KVR Developer Challenge 2021 Wish List

[Saffran]

Hmm...
An arpeggiator moves in patterns between a range of notes that has the same "sound". Usually using a single vsti on a track.
What if each note would equal a different instruments note?
Then the arp should do random patterns of a range of notes that have different "sounds".
There probably is plugins that do this but bluarp and sequensers have too much functions to go thru and learn. You probably give up on it and move to the next interesting plugin. (I know i do.)
This plugin keep it simple. Settings for pattern and note range. How much randomness. Settings for note to midichannel.
A possibility could be a tempo envelope to give it a rythm.

[enroe]

Concretely I would suggest:

1. Multiband exciter

This was the 2012 winner, Thrillseeker XTC. It is limited to Windows/x86 though, so I guess there is some demand for an update.

Generally there are only very few Multiband-exciters. And that's exactly why
this is an interesting playing field for new plugins and new operating concepts.

2. Multiband transient shaper

These I find odd because crossovers mess with transients. If you're going to do smeary things to transients I'd be more interested to see some new plugins based on allpass filters. Maybe a plugin that looks like an EQ but sets a curve for group delay?

Each plugin changes the output tone more or less. And the smearing of
transients is very much dependent on what kind of sound you are editing.

I find it tempting to try out how transient shaping works in the various
frequency bands. Sometimes you only get the right punch - for a snare,
for example - if you increase the transients of a certain frequency band.

So: a multiband transient shaper could be a really fantastic plugin to
play with.

3. Dynamic EQ

Second place in 2014, and developed into TDR Nova which is pretty much the best free plugin there is. What more do you want?

Ohh, that's a misunderstanding: I'm not posting plugins here that I absolutely
need. Haha, I think I already have them all. No, this is simply about what
could be tempting in the overall landscape of existing plugins and ideas.

It's about something that could perhaps be innovative - and open the door
to new realms - and still be useful when working on songs and sounds on
a daily basis. It's about ideas and suggestions for the Developer Challenge!

And here too: There are only a few dynamic EQs, you mentioned one, but
that is precisely why there is plenty of room for new things.

[PTV]

A slicer with built in sequencer/arranger, like good ol' LiveSlice:



Or any other creative sampler/granulator/mangler etc.

[Tj Shredder]

2. Multiband transient shaper

These I find odd because crossovers mess with transients. If you're going to do smeary things to transients I'd be more interested to see some new plugins based on allpass filters. Maybe a plugin that looks like an EQ but sets a curve for group delay?

Each plugin changes the output tone more or less. And the smearing of
transients is very much dependent on what kind of sound you are editing.

I find it tempting to try out how transient shaping works in the various
frequency bands. Sometimes you only get the right punch - for a snare,
for example - if you increase the transients of a certain frequency band.

So: a multiband transient shaper could be a really fantastic plugin to
play with.

You obviously don’t understand the relationship between time domain and frequency domain. What you ask for is physically impossible.
At transient shaper acts in the time domain. A sharp attack contains all frequencies. Only lows cannot have a sharp attack.
If you sharpen the attack of a low sine wave, you add higher frequencies, up to a click if you jump immediately, and that is what you want. Just using a standard transient shaper and your ear will get you as close as you can get...
Any frequency mangling will smear the transients..., but you could place a single band transient shaper behind it though...

[ElVincente]

I'd wish for a creative sampler with live input sampling capacity so we could play and modulate live sound on the fly...

[enroe]

2. Multiband transient shaper

These I find odd because crossovers mess with transients. If you're going to do smeary things to transients I'd be more interested to see some new plugins based on allpass filters. Maybe a plugin that looks like an EQ but sets a curve for group delay?

Each plugin changes the output tone more or less. And the smearing of
transients is very much dependent on what kind of sound you are editing.

I find it tempting to try out how transient shaping works in the various
frequency bands. Sometimes you only get the right punch - for a snare,
for example - if you increase the transients of a certain frequency band.

So: a multiband transient shaper could be a really fantastic plugin to
play with.

You obviously don’t understand the relationship between time domain and frequency
domain. What you ask for is physically impossible.

I beg your pardon? You don't even know what technical background I have
- and what I studied?

But without getting personal ... I am grateful for your explanations,
because it allows me to go into a little more detail:

At transient shaper acts in the time domain. A sharp attack contains all frequencies.
Only lows cannot have a sharp attack. If you sharpen the attack of a low sine wave,
you add higher frequencies, up to a click if you jump immediately, and that is what
you want. Just using a standard transient shaper and your ear will get you as close
as you can get. Any frequency mangling will smear the transients, but you could
place a single band transient shaper behind it though.

It is correct: in general, the transients are only in the upper frequency range.
A hard edge even contains all frequencies (up to "infinitely high"). Note: If
you are familiar with Fourier transformations, you will know about this connection.

But the point here is to take a "musical perspective":

If we divide the signal into different frequency bands, then we have both high
and low frequencies in each frequency range. And we also have the start range
(attack) of every signal in every frequency range.

A multiband exciter or multiband transient shaper would do both of these:

a. amplify the high frequencies of the band and
b. increase the attack phases of a signal.

A frequency-selective increase would be of great use for critical instrument
sounds or for mastering! And also: There are already multiband exciters -
especially for mastering - e.g. from Ozone. They write:

"... allows you to add warmth and character to audio across any
frequency band selection. Further customize a saturation profile
by allowing you to apply different modes to each frequency
band."

Conclusion:

Depending on the exciter model or transient treatment, a multiband model can
intervene much more precisely in the sound process. It can practically surgically
change the sound exactly. And that's why it's a great playing field for new plugins
- in particular, it could be incredibly interesting and innovative for the
Developer Challenge 2021!

[Tj Shredder]

If you happen to have Bitwig, you can try multiband transient shaping yourself. Would even work with the 8-track version, which you can get with some magazines for almost free (Computer music, Beat). Good luck...

[enroe]

If you happen to have Bitwig, you can try multiband transient shaping yourself. Would even work with the 8-track version, which you can get with some magazines for almost free (Computer music, Beat). Good luck...

Haha, yeah ... thank you.

But this is not about the fact that I need a certain plugin right
now. Believe me: I really have everything there is.

Here is the wish list for the Developer Challenge! And there is
the general question:

---> What overall could enrich the plugin landscape? <---

So where are there still too few plugins of a certain type? Where
is there still air to experiment? Where could something new be
created - technically as well as ergonomically? What else could
"electrify" a musician or a sound designer? This general question
is interesting here!

My brainstorming about everything then resulted in this: This List!

[harryupbabble]

i wish for a midi note position shuffler.
in the gui, you enter midi notes of different lenghts.

for example, in this order you enter: one 1/4 note, two 1/8 notes, one 1/2 note.

you press a button and a shuffled result could be:
one 1/2 note, two 1/8 notes, one 1/4 note.

it would do that while also randomizing the pitches of the midi notes.

the above examples are only one bar long but maybe it could be as long as four bars long.

or maybe even longer. and maybe the note lengths could include shorter and faster ones like 1/16.

[S0210]

OK, I know it's already too late to come up with half-baked ideas but anyway...

It is a proposal for a MIDI only VST that generates events based on the MIDI input. I call it SubMelody generator but most likely MidiButcher would be a better name.

[enroe]

... SubMelody generator ...

Zany! But what is the idea behind this "Submelody-creator"?

[S0210]

Zany! But what is the idea behind this "Submelody-creator"?

Receiving a MIDI input (like a melody) it can generate a unique sub-melody from it based on the specific rules the user defines. It can skip notes, add notes, transpose notes or modify certain parameters like velocity and panning.
I also allows distribution of a single melody (i.e. sequence of MIDI events) among multiple VST plugins based on certain conditions. (I.e. deep notes are sent to one synth but high notes are sent to another, or every upbeat is sent to a kick VST but the rest of the notes can be sent to some lead synths.)
It doesn't randomizes the MIDI events but it creates a complex variation on the old tune. So it can diversify the original melody by adding addition layer(s) and/or distributing it among multiple plugins.

[Kalee]

Mastering tools would be great. Multiband processors are very useful. Clean mid/side EQ in spirit of VOS baxter would be useful. But maybe more bands than high and low self.

There is plenty of x86 Windows plugins, but yeah they start to be sort of difficult to use.

[lucknow13]

A poly sequencer.

[Tj Shredder]

A poly sequencer.

You mean a DAW without the audio, just Midi? Another one? If its an emulation of the ancient Vision, I wouldn’t mind…; - )