Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[Ou_Tis]

Lol I was on the verge of caving and buying Streamliner (because I managed to convince myself I'll probably use it a lot in the next few months) + two PA_EXT to hit the $75 $25 voucher threshold but just to be on the safe side I decided to double-check that I don't already own Streamliner... lo and behold there it is among my licenses. Hope they bring back the Rule Tec Heritage Pro deal around Black Friday and let us use vouchers. Noiseash doesn't provide any sort of upgrade discount for owners of Rule Tec EQ1A right?

[Ceej]

I'm getting obsessed with generative MIDI now...

You might check out the new InstaChord 2 from WA Production - it added quite a number of new features. I had InstaChord 1 and couldn't quite figure out what it was intended for, but version 2 turns it into a pretty interesting tool. Also my favorite arpeggiator, PhraseBox, is $25 (60% off) for another week at Audio Plugins Deals.

You just missed a sale on the Orb Producer Suite, but it's potentially cool too - it goes on sale relatively often, so keep an eye out for that.

[hotmitts]

I'm getting obsessed with generative MIDI now...

You might check out the new InstaChord 2 from WA Production - it added quite a number of new features. I had InstaChord 1 and couldn't quite figure out what it was intended for, but version 2 turns it into a pretty interesting tool. Also my favorite arpeggiator, PhraseBox, is $25 (60% off) for another week at Audio Plugins Deals.

You just missed a sale on the Orb Producer Suite, but it's potentially cool too - it goes on sale relatively often, so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks - Good prices - looks like at 1st glance, Phrasebox might offer something similar to Riffer? What makes it your favourite, out of interest?
Instachord 2 looks quite similar to Scaler in some ways, need to look closer

[Uncle E]

Phrasebox is an arpeggiator, triggering notes off the chords you play. Riffer is a sequence generator/step sequencer.

[Ceej]

Yep, what Uncle E said. Phrasebox is "just" an arpeggiator - it's similar to Kirnu Cream, the freeware BlueArp, and others. I just happen to like the way it works, in particular the DAW-like interface for sequencing the notes from the incoming chords. It also allows sequencing of MIDI CC data in addition to the notes, which is pretty rare. It does have the ability to generate phrases as well; I haven't used that feature extensively so I don't know how good it is.

Riffer is more about creating melodies with something like AI / randomness, rather than converting simple chords into complex patterns. I don't think it can be used as a straightforward arpeggiator. To be honest, the demos of Riffer left me pretty unimpressed so I haven't explored it much.

Orb Producer is a suite of plugins that generate melodies, basslines, and accompanying patterns from chord patterns. It's both broader in scope and more narrow in execution than Riffer from what I've seen - it can generate whole songs, but the kinds of songs it will generate are moderately predictable. The other big player in that domain is Captain Plugins; I've never tried those as I find their copy-protection scheme unpleasant.

Instachord 2 is an interesting twist since it seems to shuffle together features from a number of the above. It's based on pre-programmed chords rather than live MIDI input chords, but it has an enormous library of chords and chord voicings, and it gives you a lot of space to define sets of chords and then trigger them in real time. Looks like it can also do phrase-based arpeggiation now, along with several other tricks. It does have a few features that lean into Scaler's territory, specifically chord pattern generation, but if you're interested in that side of thing, Scaler really is the 800-pound gorilla; it's just a bottomless pile of features when it comes to exploring chords.

[Uncle E]

Good to hear. I like Venomode but that demo video left me cold. I'll have to give it a try.

Sample Logic Animation Station is the 800-pound gorilla of arpeggiators. Fun, I was hoping it could replace Yamaha's arpeggiators but those are still the best for realistic instrument performances.

[hotmitts]

Sample Logic Animation Station is the 800-pound gorilla of arpeggiators. Fun, I was hoping it could replace Yamaha's arpeggiators but those are still the best for realistic instrument performances.

They claim that it's very musical in the way it generates stuff, as opposed to sheer random ?
It was on sale but very briefly...missed it.

Finding the info here really useful, thanks folks.

[everyPlugin.com]

Wrong thread.

[paolostylo]

Did anyone receive a voucher from Plugin Alliance for August?
Or is there a generic one at the moment...?
Or has anyone a spare $25 voucher for me...?
Thanks in advance.

[waltercruz]

Did anyone receive a voucher from Plugin Alliance for August?
Or is there a generic one at the moment...?
Or has anyone a spare $25 voucher for me...?
Thanks in advance.

August! NEW Type of Loyalty Voucher is Here!

(...)

XXL-20-OFF
(Minimum Spend: $100 net / SUBTOTAL)

(...)

Later this week we will also send you your regular PA Loyalty Voucher, of course. Please stay tuned!

The usual vouchers will probably arrive when the current promo ends.

[paolostylo]

Ah, ok.
I'm eyeing on AyaicWare - Mix Monolith for $19.99
So I guess that when they send the regular PA Loyalty Voucher, Mix Monolith won't be there for that price anymore...
However, I don't think I'm doing anything wrong even without a voucher...
Thanks anyway!!

[Ou_Tis]

Ah, ok.
I'm eyeing on AyaicWare - Mix Monolith for $19.99
So I guess that when they send the regular PA Loyalty Voucher, Mix Monolith won't be there for that price anymore...
However, I don't think I'm doing anything wrong even without a voucher...
Thanks anyway!!

Price went down so much (previous PA_EXT sale $69.99, current summer sale $99) I thought it might be a pricing error... apparently not.

[chrisstiles]

Instachord 2 is an interesting twist since it seems to shuffle together features from a number of the above. It's based on pre-programmed chords rather than live MIDI input chords, but it has an enormous library of chords and chord voicings, and it gives you a lot of space to define sets of chords and then trigger them in real time. Looks like it can also do phrase-based arpeggiation now, along with several other tricks. It does have a few features that lean into Scaler's territory, specifically chord pattern generation, but if you're interested in that side of thing, Scaler really is the 800-pound gorilla; it's just a bottomless pile of features when it comes to exploring chords.

I'm interested in whether you've tried both. I find scaler useful for quick inspiration and knocking out basic sketches quickly and as you say it has a lot of depth (and a very responsive set of devs). I have Instachord (v1) with all the chord packs (there was a PB deal on them in May 2020), but have never found it all that useful, and a lot of the WA Production stuff feels like prototypes that become abandonware.

[MXJIA]

IK Multimedia's Comprexxor is available FREE as a giveaway after Short survey
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/?item_id=13114

Anyone get the Comprexxor deal to work? I took the survey while logged in but Comprexxor was never added to my account (not under "My Products" either on the site or in the IKPM). Thanks.

Yep, the deal works for me. I had to re-register using the Authorization Manager (not the Product Manager). Unfortunately doesn't count for the Group Buy (I think that's asking for a bit much )

[tonymax]

any views/comments on mix monolith?

Ah, ok.
I'm eyeing on AyaicWare - Mix Monolith for $19.99
So I guess that when they send the regular PA Loyalty Voucher, Mix Monolith won't be there for that price anymore...
However, I don't think I'm doing anything wrong even without a voucher...
Thanks anyway!!

Price went down so much (previous PA_EXT sale $69.99, current summer sale $99) I thought it might be a pricing error... apparently not.