Free music software round-up: Week 8

It's back - with more new plug-ins than ever

Ben Rogerson, Tue 5 May 2009, 4:04 pm UTC

Will Black Magic Lite have you under its spell?

After a two-week break, we return with the usual selection of effect and instrument plug-ins, which range from the conventional to the decidedly quirky.

Amid the amp sim and distortion pedal emulations, you'll find a synth that produces chewing sounds, a loop generator and a simple pitch-changing plug-in, so it's probably reasonable to suggest that there's something for everyone.

A word of warning, though: we're in PC-only territory again this week. Sorry – we'll bring you more Mac stuff as and when it arrives.

Oh, and if you're a developer who's releasing a free piece of music software, be sure to let us know about it.

Xoxos stoq

Xoxos Stoq

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

Physical modelling can be used to create a wide range of sounds; in the case of Stoq, it's been employed to emulate "continuous shaker and rattle timbres". This means you get tambourine, brushed snare and jingle bell presets, plus non-instrumental patches such as footsteps and chewing.

Lower rhythm a-110

The Lower Rhythm A-110 Amplifier

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

Looking to give your sounds a little more grit? This tube amp simulator could be the answer. Freshly updated to v1.5, it comes with a 3-band EQ, compressor, low-pass filter and secondary tube channel with four amp models. It was principally designed for use on drums, but its creator also recommends it for pianos, synths and guitars.

Nick crow 8505

Nick Crow 8505 Lead

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

Featured in week 7 of our free music software round-up, Nick Crow returns with another tube guitar amp. Like the 7170 model, this features a pretty standard set of controls, but has a much nicer GUI. For best results, the developer recommends that you use 8505 lead in conjunction with a guitar cab emulator.

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