Erica Synths has announced the Hexinverter Mutant BD9, Hexinverter‘s modular take on the classic TR-909 kick.
A combination of voltage-controlled distortion and the iconic flavor of the TR-909, Hexinverter’s interpretation of this iconic Bass Drum in modular format gives it more power, grit and flexibility. The primary analog VCO offers classic 909-esque sinusoidal bass drums, but can also be switched to generate a square wave bass drum.
Erica Synths x Hexinverter Mutant BD9 demo:
Mutant BD9 Features:
The primary analog VCO offers classic 909-esque sinusoidal bass drums, but can also be switched to generate a square wave bass drum
The PITCH of the VCO spans several octaves, from about 30Hz to 240Hz, and can be modulated with voltage control
A novel PITCH DECAY circuit allows you to adjust the duration and AMOUNT of the pitch-modulation envelope applied to the bassdrum, from short blips to exaggerated tom-like sweeps
The AMPLITUDE DECAY allows adjustment of the length of the bass drum, from short punchy kicks to massive booms. This parameter is voltage-controlled with a snappy CV response time, allowing you to modulate the duration of your kicks per step.
The CLICK generator is responsible for the attack intensity of the BD9. A fair amount of circuitry goes into creating this subtle punch at the beginning of the kick. The level of this effect is adjustable up to a fairly dramatic extremity.
A square wave sub-oscillator derived from the primary oscillator’s pitch can be mixed in (manually and with voltage control) to the BD9. The effect can be subtle deepness or extreme timbre changes.
The overall timbre of the BD9 varies with the DRIVE control from warm, analog bass drums at low settings to speaker-shattering overdriven sounds at high settings. Output levels are modular-level signals, unlike many classic line-level percussive devices.
Erica Synths x Hexinverter Mutant BD9 bass drum module is available now for €180 from the Erica Synths website.
With a redesigned interface and an upgraded core algorithm, Smooth Operator Pro promises to address common mix issues and improve balance and clarity.
Baby Audio’s Smooth Operator released in 2021, is a dynamic spectral balancing plugin that addresses problematic mixes through a combination of resonance suppression, EQ and spectral compression.
Now, four years later, Baby Audio has released a beefed-up sequel to that plugin: Smooth Operator Pro. Augmented with a variety of new features and an upgraded core algorithm, Smooth Operator Pro promises to tackle common mix issues such as unwanted resonance and frequency masking while enhancing overall clarity.
Unlike similar plugins that apply global processing to the entire signal, Smooth Operator Pro can now make targeted frequency-specific adjustments using individual frequency nodes that each have their own dynamic profile. Each node can be assigned its own optimized settings for parameters such as compression, focus and stereo imaging, so you’re able to precisely target multiple issues across your mix without using several instances of the plugin.
Smooth Operator Pro’s new and improved core algorithm now offers two individual correction algorithms, Even and Skew, its new stereo imaging functionality brings mid/side processing, and sidechaining is now possible too. The plugin’s user interface has also been fully redesigned, offering full control over all dynamic and imaging parameters.
Smooth Operator Pro’s new and improved core algorithm now offers two individual correction algorithms, Even and Skew, its new stereo imaging functionality brings mid/side processing, and sidechaining is now possible too. The plugin’s user interface has also been fully redesigned, offering full control over all dynamic and imaging parameters.
Smooth Operator Pro arrives equipped with 184 presets, targeted at specific use cases and designed by a range of Grammy-nominated engineers known for working with Drake, Usher and Lady Gaga.
Here’s the official tutorial:
Baby Audio Smooth Operator Pro is available now for macOS and Windows in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats. It’s currently priced at $79 and there’s a free trial on offer. It’s also available as part of Baby Audio’s subscription plan that gives you access to all of the company’s plugins for $14.99/month.
The latest video from gstormelectro offers a review of the Behringer Wave synthesizer.
Video Summary:
“Today I am giving a user review of the new Behringer Wave. My personal thoughts and opinions. I bought this synth with my own tax refund money. So nobody has input into what I’m posting here today.
The Wave is promoted as a faithful reproduction of the PPG Wave 2.3 digital synthesizer in all its lo-fi glory. With a touch of some modern feature additions. While I have tried a friend’s original PPG, this is not a comparison to the original. Nor is this an exhaustive how-to, nor covering all features.
