u-he has released version 3.0.1 of Zebra 3, a free maintenance update for its wireless modular synthesizer that turns the Control A, B, C and D macros into per-preset assignments and adds a global trigger mode for the MSEGs. The most visible workflow change lands in modulation. MSEGs (multi-stage envelope generators) gain a Global trigger option, letting a stage sequence run independently of note-on events rather than always resetting per voice. Alongside it, Control A/B/C/D macros now double as preset-stored macros: each can carry its own MIDI CC offset within a preset, so a patch can ship with its macro mappings built in rather than relying on a session-wide assignment. MPE handling picks up two refinements: a new preference for per-voice pitch bend, and Timbre now follows the existing MIDI smoothing preference rather than tracking raw input directly. Elsewhere, FM operator and envelope parameters can now be modulated beyond their normal limits, giving sound designers more headroom to push the synthesis engine past its default ranges. A handful of smaller workflow fixes round out the release. Module groups in the patch grid can now be deleted with cmd+backspace on macOS. A hidden control for adjusting Hypercalibrate time has been added, reachable through the mod matrix rather than a dedicated menu. Right-clicking the on-screen keyboard now exposes a Stop All Notes option for clearing stuck voices, and Linux users get experimental drag-and-drop support for the first time. u-he groups the rest of the changes under general bug fixes and tweaks without itemizing them individually. Windows on ARM is not an officially supported configuration for this release, though u-he notes that Zebra 3 3.0.1 should run on ARM devices, with the caveat that it is used at the owner’s own risk. That leaves Windows ARM as an unofficial, best-effort target rather than a tested platform. The update installs directly over an existing Zebra 3 3.0 installation, with no separate purchase or license step for current owners. Features Global trigger option added for the MSEGs. Control A/B/C/D now function as macros stored within presets, with offsets addressable via MIDI CC. MPE: new preference for per-voice pitch bend. MPE: Timbre now follows the MIDI smoothing preference. FM operator and envelope parameters can be modulated beyond their natural limits. Module groups in the grid can be deleted via cmd+backspace on macOS. Hidden option added to adjust Hypercalibrate time, accessible through the mod matrix. New Stop All Notes option available by right-clicking the on-screen keyboard. Linux: experimental drag-and-drop support added. General bug fixes and stability tweaks. Windows ARM: unofficial support, described by u-he as “use at your own risk”. Pricing and Availability Version 3.0.1 is a free update for existing Zebra 3 license owners. Install it directly over the existing 3.0 installation; no new license or purchase is required. Read More

Pulsonix has updated BeatForge, the drum machine, step sequencer and REX loop player plugin, to version 4.1.5. The headline change is a reworked antialiasing approach for the 31 circuit-modeled drum synths. Instead of running every engine through blanket 8× oversampling, each engine was measured individually with an offline FFT analysis harness and now uses exactly the antialiasing it needs: most engines run at 1× with source-level techniques, while a few that genuinely require oversampling keep it (FM kick and snare at 4×, Reese bass and the tanh-based lead engines at 2×). Distortion modes now use first-order ADAA with 4× oversampling. The measured result: alias floors around −90 dB through the mids, matching or beating the previous approach — at noticeably lower CPU, with the biggest gains on older machines. Beyond the drum synths, BeatForge doubles as a REX remixing environment: it plays .rx2 files natively (via the official Reason Studios SDK) and treats every slice as a fully editable voice. Slices take per-slice parameter locks — pitch, filter, envelope, drive locked to individual hits — can be tagged into color-coded link groups for editing whole hit types at once, and can each be routed to their own plugin output. In practice that means taking one REX loop, sending its kicks, snares and hats to separate DAW channels, and remixing a twenty-year-old loop with modern processing per element. The built-in slicer does the same for WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3 and OGG — and with ReCycle recently made free by Reason Studios, creating and playing REX files is now a complete workflow for the price of BeatForge alone. Also new in 4.1.5: Tracks can be reordered by dragging, with auto-scrolling at the edges. A sequencer on/off button per track, for driving BeatForge purely from DAW MIDI. MIDI export improvement. Pricing & Availability Version 4.1.5 is a free update for all owners, as always. BeatForge started life in 2025 as a simple €10 sample player and has grown weekly since — developed by a solo developer, largely from user requests. BeatForge is available for macOS and Windows (VST3/AU/Standalone) for €25, with an unrestricted 14-day trial. {PRODUCT-HEADER-33029-beatforge}. Read More

Reyes Amps has released its debut plugin TRIODE, a component model of its own boutique tube amplifier, built from voltages measured on the physical circuit. The amp is a 4 watt, single-ended Class A design, like a Champ. A triode preamp adds even-order harmonics, a pentode output stage adds odd. The circuit is the 1959 Harmony H303, built on ‘All American Five’ radio tubes from 1950s. I make a boutique tube amp with a very simple circuit. Then I modeled that simple circuit and the result is very accurate triode distortion/saturation. All the plugins I make have that original tube amp model DSP included in them. Reyes Boutique Tube Amp The difference is in how the tubes are modeled. Most tube saturation is “tanh” waveshaping. TRIODE uses Koren and Dempwolf tube models, which account for the tubes’ actual plate characteristics and grid current: authentic transfer curves, asymmetrical clipping, and the bias shift that comes with drive. TRIODE works anywhere distortion or saturation would normally go: guitar and bass DIs, drum buses, synths, vocals. Features: Reyes 303 (Free) 40dB Clean Boost: Drives the input stage into saturation. IR Chooser: Swap impulse responses. Mix Knob: Wet/dry blend for parallel processing. Master Output: Final level, independent of drive. 4x Oversampling: Reduces aliasing under heavy drive. Visualizer: Oscilloscope and spectrum viewer for real-time harmonic analysis. A fully functional demo is available, with periodic audio dropouts. The core model is free as Reyes 303: the pure circuit, one knob, Alnico speaker IR. Kill Filter, also free, is a super-resonant DJ-style filter with a kill switch and the same tube stage in its path. TRIODE is available for $39.99 for VST3 and AU, Windows and macOS, at reyes-amps.com YouTube/I8brtt52qpU Read More

MidiQ has announced the release of BCEditor, a free, browser-based preset editor and librarian designed specifically for the Behringer BCR2000 and BCF2000 hardware controllers. BCEditor runs entirely in compatible modern web browsers via the native WebMIDI API. This removes the need for platform-specific software installations, desktop clients, or third-party drivers. The editor was built to solve the often difficult process of mapping and managing these classic hardware units when interfacing with vintage synthesizers (such as the Yamaha DX7, Roland D-50, and Korg M1) or modern hardware instruments. Key Features: Zero Installation: Access the editor instantly via WebMIDI-compliant browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, or Brave on Windows, macOS, Linux, or ChromeOS. Bidirectional Communication: Edit control parameters in real time with direct visual synchronization on the hardware encoder and fader LEDs. Shared Cloud-Preset Library: Save, load, and share presets with other users. Visual Mapping Interface: Configure MIDI CCs, SysEx strings, Program Changes, and note data. Pricing and Availability Most of BCEditor is completely free to use, with a small optional one-time fee available for users who require unlimited cloud storage. The application and preset library can be accessed at midiq.online/bceditor Product Demo YouTube/uPyMsEl0NUM Read More

Expressive E has launched its Summer Offer, a two-week promotion running from July 9 to July 23, 2026, with discounts of up to 55% across the company’s software catalog. The sale covers instruments, software bundles, Expressive Suites, and sound libraries for Osmose, Osmose CE, Touché, and Touché SE. The centerpiece is the Osmose Sound Bundle, positioned as the most complete software collection available for the Osmose keyboard. It gathers 8 instruments and synths, 17 expressive sound packs, and over 2,800 presets designed for performance on Osmose and Osmose CE. The bundle includes Expressive E’s own Soliste and Noisy 2 alongside Kilohearts Phase Plant, u-he Hive 2, Synapse Audio DUNE 3, Dawesome MYTH, AAS Lounge Lizard, and Dawesome KONTRAST. Expressive E’s in-house instruments are also discounted individually. Soliste, the company’s physically modeled solo strings instrument, and Noisy 2, its expressive synthesis engine, are both available at 40% off for the duration of the sale. The Expressive Suites line is included at up to 50% off. Each Suite pairs a third-party software instrument with a preset collection designed by Expressive E to add depth, movement, and playability when driven from the company’s controllers. Suites are available for Kilohearts Phase Plant, Synapse Audio DUNE 3, Dawesome MYTH, Dawesome KONTRAST, AAS Lounge Lizard, and u-he Hive 2. Users who already own one of the covered synths can buy the matching preset collection separately at a reduced price. Touché and Touché SE owners get the deepest cuts. The Touché Sounds Collection is available at 55% off, alongside discounted Touché-compatible instruments and sound libraries including Imagine, Mercury, and Helium, all built for gesture-driven play with the touch controller. All deals are collected on a single dedicated Summer Offer landing page rather than spread across individual product pages. Offer Details Osmose Sound Bundle: 8 instruments and synths, 17 sound packs, over 2,800 presets for Osmose and Osmose CE. Soliste and Noisy 2 at 40% off. Expressive Suites for Phase Plant, DUNE 3, MYTH, KONTRAST, Lounge Lizard, and Hive 2 at up to 50% off. Standalone preset collections at reduced prices for existing synth owners. Touché Sounds Collection at 55% off, plus discounts on Imagine, Mercury, and Helium. Pricing and Availability The Summer Offer runs from July 9 to July 23, 2026. The Osmose Sound Bundle is priced at €699 (regular €1,562). All deals are available on the Expressive E Summer Offer page. Read More

k2get has released Chord Dock v2.0, a major update to its chord track-style MIDI plug-in for Windows and macOS. Chord Dock lets users build, visualize, edit, and export chord progressions on a timeline inside a DAW. Version 2.0 expands the workflow with Arranger Mode, Performance Page, Song Page, and the bundled ChordPart receiver plug-in. Arranger Mode turns a chord progression into four-part accompaniment using Drums, Bass, Arp, and Chord Pad parts. Users can create patterns per section, launch or queue sections with pads, arrange patterns in song order, and export arranger patterns as MIDI. Chord Dock v2.0 also introduces two new editions: Chord Dock Performance and Chord Dock Full Bundle: Performance unlocks the full Arranger workflow, including all pads, ChordPart per-part MIDI output, and Arranger MIDI export. Full Bundle includes both the Performance feature set and the Extended harmony-editing feature set. The Chord Dock lineup now consists of Lite, Extended, Performance, and Full Bundle: Lite remains free and includes the core timeline workflow plus an Arranger Mode demo. Extended adds harmonic editing tools such as tensions, slash chords, Circle of Fifths tools, Reharmo, and section-based Arpeggio / Bassline generation. Launch pricing is available until October 1, 2026: Extended is $19, Performance is $19, and Full Bundle is $29. Regular prices are $24, $29, and $39 respectively. Chord Dock Lite is free. Chord Dock v2.0 is available for Windows and macOS. The main plug-in supports VST3 on Windows/macOS and AU on macOS. ChordPart is included as a VST3 receiver plug-in for Windows/macOS. Read More

M Media Audio has released three plugins covering different corners of the mix chain: Monster Factory, a vocal bus channel strip; Orbit, a circular autopanner; and Iron Deck, a free dual-channel tape machine. All three run on Windows, macOS (Universal Binary, signed and notarized), and Linux. Monster Factory: Vocal Bus Channel Strip Monster Factory combines the processing for a complete vocal subgroup in a single plugin: gate, hi-pass filter, compressor, tone shaping with a de-esser, four-mode parallel saturation, a doubler, slapback, ducking reverb, and a brickwall limiter at the end of the chain. The saturation section runs its four modes in parallel against the dry signal: TAPE for warmth and weight, TUBE for an asymmetric odd-harmonic edge that helps a thin vocal cut through, AMP for a more aggressive character, and BROKEN for pushing past the design limits. The plugin is intended to sit on the vocal bus so that lead, doubles and ad-libs all pass through one chain. Orbit: Circular Autopanner Orbit treats panning as movement through a room rather than a balance control. Four axes run simultaneously from a single LFO phase: equal-power pan, Haas ITD delay up to 650 microseconds, front-to-rear spectral tilt from 18 kHz down to 4 kHz, and volume modulation. The combined result reads as a source moving through the space rather than a conventional panning effect. Width extends to 200% and the rate runs from a slow drift at 0.05 Hz up to 8 Hz. Two instances with Phase set 180 degrees apart will orbit against each other. M Media Audio suggests it for guitar leads, synth pads, and samples that have been sitting in one spot in the stereo field. Iron Deck: Free Dual-Channel Tape Machine Iron Deck models a two-channel tape machine as a channel insert: REC drive into nonlinear tape saturation and RMS compression, three signal path modes (REPRO, INPUT, SYNC), IEC/NAB playback EQ, tape speed shelving at 7.5, 15, and 30 IPS, bias trim, and a final HF cut. The two channels are fully independent machines rather than a linked stereo pair, so each side can run its own settings, for example NAB playback EQ on the left and IEC on the right, or one channel driven harder than the other. Pricing and Availability Monster Factory is available for $49 and Orbit for $29. Iron Deck is free, with no account, activation or expiry, and is the full version with no restrictions. Demo modes are available for Monster Factory and Orbit. All three plugins are available now for Windows, macOS (Universal Binary, signed and notarized) and Linux at mmediaaudio.com/plugins Read More

Cymatic Form is offering Acousmatic Engine at a 50% discount until July 20th. Created by the mind behind Native Instruments Kinetic Metal and Kinetic Toys, Acousmatic Engine is a unique Kontakt Instrument consisting of 500 presets. It blends conceptually recorded samples with multi-dimensional synthesis, delivering a diverse palette of imaginative instruments and cinematic textures to elevate your film, game and music compositions like never before. Also on offer, Acousmatic Engine’s Dieselpunk Expansion pack at a 50% discount. Inject your soundscape with 125 new percussive, mechanical, and textured sounds designed to push the boundaries of the 500 presets you already know and love. Gritty, raw, and industrial at heart, Dieselpunk brings the spirit of retro-futurism to the sonic world of Acousmatic Engine — seamlessly integrating with its rich timbral palette. The Dieselpunk Expansion explores three distinctive sonic themes: Impacts – Thunderous hits and crashing textures that demand attention. Friction – Scrapes, grinds, and the resistance of surfaces under strain. Machines – Arpeggiated pulses, sequenced rhythms, and kinetic patterns, animated through the Warp Wheel. Use code FIFTY at www.cymaticform.com to claim your discount. Read More

The public beta of the free KVR Studio Manager application for macOS and Windows has been updated to v0.4.0.0 You can download directly from www.kvraudio.com/kvr-studio-manager or if you launch KSM it’ll offer the download automatically. Changes in KSM v0.4.0.0 (Public Beta): Initial AAX Support (please scan and sync so we can asses the quality of the scan data). Custom Scan Timeout for failed plugins: After scanning, any plugin that timed out will be listed in the error list as “File scan timed out”. Right-click on it and choose “Scan with a longer timeout (n s) next time” (n will be a value double the previous timeout). Next time you scan it will try for longer before giving up. Repeat until successful. Note: Waves Waveshells should already be set to 120 seconds by default. Note: some plugins will always timeout (e.g. unactivated demo / expired iLok plugins). These can now be permanently excluded (see below) Exclude timed-out or duplicate plugins from future scans: Right-click on a plugin in the the Scan Report error list and choose the exclude option. It will not be scanned in future scans but will continue to be shown in the error list but marked as excluded rather than as a failure. You can right-click to re-include it. Scan a single plugin (i.e. without a full rescan). Last Modified and Files Size columns added to plugin list. Numerous plugin-, version- and brand-detection improvements. Numerous duplicate-plugin false-positives fixed. Better support for plugins where the developer name cannot be detected accurately (e.g. when they are empty or erroneously reported as things like “Company Name”, “My Company”, “Vendor”, etc.). Miscellaneous other tweaks. Read More

ABYZOR has released QuickTools, a collection of more than 20 free browser-based utilities for music producers, DJs and composers. Designed to support everyday production tasks, QuickTools includes music theory references, MIDI generators, rhythm utilities, DJ tools and production calculators. All tools run directly in a web browser with no installation or registration required. Included tools Tap BPM. BPM ↔ Milliseconds Calculator. Delay Calculator. BPM Converter. Scale Finder. Chord Finder. Chord Progression Generator. Random Melody Generator. MIDI Quick Generator. Drum Pattern Generator. Euclidean Rhythm Generator. MIDI Velocity Randomizer. Circle of Fifths Explorer. Harmonic Mixing Guide. Key Detector. Key Notation Converter. Frequency ↔ Note Converter. Note Frequency Calculator. Scale Transposer. Interval Calculator. QuickTools also includes guided workflows for melody writing, rhythm creation, harmonic mixing and electronic music composition, helping users move from musical ideas to finished productions more efficiently. The collection is available free of charge and works on Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile devices through any modern web browser. Watch the launch video: YouTube.com/watch?v=CrcFWzT1HSk Reminder: The ABYZOR Variations Giveaway runs until July 15. Three winners will receive a free license of ABYZOR Variations. Read More

Decomposer has updated Sitala, the 16-pad drum sampler for macOS and Windows featuring six knobs, sixteen pads, drag and drop, playable like an instrument, to v2.1. Sitala’s really popular with Reaper users, and we’ve used Reaper extensions in the past to make things gel well with Reaper world. This round we make sure that all of the samples you use in the project get saved along with the project. And that’s on top of the groovy features we had for automatic multi-out routing, and keeping drum pad and Reaper note names in sync. But there’s other stuff too. We’ve got snapping to note names for pitched drums for all of you that have had pentatonic bongo dreams. Basically, unless you’re holding down the shift key, Sitala now snaps to the closest tuned pitch for pitched percussion. For the folks using Sitala in live setups, you can now also swap out your Sitala kit via MIDI. The 2.1 update is free for Sitala 2 owners at decomposer.de Read More

Inlet Audio has announced the release of Rebuilt Freebie, a new free piano library for Kontakt: Rebuilt Freebie is not quite a piano, too alive to be a synth… Something performed, felt, and subtly unstable – but not simply a familiar piano sound. It was shaped from the same recorded piano as Rebuilt Upright: the full, warmer and more intimate library behind Rebuilt Freebie. Rebuilt Freebie includes 1 sound and 5 presets and requires the full version of Kontakt (not Player) 6.8.0 or later. Download Rebuilt Freebie free to unlock €15 off Rebuilt Upright until 16 July (23:59 CEST). The offer is available to email subscribers after downloading Rebuilt Freebie. Rebuilt Upright only. One use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Discount value converts to your local currency at checkout. YouTube/wMMbwZPWt5Y Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Canyon Soundings by Cthonophonic You have to move strangely in the desert sometimes. All the angles are oblique, all the paths occluded. What’s a sound wave to do? This is Canyon Soundings, a collection of impulse responses from a small rocky canyon near Joshua Tree, California. It is unique (or at least quite distinctive) in the realm of outdoor impulse responses in focusing on a single location, with sound sources positioned across the stereo field. They range up and down the canyon, almost exclusively “out of view” of the microphones. In recent years, there have been quite a few IR-based reverbs designed to position instruments within the space of scoring stages, concert halls and the like. You can place the flutes where the flutes are supposed to go, the violas where the violas are supposed to go, maybe even aim the bell of the trumpet stage left or stage right. You might think of Canyon Soundings as an attempt to bring this idea outside and let it get weird. The Location So here we are, looking across this canyon at a steep rocky hillside. Indeed, there are steep rocky hillsides all around. We ourselves are on one such hillside, slightly less steep than the others but just as rocky, on the inside of a bend in the canyon where it exits the mountains. The main channel is about 15 meters wide and deep, and we are set back from the edge a bit so that we cannot see the bottom. In the bottom of the canyon there are sounds, and they are moving. They are coming around the bend. That’s the idea, anyway. There are 13 sites, ranging from 100m up the canyon to 90m down the canyon. They are named alphabetically from left to right: Site A through Site M. Included in the download, there is a KMZ file with the locations of the microphones and all the sound sources. This can be loaded in Google Earth or your KML/KMZ viewer of choice. The image above shows the canyon as viewed from the side opposite the mics, with colorful indicators pointing to the various sites and a white line showing the center of the stereo field. The Files At each site (except one*) there are four separate impulse responses, captured with the speaker aimed up the canyon (Left), down the canyon (Right), at the wall opposite the mic position (Away), and back toward the wall adjacent the mics (Back). In the Samples folder, There are 51 normalized stereo impulse responses, as 48kHz, 24-bit .wav files. All file names include the site name, speaker direction, azimuth and distance of the site relative to the mic pair, and normalization. For instance, the file “Site H Speaker Back (20°R 55 m) (normalized 13 dB).wav” is for Site H, with the speaker aimed toward the canyon wall on the same side as the microphones. The first set of parentheses contain the location of Site H relative to the mics (22 degrees to the right of stereo center, 55 meters away), while the second set of parentheses indicate the normalization gain that has been applied (13 dB) **. It makes for an unwieldy file name, but hopefully one that is informative enough to make decisions when importing the files into your convolution software of choice. The files can be used individually or in pairs as “true stereo” impulses. They may be loaded into any impulse response-based reverb that lets you load your own .wav files, but to make navigating the collection a bit easier, there is also a bank of presets for Audiothing’s Fog Convolver 2. Fog Convolver Presets If you copy the Canyon Soundings folder into your Fog Convolver banks folder (you can find the location for this under the Settings tab), the presets should show up in the Fog preset browser. The presets are divided into three categories: The Normalized presets use the files as they are. For each site, there are three presets with different combinations of “true stereo” IRs, each meant to simulate different patterns of sound projection. Those that are Angled Away aim to simulate a source that is roughly facing away from the mics while those that are Angled Back simulate a source facing the mics. The Wide presets aim to maximize the “throw” by projecting the sounds up and down the canyon. For the most convincing simulation of the space, they are meant to be used 100% wet, but feel free to experiment. To hear sounds at their natural volume levels (relative to one another, that is), there is a Purist category. These are the same true stereo combinations as in the Normalized category, but using realistic Output gain settings for all impulses. The most distant locations are over 35 dB quieter than the closest sites. For any purists who don’t use Fog Convolver, the proper level of attenuation is also noted in the file names themselves, so you should be able to recreate this in your software of choice. Finally, there is the Tails category, which includes the same true stereo combinations as the previous categories, but alters the Start time setting to trim off the early reflections and diffractions and leave a well-behaved reverb tail. This sacrifices some realism in the service of clarity. These presets are probably the easiest bunch to use for busy rhythmic applications and for mixing the reverb with the dry signal. License The license is CC0 – No Rights Reserved. You may use, modify and redistribute these files in any way you like. Use them on an album or film? Cool. Incorporate them into your own product? Great. Mash ’em up, smash ’em up? Please. Use them to train your infernal plagiarism machine? I can’t stop you. If you are the courteous type and want to give some acknowledgement, you may credit me, Nathan Snider. * Alas, the recording for the left facing sweep at Site A was irreparably marred by a distant motorcycle. If you are looking at the Fog Convolver bank and wondering why there is no Wide preset for Site A, this is also why. Once the weather and wildlife conditions are right, I will be re-recording this as well as a few new sites between B and E (a range that is currently a bit uneven). ** All measurements (degrees, meters and decibels) are rounded to the nearest whole number for simplicity. The gain value is relative to the whole set of files, with the loudest impulse (in this case “Site F Speaker Back…”) assumed to start at 0dB. If you are trying to achieve a realistic fall off in volume with distance, you can use these values to reduce the gain in your convolution software. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Osiris Piano by Karoryfer Osiris Piano is a quiet sample library of a Yamaha C2 piano, recorded played quietly with the soft pedal engaged and at half-stick. The goal was to avoid the problems with noise and inconsistent playability which affect many soft pianos. Key features: Three stereo mic positions. Separate sustain pedal up and down samples. Two velocity layers. Noise-reduced and natural versions of all samples. Half-pedaling implemented. Detune and layering controls. Natural and warm (transposed) patches. Over 1200 total samples adding up to 460 MB with FLAC compression. YouTube.com/watch?v=0DKtnBM0JAs Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Osiris Piano by Karoryfer Osiris Piano is a quiet sample library of a Yamaha C2 piano, recorded played quietly with the soft pedal engaged and at half-stick. The goal was to avoid the problems with noise and inconsistent playability which affect many soft pianos. Key features: Three stereo mic positions. Separate sustain pedal up and down samples. Two velocity layers. Noise-reduced and natural versions of all samples. Half-pedaling implemented. Detune and layering controls. Natural and warm (transposed) patches. Over 1200 total samples adding up to 460 MB with FLAC compression. YouTube.com/watch?v=0DKtnBM0JAs Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Zones by Zones Convolution Zones is a library of impulse responses, available to use and edit directly in your DAW. The library is built on user uploaded recordings and is free to access with our VST/AU plugin. We created Zones as an easy way to share impulse response’s (IRs). Typically, good quality libraries and plugins are expensive and finding free IRs is difficult. Our aim is to simplify the process so that not only is there a range of reverbs neatly collected, but using them practically in the DAW is easy. This simplifies the workflow and makes using IRs more accessible as anyone with the plugin installed can access all zones without leaving the DAW. Zones has also been designed to be flexible in a number or use cases, such as for a pop mixing engineer to add nice sounding reverb to a different instruments, a classical engineer who wants to the sound of their favourite concert hall or a post-production mixer who wants to add realistic room reverb after ADR. Impulse responses can also be used beyond reverb to mix sounds together creatively. Zones has been developed with zero budget and is completely free for users. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Reverie by Quiet Music Reverie is an audio effect built around a simple idea: everything can resonate. At its heart is a bank of sympathetic strings, modelled with Karplus-Strong synthesis and tuned to a musical scale of your choosing. Instead of playing them from a keyboard, you excite them with sound. Send in a drum loop and the strings ring out in sympathy with every hit. Send in a pad, a vocal, a field recording, or pure noise, and Reverie reconstructs it as a shimmering, harmonic version of itself, locked to your key. It is the acoustic phenomenon behind a sitar’s drone strings or an open piano with the sustain pedal down, turned into a tool you can point at any track. But Reverie is more than a resonator. It carries a second engine: an audio-reactive sampler called Texture. Load any sample, foley, percussion, atmospheres, a single struck bell, and it fires or loops in response to your input’s dynamics, following its brightness and even its pitch. On its own, Texture is a reactive layering machine. Combined with the strings, it becomes something new. The two engines are what make Reverie a single instrument rather than two effects in a chain. Three controls tie them together: EXCITE routing lets the Texture engine become the excitation for the strings. Load a granular foley sample, give it a rhythm, and the strings resonate with the timbre of that sample and the harmony of your scale. This is the plugin’s signature: a resonator you can feed with textures. TRACK listens to the pitch of your input and plucks the nearest string of the scale, so the sample and the strings sing the same note. It is an arpeggio that follows your melody. MORPH is a single macro that crossfades the whole face from pure strings, through both engines together, to pure texture, ideal for automation and for shaping a sound in one gesture. Around the engines sits everything you need to sculpt the result: twenty-one tuning scales including a custom scale builder, seven string materials, control over decay, damping, dispersion, warmth and stereo width, an excitation filter and bloom stage, a lush reverb with freeze, a feedback delay, and a fully drawable modulator that you can route to seventeen destinations across both engines. Reverie ships with 48 factory presets, from pure string voicings and melody-tracking harps to deep ambient beds built on the series routing, and its full sample library installs automatically, so it is ready to play out of the box. Reverie is not a synth. It has no keyboard, no MIDI, no notes to program. Its instrument is whatever you send it. Put it on a send, print it, resample it, or leave it live on a bus: whatever goes in comes back transformed, tuned, and alive. Feed it anything. Reverie will find the music in it. Features: Sympathetic string resonator (Karplus-Strong), driven by incoming audio, no MIDI needed. Audio-reactive sampler (Texture) with Trigger and Flow modes, load any WAV/AIFF/FLAC. Signature series routing: the sampler can excite the strings (a resonator you feed with textures). Note tracking: input pitch plucks the matching string of the scale. Morph macro: one knob from all-strings to all-texture. 21 tuning scales including microtonal sets (Quarter Tones, Just, Pythagorean, Slendro, Pelog) and a 16-slot custom scale builder. 7 string materials (Plain, Nylon, Gut, Steel, Bronze, Crystal, Felt). 1 to 24 sympathetic strings, tunable spread, detune and glide. Excitation shaping: high-pass / low-pass filter, tilt, transient emphasis, drive, bloom. Shared space: reverb with freeze plus a feedback delay. Drawable modulator with 17 destinations across both engines, free or tempo-synced, forward / reverse / ping-pong. Independent Dry/Wet for each engine plus a master output. Sample loop editor with Forward / Reverse / Ping-Pong playback and live loop markers. 48 factory presets with their full sample library, installed automatically. Formats: VST3 and AU (macOS); the macOS build is a notarized universal binary (Intel and Apple Silicon). Technical specs: Type: audio effect (sympathetic string resonator + audio-reactive sampler). No MIDI, no keyboard. Formats: VST3, AU (macOS only). MacOS 11.0 or later, Intel and Apple Silicon (universal binary, notarized). Windows 10 or later, 64-bit. String bank: 1 to 24 sympathetic strings. Texture sampler: up to 8 simultaneous voices (Trigger mode). Tuning: 21 tuning scales, including a 16-slot custom scale builder. String materials: 7. Modulation: 1 drawable lane, 17 destinations, free or tempo-synced. Sample rates: 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz. Factory presets: 48. Factory samples: 23 (installed on first use). Sample import: WAV, AIFF, FLAC. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Identity by SocaLabs Identity is a polyphonic synthesizer built around two formula oscillators — programmable oscillators where you write the waveform as a math expression. It includes a sub oscillator, noise generator, two multi-mode filters with envelopes, four MSEG-based LFOs, three modulation envelopes, a flexible modulation matrix, an arpeggiator, eleven reorderable effects, four macro knobs, per-voice vibrato and analog drift. Supports MPE. Features: Two formula oscillators — write waveforms as math expressions, with built-in waveform and filter functions. Sub oscillator and white/pink noise generator. Two multi-mode filters with envelopes (LP / HP / BP / Notch, 12 & 24 dB/oct). Four MSEG-based LFOs with poly, mono, legato, and free trigger modes. Three modulation envelopes. Flexible modulation matrix with curve shapes and bipolar / unipolar modes. Eleven reorderable effects (gate, chorus, distortion, delay, reverb, EQ, filter, and more). Built-in arpeggiator. Four assignable macro knobs. Per-voice vibrato and analog drift. MPE support. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Identity by SocaLabs Identity is a polyphonic synthesizer built around two formula oscillators — programmable oscillators where you write the waveform as a math expression. It includes a sub oscillator, noise generator, two multi-mode filters with envelopes, four MSEG-based LFOs, three modulation envelopes, a flexible modulation matrix, an arpeggiator, eleven reorderable effects, four macro knobs, per-voice vibrato and analog drift. Supports MPE. Features: Two formula oscillators — write waveforms as math expressions, with built-in waveform and filter functions. Sub oscillator and white/pink noise generator. Two multi-mode filters with envelopes (LP / HP / BP / Notch, 12 & 24 dB/oct). Four MSEG-based LFOs with poly, mono, legato, and free trigger modes. Three modulation envelopes. Flexible modulation matrix with curve shapes and bipolar / unipolar modes. Eleven reorderable effects (gate, chorus, distortion, delay, reverb, EQ, filter, and more). Built-in arpeggiator. Four assignable macro knobs. Per-voice vibrato and analog drift. MPE support. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Rumble Room Filter Delay by bdEnergy RumbleRoom is an ambient echo chamber and dynamic ducker designed to breathe organic life into sterile tracks. By blending gritty analog warmth with a melting diffusion network and a smart sidechain ducking engine, Rumble Room acts less like a standard utility delay and more like a living, breathing acoustic environment that responds dynamically to your music. Key Features Dark Analog Spaces & Diffusion: A beautifully dark, character-rich engine that smoothly transitions from saturated vintage tape echoes to massive, smeared ambient washes. It instantly wraps your sounds in a warm, organic, and beautifully imperfect acoustic blanket that sits perfectly in the background of a mix. 0.1ms to 8s Time Machine: An ultra-wide time range that unlocks total sonic flexibility. Dial it down to a fraction of a millisecond for metallic amp cabinet emulation and room modeling, pull it back for classic slapback echoes, or stretch it all the way out to create sprawling, evolving 8-second ambient tape loops. Rhythmic Quantize Sync: Take instant control of your timing. The dedicated sync button immediately locks your echoes to your project’s tempo grid, providing a wide array of quantized rhythmic subdivisions to dial in precise, bouncing delays and complex rhythmic patterns. Clean Intelligent Ducking: Keep your mix perfectly clear without losing your ambient vibe. The internal ducker automatically tames the delay volume while your main instrument or vocal is actively playing, allowing your dry transients to cut through cleanly before the lush, saturated echo tails explosively swell back into the gaps. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. PitchNet by Session Loops PitchNet is a Natural Vocal Tuning Plugin Powered by AI Resynthesis. Resynthesize a natural performance Instead of only warping the original waveform, PitchNet uses AI resynthesis to rebuild tuned vocals with smoother transitions and a more natural tone. Edit vocals as musical notes PitchNet detects vocal pitch and displays editable note regions, making intonation and melody changes clear without digging through raw waveforms. Stay connected with ARA ARA integration in compatible DAWs lets PitchNet follow your timeline, analyze audio faster and keep vocal tuning close to the arrangement. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Uè Uè by Clack.DIGITAL Uè Uè is a vocal wah built around a full formant filter model rather than a traditional resonant filter. It combines classic wah-style expression with realistic vowel shaping and flexible modulation. Give your sound a questionable accent. Pick a few vowels, sweep between them, and suddenly your instrument has a lot more to say. Features: Full formant filter model for rich vocal character. Assign vowels to heel, toe, and optional midpoint positions. Shape each vowel with independent voice age and sex controls. Multi-wave LFO with tempo sync for rhythmic movement. Bipolar envelope follower for dynamic, expressive modulation. Dry/wet mix blends the original signal with the effect. Carefully tuned parameter ranges for musical, perceptual control. Zero-latency processing for immediate, real-time response. High-quality processing for smooth, artifact-free filtering. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Rimegun Creator Studio by Psytrance Plugins Rimegun Creator Studio is an approach to a DAW designed for the creation of Trap/HipHop/Rap and Dub. Rimegun Creator Studio is defined by 5 VST stations that work with Real Time Recording and MIDI Controlling. The stations are: RIMEGUN DRUMS – that is a Drum Machine where you can sequence shots and loops (not only drums). RIMEGUN SYNTH – that is an hybrid Vector Synth plus .wav Sampler. RIMEGUN CHOP – a chopping machine where you can perform and edit operations to your loops and samples. Plus…4 slot sequencer where you can sequence chops one after the other. RIMEGUN SCRATCH – dual deck scratching machine (this is not a perfect simulator but can be helpfull for production). RIMEGUN MASTER – you can record up to 4 tracks/stems, treat Vocals, sing into the PC and Master Tracks. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Rimegun Creator Studio by Psytrance Plugins Rimegun Creator Studio is an approach to a DAW designed for the creation of Trap/HipHop/Rap and Dub. Rimegun Creator Studio is defined by 5 VST stations that work with Real Time Recording and MIDI Controlling. The stations are: RIMEGUN DRUMS – that is a Drum Machine where you can sequence shots and loops (not only drums). RIMEGUN SYNTH – that is an hybrid Vector Synth plus .wav Sampler. RIMEGUN CHOP – a chopping machine where you can perform and edit operations to your loops and samples. Plus…4 slot sequencer where you can sequence chops one after the other. RIMEGUN SCRATCH – dual deck scratching machine (this is not a perfect simulator but can be helpfull for production). RIMEGUN MASTER – you can record up to 4 tracks/stems, treat Vocals, sing into the PC and Master Tracks. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Ouranos7 by John Crosby Acoustics Not another DX7 clone — a revenge, a tribute, and a love letter, all in one. Ouranos7-Friends is a free 6-operator FM synth with true stereo oscillators, a 7×6 FM and AM matrix (the stereo output is the seventh modulation source — infinite algorithms), 25 tuning tables switchable on the fly, and 7 Bézier-curve ADSRs. Built by someone who’s been inside the DX7’s submenus since 1984. Knob Twiddlers: the Gentleman’s Edition editor is coming. Ouranos7-Friends is for Preset Waders — just load and play. “The DX7 stole 40 years of my life. This is what I got back.” Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Ouranos7 by John Crosby Acoustics Not another DX7 clone — a revenge, a tribute, and a love letter, all in one. Ouranos7-Friends is a free 6-operator FM synth with true stereo oscillators, a 7×6 FM and AM matrix (the stereo output is the seventh modulation source — infinite algorithms), 25 tuning tables switchable on the fly, and 7 Bézier-curve ADSRs. Built by someone who’s been inside the DX7’s submenus since 1984. Knob Twiddlers: the Gentleman’s Edition editor is coming. Ouranos7-Friends is for Preset Waders — just load and play. “The DX7 stole 40 years of my life. This is what I got back.” Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Meter Core by AutoFactory Audio Meter Core is a free master-bus metering plugin for AU and VST3 hosts (macOS 10.15+, universal binary for Intel and Apple Silicon). Alongside conventional readouts — LUFS, true peak, RMS, crest factor, headroom — it surfaces a set of mix-quality indices calibrated against commercial references: Side Air, Centre Weight, Forward Mid, Punch Reserve, Silk Ratio, Low Width Risk, Push Damage, and a Translation verdict. A TARGET switch (OFF / STREAM / CLUB) moves the verdict bands to match where the mix is headed — the measurements never change, only what counts as healthy for the destination. The Track Pass feature accumulates averages, min/max and worst-case values across a full end-to-end playback and reports an overall track health summary (PASS / WATCH / PUSHED), so you can audit a whole mix in one pass rather than watching needles in real time. Analysis sessions export to CSV. A built-in Guide tab explains each index in plain English. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Gneiss by Hvoya Audio Heavy, gritty, banded, formed under pressure. A morphing multi-stage filter with colorful chaos. Two pre-filters into a saturating, pressurizing ladder — unpredictable and full of happy accidents. Made for drums, deep bass and textural noise, but it’ll morph into pads just as easily, or high-end analog-style sizzle in HP mode. Gneiss is equal parts FX, instrument and sound-design tool Features: Morph pad – blend between whole-patch snapshots on an XY field; freely place points and glide between them live (XY is MIDI-mappable). Break / chaos engine – wavefolding, bitcrushing, clicks and more folded into the ladder – a playable nonlinear system. High-quality ZDF transistor ladder + resonant SVF pre-filters, both stereo-detunable. Input-gated damping for transient sculpting and taming self-oscillation. Controls are MIDI-learnable (absolute and relative/modulation modes). Filter cutoffs playable by MIDI notes — per-stage channel selectors, glide, note-relative shifts. Coherent patch randomization and mutation. Custom UI builder — arrange your own control layout. Up to 8× oversampling. Lots of presets (try stacking two instances at ~0.5 mix each). YouTube/lrKUVtPoNi4 YouTube/4XM8Qa08M_Y Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

Piruz Labs has released Harsher Reality, a lo-fi and signal-destruction plugin built around an idea the genre has skipped: damage that fights back. One dial, ACCEPT REALITY, takes a sound from clean and expensive to broken and hostile. Six media (Tape, Cassette, Vinyl, VHS, Radio and Digital) decide how it breaks. A signature DENIAL stage then listens to what the destruction took away, the air, body and attack, and pushes it back through the wreckage: the sound stays broken, but it refuses to die. Unlike most lo-fi tools, the six media are not presets of one damage engine. Each carries its own baked-in character even with every damage knob at zero: vinyl crackles over dark surface noise with a true 33 rpm wow, cassette hisses bright and flutters, VHS wobbles over mains hum, radio lives on a static bed, and digital has a dead-silent floor that simply crunches. Even the dropouts are media-aware: on radio, DROP OUTS becomes losing the station (the signal fades while static swells in its place), and on digital it becomes hard 20 to 140 ms glitch cuts. The panel is a distressed broadcast chassis where each medium appears as a real animated machine: a spinning reel-to-reel, a cassette, a turntable, a VHS deck, radios. Producers can drop their own WAV onto the plugin to hear it destroyed in real time, then export a 24-bit render next to the original. Features: ACCEPT REALITY macro: clean to broken on one dial. Six voiced media, each a real animated machine on the panel. Full damage set: wow/flutter, drop outs, wear, scratches, tracking, jitter. Media-aware signal loss (radio static fades, digital glitch cuts). DENIAL recovery, the sound remembers what it was. Drop-a-WAV audition plus 24-bit export. VST3, AU and Standalone for macOS and Windows. Pricing & Availability Harsher Reality Lite is free (Tape, Cassette and Vinyl plus the core damage set, no licence key). Harsher Reality Pro is a one-time 39.95 USD. Every install includes a 7-day full Pro trial. Available now at piruzlabs.com/products/harsher-reality Lab notes on the media measurements: piruzlabs.com/notes/harsher-reality Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. The Trakanix Sequencer by Trakanix The Trakanix Sequencer is a 24 step patch sequencer, i.e. each step is a fully configurable sound patch. You can create loops within the 24 steps and you can disable the changing of patch settings from one step to the next. All data is saved to a Google Sheet making it easy to share, swap patches etc. It’s coded in JavaScript (mostly) and presented as a web app attached to Google sheet. A user gets a link which enables them to copy the Google sheet into their own account. They then deploy the app and use the deployment link to run the sequencer. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

Notewerks has released StepStrum Lite and StepStrum Pro, two editions of its real-time MIDI strumming sequencer for macOS and Windows. StepStrum turns keyboard-played chords into customizable strummed MIDI performances. Instead of relying on prerecorded loops or fixed guitar-library strum presets, users can play their own chords, design their own rhythm patterns, and send the resulting MIDI to a guitar library, synth, sampler, or other instrument. StepStrum works as a MIDI effect and does not generate audio by itself. It generates MIDI, allowing producers, composers, and songwriters to pair its strumming engine with the sounds and instruments they already use. Available in two editions StepStrum Lite is available for free and includes the core real-time strumming engine, step-based pattern workflow, essential timing and feel controls, and support for sending generated MIDI to separate instruments. StepStrum Pro is available for $39 USD and expands the workflow with deeper pattern control, advanced performance lanes, and bank management features. Pro adds extended editing tools for shaping velocity, gate, probability, and dynamics behavior across steps. Key Features Real-time MIDI strumming from keyboard-played chords. Step-based pattern editor for custom rhythm creation. Works with third-party instruments, guitar libraries, synths, samplers, and hardware sound sources. Global controls for Strum Spread, Gate, Swing, Humanize, Velocity Mode, and Time Division. Straight and triplet timing divisions. Free Lite edition. Pro edition with expanded pattern editing, advanced performance lanes, and bank workflow. Pricing & Availability StepStrum is available for macOS and Windows in VST3 format, with AU support on macOS: StepStrum Lite is free. StepStrum Pro is $39. Read More

Rockheyday has announced the release of Fobrus-D, a high-fidelity algorithmic stereo delay designed to add rhythmic depth, spatial dimension, and precise temporal echoes to audio productions. Built around a 32-bit floating-point processing engine, Fobrus-D features selectable Standard and Ping-Pong delay modes, allowing users to create everything from subtle stereo ambience to wide rhythmic delay effects. The plugin includes Host Tempo Sync, Feedback, High-Cut and Low-Cut filters, and an equal-power Dry/Wet mix control for seamless integration into mixes. For additional stereo shaping, Fobrus-D offers a Mid/Side-based Stereo Width control, while a click-free soft-crossfade bypass ensures smooth transitions during playback. The interface has been designed with a strong focus on CPU efficiency. Key Features Engine: High-Fidelity Algorithmic Mono/Stereo Delay with Dual-Layer FFT Analysis. Time Control: Delay (1 ms – 2000 ms). Sync: Automatic Host-Tempo Synchronization supporting 13 rhythmic subdivisions. Routing Modes: Switchable Standard Stereo routing and cross-feedback Ping-Pong routing. Feedback Shaping: Integrated low-cut (high-pass) and high-cut (low-pass) filters. Stereo Imaging: Mid/Side (M/S) processing for variable stereo width control. Mix Logic: Equal-Power Dry/Wet blending using sine/cosine attenuation curves. Analyzer: Dual-Layer Input/Output FFT display for real-time monitoring. FFT Engine: 4096 / 8192-point resolution with Blackman windowing. Response Model: Internal 4.5 dB tilt and 350 ms ballistic decay. Gain Structure: Output Trim (-12 dB to +12 dB). Metering: Dual-layer LR Peak meters (body = input level, floating peak = output level). Preset Management: Native XML-based saving and loading system. Channel Compatibility: Fully supports Mono or Stereo main inputs/outputs. Precision: 32-bit floating-point audio processing throughout the signal path. Sample Rates: Multi-rate support (44.1 kHz – 96 kHz), dynamically matching host DAW settings. Pricing & Availability A free demo VST3 version and full VST3 version ($10.99) are available for Windows at: rockheyday.gumroad.com Read More

Audiomodern has released Cybervox, a new free expansion pack for Playbeat 4. Produced by Princess Nostalgia, an Italian-American producer and independent artist, this Playbeat expansion pack features rhythmic, robotic, and futuristic vocal chops with expressive grooves, glitchy vocal rhythms, and machine-like patterns. The pack includes 30 fully unlocked presets, giving you complete freedom to reshape, randomize, and customize every sound and pattern inside Playbeat. Cybervox is available now as a free download for Playbeat 4 users. YouTube.com/watch?v=J6pwICIdijM Read More

Audiomodern has released Cybervox, a new free expansion pack for Playbeat 4. Produced by Princess Nostalgia, an Italian-American producer and independent artist, this Playbeat expansion pack features rhythmic, robotic, and futuristic vocal chops with expressive grooves, glitchy vocal rhythms, and machine-like patterns. The pack includes 30 fully unlocked presets, giving you complete freedom to reshape, randomize, and customize every sound and pattern inside Playbeat. Cybervox is available now as a free download for Playbeat 4 users. YouTube.com/watch?v=J6pwICIdijM Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Double Freak by Bjango Double Freak is a wild dual oscillator synth that tracks the pitch of incoming audio. Thicken or completely replace audio with a pair of freaky, monstrous, unpredictable oscillators. Double Freak plays sawtooth, square, or triangle waves that tightly or loosely follow the pitch of incoming audio. It’s a bit like a synth guitar pedal, but also not. Double Freak works best with monophonic audio, like a single vocal track, a melody synth line, or anything tonal. If you really want to get freaky, send it something else. The pitch tracking is intentionally erratic with polyphonic and atonal input. That’s how we like it. Env mod and decay Bend the start of notes up or down, with Double Freak’s pitch envelope. Channel linking Pitch tracking can be independent, where a stereo track’s left and right channels pitch can be wildly different, for a super wide effect. Or, pitch tracking can be locked across all channels, maintaining focus. Analog modelled distortion Double Freak features two different distortion types that have been modelled on analog hardware. The distortion processing happens after the mixer, so the dry incoming signal can also be distorted. This means Double Freak can be used purely as a distortion plugin, if you’d like — simply turn down the volume of the oscillators and leave the dry signal loud. The dry level control determines how distorted the signal will be. Requirements Double Freak is an audio plugin. It is available as an Audio Unit version 3 and VST3 plugin for macOS and Windows. Double Freak works with a wide range of audio apps. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. DUEL LT by Audiorift Stop mixing flat. Start charging energy. The Problem & The Solution (The Media Composer’s Pain Point). In the world of modern cinematic scoring, your tracks don’t just need to be loud—they need to be massive, deeply dramatic, and wide, without clipping your master bus. When you are stacking massive brass rows, hybrid sub-booms, and aggressive sound design elements, standard processing chains break down. You squash the orchestral transients with a compressor, lose the low-end definition of your sub-booms with heavy saturation, or crush the dramatic tension out of your mix at the limiter stage. DUEL stops the compromise. Designed by trailer composer Nick Road to handle the extreme dynamic requirements of modern blockbusters and AAA game scores, DUEL bridges the gap between raw cinematic power and absolute signal control. It acts as a three-stage energy injector that forces your cue to punch through dense orchestral arrangements and SFX-heavy game environments without killing your headroom. DUEL Anatomy & Features STAGE 1: THE CHARGER (Smart Compression) The Sonic Engine: An adaptive, high-tension compressor built to glue dense instrument groups and hybrid master tracks together. It instantly identifies the core weight of your signal, enhancing the perceived loudness and tightening low-end transients without pumping or choking your mix—keeping your fast-paced action cues entirely coherent. STAGE 2: THE RIFT (Saturator & Harmonic Exciter) The Sonic Engine: Inspired by premium analog hardware drive circuits. It injects rich, even-order harmonics that add physical grit, midrange definition, and expensive top-end sheen. Perfect for transforming thin hybrid synths, cold orchestral samples, or custom sound design elements into a massive, cinematic wall of sound. STAGE 3: THE SHIELD (Brickwall Limiter & Peak Control) The Sonic Engine: The final, unyielding line of defense. You covered by transparent, smart brickwall limiter. It drives up your final RMS and LUFS levels while preserving vital front-end transient detail, ensuring your audio remains safe from digital clipping. Fast Walkthrough: YouTube/O5aRt1zCUFU Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Focus Time by Touch The Universe Productions Focus Time is a free experimental sample-based instrument built for evolving textures, rhythmic glitches, stretched pads, and animated sound design. Load a sample, draw movement directly onto the timeline, and let Focus Time reshape the sound through multiple time-based engines. It can be played from MIDI like an instrument, or triggered from its own standalone Play mode for instant looping and auditioning. Focus Time is designed around a visual workflow: each tab gives you a different way to bend, repeat, smear, stretch, or color the sample while a moving playhead shows how the modulation unfolds over time. Main Features: Sample-based instrument workflow. MIDI-triggered playback. Standalone Play mode without MIDI. Visual curve editor with animated playhead. Waveform background behind the modulation grid. Multiple effect tabs for different kinds of motion and transformation. Repeat/glitch block editor. Stretch and time-based movement tools. Formant/vowel-style tone shaping. Delay, tape, scrape, frequency, spring, LFO, harmonic, and ghost-style modulation sections. Multi-effect activation so several tabs can work together. Designed for pads, drones, loops, textures, transitions, and experimental sound design. What It’s For Focus Time is especially useful for: Ambient pads. Granular-style textures. Lo-fi movement. Rhythmic stutters. Slow evolving loops. Cinematic beds. Experimental sample mangling. Turning simple sounds into animated instruments. Concept Most samplers play a sound back. Focus Time is built around the idea of drawing time into the sound. Instead of only turning knobs, you shape motion visually: curves, repeat regions, playhead movement, waveform context, and per-tab modulation all work together to create something that feels alive. Focus Time is not meant to be a polished “safe” rompler. It is a creative instrument for exploring strange, beautiful, unstable, and evolving sounds. YouTube/soo-TnRgrTU Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Focus Time by Touch The Universe Productions Focus Time is a free experimental sample-based instrument built for evolving textures, rhythmic glitches, stretched pads, and animated sound design. Load a sample, draw movement directly onto the timeline, and let Focus Time reshape the sound through multiple time-based engines. It can be played from MIDI like an instrument, or triggered from its own standalone Play mode for instant looping and auditioning. Focus Time is designed around a visual workflow: each tab gives you a different way to bend, repeat, smear, stretch, or color the sample while a moving playhead shows how the modulation unfolds over time. Main Features: Sample-based instrument workflow. MIDI-triggered playback. Standalone Play mode without MIDI. Visual curve editor with animated playhead. Waveform background behind the modulation grid. Multiple effect tabs for different kinds of motion and transformation. Repeat/glitch block editor. Stretch and time-based movement tools. Formant/vowel-style tone shaping. Delay, tape, scrape, frequency, spring, LFO, harmonic, and ghost-style modulation sections. Multi-effect activation so several tabs can work together. Designed for pads, drones, loops, textures, transitions, and experimental sound design. What It’s For Focus Time is especially useful for: Ambient pads. Granular-style textures. Lo-fi movement. Rhythmic stutters. Slow evolving loops. Cinematic beds. Experimental sample mangling. Turning simple sounds into animated instruments. Concept Most samplers play a sound back. Focus Time is built around the idea of drawing time into the sound. Instead of only turning knobs, you shape motion visually: curves, repeat regions, playhead movement, waveform context, and per-tab modulation all work together to create something that feels alive. Focus Time is not meant to be a polished “safe” rompler. It is a creative instrument for exploring strange, beautiful, unstable, and evolving sounds. YouTube/soo-TnRgrTU Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. Pure Diff Viewer by chsh2 Pure Diff Viewer aims at facilitating the version control of Pure Data (Pd), a visual programming language for computer music. When organizing Pd patches in a Git repository, the differences between commits are shown in plain text. The text is hardly human-readable and makes it difficult to track the changes of a patch and maintain it in the long term. This program attempts to solve this problem by visualizing the differences and rendering them in the Pd node graph. It has the following features: Graphical browser of a Git repository of Pure Data (Pd) patches Switches between multiple branches/commits to trace the changes of a patch. Highlights and categorizes patch changes in a semantic way with visual marks. Integration with git difftool Supports file/directory comparisons via git commands. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More

The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now at the download and voting stage; it’s time to focus on each of the 56 entries that are available now, for free, for everyone. TOMiC Drum Synth by Tomasz Głuc TOMiC is a professional-grade drum synthesizer plugin designed for producers who demand both sonic depth and programming flexibility. Built from the ground up in Rust for maximum real-time safety, it delivers eight fully independent synthesis engines — each capable of sculpting any percussive sound from tight kicks to evolving metallic textures — all within a clean, scalable interface. Every channel combines an oscillator layer with a dedicated noise generator, running through a choice of twelve analogue-modelled filters and a comprehensive FX chain. The result is a synth that can convincingly cover kick, snare, hi-hat, clap, tom, and percussion duties in a single instance, while still leaving room for experimental sound design. Synthesis Engine Oscillator: band-limited waveforms with poly-BLEP anti-aliasing, pitch envelope with concave/linear/convex shaping, hard sync, FM, cluster/detune, and PWM. Noise generator: White, Pink, Brown, Velvet, and Metallic modes; Metallic uses a feedback delay network for realistic cymbal and bell tones. Sample layer: per-channel sample playback with slice support, independent from synthesis layers. 12 analogue-modelled filter models: Clean SVF, Moog Ladder, 303 Diode, Korg35, OB-Xd, Comb, Vintage, Cutoff Warp, Resonance Warp, Formant, Sample & Hold. Two synthesis layers (A/B) with Morph crossfade and independent parameter sets. Effects Reverb: custom 8-line Feedback Delay Network (FDN) with Hadamard mixing matrix, per-line stereo modulation, frequency-dependent damping — fully self-contained, no convolution required. Delay: 4-point Hermite interpolation, one-pole LP in feedback path, DC blocker, no pitch zippering. Distortion: 8 algorithms (ArcTan, Tape, Tube, Fuzz, Rectify, Half Rectify, Diode, Foldback) with 2× oversampling via polyphase IIR anti-aliasing. Bit Crusher: TPDF dither with dual Xorshift PRNG for true-colour quantisation noise; zero-order-hold sample rate reduction. Chorus, Phaser, Parametric EQ, Stereo Widener Master Compressor: full ADSR control with makeup gain. Master Limiter: configurable ceiling. Modulation & Control 2× LFO per channel — syncable to host tempo, routable to 140+ destinations including filter cutoff, pitch, pan, reverb send, and per-step parameters. 2× Mod Envelope per channel — one-shot ADSR for transient shaping of any parameter. Per-step parameter automation lanes: pitch, volume, pan, probability, gate, micro-offset, ratchet, morph, mutation, and more. Song-level automation: tempo, swing, and per-pattern parameter snapshots. Step Sequencer 13 patterns (A–L + Fill), up to 64 steps per channel, independent step length per channel. Per-step controls: trigger, accent, probability (0–100%), reverse, ratchet (1–4×), gate length, pitch offset, micro-offset (±100 ms nudge), slice index, morph. Trigger conditions: Ratio (x:y), Not Ratio, First, Not First — Elektron-style conditional trigs. 6 Groove templates: Laid Back, Push, Shuffle, Bossa Nova, Funk Heavy, Human. Euclidean pattern generator with rotation. Auto-randomise per lane with configurable density, range, and interval. Song mode: full song arrangement with pattern chain, per-pattern channel automation. Clip launch: per-channel independent start/stop queuing for live performance. Workflow Undo/Redo — 20-step history for all sequencer edits (Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y). Editable channel names — rename via double-click or context menu, saved with project. Copy/Paste: full pattern, step range, channel preset. MIDI CC Learn with per-parameter mapping and override values. MIDI Export: full song chain or individual channel patterns as standard MIDI files. Audio Export: WAV (16/24/32-bit float), AIFF, at 44.1/48/96 kHz. MicroTonic preset import — load .mtpreset and .mtdrum files directly. UI Scaling: 80% / 100% / 125% / 150%. Download, vote & donate at www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026 Read More