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All Reviews by Hypertone


By Hypertone
On 30th August 2005
Version: 1.2

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Christian Budde posihfopit

I use this eq for everything. It is the best sounding Eq in my VST folder. It sounds so nice, you can boost the high end and it still sounds silky smooth, you can boost the bass and it doesn't get muddy, it sounds tight and defined. The developer says it emulates a transistorised eq to color the sound, but I find it still sounds very transparent and smooth, it doesn't have that exaggerated sound like some plugins that try to emulate "analog warmth".


This sound quality comes at a price. Poshifopit can use up some CPU, but it's really not bad for the sound you get. I took me a while to realize you can disable individual bands, that will help some.


Poshifopit lacks the dials and sliders of most software eqs. It seems most of the innovative plugin developers are breaking free from a "looks like hardware" interface. Personally I think this is a move in the right direction. I find poshifopit easier and faster to use. I absolutely love the gui. Instead of knobs, Poshifopit has one "point" per band on a horizontal line. You drag the point up and down to adjust the level, and left and right to adjust frequency. Right clicking the point changes filter type. You can adjust Q by alt clicking over the point and moving the mouse up or down. This interface allows you to adjust frequency and level in one step very quickly.


The original skin is pretty ugly, but there are other skins included. I use the Fruity Loops skin and it looks great.


This is the best soft eq I have heard. I have not heard any of the really expensive ones, but I wouldn't be suprised if Poshifopit is as good or better than the high end eqs. The best part is the price, it's totally free! I highly recommend trying this one!!
 
Last edited : 30th August 2005     

By Hypertone
On 7th June 2005
Version: 1?

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DaSample GlaceVerb

If anyone knows of any free verbs as sweet sounding as Glaceverb, please let me know! I really like the sound of this reverb. I have never owned a high end verb like a Lexicon, so I'm not really an expert at what a good reverb should sound like, but compared to other soft reverbs, this one really stands out. It is not a transparent reverb by any means, it has a warm "colored" sound to it that sounds great. This is a plug-in with character.

I've gotten some great results that remind me of the reverb sound in some new wave/pop recordings from the 80's. I've used it on piano and tweaked an awesome jazz lounge reverb sound. It takes a bit of tweaking to get it to sound right, but with a little work the results are very good.

I also use Ambience which might sound a little more transparent and natural, and Ariesverb, which is unbeatable for long sustained reverbs and FX, but I prefer Glaceverb's sound for the aux bus in a mix, the sound just works. Not too thin, not too dense, just right. Try it out for your self, It's free!!
 
    

By Hypertone
On 11th October 2004
Version: 2.1.2

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Wusik Wusik Station

*Updated for V.2.1.2 Big package*

Wusikstation looks and feels great. The interface is very intuitive, but sometimes I find myself tweaking settings on the wrong layer. The wavesequencer window is too small, but William has a zoom feature planned in the next update. And I must mention that the GUI is skinnable. I am using Amoebe's Light Skin, it's very easy on the eyes.

*The new browser makes browsing patches so much easier, interface rating changed accordingly*

I tried the demo and I was very impressed as soon as I pressed a key. This synth is refreshingly different. It's not meant to emulate an analog synth. All of the sounds are produced by sampled waveforms, but what you can do with those waves is amazing. The pads are absolutely stunning. The wavesequencing ability can produce some awesome, evolving sounds, like a Wavestation, but with a better interface, and better sound. Not to mention you can load your own waves. The range of sounds is seemingly endless.

*The big package contains something like 1600+ presets and iirc over a gig of waves, 10:10 for presets*

Wusikstation is feature rich. There is a ton of sound sculpting possibilities. However there are some small details that I find to be missing, such as modulating LFO depth with another parameter, but it's possible to do this with midi learn in most cases.

*Update, this has been implemented since V2.1.1*

Documentation looks pretty good. I haven't really had to use it except to figure out how to load waves.

Customer Support. THE best support in the business. Period.


Wusikstation comes with over 1600 presets. Many of them are pad sounds, there are also plenty of leads, basses, bells, fx. I have programmed a very good acoustic piano using the "grand piano" wave, however there aren't many acoustic waves, most of them being from vintage synthesizers. I think an expansion with some good acoustic sounds that you would expect to find in a workstation "rompler" would really appeal to alot of users.

*Expansions are now available*

Wusikstation is a high end softsynth, it's up there with the very best of them, but it is still priced very reasonably. I joined the group buy, which made it a steal. It's the best VFM on the market IMO. I think some developers slap a $200 price tag on their product just so that it will appear more "professional". Unfortunately alot of users can't afford to pay that much for a softsynth. I think making your product available to more users at a lower price is a better business model.

*IMO WS 2 is the best softsynth on the market, I have demoed all of the high end synths and I can't justify buying them when I have something that is equally as good, and is some areas better that cost me far less than the competition*

I haven't had any crashes or glitches with Wusikstation, so I have to rate that a 10.


This is a deep, powerful synthesizer. If you haven't tried the demo, I highly suggest downloading it.
 
Last edited : 11th September 2005     

By Hypertone
On 2nd August 2004
Version: 1.6

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Superwave Superwave P8

This just may be the best free synth out there. I can't believe I didn't try this sooner. The sound is so rich and fat, it's just beautiful. I'm a vst minimalist, but this one is definitely staying in my vst folder. I can't believe it's free! :)

Superwave comes with a list of midi CC's so you can set your controller for controlling the parameters, which is a very nice feature for a free softsynth.

The presets are excellent and really showcase Superwave's ability to do rich analog sounds. The brassy sounds are some of the nicest I have heard in a virtual synth. This synth is a great choice for trance sounds, but I'm using it for ambient pads and sweeps and I'm very pleased.

Try this synth if you have not already!
 
    

By Hypertone
On 31st August 2003
Version: 1

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Andreas Ersson Iblit

This thing Rocks!!

Seriously this thing has a good ballsy analog sound-nice and fat. The filter sounds nice and the portamento responds properly (fingered, unequal time) for great sounding MiniMoogish leads. This synth is the ultimate for bass and leads.

The GUI is great, very simple, clean, and easy to use.

The Iblit really stands out in a sea of virtual analog emulating synthesizers.
 
    

By Hypertone
On 17th October 2002
Version: 1

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XT Software Energy

I really like this VSTI and waited a long time for a VSTI with sequencing capablities like Energy. In a way the sequencer reminds me of a Korg MS2000 in that you can sequence parameters other than note on/off. I wish that more parameters were added though such as cutoff, resonance, pan, etc. I also wish that the synth engine was more complex with switchable waveforms, mutli oscillators, routing options, etc. Still this is a very useful synth for acid lines and trippy arpeggios. If the synth engine and sequencer idea was taken further for more complex modulation and thicker tones it would probably be my favorite softsynth ever. Maybe an Energy II?
 
    

By Hypertone
On 5th April 2002
Version: 1

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rgc:audio Triangle II

What a sweet free VSTI. Quite possibly the best free analog VSTI out there. Great sound, very programmable. MIDI learn in a free synth? Rene knows what people want. I programmed a ton of useful sounds. I wish you could transpose each oscillator, I had to transpose the midi track to play the lower octaves on my 61 note keyboard. I recommend this synth to anyone looking some good analog sounds.
 
    

By Hypertone
On 5th April 2002
Version: 1

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Smart Electronix GalactiX

This is a good looking, good sounding VSTI. The presets are good, although theres not many. Its capable of some great tones, and has a cool digital sound (theres enough analog emulating VSTIs), Im happy to see something a little different.

It can do some brite FM/ PPG wave sort of sounds. I did manage to program some good analog sounds including some funky bass. The modulation capabilities are really simple, not even an lfo. The only complaint I have is that I heard some very faint crackling in the upper octaves. I dont think it would show up in a mix, but I would have definitely given the sound quality a 10 without the noise. I like the color and GUI. Thanks for this nice freebie!
 
    

By Hypertone
On 16th February 2002
Version: 2?

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Rumpelrausch Taips Crazy Diamonds

I cant properly pronounce the developer of this synth, Id rather play this sweet VSTI instead. It sounds exactly like the synth in the song in which it was named after. What a huge sound!! Very nice. People have asked how it compares to Cheezemachine. Thats hard to say because they are really totally different. Crazy Diamonds doesnt really sound like a string ensemble, it has more of an organ tone. I think people will find unique uses for both synths. Both synths together would really compliment each other. This is one excellent free VSTI!!
 
    

By Hypertone
On 16th February 2002
Version: 1.3

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Big Tick Cheeze Machine

Amazing synth strings. One of the best sounding VSTIs I have ever heard, free or otherwise. Cheezemachine is really inspiring to play and has its own character. Minimal features, but its a string synth, so thats kinda the point. Seems like a good stable plug-in, as Ive used it for hours now without a problem. Highly recommended.
 
    
Latest 10 reviews from a total of 10

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