Korg’s Keytar has Arrived

 

The RK-100S2 has you everything you need to take center stage. Play standalone thanks to powerful onboard analog modeling with vocoding and arpeggiation, or control external MIDI devices. Two assignable control ribbons provide expressive modulation and scale generation options—all in a sleek, unique, solid wood body in your choice of red or black.

Available in limited quantities through select retailers.

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IK Multimedia MixBox for iPad is now FREE, includes 8 essential effects

 

IK Multimedia has announced an update to its 500-series style MixBox plugin for iPad that lets you create your own custom channel strips.

Version 1.3 of MixBox for iPad is now free with up to 72 effects modules available derived from T-RackS, AmpliTube and SampleTank.

To get started, MixBox for iPad includes 8 essential effects: Flexi Amp, Channel Strip, Digital Delay, Distortion, Limiter, Filter Phaser, Chorus and Digital Reverb. If you need more, you can easily upgrade to the full version via in-app purchase.

As always, MixBox for iPad lets you create, compare and save your own custom channel strips or multiFX chains, or choose from over 600 presets* to give your creativity a kickstart.

Whether in your favorite DAW or stand-alone, MixBox for iPad combines a massive range of effects and powerful workflow to supercharge your mixes and now you can discover its power with no purchase required.

Changes in MixBox for iPad v1.3:

• MixBox for iPad is now a free app.
• Includes 30 presets and 8 starter effects: Flexi Amp, Channel Strip, Digital Delay, Distortion, Limiter, Filter Phaser, Chorus and Digital Reverb.
• Includes all features of MixBox for iPad (Sidechain compression requires compressors only available in the paid Full version).
• Upgrade to the full collection of 72 effects modules via in-app purchase.
• Previous users retain their purchase.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/index.php

Bitwig Circle: Free Virtual Guitarist Amber for Bitwig Studio users

 

Bitwig has announced a new promotion as part of its Bitwig Circle, offering the Virtual Guitarist Amber virtual instrument by UJAM for free for a limited time.

Amber is an acoustic session strummer plugin that provides warm and authentic steel-string acoustic guitar accompaniment.

This is an excellent solution for adding great-sounding acoustic guitar sounds to your Bitwig Studio productions. AMBER comes loaded with more than 50 styles and 600 phrases and just the right amount of control to tweak the sound to perfection.

Thanks to this time-limited offer, you get the plug-in for free (worth 129 USD/EUR). Log in to your Bitwig account to claim it now.

This offer is valid until December 21st, 2021, available to customers who own a Bitwig Studio or Bitwig Studio EDU license with an active upgrade plan.

https://www.bitwig.com/?AFFILIATE=119526&__c=1

Steinberg releases LoFi Piano free virtual instrument for HALion

 

Steinberg has announced the availability of a virtual instrument that delivers a beautiful low-fidelity sound for a different kind of production aesthetics.

Conceived and designed for sound designers, beatmakers, musicians and producers, LoFi Piano is based on an upright piano recorded with carefully selected microphones.

The warm characteristics provided by the microphones were processed to lend each music production a gritty blend of contemporary and vintage piano sounds. Also included are six effects, and presets for interesting chord progressions.

“Not only is LoFi Piano for free, but it’s also quite the outstanding instrument featuring unique piano sounds,” says Senior Marketing Manager Florian Haack. “We thought we’d like to give something back to the community, and we hope you like it!”

LoFi Piano features:

• Beautifully tape-saturated piano for HALion.
• 6 LoFi-inspired effects for tunes with a dusty ambience.
• Free LoFi keys for VST, AU and AAX hosts.
• The instrument is available for free by registering through the Steinberg website.

More information: https://www.steinberg.net/vst-instruments/lofi-piano/

King OZ Records releases DSPplug esquire3 free brickwall limiter plugin

 

King OZ Records has announced a new version in the Esquire limiter series. DSPplug Esquire3 features an improved algorithm combining LU and dBFS detection, so as to ensure real-time detection (LU with its lack of early bass results in slower detection).

The Esquire3 also sports a true peak limiter, this brick wall device will limit to -1.1 / 1.0 dBTP without failing. The result is a limiter with an attack and release that can sculpt sound, providing a smoothing effect.

Version 1.5 has been well tested and the GUI is coded and optimized in pure ruby and no graphic is moving faster than refresh/fps rate. The DSP has been heavily optimized and modified to avoid any clicks and pops during utilization (though when switching from one mode to the next, there will likely be a volume difference).

Quick and nimble and very professional sounding, the DSPplug CEO Robert E. Langford assures that this product is ready for professional application and will sound exactly like extremely expensive hardware, due to intensive testing and real-world application.

Version 1.5 is now available as a free download for Windows (64bit VST/VST3).

https://static.kvraudio.com/files/3802/dspplug_esquire_109.zip

P511 Synthesizer: Free 5U modular synth instrument for Kontakt

Yarra Audio has announced the release of its new Kontakt sample library P511, a free instrument that features the sounds of a 5U modular synthesizer.

P511 brings the beautiful analog tone from the raw analog oscillators combined with the convenience of a virtual instrument and expand its capabilities in a way where musicians wouldn’t be limited by pre-defined sounds, but have total freedom to manipulate and create their own soundscape by controlling the parameters on the instrument interface.

The instrument is laid out in a simple and logical way, which make it easy to understand its signal flow. Each module represent one of the building blocks of a classic subtractive synthesizer architecture.

Each oscillator has been carefully recorded from two distinct oscillators units and for that reason P511 keeps the characteristic of the original hardware.

Available for the full version of Kontakt 6.6.1 or higher, P511 is free to download from the Yarra Audio website.

Make sure to check the Freebies for Native Instruments Kontakt page for many more free downloads.

https://www.yarraaudio.com/shop/p/p511

Voxengo updates SPAN free spectrum analyzer plugin to v3.12

Voxengo has released an update to the SPAN free real-time “fast Fourier transform” audio spectrum analyzer plugin for Windows and Mac.

Version 3.12 adds a “Panel border” palette modifier, and all palettes have been updated to reduce “border” contrast. An existing palette may need to be reloaded for the change to be visible. Additionally ,the spectrum window’s sliders have been modified to look less contrasted.

SPAN provides you with a very flexible “mode” system which you can use to setup your spectrum analyzer preferences. You may specify Fourier block size in samples, FFT window overlap percentage, spectrum’s visual slope. Beside that you can choose to display secondary spectrum of a desired type (e.g. real-time maximum, all-time maximum). Spectrum can be smoothed out visually for an easier examination.

SPAN is free to download in VST/VST3, AU and AAX plugin formats at Voxengo and from distributor Plugin Boutique.

https://www.voxengo.com/product/span/

Xpander

 

Xpander is a combination of Stereo Widener, Unison Detuner, Chorus, Ensemble and EQ.

Expand your stereo image. Transform the lifeless thin sounds into warm and rich sounding tones. Mono to stereo, stereo to super-wide and everything in between.

The GUI is divided in 3 sections to keep it plain and simple. However not to be fooled by the simple looks, as it harnesses great power under the hood.

https://webshop.oz-soft.com/en/

Initial Clipper

 

Initial Clipper is a soft clipper which prevents your audio signal from going above zero decibels.  

It does this by smoothing the peaks with soft clipping starting from the threshold. The faster and higher the peaks the more you need to bring down the threshold to get a pleasing sound.  Initial Clipper comes with a very handy (and cool looking) peak display. Any peaks that enter the threshold area will have soft clipping applied, hence smoothing them out and taming the loudness.

We also added extra saturation. Because who doesn’t want more saturation!? The positive and negative saturation parameters allow you to add extra harmonic and non-harmonic saturation to your audio signal, this will create that extra fatness and warmth to your sound. Be aware this saturation will decrease your mixes dynamic range as it applies to the whole signal and not just the peaks.

Using a soft clipper on the master channel is very common, therefore we have added an industry standard LUFS (Integrated) Meter so you immediately know how loud your mix is.

https://initialaudio.com/product/initial-clipper-free-plugin/

Dub-SPL4

 

Dub-SPL4 is a simple 4 bands audio splitter, specially designed for live performances. Just put it on you master bus and start dubbing around !

It splits the incoming audio into 4 bands : Sub, Low, Medium & High frequencies. It also includes LP & HP filters with dedicated controls to adapt their resonance.

It is specially designed for Dub Music, but also for every genre you can perform live. Be it techno, Drum’n’Bass, HipHop, Electro… And don’t feel restricted to a live use ! Why not use it on a drum bus ? Or on a keyboard ? You can use it as a multi-band EQ, or only use its filters (they are awesome!).

Windows 64bits VST3 Format.

MacOS 64bits VST3 & AU Formats.

https://soundfingers.com/

iZotope OZONE 9 ELEMENTS (Limited Time)

iZotope has teased the release of Ozone 9 and is making Ozone 8 elements free for a limited time. Polish your tracks with these expert mastering tools. Ozone Elements is a ‘lite’ version of the renowned Ozone mastering suite. It includes the Imager, Equalizer and Maximizer features.

Download Free Product | Ozone Elements (izotope.com)

4 Unique Pianos For Any Genre

Fun fact. There aren’t many useable, let alone good free piano libraries. I was putting together a list of the best free pianos for our blog and YouTube channel, and after trying out about 20 freebies, I was shocked at how bad most of them are. The ESW team sampled this piano about 6 months ago, and we decided to make a high quality, modern sounding free piano library.

Why Denver? It’s admittedly not the first city you think of when you picture a grand piano. But Denver is the city where Echo Sound Works started. Denver is where I went to college to study music. That’s why we jumped at the chance to sample a Piano from my old stomping grounds.

Denver Grand Piano - Free Piano for Kontakt, Logic X, & Ableton 10 (echosoundworks.com)

Try Splice Creator FREE for 3 months

Waves Audio is offering its customers the opportunity to try the Splice Creator plan for free for 3 months.

Get 200 monthly credits and select from millions of curated, high-quality samples from professional sound designers and some of your favorite artists. Stay sharp with hours of premium tutorials and dive into creative production tools & apps to unlock your best workflow.

To take advantage of this offer, create a free Splice account if you don’t have one yet, and click “Start your free trial” to begin the checkout. Select the Creator tier and use promo code WAVESCREATOR at the checkout to receive $19.99 USD (100%) off your first 3 payments.

The promotion is available through October 21st, 2021. Note that the promo code is only eligible for users who are not already on a Splice Sounds+, Creator, or Creator+ plan. When you download a Sounds asset or view a non-trial Skills video during your trial period, you will be converted into your first month of Creator.

More information: Splice

Transform and bend MIDI inputs with free MIDI-Transformer VST plugin

Austen Satterlee has released a free VST plugin for Windows that lets you transform and reroute incoming MIDI signals.

After placing MIDI-Transformer in your VST chain, the plugin will read incoming MIDI values from the selected input source during playback and transform those values using the specified transformation curve. It outputs the transformed values according to the selected output destination.

For example, if the input source was set to CC2 and the output source was set to CC3, the plugin would read all incoming CC2 values, transform them, and then output the transformed values as CC3 messages.

The plugin’s GUI will show a vertical line along the curve to indicate the last input value that was captured, and how it was transformed.

MIDI-Transformer is free to download as a VST3 plugin for Windows at KVR Audio.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/midi-transformer-by-austen

Samsara Cycle Audio – G-AMP-R

 

I created this plugin to provide a simple and useful guitar amplifier for my own projects.

The controls are easily understood and it works exactly as I imagined when I started the design. This version of the plugin includes a reverb control.

Please enjoy and if you find this plugin useful

consider a donation to help in future projects

Installation

To install this VST plug-in, follow these steps:

• Unzip and Click the setup.exe file and the VST will be automatically installed

• Use the Readme file included for further details

https://www.mediafire.com/file/vcd6mwc6472woc0/Samsara-G-Amp-R.zip/file

Atmos 2 is a FREE Ambient Piano Plugin instrument for Windows & Mac

Atmos 2 is a FREE Ambient Piano Plugin instrument for Windows & Mac. The samples of Atmos 2 were recorded in November 2019, using a Yamaha C3 Grand Piano as a source, at a music school in Mallorca (Balearic Islands) To obtain the samples A Zoom H6 digital recorder was used.

Features:

• 56 samples.

• 2 Layers.

• ADSR Controls.

• LFO Modulation.

• Filter HP/LP.

• macOS Catalina Support.

AVAILABLE Formats:

• WINDOWS: VST|VST3|AU 32 & 64-bit

• MAC: VST|VST3|AU 32 & 64-bit

System Requirements on Windows:

• Windows 8.1/10

• 500 MB Disk Space

• 500 MB Ram

• VST or VST3 host (32 or 64-bit)

System Requirements on Mac OS X:

• OS X 10.13.6 And Above

• 500 MB Disk Space

• 500 MB Ram

• AU or VST host (32-bit or 64-bit)

https://electroniksoundlab.com/free-stuff/

FREE: Aquamarine Lite instrument library for Kontakt by Muze (limited time)

Audio Plugin Deals has just launched a promotion on the Muze Aquamarine Lite sample library for Native Instruments Kontakt.

The inspiring collection of innovative new sounds and atmospheres, textures, pads and synths for music, sound design and cinematic composition is free to download for the next two weeks.

Developed for use with the full version of Kontakt 5.8 or higher, Aquamarine is an all-in-one tool for crafting soundtracks, cinematic music, epic music trailers – in fact any music that requires powerful, inspirational, hybrid synth sounds.

All the samples included in this library are completely new and unique to this instrument.

Regularly $39.99 USD, Aquamarine Lite is free to download until October 14th, 2021.

More information: Audio Plugin Deals

Variety Of Sound releases ThrillseekerXTC mkII free psychoacoustic exciter

Variety Of Sound has announced the release of an update to its psychoacoustic audio exciter based on a parallel dynamic equalizer circuit: ThrillseekerXTC mkII.

It takes our hearing sensitivity into account especially regarding the perception of audio transients, tonality and loudness.

Version 2 features plugin operating level calibration for better gainstaging and output volume compensated processing. It also has a reworked DRIVE/MOJO stage featuring full bandwidth signal saturation and a strong focus on perceived depth and dimension. This provides all those subtle qualities we typically associate with high-end analog outboard gear.

A newly introduced signal compression improves mid-range coherence and presence, and relevant parts of the plugin are running at higher internal sampling frequencies to minimize aliasing artifacts.

ThrillseekerXTC mkII is free to download as a 32/64-bit VST plugin for Windows.

https://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/thrillseekerxtc-mkii-released/

Thomas Mundt updates LoudMax free maximizer effect to v1.40

 

Thomas Mundt has released an update to the LoudMax maximizer effect plugin for Windows, Mac, Linux and Winamp.

Version 1.40 includes a new peak hold function for the gain reduction meter, alongside some other improvements and fixes.

LoudMax is a Look-Ahead Brickwall Loudness Maximizer Plugin with a clean transparent sound. It is designed to retain the original character of the music as much as possible even at high compression levels.

Changes in LoudMax v1.40

• Peak hold function for the gain reduction meter.

• Improved meter responsiveness.

• VST3: Fixing meters not being displayed on some hosts.

• VST3: Added bypass functionality.

• VST3: Avoid unnecessary latency changes.

• Added legacy 32-bit version for Win XP and Vista.

• Improved algorithm.

Loudmax is free to download in VST/VST3, AU and LADPS formats and as a plugin for Winamp.

https://loudmax.blogspot.com/

discoDSP has announced an update to the OB-Xd software synthesizer based on the Oberheim OB-X.

Version 2.5 of the synth that attempts to recreate its the sound and behavior of the OB-X includes various new features and preset sounds, improvements and fixes.

Changes in OB-Xd v2.5

• Added Scalable GUI (1x, 1.5x, 2x) with HiDPI support for all platforms.
• Added Luke’s Soundhouse 80s & Synthwave Presets bank.
• Preset Bar now uses bold font for better visibility.
• Specific fonts for each system (Helvetica Neue for macOS, Arial for Windows and DejaVu Sans for Linux).
• Revised all themes XML knob sizes and alignments.
• Updated assets with 4x bitmaps including Ilkka Rosa Dark theme.
• Streamlined Menu.
• Updated themes folder error dialog assets and window size.
• Added program popup menu when clicking Preset Bar name.
• Added Menu Help version and Open PDF manual (Windows and macOS).
• Miscellaneous fixes an enhancements.

OB-Xd for Windows and Mac is free for non-commercial use in VST/VST3 and AU plugin formats. AAX is included with a registered license only, available at $49 USD.

https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/

Audiolatry releases Grand Piano XXL free rompler instrument for Windows

Audiolatry has released a free virtual piano instrument plugin featuring the sounds of a sampled Yamaha C5 6’7″ Grand Piano.

The Grand Piano XXL plugin features controls for attack and release, a reverb effect and gain and piano keys release gain. It also includes a tremolo and filter to shape the sound.

The original samples (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license) were recorded by Alexander Holm [axeldenstore (at) gmail (dot) com] with two AKG c414 condenser microphones placed in an AB position at around 12 centimeters above the strings.

All the samples were captured in 48kHz 24bit audio quality with 16 velocity layers which are all present in this virtual plugin, hence the 1.19 GB size on disk. The keys release samples are also added in Grand Piano XXL.

Grand Piano XXL has 16 velocity layers, while the Grand Piano version has only 4 velocity layers but a smaller size (319 MB instead of 1.19 GB).

Both instruments are available as a “name your price” download in VST/VST3 plugin formats for Windows (64-bit), including free.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KgCqX-1cgGUTUaEeEtdCwsz-FsB_HcOP

Samplab VST3 AU WiN MAC [FREE]

Revolutionary audio sample editing.

When you drag and drop an audio file into the plugin, it is sent to our server for processing. Once this is completed, you recieve the result with all the notes in the audio seperated. In order to edit the notes, we generate a MIDI file that you can drag into the Samplab track. From now on, the plugin acts like a virtual instrument: It gets the MIDI events as input from your DAW and plays the (edited) notes. If you don’t make any changes to the MIDI, the result should sound the same as the original audio. Of course, you can also just use the MIDI file for other things.

The Samplab Plugin should be compatible with most DAW’s that support the VST3 or AU plugin formats. It has been verified to work with Ableton Live (10.1 or higher) and FL Studio on Windows and Mac.

An Internet connection is only required to transform new audio files. Once the result is received, you can use and manipulate it indefinitely without being connected to the Internet.

The playback speed of the notes is determined by the tempo of the MIDI files. When you upload a new audio, we estimate its tempo. You can adjust this estimate by changing the “Estimated BPM” in the plugin. For the change to take effect, you have to drag the MIDI file into your DAW again.”

https://samplab.com/

Chameleon guitar plugin

Chameleon is a guitar plugin/standalone app using neural networks to create three distinct sounds from a vintage style amp head. The core sound comes from a neural net inference engine which allows the plugin to disguise itself as a high end tube amplifier. Advanced machine learning was used to capture three distinct sounds, named Red (high gain), Gold (crunchy), and Green (clean). In the same way a real amp head is used with a cabinet and other effects, this plugin is intended to be used in the signal chain along with IR's (cab sim), reverb, and any number of guitar effects.

Chameleon is free and open source on Github for anyone interested in audio DSP with machine learning and neural networks. The capture technique used here is capable of reproducing the dynamic response of real amps and pedals to near perfection.

***For best results, use with 44.1kHz samplerate, which is the optimum samplerate of these particular neural net models.***.

Check out the source code on GitHub.

Read the tech article published on Towards Data Science.

Visit the website for more from GuitarML.

https://guitarml.com/