Free Mac Music Software: GWS RanPan is a free random pan effect for OS X, which can be synced to tempo:

I couldn’t find an effect that did this when I wanted to apply it to my own music project, so I whipped it up myself. Now any audio application that hosts Audio Units can take advantage of this plugin to randomly pan sound around in sync with the beat!

Version 2.8 adds 64-bit to the Universal Binary, and fixes a problem with the number formatting in the text fields of the user interface. This version requires Mac OS X 10.5 or greater. For more information, see “GWS RanPan Read Me” in the zipped disk image file.

Universal GWS RanPan is a Universal Binary, includes a 64-bit binary, and is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and 10.6 Snow Leopard.

Free Mac Music Software: Sorry, Windows-based musicians, but this freebie is just for Mac & Linux users.

SooperLooper is a live looping sampler capable of immediate loop recording, overdubbing, multiplying, reversing and more. It allows for multiple simultaneous multi-channel loops limited only by your computer’s available memory.

The application is a standalone JACK client with an engine controllable via OSC and MIDI. It also includes a GUI which communicates with the engine via OSC (even over a network) for user-friendly control on a desktop. However, this kind of live performance looping tool is most effectively used via hardware (midi footpedals, etc) and the engine can be run standalone on a computer without a monitor.

SooperLooper is currently supported on Linux and Mac OS X, and any other platforms that support JACK. The Mac OS X package is usable with at least the 0.6 release of JACK OS X. Note that for OS X Tiger, you’ll need to get at least version 0.7 of JACK-OSX. A Mac OS X Audio Unit version is included which does not require JACK to run.

See the SooperLooper site for details.

The Meatscience Bitsmacker is described as a “digital distortion swiss army knife” for adding that certain digital crustiness to your pristine audio signal. It can simulate vintage samplers, and classic video game systems.

Features:

• Zero-latency
• Sample rate reduction from 50 to 44100 hz
• Bit depth range from 0.01 to 32 bit
• Parametric EQ on Input
• Parametric EQ on Output
• Drive adjustment for boost
• All values continuously variable, no large steps between values
• Works in any Audio Unit host (Garage Band, Logic, Ableton, etc etc)
• A swift kick in the trousers

The plugin lets you drive a MIDI-based synthesizer from any DAW that supports software instrument Audio Units.

Version 1.3, posted on 9/20/06: Passes AU validation under 10.6. Can generate program and bank change messages.

This video offers a short introduction to Eloquence, a new MIDI-Step-Sequencer from Sugar Bytes.

Eloquence retails for 99€ / 129USD. Registered ERA users will receive a crossgrade offer for 69€ / 89USD.

Eloquence Features:

Sequencer Tracks

• Pitch – The pitch sequencer works in relation to the root key and transposes it by +/- 12 semitones. It can work in chromatic mode or in scaled mode which expands the tonal capabilities a lot. In addition, the pitch sequencer has a flexible recording function.
• Lock – Lock is part of the pitch sequencer. An active step deactivates the midi transposing. This is useful for keeping important notes and chords in key while transposing the sequence.
• Gate – The Gate Sequencer creates notes and determines their velocity.
• Mute – The Mute Sequencer is part of the Gate Sequencer and mutes the selected step.
• Gate Time – The Gate Time Sequencer determines how long a note is held. Notes can be held up to four times the duration of a step.
• Octave – This sequencer moves the pitch the pitch by +/- 2 octaves.
• Pitchbend – Here you can select from 12 pitch bend figures to be engaged.
• Chord – A Chord is generated using the current note in the pitch sequencer as the root note. Six Variations and four wrap-arounds for major and minor plus six special chords like diminished and augmented are available.
• Break – This sequencer lets you set a multi-trigger at 2, 3, or 4 times the normal sequencer speed, playing the current scale up or downwards or just repeating the current note. 18 breaks are available.
• Random – Each sequencer step can be replaced by a random value. Minor and major chords can be individually randomized to maintain the harmonic structure.

Action Section

• Gatetime – The Gate Time can be increased or decreased, depending on how long you press the button.
• Velo Gate – The note will only play if it is above the selected velocity threshold.
• Looper – The selected part of the sequence will be looped.
• Slowdown – The sequence slows down until it come to a dead stop.
• Retrigger – Re-trigger the sequence by re-triggerpressing the button; upon release, the sequencer continues at its normal position.
• Halftime – The sequence will play at half speed.
• Octave Up – The sequence will play one octave higher as long as you press the button.
• Mute – Mutes all data output.

Specials

• Internal synthesizer to create patterns on the fly.
• Special workaround for sending MIDI with the AU plugin.
• Instant keyboard control for Transpose, Pattern Select, Action Section.
• Pattern Sequencer.
• Sample-accurate timing.
• Individual trigger and sync options, swing function.

Eloquence is available for Windows and Mac (VST/AU) for 99 EUR / $129 USD.

Airwindows’ Pop is a universal binary Audio Unit compressor plugin designed to create “extraordinary pop vocals.”

According to Airwindows:

Inspired by radio-friendly Genesis, Pop puts every detail in your lap- the reason it exists is, I was listening to ‘Mama’ and other songs off the eponymous Genesis album, and couldn’t believe how overwhelming Hugh Padgham had Phil Collins’ vocal sounding. It reached out and grabbed and defined every detail so aggressively- I needed to make a special compressor that could deliver a sound like that, because nothing I had was designed for such aggressive behavior.

Pop retails for $59.99. A non-expiring demo version is available.

Light Guitar is a free Audio Unit for Mac OS X that reproduces the behavior of the light guitar, a musical instrument that uses light to make music, and allows you to easily customize the sound of the instrument by adjusting various parameters.

Plug in your instrument of choice, load the plugin into your digital audio workstation and enjoy.

Options:

• Frequency Multiplier – Increase/Decrease the size of the guitar body, changing the frequency range of the instrument.
• Resonance Type – Two different configurations were measured for the Light guitar, one that excites waves on the outer surface of the instrument and one exciting internal modes – both are included and independently selectable.
• Instrument String – The strings on an acoustic instrument have a large effect on the instrument’s sound and the same effect applies to light instruments. However, a string for a light instrument is a coaxial cable. The real and imaginary impedance of the coaxial cable connected to the light guitar is user selectable.
• Response Time – The impulse slider lets you change how long the light guitar alters music played through the plug-in.

Download here.

micronAU is an audio unit that lets you fully control and automate the Alesis Micron synthesizer.

This audio unit provides an interface through which the entire sound generation engine of the Mircon can be controlled in real time. In addition, all parameter settings are saved when the track/DAW hosting micronAU is saved.

When one reloads a track hosting mirconAU, the settings are restored, thus avoiding the “what patch did I use for this track” syndrome. Furthermore, if one’s DAW supports automation of plugin parameters, all of the Micron’s parameters can be automated and controlled by any of the DAW’s supported control surfaces.

micronAU is being distributed as donationware.

This Replicant screencast by Chris Randall demos the latest sound mangling software from Audio Damage.

Here’s the Replicant description:

Replicant is a delay-based effect in the “beat slicer/looper” vein, with some tricks of its own that separate it from the herd. From a simple delay or panning effect, on up to massive random beat mangling, Replicant is a capable plugin well in line with today’s modern electronic music styles. Stuttering buffers and filter drops are easy to program, and the comprehensive randomization features give it a mind of its own, if so desired. If you’re looking to add some chance to your programming, you’ve come to the right place.

Replicant is available as a VST effect for Windows, and as an AudioUnit/VST effect bundle for OSX Universal Binary. Note that you must have OSX 10.3.9 or greater to use the Macintosh version of this plugin.

Features:

• Tempo-based delay and looping effects, from 1/128th note to an entire measure.
• Six independant randomization controls, for subtle changes or extreme aleatoric madness, including a global randomize button.
• Unique “Hold” feature, to store a random sequence you like.
• Resonant low-pass and high-pass filters that change over time.
• Pan position that changes over time.
• Two separate direction modes, for entire events or individual repeats, with randomization.
• Full MIDI Learn for hardware control of every parameter. (VST only; handled by host in AU version).

Audio demos are available at the site.

Wave Arts has introduced Universal Binary versions of TrackPlug 4, MasterVerb 4 and WaveSurround 4 in the VST and Audio Unit formats, “Due to popular demand”.

We’re not sure about this, but we figure “due to popular demand” means that no one will buy your Mac software if it doesn’t run on any current Mac.

TrackPlug is a comprehensive, CPU-efficient channel strip featuring 10 band EQ, compressor and gate.

MasterVerb is an easy-to-use, silky smooth hall reverb.

WaveSurround is a 3D spatialization/stereo enhancer plug-in with sophisticated HRTF and crosstalk canceling technology.

Many users have found situations where they enjoy the simplicity of using the older version 4 counterparts, compared to our more fully-featured version 5 lineup.

The update is free to existing v4 customers, and can be found on the Wave Arts Downloads page.

Features:

• Redesigned reverb engine that delivers greatly improved stereo image spatialization
• Re-adjusted factory presets bank
• 10 new factory presets added totaling 260 ready-to-use presets
• Plug-in delay reporting (VST and AU, ready for Logic 7.1)
• Improved rendering synchronization
• MAC: Spectral decorrelation now works correctly
• PC: DSP engine optimization: up to 30% faster on Pentium IV systems

RoomVerb M2 2.3 plug-in is available for purchase in the SpinAudio OnLine Shop and through SpinAudio distributors. The product MSRP is US $145. Registered users can download the new version for free.

More information is available at the SpinAudio site.

System Requirements:

Mac OS X:

Mac G3/G4/G5, OS X 10.2.2 or higher

VST or/and Audio Unit compatible host application.

PC:

Intel Pentium, and compatible CPUs

Operating Systems: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP

VST or/and DX compatible host application.

The updated version features new, improved reverb engine that provides denser, more realistic reverberation and better stereo image spatialization. The update comes bundled with a redesigned set of 250 ready-to-use factory presets.

RoomVerb M2 is VST/DX/AudioUnit audio plug-in that is designed to deliver top quality reverberation into native audio processing platform.

Features:

• Virtual Room Acoustics Modeller
• Plate and Outdoor acoustic space simulation modes
• Unique Time and Spectral Domain Spatial Decorrelation Technology
• Reverb Modulation with a choice of random LFOs
• Comprehensive control of Early and Late reflections
• Separate 3-band parametric equalizers for Early and Late reflections
• Acoustic space environment modelling through air and material frequency-dependant absorption simulation filters with a set of more than 40 presets included
• Two Built-in Gates with True Stereo RMS Detection
• 250 ready-to-use factory presets
• Database based preset management system with categorial and keyword search
• Highly optimized code for modern processors

Below is a screenshot of default plug-in skin shipped with the product installation.

RoomVerb M2 2.2 Presets Page

System Requirements:

Mac OS X:

• Mac G3/G4/G5, OS X 10.2.2 or higher
• VST or/and Audio Unit compatible host application.

PC:

• Intel Pentium, and compatible CPUs
• Operating Systems: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
• VST or/and DX compatible host application.

More information is available at the SpinAudio site.

RoomVerb is based on Virtual Room Acoustic modeling technique designed to simulate various acoustic spaces from small bath rooms to large halls using a single set of parameters. Such an approach provides a unified way of controlling reverb and removes the limits inherited in traditional reverb design schemes based on either pre-defined algorithms or pre-calculated room response patterns.

The product is available in VST (PC/MAC OS X) and AudioUnit(MAC OS X) formats.

The list below outlines the main features of RoomVerb for PowerCore:

• Separately controlled room dimensions can vary from 1 to 50 meters
• Plate reverb mode support
• Stereo width control for simulation of irregular room shapes
• Separate control of Early and Late reflections
• Reverb Tail Modulation
• Comprehensive tone control system that includes separate 2-band parametric equalizers for Early and Late reflections
• Two-band frequency-dependant decay filters
• Special DSP reverb algorithms not found in native versions that provide better stereo imaging
• 100 ready-to-use factory presets
• Database based preset management system with categorical and keyword search
• 1 per DSP in 48 kHz

System Requirements:

• DSP Platform: TC PowerCore, Software version 1.7.6 or higher
• Operating Systems: Windows XP, MAC OS X 10.2.8 or higher
• Host: VST and/or AudioUnit compatible

More information and demos are available at the Spinaudio site.