Smackbox V2 released - Drum synth - 50% off introductory offer

[pekbro]

I thought they were quirky and cool Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, I will keep at it. I definitely want try and get more proficient.

-Cheers

[stefancrs]

I just want to post a small update on what's currently cooking. I'm working on implementing drag and drop for samples and extending the preset manager to also support saving and loading of individual sounds, which makes it much easier to build your drum kit!

Hopefully you will enjoy it when it's all done

[NWSM]

Linux - Testing:

Code: Select all

System:

Kernel: 6.18.6-2-liquorix-amd64 [6.18-7~mx23ahs]
 arch: x86_64
 bits: 64
 compiler: gcc
 v: 12.2.0

Distro: MX-23.6_ahs_x64 Libretto 2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 5.27.5
 Qt v: 5.15.8
 wm: kwin_x11
 dm: SDDM

Machine:
 Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI (MS-7E25) v: 2.0

CPU:
 Type: Intel Core i5-14600K
 bits: 64
 arch: Raptor Lake gen: core 14
level: v3

Graphics:
 Device: NVIDIA AD103 [GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER] driver: nvidia

Audio:
 API: ALSA v: k6.18.6-2-liquorix-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
 Server-1:
 PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1:
 pipewire-pulse status: active
 2: wireplumber status: active
 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
 4: pw-jack type: plugin
 tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl

Review for CLAP on Linux:
Smackbox V2: 1.1.0 (DEMO)

[*] to use Smackbox CLAP in Bitwig i actually don't need *.DEB installer for Linux
[*] saving presets works
[*] Prests folder in in ~/.local/share/Smackbox V2/Presets/ (thats okay)

Issues:

[*] first open/ Default Preset
- Pad Bindings??? weird behavior on the Pads (multiple selected pads if i choose one)
- example, click on C#1 Pad the G1 Pad is selected too, this is not when using midi to trigger the pads (?) - copy paste into a binded pads-pair overwrite both, this is also for mute and solo of the pair
- i expected no bindings, like Groups or something like that, at all on default

Wishes:
[*] PAN is unipolar would be nice bipolar
[*] Pitch – reduce decimal places AND
[*] Pitch – 0-127? thats a wrong measurement, isn't it
[*] Pitch – let us type in "Keys" like "D" or "F#4" to keep tonality
[*] Prevent Popup for Renaming (rename in place)
[*] add mseg or adsr or LFO modulators with retrigger on note as an option
[*] need note retrigger as an option for ENV (noise slow rise attack doesn’t retrigger on new note)
[*] saving not only kit's but single instruments too + better Instrument Selector (as toggle by klick on the pads instrument naming)

Prevent too much subfolders in the extracted ZIP. So for CLAP (i mostly use CLAP on Linux) its buried:

Code: Select all

~/Downloads/SmackboxV2-Linux/build/plugins/smackbox-v2/SmackboxV2_artefacts/Release/CLAP/

[stefancrs]

That is truly excellent feedback, thank you! I think I need to set up a Linux machine to tweak some of these things myself.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean about the Pad bindings though. You don't edit a "pad", you edit the sound that the pad is mapped to, so if two pads are mapped to same sound and you paste, you will indeed change the sound for them both. Since it's the same sound they are mapped to.

What do you mean by "Groups"?

A screenshot would probably help!

Saving/loading for single sounds has been implemented and will come in the next release!

[NWSM]

That is truly excellent feedback, thank you! I think I need to set up a Linux machine to tweak some of these things myself.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean about the Pad bindings though. You don't edit a "pad", you edit the sound that the pad is mapped to, so if two pads are mapped to same sound and you paste, you will indeed change the sound for them both. Since it's the same sound they are mapped to.

What do you mean by "Groups"?

A screenshot would probably help!

Saving/loading for single sounds has been implemented and will come in the next release!

Ah, you didn’t quote me, so I saw your message a bit late.

No problem though — I’ve done some reviews and beta testing, so I’ve got a bit of experience

About your point: “I expected no bindings, like Groups or something like that, by default,” right?

That’s based on my experience that sounds are binded/ exact non-separated editable sounds on different keys — it seems that two identical sounds get automatically bound or mapped to one pad.
By “Groups,” I mean the binding or linking of sounds (or sound slots/keys).

But why would I need two identical sounds triggered at the same time, you know what I mean? i can NOT edit one of both sounds, without let the other one untouched. I always edit both.

I assumed the mapping was fixed, meaning I could assign any sound I wanted to each of the 16 pads. If a sound was already in use, I thought it could be copied and edited separately (as a new sound).
Ideally, the binding of two sounds should be optional — they could still be played together if needed, but edited independently (2 voices).

I think this has to do with the workflow of selecting sounds.

huh* i hope that was not too complicated explained. i will try next days sceenshot.
Great read about your next release.

cheers*

[NWSM]

Are you still cooking?

[simmo75]

Somehow missed this drum synth.

Is it good?

How does it compare to Bingo Drum Synth?

[NWSM]

Somehow missed this drum synth.

Is it good?

How does it compare to Bingo Drum Synth?

Comparision with other ones could be a bit heavy for smack...fast and easy editing what Bingo suggested, need some tweaks inside smack* but its all still possible.

Bingo is not for Linux, so this why i am here. Smack also has not Sequencer build in, but there is a bit space.
I hope that Blinksonic or Unfiltered Audio drop a Linux Drummer this year but Speedrum looks good as well.
I hope for a Smack Surprise, its a good one with potential.

[wikter]

FYI: Studio One 7 is having issues with multi-out when using the CLAP version. As far as I can tell, this is an issue on their end and I recommend that you use the VST3 or AU version instead if you're an S1 user.

Hi, i'm just new around here, I've been testint this interesting drumsynth and I found the same issue with Shortcircuit XT some months ago, I opened an issue in the CLAP VST WRAPPER, Baconpaul/Paul Walker had a conversation with devs at Presonus/Fender guys and the problem was a "lostintranslation" as Studio One uses something like buses instead of master outputs, for VST3 it's labelled the same, but CLAP is more strict and sticks to what's marked.
Anyway, the issue was closed as the wrapper was temporarily modified until a decision is taken to solve that VST3 ambiguous definition or Studio One fixes its own CLAP wrapper.

That said...
Lovely drum synthesizer, i'm trying to create a 24 part synthesizer with Synthedit and I know how hard it is to do this so well, but... only 12 parts?
I've seen it uses a "floating" note to part/sound assign method that allows me to use multiple pads to a single "drumsynth module", and that makes the thing interesting but also reveals a limitation.
- It'd be great to have KEYTRACK/Note scaling, a sound triggered from 2 different notes just sounds the same way. Keytrack assigned to params would expand the usability, right now It's more usable as a sample generator to cover more than a single octave.
- IT would be great to have up to 24 or 32 pads. Some songs have dual kicks, start on B0(Note #35) for soft kick and if toms could be spanned by keyscaling pitch to tune x4 , that would free up to two drumsynthesizers: Conga + Bongo. (Key>filter to get close/open conga sounds...)

Well... sorry for this noisy post. But the 8 to 12 part drumsynth market offer is a bit oversaturated and for electronic sounds 16 to 24 part pure drumsynths are rare.
Thanks for this nice piece.

[stefancrs]

Good suggestions and thanks for the tips! Will definitely look into it.

[stefancrs]

Are you still cooking?

Haha yes, I have got a new minor release in the works, and also trying to cook something a bit more major...

[sinkmusic]

Haha yes, I have got a new minor release in the works, and also trying to cook something a bit more major...

Nice!
Looking forward to it