KVR Developer Challenge 2014

Flextron is a virtual-analog guitar amp based on a concept of the hybrid guitar distortion pedal I've built for myself a while ago. The prototype pedal in its turn was based on two commercial tube emulation technologies – Flexwave by Crate and Cooltron by VOX. This combination was discovered by accident when I was repairing my bandmate's VOX Bulldog distortion pedal. I didn't like the Bulldog that much, however I got interested in its low-voltage tube design so I assembled a copy on a test bench. On its own it has provided very little overdrive, just as expected, but when combined with the Crate Flexwave preamp (my favorite solid-state distortion) it has completed its already great tone, giving it more fullness and presence. I've used this arrangement for rehearsals and some gigs and got complemented for the tone.

Flextron goes a step further and accurately models a range of Crate solid-state amps powered by the Flexwave circuit. Every stage of the preamp signal path is carefully analyzed and modeled with the same attention to details as my previous SoftDrive GV and SoftAmp FM25 plugins.

The Flexwave amp design has evolved over the years. I counted 6 different variations. After careful analysis, I've narrowed down the scope to 3 models. The one I've played with was made in the late 90's and I think it's ahead of the pack. However in 2000's they have changed the gain channel structure significantly and after some consideration I've decided to model all three.

The Cooltron circuit in its turn stayed the same across their pedal range. I've tried a couple of different approaches to modeling it before settling on the final one. Since I've had a real physical implementation at my disposal I was able to successfully verify the accuracy of the digital model.

Interestingly, both Flexwave and Cooltron follow exactly the same idea – they essentially are an asymmetric clipping stage biased by the low-passed feedback signal. Having made my own SoftAmp 3OD model I can say that this is exactly how a real guitar amp triode stage works. The main difference is that Cooltron uses a 12AU7 tube running on 6V anode voltage for the authentic tube waveshaping, while Flexwave relies on an asymmetrically configured "rubber diode" pair to achieve the same effect.

In addition to the fully featured 3-channel preamp and a tube saturation stage, Flextron offers a dual-mode stereo reverb (algorithmic and convolution-based), a speaker simulator with two cabinet models and an ambience control (intended mainly for practising in headphones), a switchable order oversampling and a set of visualization instruments, such as an EQ curve plot and stage bias meters.

Just as with my previous plugins, every single control is remapped to produce linear response on a dB scale.

Additional details can be found in the bundled manual.

Strum is Karplus-Strong synth, written completely in assembly. Very simple and clean UI with visual feedback of used/unused features for easy overview.

Two different and independent string generators for more variety of sounds, with own feedback, string length, attack/decay envelope and vibrato settings. First OSC is trying to simulate basic characteristics of four basic string types - nylon, bronze, steel and flatwound. Second generator uses basic shapes - sine, saw, triangle and square with additional options to tweak (tension & position).

Both generators share the same amp envelope, tremolo, timbre feedback settings and multi mode filter (lowpass, bandpass, highpass, bandreject, peak, Chamberlin lowpass, bandpass, highpass, peak, zOne lowpass, bandpass, highpass, peak, 303 lowpass, highpass and resonant filter). One LFO for cutoff modulation with 17 different shapes (Sine, Saw, Triangle, Ramp, Square and 4 of each based on Lorenz, Rosler and Ikeda attractors.

Delay, chorus and reverb module and simple soft knee limiter.

Lucid is a Subtractive Synth that combines Waveshaping with FM and Morphing.

Features:

• 3 Oscillators with one waveshaper each.
• 3 different FM modes (Algorithms).
• 4 different Osc combination modes. Mix, Morph, Meld and Vertical Morph.
• 1 ZDF Filter with 6 different modes.
• 3 LFOs with Audio rate modes of which two can be waveshaped.
• 2 ADSRs with adjustable slopes, Velocity control, randomization and Keytracking.
• 1 Polyphonic distortion (waveshaper).
• 1 Delay that can be modulated.
• 1 Reverb.
• 1 Randomizer, key triggered or run by LFO3.
• 384 presets.

http://youtu.be/ZxUpG9tuCoQ

This plug-in allows you to design your own equalizer by acting on parameters that change the curves behavior.

Specs:

• Double precision filters.
• Automatic band width correction at Nyquist frequency when working below 48 kHz.
• Two GUI modes: really simple or highly editable.
• Integrated help window.
• Some presets based on classic gear.
• Two saturation modes: Soft clip (only odd harmonics) and Tube (even and odd harmonics).

EpiCentre is a Distortion/FSU effect designed with minimal controls, to get fast and dirty results:

• 25x Distortion/FSU/Filter Effects.
• Mix Control.
• Gain Control.
• Low & High Tilt Filters.

Custom coded in C++, oversampled where useful, SSE2 optimizations of some critical code and ZDF filters for smooth modulation. GUI by Sebastian Heemsath aka Halma.

Rez3 is a Resonator FX VST plugin, it offers a multi LFO with 6 different waveforms and an envelope follower to modulate tone, feedback, filter cutoff and filter resonance.

Further it provides 6 independent resonator voices where the first of it is the master and all others can be detuned to the master note, each voice is also equipped with a pan slider and a range button which you can use to set the detune range between one octave and one semitone.

The built in keyboard allows you to play notes directly or you can use your host sequencer or MIDI keyboard to play notes.

Rez3 is a free VST plugin and comes with 32 Presets.

Brakeback Mangler is an audio mangler for tapestop/reverse/delay effects.

It includes a tape-stop effect, a reverse playback unit, an instant non-stop reverse sound faker and a stereo delay with filter, overdrive and forward/backward/pingpong/panner extras.

http://youtu.be/lkw-pC_LX4E

The effects are connected in row, so the tape stop or backwards effect is send thru the delay. As the delay has it's own bw-fw mode, interesting mixtures can be achieved. When delay feedback is zero, in bw-fw mode with mix to full fx only the backwards delay is present, which is then a mangled forward sound if the FAKER or BACK is on...

Update v1.1:

- knobs function is now toggle instead of momentary
- backwards play knob will switch off after play finished if MIX is not set rightmost.

Crio is a virtual analog/FM/Ring modulation synthesizer to make arpeggios, bass, solos, leads, FX-style sounds. Its goal is to achieve maximum functionality with minimal controls, to be used at studio or live, with facilities to drastically modify the sounds while playing.

The LFO has special functions for rhythmic uses, such as quantization of waveforms synchronized with tempo. For example, If the user applies tone modulation from the LFO with quantization, the resulting tones are forced to a scale, like an autotuner. An interesting result occurs when quantized noise wave is selected there.

The modulation wheel can be linked to the overall function of the LFO. Therefore, the user must use that wheel to check the importance of the sound modifications that can be done. For example, in certain presets, the player can use the modulation wheel to add automatic tone variations.

Features:

- 1 monophonic oscillator with:
noise generator
3 voices, including sub oscillator.
Frequency modulation (FM)
Ring modulation (RM).

- 1 LFO with functions of wave quantization and tempo synchronization.

- 2 filters: typical state variable filter and comb filter.

- 1 envelope generator.

- 1 amplifier with booster and saturation.

- slide tone control that applies to keyboard and tone modulation from LFO.

- MIDI learn in most of the controls.

fa FractionalDelay was a free phase alignment and time manipulation effect Plugin created for the KVR Developer Challenge 2014. As of March 2018 this product is deprecated and replaced by its successor faTimeAlign. For more information have a look at http://www.forward-audio.de/fatimealign/.

Dynamic Frequency Limiter is a combination of a band- peakfilter / compressor / limiter / transient designer.

The plugin scans a frequency region in the spectrum to find the dB level of this region and use it to dynamically control the volume of the same or another frequency region either (sidechained) ducking, compressing, limiting, enhance transients or everything together at the same time.

In comparison to normal compressors/limiters, which compress the whole signal or a wide band, this compressor uses biquad filters to apply the gain reduction/addition needed even if the bandwidth is just a single frequency (e.g. using it as a feedback destroyer).

The GUI is straight forward and what you see is what you get. Having learned from the former DC, I tried to keep this plugin dead simple so everybody can understand it.

The cutoff frequency and bandwidth of both the scanning of a region and the alteration of a region can be independently controlled or linked together.

The compression part of the plugin contains all the normal controls for a compressor: threshold, ratio, attack, decay, gain, which meaning should be known to all. Though, the threshold is applied to a band-filtered signal, reading the amplitude of only that frequency region. Then goes through a delay, envelope follower and clipper to calculate the gain reduction, which is then applied to a biquad peak filter. Also, the gain is not applied to the whole signal, but is added to the peak-filter's gain. Using the make-up gain (adds the inverted threshold dB to the gain) or gain knob a sustain function for a certain frequency region is created. Using short attack&release values this can make up some wild, dynamic distortions.

Using the transient knob, the attack stage becomes a transient designer. This part isn't delayed by the envelope-delay. So combining these can create a LOT of punch! Also adding boost and grid when using the plugin as a distortion.

Using the exaggerate button, the compressor ratio is multiplied by 2, creating a ducking effect when the signal surpasses the threshold amount. Combined with the transient knob, this allows for fully accentuating drum punch/hit while ducking the sustain part at the same time.

A delay on the envelope allows you to delay the gain reduction, to allow the passage of a short burst of sound before the compression kicks in.

The internal routing ends with a simple hard limiter to protect your dear speakers. Only the release time can be adjusted and the threshold is 0dB (maximum loudness)

Uses can be:

• Removing (compressing/limiting) annoying peaks in a certain frequency region without altering the volume of other regions in the spectrum.
• Feedback destroyer.
• Creating peak-controlled resonances.
• Shaping the overall envelope of sounds (excellent on both drums and synthesizers).
• Leaving a frequency region through, while blocking another.
• On short attack/decay times, all kinds of (very nasty) shapable distortions can be created. Combined with the sidechain functionality this can create lots of interesting effects.
• Maximizing loudness/sustain of a frequency region.
• Overall soundsculpting.
• Sidechaining by another channel to induce sound effects ranging from simple compressing/ducking, resonating, expanding frequency regions, dynamic distortions to audiorate AM modulation.

The sidechain switch wasn't functioning yet, do to wrong internal values. This is fixed in the V1.1 version.

V1.11 has it's knobs changed from rotary mouse-control to horizontal mouse control.

Instretch is an instant extreme time stretcher. It will record audio for up to 30 seconds and then play it back up to 100 times slower with selectable pitch. Also manual "riding" thru the sample with endless hold of a grain is possible.

Please read the included README.

http://youtu.be/YLJx7CxBKBI

Regen is at its heart a looper plugin (a la Frippertronics) that is well suited for ambient/textural/soundscape type layering. It can be a simple looper but also offers deeper dive controls to modify playback of recorded material.

It features four independent loopers ("tracks") that are built up from individually recorded audio segments ("layers"). Recorded material in the layers and tracks can be manipulated (playback rate, direction, blend, pan, level, start offset) post-recording for creative playback. Regen accepts stereo input and supports up to 4 stereo outputs. Regen allows Undo and Redo of recorded material and supports control via MIDI.

Mormox Imitate by easytoolz.de is an "Emulation" of a very new hardware-synth from Greece, called "Murmux Initate". And it has a very "simple" structure at original: 2 Oscillators with 2 waves (Saw and Pulse) with Subosc, Lowpass-Filter, simple LFO, 2 Envelopes (one AD, one ADSR)... that's all.

My "Emu" has some extra Features, indeed, I have tried to receive the brilliantly easy
structure.

Details:

• 2 OSC with Saw and Pulse, 2 Octave Tuner-knobs and FM-Modulation (Osc1 > Cutoff).
• Sub-oscillator (one Octave lower as Osc1) with Pulsewave.
• Combined Lowpass-Bandpass-Filter with Cutoff and Resonance and ADSR EG.
• LFO with Rate and Depth Pots for Oscillator or Cutoff Modulations.
• Special ADSR EG with embedded LFO/Loop (Ramp and S/H waves), the Sustain-pot regulates the intensity. Targets are the Amplifier, Oscillator Tuning or Cutoff .
• Delay section with Pan-LFO > Glide and > warm Shaper/Overdrive.
• Monophonic and only 18 Patches at moment, Sorry but my time did not reach for more.

Maybe at an Update after the DC ;)

Update to V 1.1: MIDI Controller inserted.

Update to V 1.11: Little Bug fix (Glide-Poti fixed) and little GUI (Big Potis)

There are 3 Banks with 32 New Patches each available.

from the famous Patchdesigners Kujashi aka Schiffbauer, Subderground, .

ynx and the Original-bank from NEK-X (with some new Patches, too ;-))

MANY THANKS !!
A total of 128 sounds ! Hope You enjoy it ....

Download:

http://www.easytoolz.de/news.html

Mate is a hands-on, simple desktop musicians friend, inspired by synthesizers of the seventies and eighties. It produces original synth tones and reproduces strings, pianos, basses, organs and bells patches with ease, but it can also explore wild and spacey atmos using its flexible modulation options and smart programming.

Tech notes:

• 32-bit ultra-optimized code, zero latency, samplerate independent engine.
• All sample rates supported.
• Each control is fully recordable and automatable in host.
• Most knobs & switches receive external MIDI control changes.

Finding samples ain't easy. This tool makes it a bit easier. Zoundle is a tool that takes the search of samples on freesound.org straight into your DAW.

It lets you search in simple mode, but it also let you go down and deep into the search process and specify things such as:

• Bit rate.
• Bit depth.
• Sample rate.
• File format.
• Channels.
• And more...

It lets you list files regards to:

• Downloads.
• Rating.
• Creation date.
• And more...

It lets you search in:

• Username.
• Filename.
• Tag.
• Geotag.
• Filename.
• Description.
• And more...

This plugin comes with 100 different presets covering several search methods.

Once the search parameters has been specified, the plugin launches the search in your Internet browser with your specified parameters.

MeekPro takes a stab at capturing the spirit and tones of the 50s, that's open to debate. The added feature that you will not hear on Joe Meek's recordings will be the dirt from the equipment. So I decided to put dirt in there with nice eq to capture that meek tone. The dirt is easy to control, as Joe made it seem so, enjoy.

Guitars scream and drums are amped up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJe4yIPNBEg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uBLG3zicY8

EcolooP is a sampler tool that integrated some originals functions for recreating a new loop, pattern or song by recycling recorded sounds or by importing custom waves file or sliced wave files (EcoWav). Allowing to create or open Pre-existent instruments. There's an administrator note mode with different possibilities to locking up sound.

A loop generator allowing to calculate tempo loop and save the informations in text files with time segments annexed to sounds files and save different data parameters for a sound...

I shall speak about it with more ample details soon.

P.S: A lot of sound files compatible with EcolooP already exist and EcolooP soundbank can be easily open for playing music with them...

Some video tutorial and documentation should follow.

The Midimobile blog is in the course of translation for Anglophiles user.

Check to my blog for download soundbanks and instructions for EcolooP.

Now, you can download the User Manual for EcolooP_Island 1.

If you are novice with EcolooP, Download EcolooPStartKit

Update 1.945 :

• New add-on to the GUI of the loop. When the loop is enabled, the display is selected (on the waveform with a red scrolled cursor to mark the position of playing of the selected sample).
• The retrigger button (orange square in a circular image) is now used to alternate the direction of playing).
• Improvement in response time when switching from a loop to another (vertical yellow buttons).
• Improvement of the internal core and CPU consumption.

Update 1.947:

• Reindexing samples (the samples 2-16 were set to 1 since the previous version).
• Fixed Gate / Trigger Sample 5.
• Tempo reconnection according to the Loop.
• Adding a new function Double-click on the setting Start / End Loop (on fine tuning slider, add compensation to the coarse setting).
• Improvement of the Count Layer (now takes the same sequence of notes with the same intensity).
• Fixed minor bug.

Update 1.951:

• Correction on separate MIDI files and drives 'all'.
• Correction on the 'midi in' of the Slot 5.
• Correction on MIDI player slot 2.
• Added function patch.pat for MIDI players (for the creation of sound banks).
• Bug on MIDI file name changes resolved files when changing program (subject to having a MIDI file for the target).
• Deletions of Triggers / Gate when the notes are not listed in the note manager (in previous versions, the fact of playing a note unlisted activated playback of the entire sample).
• Safety on MIDI players (warns the user not to name non-existent MIDI file
  and off modes players when patch.pat is disabled).
• Refocusing slices windows.
• Adaptation of the yellow segments according to the Zoom and start sliders.

Update 1.952:

• Fix bug concerning the increment of Layer Count in each note-on.
• Redesign Layers options (Dynamic Layers and Count Layers).

* Ability to enable a layer for each slot by selecting the appropriate surf incon (pink and blue to dynamic and count layers)
* Counter number associated in each slot fot Count Layer (to the right of ti icon count layer in the surf blue bubble)
* The two colors can now share the text file file corresponding to the destination of the solt associated sample (mixture of two colors was violet in the earler version)
* The minimum value of the Count Layer is 1 and the maximum is the number of layers
* Start Layer matches the beginning after reset
* The layers now work correctly in 'all sample' mode:

• Review of Data Parameters (pitchoffset resolved).
• Review of Menu (deleting 'Reset All Parameters Sample').

Update 1.954:

• The 2 Layers can work together without problems now.
• New option in the 'Dynamic Layer' panel to select a range of notes in a slot.

* If you are having problems with the layers (no sound when it snaps a note). Refresh mode 'One Sample' and refresh the sample slot number:

• Correction on layer count numbers (blue bubble right of the surf icon 'Count Layer') that were unaware before the program changes. Now each program has its own layer count numbers on each slot.

Update 1.955:

• The same with the addition of the boot patch Ecoloop .fxb updated (in the EcolooP plugin repertory.

Update 1.959:

• Bug at segment transfer level to the sample mode cue start / End resolved.
• Improved MIDI triggers (sound well finished at the right time).
• The reset button resets the launch of Sample in MIDI mode.
• Fixed minor bugs.

Thank you for your interest brought to MIDImobiles plugins.

StepFilterDC2014 is a filter effect VST plug-in for Windows.

X3 MIDI is a virtual analog synthesizer to emulate acoustic instruments and allow creation of infinite sounds.

To use X3MIDI you will need to test first the built in presets, you will need to use the VU meter indicate -10db any time you play so if you like to design your sounds it's the only restriction.

It is designed for musicians of all instruments, they can discover aspects they do not usually approach and "transform an instrument to another, " flute to cello, clarinet to piano, etc., never far to another or two.

"Only fresh wave", no LFO, only shapes and range, a sinusoidal sound beyond all the acoustic parameters reduced to the phase and the note length for repaint the sound image of the instruments.

We do not yet know if it is capable of doing all the orchestra but it's made as it was intended at this performance.

"the controls stay below the interface, not the old analog with scientific words."

More at x3midi.com.

We released new user manuals and new presets at strainwave

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One year celebration for Strainwave.

Since August 2013 Strainwave creates analogic vsti.

05 .09 .2014 : click here download X3MIDI NEW VERSION.

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Presets, now you can add new sound packs.

at kvr "banks & patches"

FX.

New :

Strainwave latest sound pack : X3midi ACOUSTIC PACK.

acoustic : Harpsichord, Altowood2, Altochords, Stringharp,

Piano key, 7piano, String6, Nylon5, Harp

fxp pack2 include 15 synth, 8 acoustic ;

Sax, piano, Nkey, Nflute,

Mwood, trumpet, Kstring,

fairy vibes, Nara,

Clavi organ, Space channel,

wood magic, thesis snow, etc..

pack 1 included :

18 presets 4 pianos, 4 synth, 4 winds, 4 woods, plus 2 others insts.

kvraudio.com/product/x3midi-by-strainwave/downloads

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This plugin was created with free version of "SynthEdit", .

"obviously a design interface also exists".