KORG’s ‘logue instruments let you run custom downloaded tools – now including recent additions like this excellent free delay.
Roll-log Sounds developed this free 8-bit, 2-tap modulated delay plug-in, which can be modulated for sounds ranging from slapback to drone effects and lots of areas in between.
It runs on the KORG instruments that support the ‘logue SDK – so that’s the Prologue, the Minilogue XD, and even the Nu:Tekt NTS-1. That last one runs just around $100 street, and it’s even smaller than a volca, so it’s a good budget and mobile solution. (It’s similar to the developer board KORG originally released with the ‘logue SDK, with some convenient extras.)
There are some really nice-looking features, including sync, automation, and the ability to do audio-rate modulation of both time and amplitude. You can save presets, too, and to get you started, there are examples for “flanged” mod FX, a delay FX “modulated slapback”, and “dub drone” for the reverb slot.
Features (from the developer’s description):
- 2.7 seconds 8-bit delay.
- 2x Delay Taps with independent Time / Feedback control.
- 2x audio-rate LFOs for stereo time and amplitude modulation of the delay taps.
- Resonant pre-delay Highpass and post-delay Lowpass Filters.
- Delay time sync-able to system BPM with custom time division.
- Delay time, LFO rate and Filter cutoff can be mapped to accurate note for external Midi / CV automation.
- All 16 internal parameters can be assigned to hardware knobs as macros with user-defined range.
- 16 preset patches can be packed into one user unit, scrollable through hardware knob.
- Carefully optimized algorithm, lighter than the factory flanger.
It’s all name-your-own-price, on Gumroad:
https://gumroad.com/l/logueMill_del_8
This is all a good time to check out the graphical editor logueMill, from the same developer. For now, it only has an editor for this Del-8 delay, but it’s possible we’ll see more tools supported in future. Also pay-what-you-will, so throw some coffee money at Roll-log Sounds!
https://gumroad.com/l/loguemill
Okay, I know that this shouldn’t appeal to me, but it does. Never tell me not to do something:
Important notice for Nu:Tekt NTS-1: currently there’s a bug that allows you to use custom delay and reverb concurrently, this is NOT INTENTED and may cause the two custom fx to malfunction or worse; if you aren’t sure you wouldn’t accidentally enable both of them, it’s highly recommended to not install any custom reverb until a firmware patch fixes it. Prologue and Minilogue XD does not have this issue.
But wait, there’s more in ‘logue news:
Distortion and bitcrushing/decimate from Sinevibes
Sinevibes, lead by our friend Artemiy, continues a run of great stuff for the KORG platforms.
This time, you get a 5-algorithm multi-effect distortion (Corrosion), and a sample rate + bit depth reduction (DCM8 – “decimate,” get it?):
Corrosion features a total of 5 different distortion curves that enrich the input signal with new harmonics, each doing it in its own unique way. This algorithm is built with 2x oversampling to reduce aliasing, giving a cleaner high-frequency response, and also includes an input noise gate to eliminate static analog noise amplification.
DCM8 changes the input signal’s digital resolution in both time and amplitude domains, degrading its quality. This results in the typical digital distortion – frequency aliasing and quantization noise, reminiscent of vintage sampling machines. Just like Corrosion, DCM8 also includes an input noise gate.
Sound mangling oscillators
Developer Tim Shoebridge is also making custom user oscillators, all for $12. (Swap that overpriced panini for an instant ramen and go!)
FOLD, the newest addition from Tim, emulates analog wave folding circuitry. There’s a long demo video, with some beautiful, warm space-out … s…. oh dear… must … finish … article … must not just … watch ambient music and wavefolding explanations…
He’s got a ton of other nice stuff in there, like simulating analog string synths (nicely lo-fi stuff there), plus a unique approach to plucked string modeling. Tim has done a nice job of making something vaguely like things you’ve heard before, but with a particular, grungy-retro tilt that’s all his own.
Check them all:
https://sellfy.com/soundmangling
All of this means, on even a fairly tight budget, you’ve got excellent choices both in the KORG stuff and in the Arturia MicroFreak with its custom oscillators. Either way, you get a range of wavetable and custom oscillators and effects. Heck, at these prices, you could pick up both. The workflow is totally different, but you would have at your disposal a lot of the same sonic range as a fairly pricey modular rig – and in form factors that might be more convenient for keyboardists, too.
I’m personally keen to try pairing our MeeBlip geode with a KORG NTS-1 (on effects, or adding voices) for an ultra-compact rig.
But this isn’t only about KORG, nice as the KORG stuff is. What we’re seeing is finally the commoditization of digital architectures are starting to make our hardware look as flexible as our software. I think that’s a very good thing, in that it takes a wide sonic palette and makes it eminently accessible and tweakable.
So happy new year, indeed. And here you can spend a few bucks on downloads and feel like you’ve got a new rig and get straight to playing it, even before we get to all the NAMM gear announcements next week.
Previously, Artemiy spoke about his developer experience and why he likes this approach: