Ocean Swift has introduced Sample Tester, a free instrument designed for rapid auditioning, tuning checks, and curation of oscillator-style samples.
With Sample Tester, you can drag and drop a sample file and immediately hear it played polyphonically, letting you quickly quick check tuning, harmonic behavior, and musical context.
Features:
Automatically detects or permits manual setting of the root note
Displays MIR-derived metrics such as pitch, peak, RMS, and loudness at a glance
Offers an engine toggle to compare Direct-From-Disk streaming versus Time Machine Pro sample stretching
Splice unveils free plugin and virtual instrument platform with hundreds of free presets.
Samples have historically been Splice’s primary focus, but today the company makes a bold move into the world of virtual instruments with the launch of the INSTRUMENT plugin.
INSTRUMENT is a cloud-connected virtual instrument that gives musicians access to a library of 1200+ multi-sampled presets, most of which are based on sounds from British sample library and instrument developer Spitfire Audio’s extensive library. (Back in April, Splice acquired Spitfire Audio in a rumoured $50m deal.)
INSTRUMENT is free to download and currently features a total of 489 free instrument presets across 66 themed packs, available to anyone with a Splice account. The instruments cover everything from intimate pianos and ambient textures to hyperpop synths and vintage drum sounds, and new free presets will be dropped on a regular basis.
All of the free presets in INSTRUMENT are based on sounds that were previously available through Spitfire Audio’s popular and long-running free virtual instrument series LABS, which has now ceased operations, along with the recently launched subscription platform LABS+.
Alongside the free presets, INSTRUMENT also gives paid subscribers access to an expanding library of hundreds more “premium” presets, most of which are also based on Spitfire Audio content. These include choirs, modular synths, orchestral textures and field recordings, alongside genre-focused instruments and artist-created packs. Other highlights include composer Phillip Glass’ baby grand piano and Spitfire Audio’s popular BBC Symphony Orchestra instruments.
All of the available instruments can be browsed, previewed and downloaded within the plugin. Once you’ve seleced a preset, it will appear in INSTRUMENT’s Play window, where you can tweak several macros that manipulate the sound, adjust tuning and dynamics, and switch between presets in a sound pack.
Unlike Splice’s sample platform, INSTRUMENT doesn’t operate using a credit-based system and paid subscribers can access all of the available presets instantly. If you cancel your plan, all current tracks in projects that use premium presets will continue to function and respond to automation, but you won’t be able to create any new tracks using paid-for sounds.
“Splice INSTRUMENT marks a major milestone for Splice,” said Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava. “For the first time, we’re moving beyond samples into full virtual instruments, bringing creative control and world-class recordings to musicians and producers everywhere in an accessible, playable form. This is just the beginning of what’s possible when we combine Spitfire Audio’s artistry with Splice’s innovation.”
“With Splice INSTRUMENT, we’re building on the foundation of LABS: affordable access to inspiring, expressive sounds with intuitive creative control,” added Spitfire Audio’s Paul Thomson. “Sounds from this collection have already appeared on Grammy-nominated albums and in blockbuster films. Whether composing for screen or producing the next big hit, this library captures the beauty of real instruments and the character of the rooms they were recorded in.”
Splice INSTRUMENT Walkthrough:
Splice INSTRUMENT is available now for macOS and Windows in AU/VST3/AAX formats.
Splice INSTRUMENT is free to download, but access to premium sounds will require an INSTRUMENT subscription at $12.99/month. Access is also included in Splice’s Creator and Creator+ plans, priced at $19.99/month and $39.99/month respectively.
Visit Splice website to download INSTRUMENT and find out more.
Green Noise has introduced Saucillator, a free app for iOS and Android that lets you create and play your own custom synthesizers and instruments.
What they have to say about it:
“Inspired by the Korg Kaossilator and Moog synthesizers, Saucillator transforms mobile devices into a platform for creating and playing digital synthesizers. Users use the touchscreen to manipulate oscillators and effects, and can also do live-looping and recording. Our goal is to be beginner friendly while at the same time offering all the deep, complex features traditional synth users love.
Users are able to play custom synthesizers using the x-y axes of the touchscreen. The x-axis corresponds to amplitude (volume) and the y-axis corresponds to frequency (pitch). Playback can also be looped, recorded, and EQed using a Parametric EQ.
On top of performing, users are able to create their own custom synthesizers, which consist of a custom timbre and user-defined effects. A variety of timbres are included: Sine, Square, Saw, Pulse, Noise, Theremin, “Singing Saw”, “Electric Eel”, and “Starslide.” These, as well as any user-created synths, can be mixed and matched at different harmonics, amplitudes, and phases to create custom sounds.
Each synth has customizable fx parameters as well, including Envelope (ADSR – attack & release), Vibrato LFO (rate & depth), Tremolo, Delay, Distortion, Parametric EQ, and Note Lag (Portamento).”
You can also export your designs to share with others.
Saucillator is available now, for iOS & Android, as a free download.
