Tiagolr Rippler: free physical modeling Synthesizer à la Chromaphone 3

[MillerSam]

Hey

Back in 2025, Tiagolr released a free alternative to the AAS Chromaphone 1 physical modeling Synthesizer plugin.

Now he is working on Rippler, the big brother, or better say, a physical modeling Synthesizer plugin à la Chromaphone 3 plus extras. For example, it has 12 resonator models, custom Mallet exciters with sample import, and more.

It's now in beta

Screenshot 2026-02-26 at 22.39.37.png

Full article with all the features
https://synthanatomy.com/2026/02/tiagol ... sizer.html

Github: https://github.com/tiagolr/rippler

[FigBug]

FYI: He hasn't decided if it will be free or not yet. It's currently in open beta.

This synth is still under construction, please wait for 1.0.0 release.

The Beta versions on release page are set to brick themselves after three months from build date (soon).

This synth was designed as a commercial product, last few days decided to release as freeware but there is the possibility of an agreement with a plugin company.

[MillerSam]

"Last few days decided to release as freeware," but the possibility of an agreement with a plugin company. Yes, you have to find a company. That's not easy.

On the other hand, with a commercial release, there is a risk that AAS might contact them to stop the release because it's like a Chromaphone 3 clone. If it stays free, they'll let it go, I can imagine.

[Jonathan Shepherd]

Looking sharp. Anything he does is gold. Hope it goes commercial, I'd be glad to support him, but donations are always an option.

[billinder33]

Is this one Apple Notarized? I dig RipperX but I can't get it to run on my latest system despite jumping through the normal hoops.

[Daru925]

Big fan of this dev! Best of luck in this project! I'll take a look at the beta if possible!

[ere2learn]

On the other hand, with a commercial release, there is a risk that AAS might contact them to stop the release because it's like a Chromaphone 3 clone. If it stays free, they'll let it go, I can imagine.

Have you seen the vst market in the last 25 years, what are you on about

[Uncle E]

Big fan of this dev!

Same. His plugins are better than many commercial ones.

[tilr8]

Hey big thanks, I am indeed going through the process of licensing this synthesizer.

It was designed to be a commercial product before it started, the funny thing is that I got a message (by coincidence) just two days after I published the README saying I was releasing freeware. You can check the README versions.

Why Freeware
Although this synth was meant to be a commercial product, I can't be bothered with licensing, code signing, branding, marketing, legal, taxes and on-line activations. At best I estimate the profit would be maybe a year of salary, don't think it's worth the effort.

Why not open source
There is little to gain from open sourcing the code, the main reason I prefer to keep it closed source is out of respect for Applied Acoustics Systems and their flagship Chromaphone, it took me a lot of time to figure out bi-directional coupling of resonators and would never even try if it was not for their reference synth.

On the good news I am working on a new synth and this should be open source, for the Rippler synth I do hope the licensing moves forward.

If this synth is released as freeware I'll post here first thing.

Best,