KVR Audio

JackDark · Post by **JackDark** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:57 am

I might not have clout, but I have opinion.

So, here's my picks for last year's best free music software, by category:

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Best Host:

AWEZoom's SKALE Tracker
http://www.skale.org/

Basically a modern version of Fast Tracker, except it supports VSTs.
Comes in Win, Linux, and Mac versions.
It supports MOD and XM formats.
It lets you create games.
A lot more, but isn't that enough already?!

Runner Up:

Kreatives' KRISTAL Audio Engine
http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/index.php

The poor honest man's FL Studio.

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Best Synth:

Stefan Kuhn's Vivaldi MX
http://www.stefan-kuhn.net/content/vivaldimx.html

This synth knowns no bounds when it comes to creative expression.
The modulation and cross filtering options are amazing.
Simple, small, and lethal.

Runner Up:

Chris' SuperWave P8
http://home.btconnect.com/christopherg/main.htm

All of the SuperWave synths are amazing, and if you ever wanted a JP-8000, here you go.
Sounds very close to TC-Works' Mercury 1, 'cept it's free.

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Best Drumsynth:

E-Phonic's Drumatic 3
http://www.e-phonic.com/vstplugins/drumatic_3.html

Boom bips for years to come. Fan-damn-tastic.

Runner Up:

Odo's Rhythms
http://odosynths.panicnow.net/vst.htm

Damn that's a lot of knobs!

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Best Effect:

Oli Larkin's StepComb
http://www.oli.adbe.org/

Stepcomb can elegantly mutilate just about anything in a very useful and sexy manner.
Useful being the key term.
I love Oli Larkin.

Runner Up:

XOXOS' Gum
http://www.xoxos.net/vsti.html#effects

Gum'll take anything and chew it up, then spit the gooey sticky pieces all over your face.
It actually feels good though, that's the strange thing.
(XOXOS please fix the SamplerSepSamples folder creation bug.)

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Best Vocoder:

Richard Wolten's 4ormulator Vocoder Extreme Free Edition
http://www.vocoder-plugins.com/more.html

Not super configurable, but the presets are a blast.

Runner Up:

Richard Wolten's Carrier Impulse Resonator Vocoder Plug-in
http://www.vocoder-plugins.com/

It's more configurable, but not as pyschotic.
Notice how Richard made both of the winners.
That means there aren't enough free vocoders being made.
Plug-In designers; we have enough subtractive/FM synths, glitch effects, and compressors.
Hint-Hint.

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Best Studio Plug:

GVST's GCOMP
http://www.chinaski.org/gvst/

Finally, compression you can visualize and thus truly understand.
Well, worked for me anyway.

Runner Up:

E-phonic's X-Pressor
http://www.e-phonic.com/vstplugins/

This plug can really squeeze and shine anything you bus it to.

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Most Accomplished Producer:

E-Phonic
http://www.e-phonic.com/

Drumatic, LoFi, RetroDelay, Xpressor...
E-Phonic is all about quality over quantity, and it shows.

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Runner Up:

UGO
http://www.cortidesign.com/ugo/

Amazing GUIs and innovative synths, Italian style.

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Runner Up Nominee:

TweakBench
http://www.tweakbench.com/index.php

Aaron's VSTs might save the day or blow up your monitors,
but you can't deny he's on the bleeding edge of innovation.

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Most Underappreciated Producer:

Oli Larkin
http://www.oli.adbe.org/

Oli makes awesome things that I never hear anyone talk about but me...

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Most Overrated Producer:

Toby Bear
http://www.tobybear.de/

Want to purchase plugs with homoerotic GUIs and inferior/useless sound?
Me either.

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Most Exciting Potential:

Outsim's Synthmaker
http://www.synthmaker.com/

V1.0 draws nearer everyday, and it's a good thing, SynthEdit's great, but it's not great for novices.
I for one am looking very forward to the full blown version of Synthmaker, as there's a few synths and effects
I want to make that simply do not exist at the moment.

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Conclusion:

2004 was a hell of a year for VSTs and music software in general, not just in the freeware world. In 2000 I swore that one day the SoftStudio(TM) would be a tangible and complete replacement option for all hardware. That day came faster than I thought it ever would.

To say I'm looking forward to 2005 would be a vast understatement. I simply cannot wait to see what to see what will come next. A synthesizer that uses virtual holographic oscillators consisting of true-spaced relative sound-generative plottable vertices would be a nice start though.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:28 am

thanks, jack.

some of those I hadnt even known existed.. actually I think its the first time I've seen you post too

also.. stepcomb is nice but it freezes orion

geeseaplenty · Post by **geeseaplenty** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:41 am

Great rundown, Jack. I also wasn't aware of many of those synths.

I object to Vivaldi MX being in your list, however. Boring GUI, bland sounds, and so two years ago.

I think Agonyx is much more timely and relevant. Not to mention, its presets sound mui delicious. Even if you hate trance, you gotta love it. Sexy GUI, too. Have you tried it?

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:53 am

JackDark wrote:
Most Overrated Producer:

Toby Bear
http://www.tobybear.de/

Want to purchase plugs with homoerotic GUIs and inferior/useless sound?
Me either.

So he turned down your offer to blow him then, I'm assuming?

ModuLR · Post by **ModuLR** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:08 am

JackDark wrote: Most Overrated Producer:

Toby Bear
http://www.tobybear.de/

Want to purchase plugs with homoerotic GUIs and inferior/useless sound?
Me either.

I didn't care much until you wrote this... not that you care now. Granted Toby's VSTs might not be your cup of tea. He's offered SO much stuff for FREE, including his delphi template to assist newbie programmers in creating native VSTs (me being among those people, thus I truely appreciate his dedication to the VST community).

you don't like the plugs.. cool, but you are being a f**king ass with a remark like that!

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:14 am

No shit man..I mean how f**king rude is that?

Keep your personal feelings to yourself, cause this is OBVIOUSLY a personal thing..

experimental.crow · Post by **experimental.crow** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:17 am

ModuLR wrote:
JackDark wrote: Most Overrated Producer:

Toby Bear
http://www.tobybear.de/

Want to purchase plugs with homoerotic GUIs and inferior/useless sound?
Me either.
I didn't care much until you wrote this... not that you care now. Granted Toby's VSTs might not be your cup of tea. He's offered SO much stuff for FREE, including his delphi template to assist newbie programmers in creating native VSTs (me being among those people, thus I truely appreciate his dedication to the VST community).

you don't like the plugs.. cool, but you are being a f**king ass with a remark like that!

pretty low to slag the man who gave us 'mini-host' ...

JackDark · Post by **JackDark** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:27 am

geeseaplenty wrote:Great rundown, Jack. I also wasn't aware of many of those synths.

I object to Vivaldi MX being in your list, however. Boring GUI, bland sounds, and so two years ago.

I think Agonyx is much more timely and relevant. Not to mention, its presets sound mui delicious. Even if you hate trance, you gotta love it. Sexy GUI, too. Have you tried it?

I know Vivaldi MX is old, but I really do think it's a fantastic free synth, if you take the time to tweak it that is. I'll give Agonyx a re-try though.

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NO I don't have anything personal against Toby whatsoever. I just think that there are other plug-in designers out there that are offering better plugs for free that don't get nearly the recognition that his do. If you like his stuff, then that's great for you. I didn't say anything derogatory about him personally, I don't even know him... certianly not enough to offer oral sex.

As for MiniHost it has never worked properly for me on a variety of computers and operating systems AND various ASIO drivers. However, SaviHost DOES and it's free TOO.

http://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm

Cheeso · Post by **Cheeso** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:42 am

Calling the guy an overrated producer sounds pretty personal to me. If you don't like his stuff, that's great for you, don't use them. Talking shit about the guy and his work shows a total lack of class.

JackDark · Post by **JackDark** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:52 am

Okay let's just ignore the other 99% of my post where I applaud a ton of other producers and just focus on the one negative opinion (not "class") I had.

Guess it's best to hold your tongue around here? I'm not good at that. If I think something is awesome, I say so. If I think something isn't, I do the same. It's called free speech, and I don't regret it. I don't want to turn this thread into a Jack's an asshole let's defend Toby thread, okay. I already explained my stance on the matter, continuing to belittle me for my opinion at this point shows much more of a lack of "class".

Cheeso · Post by **Cheeso** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:59 am

Yeah, you're obviously getting the point.

justified · Post by **justified** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:16 am

JackDark wrote:I already explained my stance on the matter, continuing to belittle me for my opinion at this point shows much more of a lack of "class".

But why did you use offensive words to show your opinion? And yes it's a free speech for everybody not only you, so we'll turn this thread into whatever we want.

justified · Post by **justified** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:19 am

And btw if you see your... oops, I mean those vocoders that you mention are not free, the only free one is lowsy looking v.3.5 with limited features (or did I miss something?).

JackDark · Post by **JackDark** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:20 am

justified wrote:
JackDark wrote:I already explained my stance on the matter, continuing to belittle me for my opinion at this point shows much more of a lack of "class".
But why did you use offensive words to show your opinion? And yes it's a free speech for everybody not only you, so we'll turn this thread into whatever we want.

Overrated, homoerotic, and inferior are nowhere near as offensive as "blow him" or "f**king ass". Turn the thread into whatever you want if you wish, but I'm done talking about the Toby bit. If anyone else wants to talk about the other 99.9% of my post, I'll be glad to correspond however. I would like to know what other folks thought the best 2004 free VSTs were, for example?

justified · Post by **justified** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:22 am

JackDark wrote: but I'm done talking about the Toby bit.

But why do you still do? Well let's finish it already.

Jack's 2004 Free VST Awards