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Native Instruments’ Pro-53 synth returns for free as Pro-54, but only in your web browser.

Much to fans’ disappointment, Pro-53 was one of a long list of products that Native Instruments discontinued in 2020, but those who’ve been hoping that this Prophet-5 synth emulation plugin might return have new hope thanks to the release of Pro-54.

The good news is that this is free and open-source but, at the moment, you can only use it in your web browser.

This new port is programmed in Cmajor, a language that’s designed “for writing fast, portable audio software”. The Cmajor project was started in 2021 by Julian Storer and Cesare Ferrari in collaboration with Native Instruments. NI has been using it in its “production code” since 2023.

Storer has serious pedigree in the music software industry, having previously created both the Tracktion DAW and JUCE, a cross-platform audio app development framework. Cesare Ferrari previously worked at ROLI.

Together, the two men founded Sound Stacks, a company that fell under the Soundwide umbrella brand that has since been replaced with the Native Instruments name. Their brief here was to “drive development of new audio platform technologies for improving productivity and performance for developers” but it seems that the two are now focusing on their Cmajor endeavours.

Apparently, Pro-54 has been created with NI’s blessing, though; it’s a direct port of a “never-released” internal C++ port of the original synth, and has a GUI that was recreated in HTML/javascript using “mostly salvaged low-res bitmaps for that authentically vintage feel”.

For fans of the 2002 original – and anyone who loves the juicy sound of the Prophet-5 – it’s fun to be able to play it again in your browser, and programming types can check out the source code, as well.

Will we ever see a Pro-54 plugin, though? The Cmajor homepage says that any Cmajor ‘patch’ (of which the Pro-54 is an example) can be converted to a native C++ JUCE project and then compiled into any audio plugin format you like, so a VST/AU/AAX version is technically possible.

We’re told that native support for Cmajor patches themselves could soon be coming to a DAW near you. Tracktion Waveform is confirmed to be getting this soon, and Storer and Ferrari hope that others will follow in due course.

For now, though, you can play the Pro-54 for free on the Cmajor website. Other patch examples on there include an electric piano, an 808 and the CompuFart.

Blaukraut has released Charlatan 3, a free virtual analog (VA) synthesizer, for Linux + Windows, with focus on sound quality and usability.

Features:

• Two dual oscillators per voice with custom drawable waveforms, cross-modulation (Phase Mod, linear Frequency Mod, Ring Mod), windowed hard sync and noise generator
• Up to 7 unison voices per oscillator
• Two filters per voice with types: 4-pole ladder LP/HP/BP, Acid LP, 2-pole Sallen-Key LP/HP/BP, Notch and Comb
• Flexible filter routing (serial / parallel / dual)
• Four modulation generators with freely drawable shape where each can operate either as LFO or envelope generator
• Four Modulation transformers (XFORM) allow reshaping any control signal through a user-defined mapping
• Arbitrary routing of modulation signals via Drag’n’Drop
• High-quality master FX section: Distortion, Phaser, Chorus, Reverb, Delay, EQ
• Very low CPU and RAM usage
• Optional internal 2x oversampling
• Preset browser
• Cross-platform support: Windows / Linux / VST3 / CLAP

Charlatan 3 is available now as a free download.

Softube VCA Compressor plugin has serious dbx appeal and is free for a limited time. This emulation of a classic ‘70s dynamics processor can currently be yours for nothing till end of March.

You may well be all sorted for classic compressor emulations – it’s not like there aren’t many of them – but if you’re not, Softube is currently letting you download its dbx-inspired VCA Compressor plugin for free.

Promising to deliver the punch of the 1970s model that it emulates, this can be used to give your sounds an audible, characterful boost, thanks to its hard knee compression curve and ability to add harmonic content in the gain stages.

The plugin version promises all the tone and features of the original, plus new ratios, parallel compression and detector filtering. There’s now a sidechain section, a dry/wet control and an output drive knob for dialling in even more special sauce. Other enhancements include a stereo link mode and a high frequency make-up feature.

Features:

• VCA Compressor faithfully emulates a coveted compressor renowned for its signature snappy sound.
• Versatile for adding warmth, weight, and cohesion to bass, guitars, and vocals, as well as achieving impactful, snappy snares or bold room channels.
• Modern features include Drive, a Sidechain section, Stereo Link, High Frequency Make-up, and Dry/Wet controls.
• Console 1-ready.
• Included in the Icons: The Compressor Collection suite.

It runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats, and is also included in the company’s Icons: The Compressor Collection bundle.

The VCA Compressor is free until March 31, 2024 (normally $149) and can be downloaded now via the Softube website.