My freeware chiptune VSTs - 1bitstudio, VT2i, ChipArp
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 31 posts since 28 Apr, 2017 from Russia, Moscow
Thought to share info on a bunch of my experimental chiptune-related freeware/opensource VSTs. All of them GUI-less, so the interface is provided by your host software. Sorry, only 32-bit builds available at the moment.
1bitstudio is actually a bundle of plugins for 1-bit sound synthesis and processing. It is the oldest form of computer based sound synthesis that had its highlights in 50-60s, as well as 80s in Apple II and ZX Spectrum 48K games (Tim Follin's name may ring a bell). Current version of the 1bitstudio includes two FX, which are bitcrushers of sort, four drum machines, and seven tone synths based on different synthesis techniques. There is a niche community and a forum dedicated to this way of sound synthesis, if you want to learn more.
Example, minimal extra processing: https://soundcloud.com/theandroidvision ... o-vst-demo
Example, some extra processing: https://soundcloud.com/shiru8bit/overawire
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/1bitstudio.zip
VT2i is a AY-3-8910/YM2149F sound chip (ZX Spectrum 128K, MSX, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST) VST emulator. Capable to load and play Vortex Tracker II instrument and ornament files. Basically allows to fill the gap between a 'true' chiptune tracker and a modern DAW, if you want to step up your tracker based production and make a good mix, or something.
No examples yet, but here is a website with thousands of AY-3-8910 chiptunes, to get the idea: http://zxtunes.com/
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/vt2i.zip
Should be noted that there is also a similar, virtually unknown, VST by another author - ayumi. It does about the same, with some difference in feature set, arguably higher quality sound emulation, and GUI: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l750zpej2dkmj ... k.zip?dl=0 (example: https://soundcloud.com/n1k-o/nq-skrju-s ... ruth-8-bit)
ChipArp MIDI is a MIDI processing plugin that turns full chords into proper chiptune arpeggios using pitch bend messages. Requires target synth plugin to support pitch bend depth of at least 12 semitones up/down, and instant response to the pitch bend changes (without smoothing), so it does not work with any VSTi. Confirmed to work well with 1bitstudio, VST2413, and VT2i plugins.
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/chiparp.zip
1bitstudio is actually a bundle of plugins for 1-bit sound synthesis and processing. It is the oldest form of computer based sound synthesis that had its highlights in 50-60s, as well as 80s in Apple II and ZX Spectrum 48K games (Tim Follin's name may ring a bell). Current version of the 1bitstudio includes two FX, which are bitcrushers of sort, four drum machines, and seven tone synths based on different synthesis techniques. There is a niche community and a forum dedicated to this way of sound synthesis, if you want to learn more.
Example, minimal extra processing: https://soundcloud.com/theandroidvision ... o-vst-demo
Example, some extra processing: https://soundcloud.com/shiru8bit/overawire
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/1bitstudio.zip
VT2i is a AY-3-8910/YM2149F sound chip (ZX Spectrum 128K, MSX, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST) VST emulator. Capable to load and play Vortex Tracker II instrument and ornament files. Basically allows to fill the gap between a 'true' chiptune tracker and a modern DAW, if you want to step up your tracker based production and make a good mix, or something.
No examples yet, but here is a website with thousands of AY-3-8910 chiptunes, to get the idea: http://zxtunes.com/
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/vt2i.zip
Should be noted that there is also a similar, virtually unknown, VST by another author - ayumi. It does about the same, with some difference in feature set, arguably higher quality sound emulation, and GUI: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l750zpej2dkmj ... k.zip?dl=0 (example: https://soundcloud.com/n1k-o/nq-skrju-s ... ruth-8-bit)
ChipArp MIDI is a MIDI processing plugin that turns full chords into proper chiptune arpeggios using pitch bend messages. Requires target synth plugin to support pitch bend depth of at least 12 semitones up/down, and instant response to the pitch bend changes (without smoothing), so it does not work with any VSTi. Confirmed to work well with 1bitstudio, VST2413, and VT2i plugins.
Download: http://shiru.untergrund.net/files/chiparp.zip
Last edited by shiru8bit on Sat Apr 29, 2017 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- KVRAF
- 5564 posts since 13 Jan, 2005 from the bottom of my heart
I cannot have enough chiptune VSTs for sure. Thank you!
Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours.
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- KVRAF
- 2086 posts since 24 Jun, 2006 from London, England
Ooohhh my - would definitely like to try these - Any chance of compiling 64bit builds of the VSTs ?
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35171 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
So ... these are all 32bit only? I didn't see any info in the OP.mcbpete wrote:Ooohhh my - would definitely like to try these - Any chance of compiling 64bit builds of the VSTs ?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 31 posts since 28 Apr, 2017 from Russia, Moscow
Oh, sorry, forgot to mention. Yes, at the moment all these plugins only available as 32-bit builds. I'll try to compile 64-bit builds sometime later, no issues expected with that.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35171 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
- KVRist
- 233 posts since 23 Feb, 2009 from Pixelland
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 31 posts since 28 Apr, 2017 from Russia, Moscow
Sorry that it took a long while, but x64 support is finally here. Along with a pile of other plug-ins, so here is a quick list:
1bitstudio - a bundle of 14 synth and processing plugins focused on the 1-bit sound synthesis;
ChipArp - MIDI arpeggiator to work together with all of my plugins, creates chiptune arps from regular chords (can be used in realtime play);
VT2i - AY-3-8910 emulator that supports Vortex Tracker II instrument files, so called samples and ornaments;
Flopster - sample-based simulator of a floppy disk drive that is used to play music notes;
PCSPE - PC Speaker emulator plug-in that can be used to create music for actual old PC hardware. It is the tool that powered up System Beeps;
CrushDMC - bit crusher that simulates NES DPCM encoding to get authentic distortions;
ChipWave - synth plug-in that blends characteristics of many old sound chips (AY, SID, POKEY) with features of old subtractive synths;
ChipDrum - a counterpart to the ChipWave, sharing the same concept for drum sounds, capable to produce a range of sounds between 1-bit, chip tune, and analog drum machines;
FTplug - NES APU emulator that supports FamiTracker sequence-driven instruments, including loading and saving *.fti files.
EVALUA - a math expression based synth
There is always more in the works. You can find latest updates, as well as support my audio developments, at my recently launched Patreon page.
1bitstudio - a bundle of 14 synth and processing plugins focused on the 1-bit sound synthesis;
ChipArp - MIDI arpeggiator to work together with all of my plugins, creates chiptune arps from regular chords (can be used in realtime play);
VT2i - AY-3-8910 emulator that supports Vortex Tracker II instrument files, so called samples and ornaments;
Flopster - sample-based simulator of a floppy disk drive that is used to play music notes;
PCSPE - PC Speaker emulator plug-in that can be used to create music for actual old PC hardware. It is the tool that powered up System Beeps;
CrushDMC - bit crusher that simulates NES DPCM encoding to get authentic distortions;
ChipWave - synth plug-in that blends characteristics of many old sound chips (AY, SID, POKEY) with features of old subtractive synths;
ChipDrum - a counterpart to the ChipWave, sharing the same concept for drum sounds, capable to produce a range of sounds between 1-bit, chip tune, and analog drum machines;
FTplug - NES APU emulator that supports FamiTracker sequence-driven instruments, including loading and saving *.fti files.
EVALUA - a math expression based synth
There is always more in the works. You can find latest updates, as well as support my audio developments, at my recently launched Patreon page.
- KVRian
- 735 posts since 8 May, 2002 from ... , germany
Thank you for yr work. Great stuff and now x64...shiru8bit wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:18 am Sorry that it took a long while, but x64 support is finally here. Along with a pile of other plug-ins, so here is a quick list:
1bitstudio - a bundle of 14 synth and processing plugins focused on the 1-bit sound synthesis;
ChipArp - MIDI arpeggiator to work together with all of my plugins, creates chiptune arps from regular chords (can be used in realtime play);
VT2i - AY-3-8910 emulator that supports Vortex Tracker II instrument files, so called samples and ornaments;
Flopster - sample-based simulator of a floppy disk drive that is used to play music notes;
PCSPE - PC Speaker emulator plug-in that can be used to create music for actual old PC hardware. It is the tool that powered up System Beeps;
CrushDMC - bit crusher that simulates NES DPCM encoding to get authentic distortions;
ChipWave - synth plug-in that blends characteristics of many old sound chips (AY, SID, POKEY) with features of old subtractive synths;
ChipDrum - a counterpart to the ChipWave, sharing the same concept for drum sounds, capable to produce a range of sounds between 1-bit, chip tune, and analog drum machines;
FTplug - NES APU emulator that supports FamiTracker sequence-driven instruments, including loading and saving *.fti files.
EVALUA - a math expression based synth
There is always more in the works. You can find latest updates, as well as support my audio developments, at my recently launched Patreon page.
Regards,
tl.
- KVRian
- 643 posts since 17 Aug, 2015 from Finland
I love 1bitstudio!
My solo projects:
Hekkräiser (experimental) | MFG38 (electronic/soundtrack) | The Santtu Pesonen Project (metal/prog)
Hekkräiser (experimental) | MFG38 (electronic/soundtrack) | The Santtu Pesonen Project (metal/prog)
- Banned
- 7624 posts since 13 Nov, 2015 from Norway
- KVRAF
- 1626 posts since 21 Sep, 2007 from USA
+1
[Core i7 8700 | 32GB DDR4 | Win11 x64 | Studio One 6 Pro | FL Studio ASIO/WASAPI ]
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- KVRAF
- 1907 posts since 24 Apr, 2010
Thanks for the updates and new stuff.
On Windows10, the 64bit versions of EVALUA, PCSE and FTplug crash all versions of FLStudio (including the 64bit versions). The bridged 32bit versions will work if you remove the 64bit versions from plugin search path.
Also worth noting that in FLStudio, you actually need to try to turn the Sample and Ornament knobs to bring up the dialogue box to load the files.
On Windows10, the 64bit versions of EVALUA, PCSE and FTplug crash all versions of FLStudio (including the 64bit versions). The bridged 32bit versions will work if you remove the 64bit versions from plugin search path.
Also worth noting that in FLStudio, you actually need to try to turn the Sample and Ornament knobs to bring up the dialogue box to load the files.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 31 posts since 28 Apr, 2017 from Russia, Moscow
Thanks for report. I had reports both on FLS from 5 to 20 working fine, and that FLS hang when loading PCSPE. I tested it in FLS 20 Trial, and I don't have any issues somehow, no freezes, no crashes. So this is a mystery for now.
Sample/Ornament knob is the expected behavior, because it is a knob of a GUI-less plug-in, it does not work like a button, and that's the only way to bring up a dialog from a GUI-less plugin.
Sample/Ornament knob is the expected behavior, because it is a knob of a GUI-less plug-in, it does not work like a button, and that's the only way to bring up a dialog from a GUI-less plugin.