KVR Audio

logicalhippo · Post by **logicalhippo** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:06 pm

I wanted to share a free Mac/Windows VST3 synthesizer I've been working on as a hobby for the last several months. This is an idea I have had kicking around for a while - what if the "golden age" of 80s Japanese analog synths lasted just a bit longer? This is an "emulation" of a synth that never existed that could have been the next analog synth in a certain manufacturer's product line had the japanese analog age continued a few more months.

https://www.russellmcc.com/bilinear-aud ... /alpha-jx/

It's also completely open-source! I'd really appreciate any feedback, this hasn't been shared very widely yet, and may have bugs. I've only really tested it on Ableton and Bitwig but I see no reason this wouldn't work in other hosts. Thanks very much for taking a look!

sprnva · Post by **sprnva** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:43 pm

I had a stab at building your plugins on Linux but it seems your framework only supports Mac and Windows (fails due to no support for create_os_store).

Have you any plans to add Linux support? I'll check out the Mac versions in the meantime.

logicalhippo · Post by **logicalhippo** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:03 pm

sprnva wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:43 pm Have you any plans to add Linux support? I'll check out the Mac versions in the meantime.

Thanks for taking a look! No concrete plans yet but could do if there is enough interest! I'd have to ramp up on the status of vst3 on linux. The surface area isn't big, we really only need a way to store preferences and a way to start wry (the GUI framework we use)

raiderpdog · Post by **raiderpdog** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:25 pm

Thank you very much for this.

Chicken Drummy · Post by **Chicken Drummy** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:34 pm

This looks cool. Attractive GUI with a fun little concept behind it. I can't wait to try it out. Thank you!

4_the masses · Post by **4_the masses** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:46 pm

Doesn't install correctly on win 11 Traction 13, all I get is a black rectangle instead of a GUI.

Nug Wrangler · Post by **Nug Wrangler** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 6:42 pm

Thanks

EDIT:

The GUI is blank on my end

Screenshot 2026-04-05 205150.png

audiojunkie · Post by **audiojunkie** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 7:25 pm

logicalhippo wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:03 pm
sprnva wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:43 pm Have you any plans to add Linux support? I'll check out the Mac versions in the meantime.
Thanks for taking a look! No concrete plans yet but could do if there is enough interest! I'd have to ramp up on the status of vst3 on linux. The surface area isn't big, we really only need a way to store preferences and a way to start wry (the GUI framework we use)

Linux user here… I too would love a Linux version.

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 7:46 pm

Nice, sounds decent. Cool that there are mpe controls too. I installed on mac and in Ableton I see only VST3, no AU.

No preset functionality yet or am I missing a panel?

logicalhippo · Post by **logicalhippo** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:08 pm

Echoes in the Attic wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 7:46 pm I installed on mac and in Ableton I see only VST3, no AU.

No preset functionality yet or am I missing a panel?

You aren't missing anything! For now no presets and vst3 only. I do plan on supporting AU in the future though!

Nug Wrangler · Post by **Nug Wrangler** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:32 pm

4_the masses wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:46 pm Doesn't install correctly on win 11 Traction 13, all I get is a black rectangle instead of a GUI.

Nug Wrangler wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 6:42 pm Thanks

EDIT:

The GUI is blank on my end

Screenshot 2026-04-05 205150.png

@OP could you look into this for us please?

logicalhippo · Post by **logicalhippo** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:43 pm

Nug Wrangler wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:32 pm
4_the masses wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:46 pm Doesn't install correctly on win 11 Traction 13, all I get is a black rectangle instead of a GUI.

Nug Wrangler wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 6:42 pm Thanks

EDIT:

The GUI is blank on my end

Screenshot 2026-04-05 205150.png
@OP could you look into this for us please?

Thanks so much for taking a look and sorry this wasn’t working for you. I will check it out later today - it is working for me on Ableton on windows 11 but will try traction and fl studio. Really appreciate the bug report!

Nug Wrangler · Post by **Nug Wrangler** » Sun Apr 05, 2026 10:37 pm

logicalhippo wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:43 pm
Nug Wrangler wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:32 pm
4_the masses wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 5:46 pm Doesn't install correctly on win 11 Traction 13, all I get is a black rectangle instead of a GUI.

Nug Wrangler wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 6:42 pm Thanks

EDIT:

The GUI is blank on my end

Screenshot 2026-04-05 205150.png
@OP could you look into this for us please?
Thanks so much for taking a look and sorry this wasn’t working for you. I will check it out later today - it is working for me on Ableton on windows 11 but will try traction and fl studio. Really appreciate the bug report!

Thank you

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 2:57 am

I did notice the filter was a little steppy when adjusting. Is that because it’s how the original behaved?

sprnva · Post by **sprnva** » Mon Apr 06, 2026 10:50 am

I had a look at the Mac version of Alpha JX. It renders a little undersized with scroll bars on the hosts I tested (including Live 12):

Screenshot 2026-04-06 at 11.39.24.png

It crashes Kushview Element and BespokeSynth when clicking anything on the UI.

These are the only VST3 hosts I had installed as I exclusively use AU on the Mac.

Although you have a standalone chorus plugin I think you should add a chorus section to this. It's such a big part of Roland sounds. If you get around to adding preset support it will make even more sense to have the chorus integrated.

Free Analog-modeled Synthesizer VST3