Synthesizer developer Waldorf has released Rocket Control, a free iOS assistant app for iPad that ‘boosts’ the capabilities of its Rocket hardware synthesizer.
Waldorf describes the Rocket synth as ‘a superficially simplistic USB-powered desktop synthesizer’, that nevertheless offers a lot of power under the hood. Too keep the Rocket synthesizer’s size and cost down, though, Waldorf had to leave some features out, including patch memory. Continue reading
Venom VB-303 is a free software synth that simulates the iconic sound of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.
It’s Windows only – so Mac users are out of luck.
It’s available for download here.
Here’s a user video demo: Continue reading
Sound designer Justin Dolby has released Smack My Batch Up, a free Max/MSP application for generating new sounds from samples with plugins.
Smack My Batch Up is a software tool for generating new sounds by processing old ones with VST plug-ins. The processing is automated so you can leave it running (once it has been set up), leaving you free to go and do other things. You can give it a folder of sounds and it will pass each one in turn through the effects and record them back onto your hard disk, ready for when you get back.?
Here’s a video overview of Smack My Batch Up: Continue reading
Xenobioz has introduced Funxion - a free hybrid synthesizer VSTi, with user definable functions for waveforms and distortion. Continue reading
Tokyo Dawn Labs has released Feedback Compressor II, a free compressor plugin for Mac & Windows.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
Most modern compressors analyze the input signal to control gain reduction. This is known as a ‘feed-forward’ topology. The TDR Feedback Compressor II, however, analyzes the output. This approach delivers unobtrusive and highly musical compression characteristics which mean the compressor is able to handle complex signals with ease.
The TDR Feedback Compressor II takes this traditional compression topology to new heights as a state of the art dynamics processor combining an unusual and highly flexible, yet intuitive control scheme. The compressor has been carefully tuned for intuitive and musical operation for almost every situation. No compromises have been made in order to achieve the highest possible quality of dynamic control.
We want to emphasize the fact that the processor neither tries to emulate any previously available device, nor does it follow popular trends like ‘virtual analogue’, ‘circuit modeling’ or similar buzz words. This is a proud digital processor, made with an immense amount of love and care.
Rob Papen has introduced RP-Dock - a free standalone host for Mac for any of Papen’s instrument and effects plugins.
RP-Dock is intended to be a tool for playing live or in the studio, when you want to play with synthesizers and effects but don’t need a full DAW. Continue reading