Fold - Delta Sound Labs - New Wavefolding/Distortion Synthesis Plug-in

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Delta Sound Labs Releases Fold - A Unique Distortion Synthesis Plug-in for Harmonically Rich Overtones

Watch the full Sound Demo video here:

Fold is a distortion synthesis audio effect plug-in that only the engineers at Delta Sound Labs could dream up. Calling on their background in modular hardware design, the team has found a novel approach to creating warmth and distortion in software. By using an assortment of modules in an in-series FX chain, Fold imbues input signals with harmonically rich overtones and, if pushed to the extremes, completely transforms them with a unique form of distortion.

At the heart of Fold is its wavefolding engine. First pioneered by synth legend Don Buchla, wavefolding is the act of folding a wave back on itself after reaching a given threshold. While this naturally produces distortion and harmonics, Fold also ships with a bit crusher module to further smash the input signal. Fold's combination of oversampling, distortion, and wavefolding results in tones that are timbrally rich on one hand, and over-the-top destroyed on the other, even with simple periodic input signals.

To tame the sound, Fold comes with an analog emulation of a resonant low-pass filter that offers more control over any unhinged results. Each parameter is also syncable to its own LFO, each of which has an amount slider and may be synced to a host tempo within a DAW for more creative sound design and mixing effects. Fold also ships with a number of professionally designed presets that showcase the versatility of its engine.

Features:
  • Hard and Soft Clip Distortion Morphing
    Wavefolding
    Bit Crushing
    Analog Low and High Pass Filter Emulations
    Four Syncable LFOs with Mappable Phase Reset Buttons
    Three LFO Waveform Types
    Mono and Stereo Processing
    x16 Oversampling
    Factory and User Presets
    Optimized Preset Navigation

Creative Strategies with Fold
Fold yields extremely interesting results with low frequencies--try folding your kick drum, any bass register instruments, or simply a sine wave from your synth! Fold can also be used to add high-frequency energy to a synth lead line. This works well in combination with Fold's FX Amount parameter, allowing you to dial in the exact amount of energy you want. Distortion has long been essential to guitar players--Fold's unique combination of distortion and wavefolding on electric guitars is worth a lengthly exploration. Try with chords or even bass lines on lower registers.

Fold is available for just $49 from https://ilio.com/fold.
www.ilio.com - Your source for the world's best virtual instruments, audio plug-ins, and tools for musicians. World-class assistance from real live humans. Creative product advice from helpful musicians and composers.
www.ilio.com | 1-800-747-4546

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Huh, I had a Delta Sound Labs Origami in my modular case for a while... I guess they don't do hardware anymore.

Playing with the demo, either some controls are disabled in inconsistent ways or the Windows VST3 is super buggy, and I can't tell quite which:

-- The HP knob is blank and automating the VST parameter does nothing
-- The HP Resonance slider doesn't move, automating the VST parameter does move it though.
-- The Hard/Soft crossfade slider (under Drive) can't be moved with the mouse, and automating the parameter does nothing
-- LP resonance slider can't be moved with the mouse, and automating the parameter does nothing, and resonance appears to be stuck fairly high
-- Output volume slider moves, but has no effect
-- LFO shapes can't be selected with the mouse; automating the parameter changes the GUI but it still uses a sine

More troubling:

-- the drive easily goes into super ugly digital clipping instead of lovely warm round drive... unless you keep FX below 100%, then it seems safe
-- I have no idea what Crush is doing, but it's not bit crushing. It does sound kind of cool but it's inharmonic with whatever I play into it, and seems to be dependent on buffer length... it sounds fantastic on some notes and utterly hideous on others and there's no way to stop it.

I can get some good sounds out of it but I'm not sure it's ready for prime time.

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EDIT: After speaking with Delta Sound Labs, these are all more or less limitations of the demo version. Rest assured, these parameters are all available in the FULL version. The following are limitations of the DEMO version.

Here is a complete list of differences between the DEMO and FULL version:

The demo locks out the high pass. It is meant to be blank.
Automation will move things but won't impact the audio.
LP resonance is locked out.
User load and save is locked out.
LFO sync, square and saw are locked out across all LFO panels.
High Pass Filter and HP Resonance are locked out.
Soft/Hard Clip Morph Slider is locked out.
Volume Slider is locked out.

Also, Crush is an emulation. It's effectively quantizing blocks of samples and the rate of output. Crush is not dependent on buffer length.

Hope this helps clarify some things! Happy to answer more questions if you have them, and thank you for trying out Fold!
www.ilio.com - Your source for the world's best virtual instruments, audio plug-ins, and tools for musicians. World-class assistance from real live humans. Creative product advice from helpful musicians and composers.
www.ilio.com | 1-800-747-4546

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OK, it would have been helpful if their website or the demo itself made it clear that those were the demo restrictions. Thanks for looking into it.

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Website has now been updating reflecting that information. Thank you for pointing that out, we really appreciate the insight.
www.ilio.com - Your source for the world's best virtual instruments, audio plug-ins, and tools for musicians. World-class assistance from real live humans. Creative product advice from helpful musicians and composers.
www.ilio.com | 1-800-747-4546

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