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Creator of the iOS app ThumbJam, Sonosaurus, has released an updated version of PaulXStretch, a free multi-platform application designed for the extreme time-stretching of audio.

PaulXStretch is designed for radical transformation of sounds. It is not designed for subtle time or pitch correction. It can turn any audio into hours or days of audio, so ambient music and sound design are common uses.

PaulXStretch is based on the PaulStretch algorithm (Paul’s Extreme Time Stretch, originally developed by Nasca Octavian Paul), and specifically the PaulXStretch version from Xenakios. The UI has been updated, adapted for various screen sizes, and built for the latest platforms.

PaulXStretch is available now for iOS, Linux, Mac & Windows, and the source code is available via Github.

There is no substitute for getting a handle on music theory and learning your scales, but if you need a quick online reference source, ToneGym free Music Scales Tool is indeed very handy.

Music Scales Tool is designed to give you a better understanding of scales/chords and how they’re played, this enables you to select the root note/tonic and start exploring. You can play back diatonic modes and harmony chords (triads, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths) and also a whole roster of non-diatonic scales.

In addition, there is a scale finder – select your choice of notes and you will be presented with the scales that contain them.

As the scales and chords are played back, they are also visualised on the graphical keyboard, so you can learn them, too. The tool should help you to get a better understanding of the relationship between scales, potentially improving your songwriting in the process.

You can access the free Music Scales Tool right now on the ToneGym website.

Free Arturia plugin: hybrid strings instrument kicks off ‘Augmented’ software series

The Augmented Series is described as “Acoustic Instruments Reinvented” – fusions of sampling, synthesis, and musical expression.

Arturia has introduced a new line of virtual instruments, its Augmented Series, with a free plugin, Augmented Strings Intro.  This hybrid instrument combines sampled strings with synth engines to create “an entirely new sonic experience”.

Each preset in Augmented Strings Intro features up to four layers – any combination of string samples, virtual analogue, wavetable, harmonic and granular synthesis. You can morph between layers with a dedicated control, which also adjusts multiple parameters simultaneously.

Augmented Strings Intro’s GUI is based on streamlined macro controls that “intelligently alter” your sound, which should make tweaking a breeze.

The Augmented Series is designed to offer a fresh approach to acoustic instruments in software, blending sampling, synthesis and expression control. It’s designed for creating modern-day sounds that are suitable for today’s producers.

What they say about Augmented STRINGS Intro:

“Augmented STRINGS Intro is a streamlined version of an instrument that combines rich sampled strings with state-of-the-art synth engines in an approachable and inspiring way, giving today’s sound explorers the quickest route to the fresh string sounds they’ve always wanted. Advanced hybrid sounds, instant sound morphing, simple macro controls, and a mix-ready sound – software strings reinvented.”

Augmented Strings Intro is available as a free download until April 30th, 2022.

Find out more on Arturia website.