offer, do check out the comprehensive Glitchmachines vst libraries.

Free Plugin of the Week: PG-8X

PG 8X vst plugin available for windows and MAC free audio units inspired by ROLAND JXP

PG-8X is a free VST plugin inspired by the Roland JX-8P with the PG-800 programmer, this synth is one of the many iconic analog synths from the 80s and is very capable of replicating that classic analog sound. Created by Martin Luders, this plugin goes one step beyond most analog synth emulation and can support presets created on the physical synth itself (if you happen to have a JX-8P lying around). Thanks to an active community, a large collection of presets are available including the default collection from the Roland synth itself. But if you’re looking for more than the classic sounds that come with the presets then here is what you can do with it:

Features:

  • up to 12 voice polyphony
  • Two DCO’s with Saw, Square, Pulse, Noise
  • Hard Sync and Ring Modulation
  • Two exponential envelop generators
  • 24 dB resonant LP filter
  • HP filter (3 stages)
  • Stereo Chorus
  • Import and Export of JX-8P Sysex data

Technical information:

  • programmed in C++ using WDL-OL
  • optimized SSE2 code
  • 6 Key assignment modes:
    • Poly (re-assignment of voices)
    • Poly2 (round robin)
    • Unison (two voices in unison)
    • Unison2 (second voice shifted by 1 octave)
    • Mono
    • Mono2 (all voices in unison)
  • MIDI Learn: MIDI Controllers can be assigned by right-clicking on the slider
  • Automatic adjustment of oversampling

In the mid 80s, this synth was advertised as the best of both worlds because of the possibility of creating tones associated with digital synthesizers. While Roland has released their JX-8P VST, the PG-8X comes extremely close to the original and it’s completely free to use in your productions.

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

Free Plugin of the Week: Charlatan (VST)

The Charlatan is a virtual analog synthesizer plugin from BlauKraut Engineering with a focus on sound quality and ease of use. It’s a very straightforward plugin with 2 oscillators and your usual array of filters and envelopes but this was intentional; the developers wish to encourage Artists to tweak the few parameters available which can still produce a rich sound reminiscent of Roland – Juno or the Korg -Polysix.

The plugin’s low CPU usage allows for multiple instances which in the developer’s own words make it a “bread and butter” plugin. With a little bit of time, you will discover that the Charlatan is in fact quite capable despite the basic GUI and feature set. The limitations here need to be seen as a feature, since you are not overwhelmed by endless possibilities but can instead focus on creating good sounds.

But, if you just want to get to making a track and experimentation isn’t your forte, there is still a large library of presets available from the larger community which could be a good starting point or the exact sound you’re looking for. Unfortunately, it is only available on Windows but MAC users can go for the more CPU intensive Dexed VST.

Key Features

  • 2 oscillators with shape modulation
  • Oscillator hard synchronization and ring modulation
  • Unison mode with upto 7 voices and stereo spread
  • Stereo noise generator
  • 2 ADSR envelope generators
  • LFO with host tempo synchronization
  • 3 filter types modeled after classic analog hardware: 4-pole (24 db/oct) and 2-pole (12 db/oct) lowpass, bandpass
  • 3 voice modes: Monophonic, Monophonic Legato and 8-voice Polyphonic
  • Ultra-low CPU usage

The limited nature of the charlatan might put those with more experience with synthesis off, but those looking to emulate the analog synths of the past have all their needs catered to with this free plugin.

Click here to download the plugin.

Free Plugin of the Week: Synthetic Vortices (VST)

Synthetic vortices plugin ambient loops
Ensoniq Fizmo 80s SFX vst plugin

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.

Free Plugin of the Week: SINNAH (VST)

Sinnah VST's most interesting feature is it's delay matrix which can be used to create a triple chorus effect and as random resonators.

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.

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