GR-8

GR-8 is an 8 voices virtual analog synthesizer with built-in effects and an arpeggiator.

Features:

• Arpeggiator: 5 Modes (Up, Down, Alt 1, Alt 2, Random), 4 Octaves Range.
• Voice Modes: Mono, Unison (8 voices), Chord (4 stereo notes), Poly (8 voices).
• Voice Effects: Glide, Legato, Voice Detune, Voice Stereo Spread.
• Oscillators: OSC 1 (Tri, Saw, Pulse, Square), OSC 2 (Sine, Saw, Pulse, Noise).
• Oscillator Effects: Cross Modulation (FM), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), Sync.
• Filters: Non-resonant High Pass, Resonant Low Pass (12, 18, or 24 dB/Octave).
• Modulation: Pitch Bender, Mod Wheel, LFO, 2 Envelopes.
• Effects: EQ, Distortion, Phaser, Chorus/Flanger, Delay, Reverb.
• Presets: 128.

Change Log.

v1.3.0 - 2024-12-08:

Added:

• VST3 version for Mac (per request).
• 40 new presets.
• EQ controls on the Frequency Analyser (per request).
• (Pre) Delay control to the Reverb (per request).
• Mouse scroll to the Presets list.

Updated:

• MIDI 1.0 to MIDI 2.0.
• Voice modes to support MIDI 2.0. In case you hear strumming like effect on previously created presets, switch to Mono mode, then back to the desired mode, and overwrite the preset.
• Arp to support MIDI 2.0.
• Preset browser layout: Randomize Synth & Effects icons are moved from the dropdown menu for faster access (per request).
• Increased clickable area for knobs (per request).
• All the graphics are hi-res now.
• Audio engine optimised for better CPU usage.
• About screen.

Removed:

• Support for Windows 7. Minimum requirement is Windows 8.1 now.

v1.2.0 - 2021-10-08:

• Assigned Parameter Automation IDs (breaks automation compatibility with previous versions).
• Removed MIDI Assignments from presets.
• Simplified installation for Mac (one installer for plugin and presets).

Important: Parameter automation IDs are changed in version 1.2.0. That breaks automation compatibility with previous versions. If you open an old song that had automated (for instance) Filter Cutoff, that automation lane will now automate some other parameter i.e. Envelope Attack. The change is a fix for a mistake that I made by adding new controls in versions 1.1.0 and 1.1.1. Due to my inexperience with newer versions of the plugin development platform that I use, I didn't know automation parameter IDs are automatically set in alphabetical order unless manually specified. My sincerest apologies to everyone whose work is affected by the change. On the brighter side, presets are not affected by this change, so your old presets will sound the same as before.

Caution: Each preset has its own MIDI assignment. If you make a MIDI assignment you need to save the preset. Otherwise, the MIDI assignment you've made will be lost as soon you change the preset. If you want to make your own presets with the same MIDI assignments, you can do it by assigning MIDI controls to the Initial preset, saving a copy of it, and using it as a template for your sounds.

v1.1.1 - 2021-09-25:

• Added global Octave control (+/- 2 Octaves) (per request).

v1.1.0 - 2021-09-22:

• Added version number to the GUI.
• Added Synth/Effects Randomize and Reset functions (per request).
• Changed Arp controls to drop-down menus (per request).
• Fixed popup hint text for all switches.
• Removed random phase from Oscillators in Mono and Poly modes.
• Moved Pitch Bender and Mod Wheel controls above the wheels.
• Added Pitch Transpose control (+/- 6 semitones) (per request).
• Added Velocity to Filter Cutoff and Amplitude (per request).
• Optimized LFOs to save CPU.
• Added LFO Retrig button - this will affect some old presets (per request).
• Added internal ON/OFF switches to Chorus, Delay & Reverb to save CPU.
• Preset List returns to top on a Category change.
• Improved Preset List scrollbar motion.
• Updated GUI and About screen.

v1.0.7 - 2021-07-27:

• Fixed silent presets caused by the Phaser module.

v1.0.6 - 2021-07-24:

• Fixed DC offset caused by the Phaser module.
• Updated About screen.

v1.0.5 - 2021-07-24:

• Fixed arpeggiator.

v1.0.4 - 2021-07-22:

• Replaced arpeggiator module with a newer module.
• Updated About screen.

v1.0.3 - 2021-07-19:

• Replaced arpeggiator module.

v1.0.2 - 2021-07-18:

• Fixed wrong pitch caused by switching from Mono to Poly mode.
• Various fixes to prevent excessive use of CPU.
• Removed diffusion from Delay to reduce CPU usage.
• Removed oversampling to reduce CPU usage.
• Doubled Filter Env Depth range.
• Assigned MIDI CCs to Init preset.
• Enabled custom installation folder on PC.
• Added manual installation option for plugins and presets on PC.
• Added manual installation option for presets on Mac.

v1.0.1 - 2021-07-04:

• Fixed silent Saturation mode on Distortion. All the presets using it were silent too.
• Fixed Pitch Bender returning to zero when controlled via MIDI.
• Updated About screen.