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Klanghelm’s first reverb plugin, Tens, has been finally released after 3.5 years of development. Klanghelm reboots AKG’s BX spring reverb with its new Tens plugin, and there’s also a free version available, Tens Jr.

It all started from the early 1970s to early 1980s. During the ‘70s and ‘80s, AKG offered a unique take on the spring reverb concert with its BX series. This kicked off with the sizeable BX20, and was followed by the more portable BX10, rackmounted BX5 and then the BX25, which added a built-in delay.

If you want to hear what the BX boxes were all about, Klanghelm is now giving you the opportunity with its new Tens plugin. Inspired by AKG’s design – which enabled various connected spring elements of different lengths and wire diameter to vibrate inside a small, isolated space – this offers a wide range of decay times and outputs in stereo rather than the original mono.

You can tweak the sound using Tension, Whoosh and Metallic controls, while the optional (pre)amp saturation can be placed anywhere in the signal chain. There are three modulation slots; each of these offers an envelope and an LFO, which can be used to modulate any parameter. The envelope follower can be triggered by the input, output or an external sidechain signal, and you can also use it for ducking effects.

The hope is that Tens will be capable of recreating the kind of deep, organic reverbs that the BX models were known for, with those modulation options opening up the possibility of fashioning tremolo, chorus, vibrato and phaser-style sounds as well.

If you want a taste of Tens but do not want to stump up the $24 that it costs, there is also a free version Tens Jr, the little brother of the studio spring reverb TENS. It features TENS model 5 – tank A, which gives you just a single tank to work with. It’s still stereo, and also offers a single fader that enables you to adjust its character.

TENS offers:

• a wide range of decay times (from 0.2 seconds up to 40 seconds)
• as opposed to the original each tank of TENS’ models outputs a stereo signal instead of mono
• various options to deeply alter the actual models via the TENSION, WHOOSH and METALLIC controls
• optional (pre-)amp saturation, that can be placed freely in the signal chain
• three modulation slots to add movement or create out-of-this-world sounds
• every continuous TENS parameter can be a modulation target
• the target can be modulated by either an LFO or envelope follower
• the envelope follower can be triggered by either the reverb input, ouput or even an external sidechain signal
• using the envelope follower for ducking effects is also possible
• the envelope follower can be used to shape the dynamics of the input, the optional amp saturation and the reverb signal
• with the modulation section various modulation effects can be achieved, such as tremolo, chorus, vibrato, phaser-like sounds and more rather unusual sounds plus combinations of the aforementioned effects

Both versions of Tens are available now and run in VST/AU/AAX formats for PC and Mac. Find out more on the Klanghelm website.

Lofi Oddity is an immediate and easy-to-use ear candy playground.

The developer of SketchCassette has just released a free plugin called Lofi Oddity, an audio ‘degradation toy box’.

With their quirky interfaces and unconventional sound, Aberrant DSP’s plugins have been piquing producers’ interest for several years now. In fact, SketchCassette  – the company’s debut release – has even ended up in the hands of Finneas, who used it in the production of Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For?

Aberrant DSP’s new releases Lofi Oddity a free plugin, is something of a ‘greatest hits’ package, taking elements from three of the developer’s paid-for plugins (plus one that may well be coming soon) and packing them into an easy-to-use ‘degradation toy box’.

In keeping with the old-school vibe, the interface looks like it’s been made for an early version of Windows or MacOS. It contains four modules; first up, Corruption, which provides digital artifacting and stuffer effects inspired by Digitalis.

Next, we move on to ‘????’ – yes, that’s what it’s called. Aberrant DSP implies that the lack of a name can be blamed on the fact that this “uncharted space” provider is derived from a plugin that hasn’t been released yet.

The Tape module offers you a taste of SketchCassette’s C90-style degraded warmth, while the Comp module takes its cue from ShapeShifter.

You can dial in the amount of each effect individually, and there’s also a Master Mix control. 18 factory presets are included to demonstrate what Lofi Oddity is capable of.

Lofi Oddity Includes:

• Corruption module for digital artifacting and stutter effects, inspired by Digitalis
• ?????? full of uncharted spaces
• Tape effect featuring a greatest hits of SketchCassette’s warm, degraded tones
• Comp section for extra glue and punch, inspired by ShapeShifter
• Master Mix control allows any combination of settings to reach from tasteful to abominable
• Custom preset system with 18 factory presets illuminating Lofi Oddity’s broken soundscapes

Lofi Oddity looks like anyone can download and easy to use – it comes in VST/AU/AAX formats and runs on PC and Mac. Go and grab it on the Aberrant DSP website.

Though some best Black Friday plugin deals have arrived early this year, but we anticipate that there should still be some nice surprises to come. And, Slate Digital has just provided one in the shape of Heatwave, a free one-knob saturation plugin for Windows and macOS.

Heatwave is a free One-Knob Saturation Plugin designed to do one thing: ‘Bring The Heat’, as the company says will “set your sound on fire”.

Designed to add “grit and aggressiveness” to any sound it gets its dirty claws on – drums, guitars, bass, synths and full mixes are all suggested targets – Heatwave’s primary control is labelled Drive. This is used to adjust a combination of saturation, EQ and compression – just turn it up to increase the effect.

You can also tweak the input level, which itself can have an impact on the overall sound. The Clip button adds a clipper to the overall output, and can help to control “unwieldy” transients.

Lastly, you can adjust the overall output level, or turn Heatwave off using the Bypass button.

Features:

• One-knob saturation plugin
• Transient shaping, compression, saturation, EQ—all in one
• Preserves and exaggerates original transients
• Drive knob ‘drives’ the entire plugin
• Input level and Clip button influence resulting sound
• Perfect for drums, guitars, bass, synths, and full mixes

Heatwave runs on Windows and macOS in VST/AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstations, and can be downloaded now for free via the Slate Digital website.