KVR Audio is the Internet's number one news and information resource for open standard audio plug-ins. We report new releases, product announcements and product updates (major and minor) for all VST Plug-ins, DirectX Plug-ins and Audio Units Plug-ins (and RTAS too). We manage a fully searchable audio plug-in database (updated daily), and offer many free member services including user reviews, product update notifications and a very active discussion forum. We also host official support forums for many plug-in developers plus the official Receptor support forum.
Plug-in Database: Virtual
Instruments, Effects & Hosts
Plug-in
Ranks
Banks & Patches
Download & Upload
Plug-in Ratings
by KVR Members
Wiki: Tutorials,
Audio Lexicon, ...
Listen to Music
by KVR Members
Search
KVR

Google Powered Search:

in new window

KVR Powered Plug-in Search:

?
KVR Rank: 821 457 792 [30-Day: 594; 7-Day: 968; Yesterday: 786]
34 members are watching Alpha for news
Product Alpha
Developer LinPlug
Primary Type Synth (Analogue / Subtractive)
Price (MSRP) $99 / €79
Plug-in Formats
Instrument(s)VSTAudio UnitRTAS
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
WindowsWindows 64 / x64 3.1.1 Demo / TrialReleased
Mac OS XMac OS X Universal Binary 3.1.1 Demo / TrialReleased
Miscellaneous Information
Copy Protection Serial Number
Average User Rating Average rating - 9.375
Compatibility Unknown
advertisement
Alpha

Focused on the essential modules of an analogue synthesizer Alpha 3 offers true hands on operation. Everything is where you would expect it, nothing is more complex than it needs to be. Nothing is less powerful than it needs to be.

Features:

  • 2 Oscillators with numerous waveforms.
  • PWM (symmetry of all waveforms modulatable).
  • Switchable freerun for both oscillators.
  • Extended Ring-modulation (modulatable Off-AM-RM).
  • Noise Oscillator.
  • Spread (5 detuned oscillators per voice, adjustable).
  • Rich sounding multimode filter with saturation.
  • Dedicated filter ADSFR envelope.
  • Amplifier section with dedicated ADSFR envelope.
  • 7 slot Modulation Matrix, 19 sources, 18 destinations.
  • 3 individual LFOs with tweakable attack time, speed (syncable), multiple shapes, switchable freerun.
  • Portamento / Glide with various modes.
  • Adjustable Chorus, no other effects (intentionally).
  • Adjustable analogness.
  • Global tuning and Microtonal support.
  • Powerful ECS (MIDI learn for almost all Controllers).
  • Sample accurate processing, total recall.
  • All controls automatable.
  • Direct access to all banks and presets.
  • 32 voice polyphonic (adjustable), true mono mode.

User Reviews by KVR Members for Alpha.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR REVIEW


By mikebeck
On 28th March 2006
Version: 2.2.2

Read all reviews by
mikebeck


4 of 4 people found
this review helpful.

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
I do not have an extensive synth background. I needed something I could use right away, and be able to cover a lot of ground quickly and easily. I think Alpha offers this and more.

The GUI is easy to understand, and is well-designed. The controls all work very well - no glitches that I've found. The preset browser makes it easy to find what you're looking for and quickly audition the included or added-on presets.

I give the sound a 9 only because I thought it could use more "power" at times. This is likely the result of my inexperience. Most of the time the sound is great, and I can get a wide variety of sounds out of this synth.

At first glance, it may seem lacking in features, based on screen shots of other monster synths. What's there, though, allows for a lot of flexibility. After getting familiar with it, there was more to it than I originally thought.

The PDF documentation is clear and thorough, and all controls are explained. The glossary of synth terms is helpful for beginners.

One of the big benefits, especially for me, was the included 750+ presets, so I can immediately hear the breadth of sound possibilities and see how they are constructed. With this many presets, there are bound to be many I will never use, but there are very many I found useful without needing any tweaks, too.

I haven't needed much support, since this is an easy to use product, and it's never misbehaved for me. Any questions I've had, though, have been answered quickly, by Linplug staff, in the Linplug forum here at KVR. Also, the purchasing/download process was quick and trouble-free.

The value for money is easily a 10. For $59, I think I've gotten more than my money's worth. And it's gotten me interested in Linplug's other products.

Alpha has been perfectly stable, as I've already mentioned. I've used both the VST and AU formats within Peak Pro 5, Tracktion 2, Digital Performer 4.6, and a few other hosts with no crashes or glitches.

I guess it's obvious enough by now that I'm happy with Alpha. It's an affordable, workhorse gem of a synth.
 
   Report

By Mnemonic
On 7th August 2002
Version: 2.01

Read all reviews by
Mnemonic


1 of 1 people found
this review helpful.

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Well, I don't often write reviews of products, but this one I just had to...

For just $29, this has to be one of the great VSTi bargains out there. A superbly warm synth that can generate gorgeous pads, cutting lead sounds and punchy basses. And to go with this, one of the clearest interfaces out there.

I'm normally a bit of a no hoper when it comes to programming synth patches, but even I've been able to come up with some great sounds with this baby. Just find an existing patch you like (there are plenty supplied with the synth), keep pressing the "GEN" (randomisation) button until you get a sound you like and then manually tweak it to perfection.

Stability is also good. I'm running Alpha in Sonar 2.0 with the fxpansion VST-DX adapter and I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

And to add yet another thing - you also get some of the best support out there. I had a little problem when I ordered Alpha, so I emailed Peter and he had it fixed within half-an-hour. He's also brilliant at answering questions left for him on his support forum, right here at KvR.

Due to the clear interface and ease of programming, I can wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone from the experienced artist (who'll love its low CPU usage) right down to the absolute beginner (who'll have their own bank of sounds within an hour of purchasing). Add to this full MIDI-learn capability and the incredible modulation matrix (hey, I paid £600-odd quid for a Proteus 2000 with one of those!) and you have a synth that will be one of the mainstays in your VSTi armoury.

So, you might say I'm pretty happy with Alpha - I can see me using it in just about all my projects in the future. And besides, $29 is nothing really, is it? Go on, you know you want to :)
 
   Report
Latest 2 reviews from a total of 2

Reviews, articles, interviews, etc. for Alpha.

None listed yet.

 

Products by LinPlug

Product: Alpha
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Synth (Analogue / Subtractive)
Price: $99 / €79
OS: WindowsWindows x64Mac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio UnitRTAS
Focused on the essential modules of an analogue synthesizer Alpha 3 offers true hands on operation. Everything is where you would expect it, nothing is more complex than it needs to be. Nothing is less powerful than it needs to be. Features: 2 Oscillators with numerous waveforms. PWM (symmetry of all waveforms modulatable). Switchable freerun for both oscillators. Extended Ring-modulation (modulatable Off-AM-RM). Noise Oscillator. Spread (5 detuned oscillators per voice, adjustable). Rich sounding multimode filter with saturation. Dedicated filter ADSFR envelope. Amplifier section w... [more]

 
Product: CronoX
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Sample Synth
Price: €129
OS: WindowsWindows x64Mac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
Features: Free Filter with new, continuously adjustable, modulatable filter-type.Loop Sampler Generator with individually modulatable loop-points and start-point.Versatile architecture with 4 generator modules that are mixed into two filters.Easy-Edit panel allowing preset browsing and quick access to main parameters.Powerful, editable arpeggiator with up to 32 steps.Stereo and 5.1 support (2 generators, both filters and 3 of the effects units can be mixed in 5.1 format. Settings are stored as part of the preset).Analogue-modeled Oscillator Generator for real-time analog-style synthesis.Time-S... [more]

 
Product: Free Alpha
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Synth (Analogue / Subtractive)
Price: Free
OS: WindowsMac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
Free Alpha 3 is a reduced feature version of Alpha 3. A comparison chart detailing the differences between the various versions of Alpha is available. ... [more]

 
Product: Hispasonic Alpha
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Synth (Analogue / Subtractive)
Price: Free
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
Same as FreeAlpha except:Up to 24 note polyphonic.Global tuning between 430 and 450.Pitchbend can be set between 2 and 24 halftones.Unlimited number of presets (direct from disk).2 oscillators each with 2 from 30 different waveforms; pitch, amplitude and symmetry modulation from LFO, Envelope or MIDI.Fat and rich-sounding Multimode filter; cutoff and resonance modulation from LFO, Envelope and MIDI.2 separate ADSFR envelopes for amplitude and cutoff and a additional pitch envelope ; time ranges from super-fast 1 millisecond up to full 10 seconds.LFO with 6 waveforms, variable attack, variable ... [more]

 
Product: Octopus
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Synth (Hybrid)
Price: $129 / €99
OS: WindowsWindows x64Mac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
Octopus is a "Dual-Matrix" synthesizer containing one Matrix for Oscillator/Filter frequency modulation synthesis and another Matrix for general modulation. Octopus features 8 additive Oscillators, a Sampler and a powerful approach to modulation - 32 complex multi-purpose envelopes with a wide range of modulation destinations. The key component for building a sound is the instrument's 8 oscillators, Sampler, 2 filters and 32 envelopes. These components allow you to create anything from classic "old school" FM timbres to complex sounds far beyond those possible with convent... [more]

 
Product: Organ 3
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Organ
Price: $129 / €99
OS: WindowsWindows x64Mac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio UnitRTAS
Organ 3 is a software organ emulation with all controls found on the original Hammond B3 as well as a sophisticated rotary speaker simulation. Key features: Authentic emulation of many classic organs and the rotary speaker, get the sound of the original. Each emulated aspect is individually switchable or adjustable. 3 manuals, individually adjustable and playable on separate MIDI channels or in split or layer mode. Dual effects section with fully syncable rotary, reverb, delay and chorus, and new: Gator and LoFi crusher. 64 voice polyphonic (CPU dependent). Individually adjustable Per... [more]

 
Product: RMV Drum Addiction
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Drum Sampler
Price: $179 / €139
OS: WindowsWindows x64Mac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
RMV is a Drum Synthesizer & Sampler, Loop Slicer and Librarian. It includes more than 10,000 sampled and synthesized drum sounds, 2,600 MIDI grooves, 1,500 Loops as well as a comprehensive 150 page reference manual (PDF) in English, French and Italian. Features: Drum Synthesizer. Drum Sampler. Audio Loop Modules (Slicer & Player). Drum Librarian. 32-voice polyphony. Multiple instances of the RMV can be opened. 48 polyphonic Pads for the universal or specialized Drum Synthesizers or Drum Samplers. Six independent Audio Loop Modules with up to 64 slices each. Each Pad and each ... [more]

 
Product: SaxLab
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Sax
Price: $199 / €149
OS: WindowsMac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
SaxLab 2 Saxophone Synthesizer is the result of many years of investigation and programming. It uses not one technology but a very carefully balanced mixture of various techniques to obtain the most realistic sax sound you can get from a virtual instrument. Authenticity, Expression and Variation is a must to obtain believable sax sounds. Key features include an easy-to-use interface, a wide range of high-quality soundsets for bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophone. An effects section that includes a specialized chorus and reverb, as well as extensive real-time modulation options. S... [more]

 
Product: Sophistry
Developer: LinPlug
Type: Ambient Synth
Price: No Longer Available (see CronoX)
OS: WindowsMac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
Sophistry is a CronoX3 instrument with all features of the CronoX3 plus over 700 "ambient" presets based on more than 5 GB of samples from Particular Sound. Features: Free Filter with new, continuously adjustable, modulatable filter-type. Loop Sampler Generator with individually modulatable loop-points and start-point. Versatile architecture with 4 generator modules that are mixed into two filters. Easy-Edit panel allowing preset browsing and quick access to main parameters. Powerful, editable arpeggiator with up to 32 steps. Stereo and 5.1 support (2 generators, both filters ... [more]

 
Coming Soon...