Flowsonics Graindrop is the latest plugin to offer creative, experimental sound mangling in an accessible package. It is mentioned as a granular delay effect, but can actually manipulate your audio in all manner of ways, with a strong emphasis on randomisation.
The central XY-pad enables you to assign and control two parameters simultaneously. You can also engage the trajectory mode, which keeps the parameters in constant motion, resulting in an ever-changing sound.
In addition, the parameters are divided into different sections. In the Grains area you can adjust the length, density, shape and playback direction of each grain, while the Manipulation area allows you to dial in random stereo spread, random muting, spectral freezing and pitch-shifting. Elsewhere, you can adjust the amount of delay feedback and filter cutoff, and tweak the delay time and dry/wet mix.
And, everything can be automated in your DAW, and there are 12 included presets.
The Flowsonics Graindrop is available now on the Flowsonics website in VST/AU formats for PC and Mac. The regular price is $40, but it is currently available for $25. There is a demo version, as well.
Studio Electronics has introduced the SE-3X, a three-voice Paraphonic synth, inspired by the classic Minimoog, but offering full MIDI control and four discrete, classic hardware filters.
The SE-3X synth is an evolution of one of Studio Electronics’s first products, the SE-1(x). It was based largely on the Minimoog, but also incorporated features from other classic analogs, and added patch storage and extensive MIDI control.
The Studio Electronics SE-3X features four analog filters, letting you create sounds from a whole collection of vintage analog gear:
SE Classic 24dB Moog;
SE Classic 24dB ARP;
SE Classic Juno/Jupiter: 4 modes: 24dB, 12dB, Mix; and
SE Classic 12dB Oberheim: filter incorporates Low Pass & Band Pass modes.
New in the SE-3X:
*Hardware:
Two fuzz modes: 70s & 90s. Front panel switchable.
RESONANT FILTER COLLECTION: 24 dB MINI, 24 dB ARP, 24dB, 6dB, “Mix Mode” JUNO/JUPITER. SEM remains the built-in filter. Front panel switchable.
*Software:
Exponential glide routine from the OMEGA and the original linear glide.
OMEGA / SE-02 Envelope routines in addition to the original linear & magical quasi-exponential Envelopes.
Panel control for Oscillator Mix.
Panel control for Oscillator 2 & 3 Fine Tune.
LFO Gate from our BOOMSTAR / MIDIMINI V30
Spice and “poly” nice nice: Paraphonic Mode: for easy and electric 3X chords and colours.
Nonlinear Labs has announced a free update for the C15 synthesizer, which now features the ability to record audio within the synth itself and adds USB MIDI connectivity.
Besides that, Nonlinear Labs is also releasing a MIDI Bridge hardware device for connecting the C15 directly to a computer or other host devices.
Recording features:
Loss-free digital recording of the stereo output signal
FLAC-compressed storage of the last hours (at least 80 min) of playing
Auto-start when the C15 is booted (optional)
Visualization in the browser and play-back controls
Download of the selected segment as FLAC or WAV file
The sound parameters at any point of the timeline can be restored
Complete information about the presets used in the session
USB MIDI Features:
Transmits and receives notes, positions of the Hardware Controls, Program Changes
Up to 90 parameters can be modulated via the Macro Controls
14-bit resolution for Note Velocities and for Controls available
Separate MIDI Channels for Split zones and Parts of the synth engine available
Local On/Off
The update, dubbed the Studio Package, allows all users of the C15 to records the past hour’s worth of playing directly within the machine. The FLAC-compressed audio can then be accessed and downloaded via a browser.
Additionally, from any point in the timeline of playing, any of the synth parameter settings can be restored, giving you a perfect snapshot and alleviating that horrible sense of whether you had remembered to hit record in your DAW, or not.
The MIDI Bridge hardware allows non-host devices to be connected, although, should you need to connect devices via a 5-pin DIN socket, then an external MIDI interface will be required.
The Studio Package is available as a free update now and owners of the C15 (prior to 3 June 2021) can purchase the MIDI Bridge for $110
