Fsynthz has released Puncho Grooove, a free / donationware VSTi groove instrument for Windows.

Puncho Grooove can convert anything the user plays into a groove that subsequently follows the player in real-time. It can be used as a backing rhythm (e.g. a drum box).

Punch Groove uses continuous punch-in MIDI recording and looping together with "timbre rambling". Pitch and Modulation controllers can alter the groove. Events can be quantized for the trance/dance domain.

Controller keyboard can transpose the current groove, loop and chords can be triggered with one finger, and patterned (and synced) pitch-bend and vibrato can be added to a melody. Puncho Groove can also be used as a MIDI processor to drive another synth.

Features:

• Interactively updated loop.
• Quantization in real-time.
• "Timbre rambling" (see "MoarF").
• Hand Morph mode.
• Freeze control.
• Transpose mode.
• Definable MIDI key to enter pauses ("playing silence").
• Definable MIDI controller to change the loop in real-time.
• Background mode: Play in parallel with another synth.
• Compact GUI.
• CPU-friendly.
• MIDI output.