Synchro Arts has made a pre-release, Alpha version, of Double Tracker, a new VST3 "doubler" plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X, available for download. It makes realistic (or crazy) sounding double tracks of vocals and instruments - with a new approach.

Synchro Arts is looking for "golden eared" audio engineers who are running VST plug-ins to try it to see if it is a great sounding as they've been told it is. SA is especially interested in how it sounds and if you have comments on how it should be used. Please note that the interface design is temporary but functional.

Unlike most other doublers and chorusing effects, Double Tracker needs to analyse a piece of audio before it can generate the doubled (or processed) version. To do this you need to play the piece of audio through the plug-in with 'Capture' switched on. This allows the plug-in to analyse the piece of audio as a whole.

Once the doubler has analysed or 'captured' the audio the plug-in operates as normal. You can vary any of the controls and listen to the changes in real time as you play the audio.

The processing part of the doubler has three main parts:

1. A variable delay line.
2. A shifter of formants.
3. A re-sampler.

There are also simple gain controls for the input and output signals (i.e. the processed and unprocessed signals) so that you may vary the mix between the two. There is a VU meter that shows the level of the processed signal.

More details at the Double Tracker alpha / beta page on the Synchro Arts website.

IMPORTANT: This alpha version is a simplified pre-design version of the the final product but it will allow you to evaluate the quality and distinctiveness of its audio processing. It is a VST3 plug-in ONLY - Cubase is required to run it.