Last week, we brought you the news of Plogue’s new 8-bit style software synth, Chipsounds.

According to Plogue, Chipsounds emulates more than eight vintage 8bit-era sound chips (on top of their variants), down to their smallest idiosyncrasies.

Now you can decide for yourself:

chipsounds EP by chipsounds

These tracks were made by the chipsounds beta team and show the
variety of styles and sounds that can be achieved with the software.

The only guideline given was that the music’s chip content had to be made using chipsounds.

Check out the demos and let me know what you think!

Lexicon has introduced a set of native reverb plugins for teh Mac & PC, the PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle.

The intro video, above, is a little over the top. They’ve got demo videos on YouTube that offer more specifics.

Details below.

Features at a Glance

PCM Reverb Plug-In 7 Algorithms

• 7 legendary Lexicon Reverbs
• Hundreds of brilliantly crafted studio presets
• Multi-platform compatibility (Windows XP, Vista, and 7; Mac OSX 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, PowerPC and Intel)
• Formats that work seamlessly in any VST, Audio Unit, or RTAS compatible DAW
• Graphical real-time display illustrating the frequency stages of each algorithm
• Visual EQ section for easy adjustment of both early and late reflections
• Presets can be stored in a DAW independent format which allows custom presets to be transferred between any DAWs.
• Full parameter control and automation
• Input and output meters for quick assessment of audio levels going to and from the reverb
• iLok authorized

PCM Reverb Plug-In Multiband Notch Filter

Each algorithm can be run in either mono, stereo, or a combination of the two. We’ve taken the time to add Input and Output Meters in addition to a graphical EQ section for easy adjustment of both early and late reflections. The most noticeable feature, however, is center screen in a multi-dimensional realtime display. There are three screens to choose from, all showing different frequency stages of the algorithm to help you shape your sound.

PCM Reverb Plug-In Frequency LoPass

The user interface displays nine of the most logical parameters for customization, it also enables you to transition deeper into the algorithm to edit the full matrix of parameters. Compare your custom preset to the original and save it off once you have the perfect sound. You’ll also have the ability to load that preset into a different DAW.

PCM Reverb Plug-In Impulse Lopass

The wealth of algorithms and presets will enable you to envelop your vocals and instruments with the musical ambiance of panoramically wonderful spaces. The PCM Native Reverb Bundle is a complete collection of the finest reverbs, now with all the flexibility of a multi-platform native software plug-in.

Klon takes your voice and adds up to 16 different copies of your voice, in realtime. This lays the ground for an impressive amount of applications like:

• Choir generator
• Harmonizer
• Voice doubler
• Change voice’s gender
• Pitch corrector
• Extreme voice manipulation

KLON is available for purchase for the introductory offer of 99 EUR until October 31st, 2009 (regular price 169 EUR). It is free with every purchase of Take Five FX (incl. Bark, Matrix, Reflect, TDesign and VTape) before October 31st, 2009.

You can preview a demo of VirSyn Klon below:

The 16 pitch shifters inside KLON are divided into 4 groups making it easy to build up large choral parts from a simple, single vocal line. The four separate, switchable groups have their own dedicated set of controls. These controls include an x-y pad for fast, easy control of pitch and panorama. Each group can be altered in real time while music is playing or can be by-passed, edited and switched back on when required. The pitch for each group can be shifted by up to +/- two octaves with adjustable formant control retaining voice quality even at extreme settings. All of those controls are available for host automation for unsurpassed dynamic voice manipulations.

KLON includes a flexible and adaptive pitch correction to any given scale or external MIDI notes and chords. Think of playing a chord to immediately harmonizing your vocal input.

The realtime manipulation possibilities together with the low latency operation makes KLON the ideal live plugin for vocals.

This is a demo video for the Arppe2600va, a free Windows software synth designed to emulate the ARP 2600 vintage synthesizer.

Based on ARP’s legendary semi-modular analog monosynth! This amazing softsynth sounds very close to the original ARP 2600. Like the original, it’s a monosynth (no polyphony). But, also like the original, it has a multitude of Frequency Modulation options which enable it to create some truly awesome sound effects. PWM, Sample & Hold, virtual Spring Reverb, Ring Modulation, and a dedicated Noise Generator are all there! Also, there are some things even the original Arp 2600 didn’t have, like Oscillator Sync and Filter Color (to adjust between LowPass and HiPass filter types). Most important of all, beginning with version 2.0 the Arppe2600va is now completely patchable via a cleverly designed Mod Matrix! You can have up to 12 patch routings with a very user-friendly (and visible!) drop-down menu interface, instead of messy virtual patch cables cluttering up the screen. All controls are mapped to MIDI CC#’s, and you can override the default settings by using the MIDI Learn feature. Use as a simple stand-alone synth (.exe file included), or copy the DLL into your favorite DAW or sequencer’s plugin folder.

If you’ve used Arppe2600va, leave a comment with your thoughts!

via buenasideasde

Plogue has announced a new soft-synthesizer, Chipsounds, that turns your VST/AU/RTAS host into a classic video game console, vintage 8-bit home computer and even an 80’s arcade.

Plogue Chipsounds authentically emulates more than eight vintage 8-bit era sound chips (on top of their variants). But more interestingly, it also faithfully allows you to dynamically reproduce the accidentally discovered sounds effect tricks and abusive musical techniques that were made famous by innovative chiptune composers and classic video game sound designers, which for the good part of the last 2 decades, have pushed beyond the boundaries of the original chip designs.

No pricing or release date have been announced. Details and audio demos are available at the Plogue site.

4Pockets.com has introduced Aurora a new pattern-based musical sequencing app for the Pocket PC.

This is a teaser video, no pricing or release date has been announced yet.

Description:

Aurora hides a lot of its complexity from novice users, but by switching to advanced mode you get full control over the built in instruments and effects, as well as many advanced modes such as the Atomizer and XY Mode which allows you to manipulate sound in real-time.

You can create your own instrument from recordings made using the built in microphone. Just think, a full drum kit of you beatboxing into the microphone!

Aurora allows a mixture of pattern based recording and live performance. You can piece together complete compositions, or simply improvise a performance, all of which can be captured to a file, for use as a ringtones, or to share with others.

An integrated mixer, combined with the ability to add audio effects and layer automation means that you achieve a pretty sophisticated sound in a fun and user friendly way.

Rock Hardbuns has released an updated version of Padpal 3, a free VST plug-in for Windows:

Improved version of my PAD synth, sporting brand new impulse/filter envelopes. Its not entirely obvious how it works but you can read all about it here.

My implementation (as opposed to Zynaddsubfx’s) uses buttons for the partials. The buttons cycle from Off, to 25% to 100% and then back to off.

If you’ve used Rock Hardbuns’ Padpal 3, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Cakewalk

Q: In what ways has Windows 7 been optimized, in terms of performance, for audio production?

A: Windows 7 on the surface is very similar to Windows Vista. It has the same audio driver support and same audio system infrastructure as Vista. However it’s some of the under hood improvements that are more significant for audio production. There are some interesting innovations and optimizations in the Windows kernel, making the OS more scalable for concurrent processing. This makes it attractive for highly multithreaded applications like SONAR. Additionally there are various new API’s/SDK’s that may be of significance to developers.

The article goes into exquisitely geeky detail, so it’s worth a read if you’re running Windows.

See, too, Peter Kirn’s equally geektacular Window 7 OS-porn at CDM.

Macs may be the de facto platform for music – but Windows users still get most of the freebies.

Case in point: Kriminal has released Oktagon, a free soft synth for Windows.

Features:

• 8 VCO’s, each with independant control over tune/pan/gain.
• Saw/Ramp/Tri/Pulse Waveforms (Global).
• PWM – LFO/Manual.
• Filter Freq LFO.
• Pitch/Amp LFO.
• LP12/LP24/HP/BP/BR Filter.
• Seperate ADSR for AMP and ENV.
• Poly/Mono (with Portamento).

If you give Oktagon a try, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!

Meanwhile, Mac users are going to be waiting for the AU version to come out….for a long time.

ValhallaFreqEcho is a free audio VST for Mac & PC that “combines a Bode-style frequency shifter with analog echo emulation to create skull melting chaos.”

That’s right – “skull-melting chaos”.

Can you put a price on skull-melting chaos?

You’ll never know until you download this bad boy.

Give it a try and then leave a comment with your thoughts. And if you create an audio demo, leave a link!

Download here.

Description:

Sonic results range from subtle chorusing and double tracking, to barberpole phasing and flanging, to runaway echos spinning through your skull, to endless glissandos. Perfect for those Dr. Who sounds, dub, and all of your psychedelic needs.

An OSX AU is planned.

via rekkerd

Syntheway has introduced Realistic Virtual Piano v2.5 VSTi, an Acoustic Grand Piano emulation VST instrument for Windows and Linux O.S.

Details and demos below.

If you’ve used Syntheway Realistic Virtual Piano VSTi, leave a comment with your thoughts!

What’s new in version 2.5:

• Added new Yamaha Grand Piano module.
• Kawai Grand Piano module have been totally re-sampled.
• Added Piano Selector option in GUI.
• Minor adjustments in GUI as well as in default parameters.
• Fixed a few minor bugs.

Main Features:

• Modeled on mastered Piano samples (normalized and noise-reduced). Based on PCM recordings of a Kawai and Yamaha Grand Pianos after it has been meticulously tuned and adjusted.
• To achieve such a remarkably authentic piano sound, has full length sustain samples, no loops (natural decay), stored in 16 bits and 44.100 KHz.
• ADSR envelope generator with Attack, Sustain, Decay and Release parameters and several modulation targets.
• Optimized CPU and memory usage. Stability: complete. Uses memory efficiently without sacrificing quality. Unlike many other piano modules and samplers, this piano will never overload CPU.
• Good live performances: never stick notes, never break the sound.
• Affordable price and user-friendly attitude are sure to attract many musicians
• Integrated, variable room simulation. Free variation of acoustic ambience thanks to complete separation of piano and room. Small rooms can be modeled just as accurately as larger spaces.
• Customizable with user controls for: size room, width room, damping factor & mixer, used to create psycho-acoustic models in the DSP environment, without having to load up any other plug-ins.
• MIDI Automation: Added complete MIDI CC#.

A demo version of Syntheway Realistic Virtual Piano VSTi is available.

Sugar Bytes’ Eloquence is a powerful MIDI step sequencer plugin that gives you control over just about all aspects of your favorite MIDI devices.

Description:

Use Eloquence to create varied and organic bass lines, screaming leads, pulsating chords, and organic pad sounds in the studio or on stage.

For live musicians, Eloquence provides an extremely versatile palette of performance options which can be triggered right from your MIDI keyboard: you can transpose, manipulate, twist up, mutate, and mangle your patterns without even getting near your computer.

Eloquence is a plugin which can be used with any major Windows or Mac VST or AU host. This includes Cubase, Logic, Kore, and Ableton Live, among others. It is 100% MIDI compliant.

Eloquence will be released on August 15 and will cost 99€ / 129USD. Registered ERA users will receive a crossgrade offer for 69€ / 89USD.

DJ Mike Flores explains the basics of how to DJ with a laptop, in this two part video that looks at laptop DJ basics.

Click here to view the embedded video.

via mike71flores

ModBox (App Store link) is a free universal Tracker Format Player for the iPhone that plays Amiga and PC module music (e.g. Protracker, Fasttracker, Screamtracker). It features a song database with direct-download from various authors, an integrated FTP Server and support for all common module formats (e.g. Protracker, Fastracker, Screamtracker, etc.).

Features:

• Direct internet access to the finest selection of modules from the Modland library with a preselection of over 5.000 freely available songs, over 200 hours of music playtime and access to three decades of computer music. You can easily browse and download your favourite songs from the internet via WiFi, UTMS or EDGE. Using ModBox all your tracked computer music is right away available in your pocket (Modland access requires an active internet connection, internet access fees are not covered by this player). Downloaded songs get stored in the local library for further offline usage or manual management.
• Built-in iPhone/iPod Touch FTP Server so you can manage your own songs or backup your library over WiFi using standard ftp. Additionally you can use your iPhone/iPod Touch as a WiFi FTP USB Stick or provide anonymous access to your module library for friends.
• Support for 669 (Composer 669, Unis 669), AMF (DSMI Advanced Module Format), AMF (ASYLUM Music Format V1.0), APUN (APlayer), DSM (DSIK internal format), FAR (Farandole Composer), GDM (General DigiMusic), IT (Impulse Tracker), IMF (Imago Orpheus), MOD (15 and 31 instruments), MED (OctaMED), MTM (MultiTracker Module editor), OKT (Amiga Oktalyzer), S3M (Scream Tracker 3), STM (Scream Tracker), STX (Scream Tracker Music Interface Kit), ULT (UltraTracker), UNI (MikMod) and XM (FastTracker 2) modules.

Waldorf has announced a new software synthesizer, the Waldorf Largo:

Many producers and synthesizer enthusiasts asked for a full-blown Waldorf Synthesizer for their virtual rack. We listened, and now we proudly present Largo. Largo is the first pure software synthesizer with Waldorf DNA. And again – it is the cutting edge sound that makes the big difference.

No wonder, as Largo mirrors the technology used in Blofeld and Q hardware synthesizers. As for every Waldorf instrument, ergonomics are a core feature on screen as well. Your eyes will be pleased with a clearly structured, graphical user interface that supports your workflow intuitively.

Largo offers three fat oscillators, two of them with sub oscillators. These oscillators include models of classic analog waveforms as well as a selection of waves from the PPG and Waldorf Wave stored in two Wavetables. All these run through two Waldorf multimode filters with steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation and a drive stage to add even more punch and grainyness to the sound. Ultra-fast envelope generators and flexible LFOs as well as an easy to understand, yet extremely versatile modulation matrix make for a sound designer’s dream.

The filters have always been a core part of any Waldorf instrument. With outstanding expertise in both analog and digital synthesis, our developers took utmost care in developing the filters. And you can hear a significant difference when working with a Waldorf filter – they just sound right! Use the comb filters for plucked, stringed or blown sounds. Band pass, high pass, low pass and notch filters are all available with 12 dB and 24 dB slope. All of them sound extremely accurate and add pure sonic quality to the sound of your music.

Largo contains a flexible arpeggiator with 16 freely programmable steps as known from the exclusive Q synthesizer line plus an array of high quality effects such as Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Overdrive, Delay and Reverb.

The clearly arranged user interface helps you to create your own powerful synthesizer sounds in a breeze. Oscillators and filters are always in direct access while the submodules are only a mouse click away. It has the same exclusive voice architecture as the Q and Blofeld synthesizer line, fully integrated into the total recall system of your Digital Audio Workstation.

Largo works as a VST and AudioUnit instrument. Details below.

This is a demo for SuperSynthFX Touch Panel Synthesizer.

The SuperSynthFX (SSFX), is a free Windows software synthesizer and sample player with integrated effects. The SSFX is freeware and was developed mainly for use in conjunction with a Touch Panel PC or Tablet PC.

See the site for more demo videos.

If you’ve used SuperSynthFX, leave a comment with your thoughts!

And check out the free music software section for more cool freebies!

About SuperSynthFX

The SSFX is a VSTi-Plugin and thus also made for regular DAW operation. The goal of this project is to provide an analog control surface, similar to that of old analog synthesizers. The SSFX is using a touch panel to simulate this behavior. In addition, the SSFX offers the sound of vintage analog synthesizers, as well as advanced sound design possibilities, such as sampling.

Instead of using mouse controls, the finger or a pen can be used to control the sliders. Creating your own sounds can be done very intuitively, with the help of virtual sliders, buttons and knobs. Control them as you would control an classic synthesizer with an analog control surface.

A building plan for a cheap DIY Music Touch Panel PC (MTP-PC) and a rudimentary sample library are available at the SuperSynthFX site.

Additionally, SONAR 8.5 was evaluated at an independent Microsoft application compatibility lab and officially passed the rigorous Win7 compatibility testing.

See their site for full Windows 7 compatibility info.

DSK Music has released a new free synthesizer for Windows, DSK Blue.

Features:

• 2 Oscillator with 134 waveforms and wavedraw option
• Sub oscillators
• Advanced filters
• LFO routing to filters
• 2 Fx (delay & chours / flanger)
• MIDI automation
• Preset Manager

Composer, musician and synth designer Erik Wøllo has introduced a new VST plug-in instrument for VST compatible systems, Wollo Voyager. 

The Wollo Voyager is a virtual analog synthesizer designed for use in a VST sequenzer host for PC. Also the synth is available as a standalone version. The synthesizer combines analog style sounds with onboard effect processors and EQ. Delay, Flanger and an advanced Reverb section.

Wollo Voyager is dedicated to produce sounds that is especially useful in modern electronic ambient and
space music styles. 

Main features:

• Advanced analog-modelling synthesis with 2 Oscillators
• ADSR
• Filter with ADSR and Amount
• LFO with Speed and Depth
• 16 Step LFO with host time sync
• Panning Delay with host time sync
• Flanger
• Sophisticated Reverb section with EQ
• 4 band Equalizer for total overall sound
• Mouse Controlled Device for live use (not yet finished)
• Virtual animated mouse Keyboard and MIDI monitor
• Preset Manager with one bank of 64 presets

KResearch has released the KR-Reverb FS version 1.1.0, a free reverb processor.

Features:

• Adjustable Early Reflections Size
• Adjustable Late reflections size
• Adjustable Diffusion control
• Adjustable Decay control
• Adjustable Listener position control
• Dry/Wet Mix adjustment.
• Host Sampling Frequency up to 96KHz
• For Microsoft Windows OS (VST)
• Suitable for all Pentium CPUs
• Mac OS X (AU UB,VST MAC)
• Support for User definable presets
• (Save & Load) via Host interface