It’s almost 2018 so here is a roundup of some of the best freeware synths that you can download to kick off the new year.
Topping the list is the TOGU Audio Line Noise Maker is a three oscillator wavetable synth with up to six voices and a stack of great effects – reverb, delay and bitcrusher which that lift its sounds well above most. The U-He Triple Cheese uses various forms of comb filter as its synthesis source which means it sounds a bit different from most of what you’ll find out there. The Green Oak Crystal was originally released in 2002, its developer has kept it up to date, so it runs in more modern DAW setups.
See the complete list here: http://www.musictech.net/2017/12/fantastic-freeware-2018-7-best-freeware-synths/
Recording Software
Wide Blue Sound's Orbit & Eclipse
Orbit and Eclipse are Kontakt Player libraries which blend or morph between a range of source samples. Created by Wide Blue Sound, Orbit offers a more subtle approach than Eclipse’s darker and more aggressive blend.
Both libraries work with Kontakt Player which is a free version of Native Instruments Kontakt capable of hosting sample libraries. Wide Blue Sound have given the two eye-catching interfaces; Orbit a blue-green space scene GUI, complete with moon-cycle buttons and nebula backgrounds. Eclipse is very similar in appearance and layout, but is styled red-orange and has a stronger appearance.
Read more about this here: https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2017/12/05/wide-blue-sound-orbit-eclipse-review/
Plugin Boutique’s Exclusive FabFilter Pro-L 2 Videos
FabFilter has announced the release of the update to the Pro-L limiter plugin, FabFilter Pro-L 2. Features include limiting algorithms, a new true peak limiting mode, extensive standards-compliant loudness metering and surround support.
The update has a complete support for surround audio with flexible channel linking more versatile in multi-channel scenarios, while the sound quality is even higher than before with up to 32x linear-phase oversampling. DC offset filter ensures that Pro-L 2 is the solution to any mastering challenges.
Read more about this here: http://www.musictech.net/2017/12/exclusive-videos-fabfilter-pro-l-2/
Qu-Bit Electronix Pulsar – Unique And Desirable
The latest module from Qu-Bit Electronix, Pulsar offers a 4-way unique output burst generator, an 8 dispersion modes and is clockable internally and externally. Eight unique dispersion modes provide a range of stream types, including Euclidean, binary, random, and fractal.
The four main outputs essentially emit gate triggers occurring with each illuminated point on the LED circle. The LEDs also change in color, according to the selected channel.
If you like rhythmic triggering and feel that your modular is a little too metronomic, this is worth a look.
Read more about this here: www.musictech.net/2017/12/qu-bit-electronix-pulsar-review/
TBProAudio Releases Free ISOL8 Monitoring Utility VST/AU Plugin
ISOL8 is a freeware mix monitoring tool that is designed for monitoring different frequency regions. It is released by TBProAudio and can be used in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and RTAS plugin formats.
It also features a filter bypass switch, monitoring channel adjustments (solo buttons for the Left, Right, Mid, and Side channels), an output volume control, and an attenuation switch. It claims to more streamlined than a multi-band compressor as it allows precise monitoring of the mix.
Good news is that it is free to download and does not require a sign up from the developers website.
Read more about this here: https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2017/12/06/tbproaudio-isol8/