Connect with us

Plugin

Surge – An Essential and Workhorse Open-source Digital Synthesizer

Published

on

Mockup

Surge Updated – an Open-source Digital Synthesizer

Surge – an open-source digital synthesizer was updated to Version 1.6.2. The software synth Surge was originally released in 2005 and was one of Claes’ first bigger projects. This Open-source Digital Synthesizer is reliable and sounds exceptional.

This workhorse synth is a virtual synthesizer released into open source by creator Claes Johanson in September 2018 and maintained by a group of volunteers since then. Surge is a profound synthesizer that is highly recommended to be added into your toolbox. Surge is constantly being updated and advanced with new features. The current release is packed with many features already.

Source GUI Screen 001

New in Version 1.6.1.1 to 1.6.2

  • Substantial New Features
    • Alternate Tunings
      • Surge supports re-tuning the synthesizer using .scl files
      • .scl files are stored in the DAW state and optionally stored in a patch
      • UI elements to see if tuning is active, to see current tuning, and to reset tuning in place
    • Greatly expanded .wav file support and WaveTable Oscillator improvements
      • Surge can read .wav files on all platforms (Linux, mac, and windows) now
      • Surge will recognize .wav files which contain a clm block to indicate loop size (as used by Serum), a cue block (as used by various products, including Native Instruments) and a smpl block. This means that all Serum compatible wavetables we have tried now load in surge
      • Add a surge chunk type which allows wav files to advertise surge table sizes other than 2048, and a python script to add those chunks to wav files.
      • .wav files without loop information are loaded as one-shots
      • Increased the maximum table size to 4096 samples.
      • Drag and drop of .wav files, direct open with the file chooser, and scanning of .wav files in ~/Documents/Surge is available
      • The WaveTable and Window Oscillator Morph control shows the table and allow you to snap exactly to a table
    • Important Linux Changes
      • A Linux 64 bit LV2 is now available
      • A Linux 64 bit VST3 is now available, although VST3 support in Linux is sporadic, and it only fully works in Reaper
      • Resolve problems with misanimated, crashing, or ghosting menus in the Linux UI; and misaligned text fields in Reaper
    • Audio and Patch Creation Changes
      • Oscillator pitch can be set to “Absolute” using the right mouse, making the pitch shift in absolute frequency as opposed to relative note space.
      • Tempo sync Display values use musical values (“1/4 triplet” rather than “2.667 1/16”)
      • The SIN oscillator implements FM feedback and corrects some errors in the FM implementation making it respond line an unmodulated FM2 when no feedback or waveshape is applied.
      • The Surge Vocoder adds tunable bands, adjustable band count, and a different set of bands for modulator than a carrier.
      • It is possible to copy and paste FX between slots in the FX router
      • For some lower resolution generated wavetables, add side-by-side high-resolution ones
    • Oscillator and LFO Displays
      • The Oscillator display and LFO display are both vectorized, eliminating the high-zoom pixelation of prior versions.
      • The LFO display automatically zooms to show the entire envelope; and releases the sampled LFO to show the release stage.
      • Due to a technical limitation in Linux VSTGUI that we are still debugging, these features are only available in the Windows and Macintosh to build today. Also on some older machines, this feature will auto-deactivate if it is too slow; and can be forcibly deactivated with a switch in the menu.
    • The SurgeEffectsBank plugin.
      • We have wrapped the FX stage of surge as a separate JUCE plugin and generated a VST3
      • This plugin is included in the mac and windows installer.
    • New and Reorganized Content
      • EMU has adapted the CC-0 VSCO Community Edition (https://vis.versilstudios.com/vsco-community.html) as a collection of surge wavetables
      • EMU digital and sampled wavetables added in third party wavetables
      • EMU patches added to third party patches
      • Added a few presets by Claes which we found outside the factory distribution
      • Generally reorganized the presets to have a more consistent case, name, and folder structure.
      • Place content too large for the core distribution on a wiki site and link it through menus in the main menu, patch menu, and wavetable menu.
  • Bug Fixes, Host and DAW changes
    • Parameter automation in the Audio Unit corrected, allowing touch automation of parameters in LogicProX
    • Zoom issues resolved in Renoise windows with Renoise 3.2 upgrade
    • Zoom issues resolved in reaper Linux by using the Linux VST3 rather than VST2
    • Oscillator copy and paste miscopied dynamic wavetables; fixed
    • Oscillator copy and paste always copied oscillator 1; fixed
    • Automating OSCTYPE as a DAW parameter gives the correct behavior in the UI and the audio engine
    • Automating ENVTYPE as a DAW parameter updates the UI properly
    • Fix VST2 overflow which was stopping the plugin from working in QTractor
    • VST3 UI responds properly to automation
    • VST3 shows parameter value strings correctly mac and Linux
  • Other UI Changes
    • A status area shows MPE and Tuning state, allows it to be edited, and allows the menu to be opened
    • Increased contrast and correctly anti-aliased labels in several parts of the skin
    • VST3 remembers its zoom setting inside a session
    • Linux hosts with zenity installed will see error prompts, rename prompts, and other UI elements available on Mac and Windows
    • Windows mice with 5 buttons can use buttons 4 and 5 (the side buttons) to toggle modulation when over a slider or modulation source
    • The Solo UI accurately renders the state of the mixer, showing the single-solo bus.
    • Fixed a bug where modulation sliders could reset to the max when dragged far below min
    • “Chan. AT” renamed “Channel AT”
    • The menu includes feedback and the surge website
    • Double-clicking on a meta control value resets it to the 0 point
    • Fix a problem with non-integral boxes clipping UI element borders on windows at some zooms
    • The control modulation elements respond more consistently to mouse gestures changing values
    • The zoom menu can directly set a default zoom to any value
    • Saving a project in the DAW remembers the zoom state and MPE state across sessions.
    • Added a status area for MPE and Tuning status display and menus
    • Properly respond to OK/Cancel in the file dialogs in several places
    • A menu links to our additional content page.
  • Other behavior changes
    • Linux users who create a ~/.Surge directory will use that instead of ~/Documents/Surge; and if no directory is present, Surge will create ~/Documents/Surge only if ~/Documents exists.
    • Users can select their own directory for patch and wavetable storage instead of ~/Documents/Surge (although user defaults remain in ~/Documents/Surge)
    • Presets with stored values of meta controls will load those values rather than resetting to zero.
  • Code Cleanup
    • A variety of changes to allow the factoring for VCV Rack to continue
    • The Azure-Pipeline for pull requests is more efficient
    • The Linux deb file for the binary image no longer references xcb-util0
    • Use non-deprecated Mac APIs for the critical section code
    • Prior wav/sample code removed.
    • macOS chooses the Application Support directory based on configuration.xml existence
    • Add a python script to scan all presets for a feature

Continue Reading

Amp

AmpliTube TONEX Powered by AI Machine Modeling Technology

Published

on

IK Multimedia Releases AmpliTube TONEX Powered by AI Machine Modeling Technology

Are you looking for an authentic, vintage tone? Look no further than TONEX. IK Multimedia’s groundbreaking software and app ecosystem give you access to thousands of amp and pedal rigs to find the perfect sound for any situation.

And IK Multimedia AI-powered machine modeling delivers indistinguishable results from the real thing. So whether you’re practicing at home, jamming with friends, or performing live, TONEX has the perfect tone for you. Plus, the IK Multimedia system is easy to use so that you can turn your real amps, cabs, pedals, and complete rigs into your Tone Models in minutes.

AmpliTube TONEX Ecosystem

AmpliTube TONEX Ecosystem

IK Multimedia has just released AmpliTube TONEX, a revolutionary new product that uses AI Machine Modeling technology to create Tone Models of guitar and bass gear. With TONEX, you can capture the sound of any amp, cabinet, combo, or pedal and turn it into a Tone Model, all with ease and sonic accuracy that’s virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. This is a massive breakthrough in rig modeling, and IK Multimedia is the first company to bring this technology to market.

If you’re a musician, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled with getting the perfect sound out of your rig. And if you’re a studio engineer, there’s a good chance you’ve worked with getting your clients’ rigs to sound exactly how they want them to. But what if there was a way to get the perfect sound every time, without all the hassle?

Enter TONEX Mac/PC, the revolutionary new rig modeling software that uses AI Machine Modeling technology to let users capture the sound of any amp, cabinet, combo, or pedal and turn it into a Tone Model. With TONEX, you can get the exact sound you’re looking for with ease and sonic accuracy that’s virtually indistinguishable from the real. So if you’re looking for the perfect tone, look no further than TONEX Mac/PC.

AI Machine Modeling

TONEX is a new AI Machine Modeling™ technology that enables guitarists to model the sound of any amp, cabinet, or combo with accuracy virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. IK’s robust deep learning network lets you model your rig’s tone in minutes using accurate guitar signals, not just test tones, for a level of authenticity like you’ve never imagined.

Create Your Tone Models

Ever wanted to clone your favorite rig? Now you can, with IK Multimedia’s new AI Machine Modeling software. Just record the sound of your rig using an IK Multimedia particular guitar/bass capture track, and feed it into IK Multimedia software with the original DI track.

In minutes, IK Multimedia AI software will generate an exact algorithm of the modeled rig. The result is a hyper-realistic, dynamic clone of your rig, called a “Tone Model.” Tone Models include every nuance of the amp and pedal in vivid detail. With advanced technology, you can even model an amp and cabinet together, then virtually separate the two to try other cabinets. Plus, the algorithm can capture an entire rig, including harmonically complex fuzz, overdrive, or other distortion pedals in front of an amp. So why wait? Clone your favorite rig today with IK Multimedia AI Machine Modeling software.

TONEX App

Coming soon to an App Store near you, the TONEX App lets iOS users use Tone Models on their mobile devices and experience the power of AI Machine Modeling, minus the modeling capability. TONEX App works both as a standalone app and as an AU plug-in for recording inside all the major mobile DAWs and includes the same Player section as TONEX Mac/PC software to play and practice.

Owners of TONEX Mac/PC will be able to use the free TONEX App and sync their Tone Model library seamlessly between desktop and mobile devices in the studio, at home or on the go. So whether you’re a musician who likes to record on the go or a producer who wants to take their work with them when they travel, the TONEX App will be a welcome addition to your arsenal.

Model library seamlessly between desktop and mobile devices in the studio, at home or on the go. So whether you’re a musician who likes to record on the go, or a producer who likes to take their work with them when they travel, the TONEX App will be a welcome addition to your arsenal.

Conclusion

TONEX has always been committed to providing the best tone modeling system available. And now, for the first time, we’re making it available to everyone – regardless of budget. With our new TONEX ecosystem of products, you can start with just the accessible version of the software or app.

Or, if you need more power and flexibility, you can upgrade to one of our affordable download plans. Either way, you’ll get the most advanced tone modeling system available. So why wait? Get started today and experience the difference TONEX can make.

With over 1000 rigs instantly available to play, TONEX gives you access to the rarest and most sought-after amps ever made. Plus, you can model your guitar and bass rigs in minutes. And with ToneNET integration, you can share your Tone Models with other TONEX users worldwide. So what are you waiting for? Get TONEX today and start taking your guitar playing to new heights!

Continue Reading

Beginners Guides

AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station: A Vintage Reggae Masterpiece

Published

on

By

AudioThings Alborosie Dub Station

Are you looking for an authentic reggae experience? Look no further than AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station! This plugin recreates the vintage sounds of King Tubby himself and is perfect for adding that classic dub vibe to your music. Whether you’re a seasoned producer or just getting started, this plugin will surely add some serious flavor to your tracks.

AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station

AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station is a new plug-in that uses three effects to produce vintage-style dub recordings. It’s based on the hardware that the legendary Jamaican dub producer King Tubby used to record his songs. Inspired by his personal collection of vintage recording equipment, this plug-in reproduces the sound and feel of King Tubby’s music.

Audiothing’s Alborosie Dub Station is a new plug-in that emulates the sounds of vintage reggae studios with the help of three new effects: echo, spring reverb, and filter. Inspired by the legendary Jamaican dub producer King Tubby, the Alborosie Dub Station re-creates his signature sound. With three hardware effects and an in-depth model of his original gear, the Alborosie Dub Station aims to be an all-in-one dub-production tool.

AudioThings Alborosie Dub Station 1
AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station

A Breakdown of Alborosie Dub Station by AudioThing

For anyone fan of dub reggae, the name King Tubby should need no introduction. For those unfamiliar, King Tubby was a producer, studio engineer, and pioneer of dub reggae from the golden era of the 70s. His work has influenced countless other artists and his legend continues to grow.

Now, audio company AudioThing has released a new plugin called Alborosie Dub Station, which aims to recreate the sounds that made King Tubby’s work so iconic. This blog post will look closely at what this plugin offers and see if it lives up to the hype.

Alborosie Dub Station Overview

Alborosie Dub Station is a software plugin that recreates the original filter, echos, and spring reverb used by King Tubby. The plugin is based on Alborosie’s vintage gear collection and was created using samples analyzed and carefully recreated by AudioThing.

The plugin includes an adjustable filter section with cutoff and resonance controls, two separate echo sections with feedback, delay time, and mix controls, and a spring reverb section with wet/dry mix and pre-delay controls.

The plugin also comes with a selection of presets created by Alborosie, which can be further customized using the controls as mentioned earlier. In terms of sound quality, the presets do an excellent job of capturing that classic dub reggae sound.

ECHOWUK

The MCI 2-track tape was used for recording in federal studios and King Tubby studio in Waterhouse Kingston. This echo effect created most of the classic and popular reggae overall and Tubby’s instrumental dub mixes.

SPRING BLING

The Fairchild Spring Reverb was modified and used by King Tubby himself in most of the records he produced in his studio in Waterhouse Kingston.

FILTER MAN

FILTER MAN was inspired by Tubby’s “Big Knob”, a passive high-pass filter with eleven frequency steps from 70Hz to 7.5KHz. This filter helped shape the sound of Jamaican music in the early days.

Ease of Use

Alborosie Dub Station is straightforward to use thanks to its clear interface. All the controls are clearly labeled and easy to understand, making creating your own presets a breeze.

AudioThings Alborosie Dub Station UI
AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station UI

About Alborosie

His real name is Alberto D’Ascola, and he was born in Marsala, Sicily, Italy. He founded the Reggae National Tickets and led them on several national and international tours throughout the mid-to-late 1990s. Alborosie was immediately charmed by Jamaica when the Tickets performed there on the eve of the new millennium. He then took a job as an engineer at Gee Jam studios in Port Antonio, which is a secluded paradise on Jamaica’s north coast that Amy Winehouse, No Doubt, and many other foreign and local celebrities love to record in.

Overview Header
AudioThing's Alborosie Dub Station: A Vintage Reggae Masterpiece 45

Alborosie Dub Station is a powerful tool for blending sounds and features two distinct frequency modes. The original mode features slightly different bands of frequencies, while the measured mode provides smoother highs. You can also adjust Impedance to change the overall resonance of the filter. The instrument also works with onboard effects.

Alberto D’Ascola was born in Marsala, Sicily, in 1977. His interest in reggae music began when he was just fifteen years old. He toured Europe with Reggae National Tickets, and later moved to Jamaica to be near the genre. During his time in Jamaica, he worked at Gee Jam Studios, a tropical recording studio where many stars like Amy Winehouse and No Doubt recorded. His talent led to numerous awards and accolades, including the 2011 MOBO for Best Reggae Act.

Alborosie Dub Station was designed with the help of Lloyd James, an internationally known dub producer. The plug-in emulates King Tubby’s style of production. It also features filters, reverb, and echos. These three effects will help you recreate the unique sound of dub music.

Alborosie has been touring internationally and has released numerous albums. He has collaborated with many international artists, including Beenie Man, Lutan Fya, and Dean Frazer. He also produced The Singerz album, featuring the talent of up-and-coming Jamaican artists.

In 2011, Alborosie made history as the first white artist to win the M.O.B.O. (Music of Black Origin) Awards in the Best Reggae Act category

Product AudioThings Alborosie Dub Station
AudioThing’s Alborosie Dub Station

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a plugin to help you recreate the classic sounds of dub reggae, then Alborosie Dub Station is worth checking out. The presets do an excellent job of capturing that classic sound, and the interface is user-friendly. It is highly recommended for any fan of dub reggae.

https://youtu.be/K6pKPq4wPpY

Continue Reading

Drum / Percussion

Beat Scholar by Modalics – A New Way to Compose Rhythm: The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground

Published

on

Beat Scholar by Melodics A New Way to Compose Rhythm The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground

Making music has always been a way to express oneself. With the invention of digital audio workstations, anyone can make professional-sounding beats in their bedroom. However, one challenge that many producers face is finding new and exciting ways to compose rhythm.

Beat Scholar by Modalics is a new app that solves this problem. It presents an entirely new way to manage rhythm in the digital domain. Beat Scholar is the ultimate rhythmic playground to ensure your beats sound like no other!

The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground
The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground

The Right Beat Can Make or Break a Track

As any music producer knows, the right beat can make or break a track. A well-crafted beat can provide the perfect foundation for a song, while a poorly executed one can ruin the momentum and kill the vibe.

That’s why it’s so important to have a versatile arsenal of drum sounds and rhythms at your disposal. And that’s where Beat Scholar comes in. Beat Scholar is a new plugin that offers a novel way of creating beats. With its unique interface and powerful sound engine, BeatGen makes it easy to create complex rhythms and patterns that would be impossible to program with conventional drum machines.

In addition, Beat Scholar offers various features that make it perfect for live performers. With its built-in sequencer and MIDI support, Beat Scholar is the ideal tool for anyone who wants to push the boundaries of beat making.

Trap Beat Scholar
Trap – Beat Scholar

Beat Scholar is a Modern Beat-Making Powerhouse 

Beat Scholar is a powerful beat-making tool that allows you to create professional-quality music easily. With its easy-to-use interface, Beat Scholar gives you everything you need to compose and produce beats in minutes. And because it’s so easy to use, you can stay focused on music production’s creative, artistic side. As a result, Beat Scholar helps you produce the best music possible. Beat Scholar is the perfect tool for creating beats that will shine, whether a beginner or a seasoned producer. So don’t wait any longer; get started with Beat Scholar today and see how easy it is to make great music.

I have been a fan of electronic music for many years, and I have always been intrigued by the idea of creating my tracks. However, I have never had the time or money to invest in a full-fledged studio setup.

That all changed when I discovered Beat Scholar. This powerful little device has completely changed the way I make music. With its easy-to-use interface and sound library, I can easily create complex grooves and rhythms. And best of all, it’s affordable! I would highly recommend Beat Scholar to anyone interested in making electronic music.

Beat Scholar by Melodics
Beat Scholar by Modalics.A New Way to Compose Rhythm: The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground

Reminding Me of My Eurorack Drums and Sequencer

There are always new ways to create rhythm and beat in music composition. With Beat Scholar, you can make beats no one has ever heard. This program offers a unique way to compose rhythm in the digital domain. Using various sounds and instruments, you can create a beat that is unlike any other. In addition, Beat Scholar provides multiple tools to help you create the perfect beat.

I was excited about this groove machine when I first saw it; reminding me of my euro rack drums and sequencer. It’s just a lower price point and easier to use, which makes it perfect for those who are just getting into making their music. I love that you can import your samples, and the patterns are straightforward to create and edit. The only downside is that there aren’t as many features as some of the other hardware drum machines on the market, but it’s an excellent product for the price.

Whether you are looking for a simple drum loop or a complex arrangement, this program has everything you need to create the next beat.

New Way to Compose Rhythm

Beat Scholar is a new way to compose rhythm. You can combine subdivisions to create rich, unique-sounding rhythms in a few clicks. You can place any drum on any beat, and Beat Scholar gives you total freedom to create drum fills and linear grooves and quickly put them anywhere.

You can add bars, change measures, and beat values easily. Beat Scholar keeps you in a musical context, encouraging experimentation and innovation. With Beat Scholar, you can quickly and easily create creative and expressive rhythms. So try it out today and see how easy it is to add some spice to your music.

250 Factory Samples

The Robust Sampler in Beat Scholar provides everything you need to start quickly. With over 250 selected factory samples, from classic drum machine sounds to hand-made synthesized drums, we have the bases covered.

You can load custom samples with a simple drag n’ drop interface. And for each pad, there is a wide variety of samples. You can control the attack, length & pitch to shape them to perfection. Plus, built-in effects will make your samples nice and stylish with just a couple o’ knobs.

Beat Scholar The Ultimate Percussive Playground

Imagine you’re sitting in a room. It’s comfortable and safe, with no distractions. You’re relaxed but ready to focus. In front of you is a door. Slowly, it opens. Music washes over you, complex and exciting. You can feel the beat, but much more is going on. The melody weaves in and out, forming patterns you’ve never heard before. The rhythm ebbs and flows, creating a mood that draws you in. This is Beat Scholar.

Making great music isn’t always easy. But with Beat Scholar, you have everything you need to create amazing rhythms and beats. This unique composition system makes it easy to get the perfect groove every time. With total freedom to place drums anywhere on the moment, you can create linear tracks and fills that sound great. And if you want to change things up, it’s easy to add bars or change measures and beat values.

Plus, Beat Scholar keeps you in a musical context, so you can experiment and innovate to your heart’s content. So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, Beat Scholar is the perfect tool for you. So try it out today and see how easy it is to create amazing music.

The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground
The Ultimate Rhythmic Playground

Conclusion

Beat Scholar by Modalics is a new way to compose rhythm. You can combine subdivisions to create rich, unique-sounding rhythms in a few clicks. With over 250 selected factory samples, you have everything you need to start.

In a world where music is more accessible than ever before, it would seem that creating and sharing your art would be easy. However, the reality is that it can be pretty tricky for modern musicians to stand out from the crowd. With so much competition, it can be hard to create something truly unique.

That’s where Beat Scholar comes in. With its innovative and intuitive interface, ‘Beat Scholar’ allows you to create and experiment with complex beats easily. Whether you’re a seasoned producer or just getting started, Beat Scholar provides the tools you need to take your music to the next level. So why wait? Start creating the most advanced beats today with Beat Scholar.

Continue Reading

Trending