Pluggo

Pluggo 3.5 is an extraordinary collection of more than one hundred audio plug-ins. Pluggo works with sequencers and audio applications that support Audio Unit, VST, and RTAS plug-in formats. Version 3.5 is available for Windows XP and Mac OS X.

• Pluggo System Requirements
• Develop Your Own Pluggo Plug-ins

• Download a Demo or Pluggo Junior
• Pluggo Frequently Asked Questions
• Pricing and Purchase

More About Pluggo

There has never been anything close to the selection of plug-ins assembled in Pluggo. With its range of sound design possibilities, Pluggo 3.5 is more than just a few effects-it's a real-time interactive audio processing, modulation, and synthesis environment that works right inside your favorite audio application. Effects categories include delays, filters, pitch effects, distortion, granulation, spectral effects, modulators, multi-channel effects, synthesizers, audio routing, reverb and dynamics, and visual display. It's easy to see why Pluggo has been winning rave reviews from critics and users since its release.

Originally just 74 eccentric plug-ins such as the legendary Feedback Network, Tapped Delay, and Swish, Version 3 added over 19 Essential Instruments–tasty and nourishing instrument plug-ins in a variety of flavors for your Audio Units, VST, or RTAS host application. These elegant and immediately effective instruments were created by eowave, the developers of the iSynth, and make full use of award-winning Max/MSP audio programming environment. While space only allows us to tempt you with a few descriptions, you'll find something for every palate, from the characteristically midwestern self-effacement of the Pretty Good Synth, to additive synths, analog-modeling drum and percussion synths, sampling, granular synthesis, FM synthesis, and some lovely waveshaping for that little sonic something extra. And you can seamlessly combine these exciting new instruments with Pluggo effects plug-ins and modulator plug-ins for a world of sonic possibilities you'll never exhaust.

As you look over the tantalizing list of plug-ins at right, you might wonder how all this shameless abundance is possible. The answer lies in the power of Cycling '74's Max/MSP audio processing system and its plug-in development tools. Pluggo uses a run-time version of Max/MSP. Since all the plug-ins run within the same environment, they can work together behind the back of your sequencer. For example, the PluggoBus system lets plug-ins send up to eight channels of audio to each other, exploding the limitation of one or two outputs per plug-in in audio sequencers. Pluggo also sports a set of Modulators--plug-ins that mess with the parameters of other plug-ins in cool and unusual ways.

The Pluggo Concept

We started developing Pluggo with a breathtakingly simple yet radical concept: lots of interesting plug-ins for a modest price. We wanted people who would never consider paying hundreds of dollars for a single plug-in to find the Pluggo deal impossible to resist. Since Max/MSP allows you to make so much cool audio stuff so quickly, we could prototype an effect in minutes and then ask, "Would we pay a buck or two for this?" The result is that ideas that would been rejected by other plug-in developers have become the stars of the parade. Raindrops? Sine Bank? Phone Filter? Then there's the stuff that is simply unlike anything you've ever plugged in, like Spectral Filter, Feedback Network, Granular-to-Go, and Noyzckippr.

Pluggo includes MIDI support when used with Audio Units, VST, and RTAS host applications. Pluggo plug-ins can send and receive MIDI information, and Max/MSP developers can now develop their own MIDI processor plug-ins and virtual MIDI instruments.

Pluggo 3.5 includes support for host synchronization for Audio Units, VST, and RTAS host applications. Pluggo plug-ins support beat-synchronized parameter changes, sample-accurate tempo sync for a plug-in's modulating LFOs, and tempo-relative settings for plug-in parameters such as delay time.

Develop Your Own Plug-ins

Pluggo isn't be limited to the warehouse full of plug-ins we're supplying today. If you want to tweak your own plug-ins, you might want to consider Max/MSP, which includes everything you need to develop your own plug-ins. And the Pluggo Runtime Installer allows you to give your own plug-ins to everyone, regardless of whether they own Pluggo or not.

Here are a few other resources to get you started:

• To download a sample plug-in patch called Walkie-Talkie written by Richard Dudas, click here and look under "Patches and Applications."
• For virtual instrument design, visit Darwin Grosse's CreativeSynth website for a multi-part tutorial on synth-building with Max/MSP.
• For a look at how to use the MSP object tapout~ for granular synthesis (as found in the plug-in Rye), click here and look under "Audio stuff."

System Requirements

Pluggo for Windows requires:

• A Windows machine equipped with a 1 Ghz P3 or better (a 2.0 Ghz P4 or equivalent is recommended). An ASIO-compatible sound card is recommended for optimium audio performance.
• A sequencer application that hosts VST or RTAS plug-ins.
• Windows XP (Home or Pro)
• At least 256 MB of memory, although the exact amount depends on the system version and the host sequencer you're using.
• At least 55MB of hard disk space

• A Macintosh equipped with a G3 processor running at 500 Mhz or faster is recommended.
• A sequencer application that hosts VST, RTAS, or Audio Units plug-ins.
• Mac OS X 10.2 or later
• At least 256 MB of memory, although the exact amount depends on the system version and the host sequencer you're using.
• At least 55MB of hard disk space

The number of plug-ins that you can use simultaneously depends on the processor, its speed, and your available memory. Specifications and system requirements subject to change without notice.

Pluggo Copyright 1999-2006 Cycling '74--All rights reserved. VST plug-in technology by Steinberg. Pro Tools and RTAS are registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries and divisions.

Pricing and Purchase

Pluggo 3.5 is $199, and the Pluggo 3.5 upgrade (for owners of Pluggo 1 and 2) is $99. Both can be purchased from our store. Be prepared to submit your old serial number if you are upgrading. After you have purchased Pluggo, you can request a Challenge/Response or iLok authorization. After Pluggo is authorized, the annoying buzz it emits every minute or two will stop.

Audio2Control

Audio2Control samples an input audio signal at a regular rate that is much lower than the audio sampling rate. It lets you assign this downsampled signal to the parameters of other plug-ins. The data can be scaled and inverted before being sent as a source of modulation.

Audio Rate Pan

Audio Rate Pan pans a sound from left to right by changing the amplitude of the input in the output channels. You have control over the panning frequency, as well as the ability to modulate the panning frequency itself. This creates complex effects that can vary over a period of several seconds. Audio Rate Pan also features a "phase multiplier" control that changes the panning curve from a sine wave to more complex shapes. At higher rates of panning as well as higher phase multiplier values, the effect takes on the character of ring modulation.

Auto Looper

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Average Injector

Average Injector modulates the delay time and amplitude of its input based on an average of the signal's amplitude. Parameters include the time over which the signal is averaged, as well as the offset between the average computation and when the average-based modulation is applied. You also have control over the amount of average-based modulation that is applied to the input signal. Just to be arbitrary, the modulated signal is subtracted from the delayed original signal.

Breakpoints

Breakpoints generates an audio-rate envelope that you can draw on the screen using 12 breakpoints. The envelope can be applied to an audio signal or sent as a modulation data to be applied to other plug-in parameters. The triggering of the envelope can be tied to the beat of the music using pluggoSync, or you can assign another modulator plug-in to trigger the envelope.

Center Channel

Center Channel subtracts the one of its input channels from another. A useful utility for eliminating what is in common to both channels in a stereo recording (vocals, bass lines, etc.). Channels can be delayed relative to each other in case one channel has been delayed in the mixer. Slight delays produce interesting effects in and of themselves.

Chamberverb

Chamberverb is a reverberator that is made up of a network of allpass filters. The network, as well as the parameter values in the Original effect preset, are taken from Hal Chamberlin's book Musical Applications of Microprocessors. The Chamberverb Info view in the plug-in provides a diagram of the allpass network. Several additions have been made to the original design, including a low-pass filter on the output, a variable delay on two of the allpass stages, and a reasonably useless parameter called Punch that adds low end, something you usually don't want in reverb.

Chorus X2

Chorus X2 is a plug-in effect for creating chorusing and short delay effects. The input signal is divided into high-and low-frequency bands, with each frequency band processed separately by a pair of modulated delays.

Comber

Comber is a stereo effect with two modulated comb filters. A comb filter is a series of delays, usually very short, that create phase cancellation and other effects. Comber is capable of a wide variety of sounds, due to its Feedback/Feedforward parameters, and a sine wave modulator that can range from sub-audio to audio frequencies.

Control2Audio

Control2Audio generates an audio signal from a control input. You probably won't be able to hear this signal, it's the digital equivalent to a "control voltage" in an analog synthesizer. Control2Audio is designed to be controlled by another Modulator plug-in. It allows you to record the output of a Modulator in an audio track.

Convolver

Convolver is a real-time cross-synthesis implementation is based on a frequency-domain signal processing technique. Each of the two input signals, the Source Sound and the Filter Sound, are converted to a corresponding frequency-domain signal using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The Source Sound is then convolved (complex multiplied) with the amplitude spectrum of the Filter Sound. The resulting output signal will retain some, or most of the original frequency content of the Source Sound, while its energy (or spectral envelope) will be largely determined by the energy in the Filter Sound. The output depends on the spectral intersection of both signals, so don't try crossing wale songs with piccolos.

Cyclotron

Cyclotron is a sequenced filter. . A step sequence controls the filter frequency and resonance of either a lowpass or bandpass filter.

D-Meter

D-Meter indicates average and peak values on a one-dB-per-LED scale.

Degrader

Degrader reduces the effective sampling rate and bit depth of its input. Since both the sampling rate and bit depth can't be changed by a plug-in, Degrader doesn't actually reduce either of these things-it just sounds as if it does.

Dr. Dop

Dr. Dop uses panning, reverb, and pitch shifting to create the impression of moving its input source in an elliptical pattern within a space of a given size. Pitch shifting component is used for a simulation of the Doppler Shift, the effect in which moving sound sources change in pitch as they pass by your ears. The output can be routed to two or four channels. Dr. Dop is a simplified version of the Localizer plug-in for O2R Project Manager Pro distributed by zeep.com, and was created at the Music, Media, and Technology Group at McGill University in Montreal.

Dynamical

Dynamical is a versatile gain controller, capable of compressing, expanding, gating, and more. The interface allows you to draw a dynamics response curve and adjust how it is used to process the input signal.

Env Follower

Env Follower tracks the amplitude of its audio input and generates a control signal that can be used to modulate the parameters of other plug-ins.

Feedback Network

Feedback Network conists of five Feedback Units. Each one has an independant bandpass filter and delay line. The output from each Feedback Unit can be routed to any of the other five, at an independent volume. You can't set all these parameters directly; all you do is hit a big Randomize button, and they will be shuffled for you. If you want a different sound, just hit the button again-or set it to Auto-Randomize.

Feedback Network features an Auto-Feedback mode that will gradually turn up the volume of all the Feedback Units until the volume level reaches a threshold, at which point it will turn them down a bit, and keep riding the volume controls to maintain constant feedback. At any point you can adjust the volume parameters manually to provoke the system into activity.

FilterTaps

FilterTaps gives you a six-tap delay line, with an independent bandpass filter on each tap, as well as control over gain and pan positions. There is also a seventh feedback tap and global scaling factors on all tap parameters. FilterTaps is capable of subtle spatialization effects as well as rhythmic sounds that you can tweak to synergize with the input signal.

Flange-o-tron

Flange-o-tron is a flanger driven by two step sequencers. Conventional hardware flangers usually have a low-frequency oscillator to vary the flanger's delay time (creating its characteristic sweeping effect), and a knob for varying the amount of feedback (intensifying the flange effect). Flange-o-tron has step sequencers for both, allowing you to create flanging effects that would be very difficult to create with traditional hardware flangers.

Fragulator

Fragulator chops the input signal into pieces (fragments) specfied by a Buffer Size, and then loops each fragment either forwards or backwards at varying speeds. Once a number of samples equal to the Buffer Size has been played, a new buffer begins playing back. The result is a pitch shifting sampler that introduces digital distortion effects, so it's not for people looking for a vintage sound.

Frequency Shift

Frequency Shift performs frequency (not pitch) shifting-in other words, all components of the spectrum of the input signal are shifted by a fixed amount, turning harmonic spectra into inharmonic ones. The effect also features a Fluctuations control that introduces random jitter into the shifting process.

Generic Effect

Generic Effect is a modulated comb filter that can be configured for vibrato, chorus, flange, and other "industry standard" effects. The difference between these effects is merely a matter of modulating the comb filter differently. Beyond its standard presets, Generic Effect can be configured for effects that defy categorization.

Granular-to-Go

Granular synthesis plays back short exerpts-called grains-from a source. The length of the grains and the variety of ways they are played back can create a variety of timbres, from stuttering vocalizations to purely abstract timbres. In the case of the granular synthesizers described here, the source material is the input to the plug-in.

Granular-to-Go is a granular synthesizer that allows you to randomize-or not, depending on your mood--the basic parameters involved in generating a granular playback event. Try the other Pluggo Signature Series Granular Synthesizers, Wheat and Rye.

HF Ring Mod

HF Ring Mod , like its more staid and proper cousin Ring Modulator, multiplies two signals together to produce a resulting signal that contains only frequency components equal to the sum(s) and difference(s) of the frequencies present in the input signals. HF Ring Mod features internal oscillators with a wider range of frequencies, which means a wider range of frequency components.

Harmonic Filter

Harmonic Filter consists of 25 band-pass filters, and a cellular automata (CA) algorithm to control them. The CA causes the frequency of each filter to move toward a harmonic of the frequency of its neighbor. This results in complex filters that can be tuned to pure harmonics. With variable speed and randomization settings, Harmonic Filter can produce undulating, perpetually moving sonic effects.

Harmonic Filter is based on the original Max/MSP application, CellSound, by jhno/Delicate Ear.

Jet

Jet is a fond homage to the stomp-box and rackmount flangers of yesteryear. It includes a faithful recreation of the frequency response of the analog delay chip found in one famous flanger, and a bi-directional knob for adding both positive and negative regeneration (or feedback) to intensify the flange effect. While most hardware flangers use a triangular or sinusoidal modulation oscillator to produce the familiar up-and-down flanging effect, Jet offers five different modulation wave shapes.

Key Triggers

Key Triggers turns the state of the shift, caps lock, option, control, and command keys on your computer's keyboard into control signals you can use to modulate parameters of other plug-ins Since pressing and releasing these keys by themselves is not detected as user input to the host application, they're safe to use for this purpose. You can apply the computer keyboard to triggering events (for example, with the Breakpoints plug-in) or for toggling between two values of an effect parameter.

KnaveStories

KnaveStories uses the Navier-Stokes equation to generate modulation sources that are seemingly random, but also have some sense of correlation or coupling.

LFO

LFO (which stands for low-frequency oscillator) sends a repeating "waveform" of control information to modulate parameters of another plug-in.

Laverne

Laverne is a simple, working-class 2-oscillator polyphonic subtractive synthesizer that works with VST 2.0 and MAS. It is intended as a demonstration of the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in environment, and an example for Max/MSP users who want to make their own synth plug-ins. It can also make a few dope sounds.

Light Organ

Light Organ is a visual toy that paints shapes and colors according to the sound you put into it. It does not process audio-the input signal is passed straight through to the output. To generate its display, Light Organ analyzes its audio input with three band-pass filters. Various aspects of the drawing algorithm are influenced by the signal levels present in each band.

Limi

Limi Limi is a general-purposes limiter plug-in that allows you be sure that your audio output will never exceed a maximum value you specify. You can use it in many ways; you can used it for clipping protection while you're recording, clipping and headroom control in live situations, as a compression/distortion effect, or for transparent level optimization during mastering.

Long Stereo Delay

Long Stereo Delay is very similar to its cousin, the Very Long Delay plug-in. It has exactly the same parameters as Very Long Delay and includes the same vibrato, low-pass filter, and a resonant bandpass filter you can patch into the delay line, but uses two independent delay lines; when you change a parameter, both delay lines are affected. In addition, the maximum delay time is 60 seconds.

M2M

M2M stands for MIDI to Modulator. It converts incoming MIDI messages into modulation data to change the parameters of other plug-ins. M2M lets you use existing or special-purpose MIDI tracks as controllers for plug-ins. Just assign M2M as the output of your favorite MIDI track, then use the M2M edit window to choose another plug-in to modulate.

Mangle Filter

Mangle Filter affects the amplitude and delay time of its input using the average amplitude value of its input. In other words, as a signal gets louder the delay line it is running through gets longer. This can happen at a very fast rate, creating unusual and extreme filter and distortion sounds. Mangle Filter is similar to Average Injector, but contains arbitrary differences in its design that produce somewhat different results.

Monstercrunch

Monstercrunch amplifies its input signal by a huge amount, clips it mercilessly, and then low-pass filters the hell out of it. Isn't this sort of rough treatment the essence of distortion?

Mouse Mod

Mouse Mod tracks the mouse cursor position on the screen and translates it into values you can use to modulate parameters of other plug-ins. Each modulation destination can be gated by a specific modifier key on the keyboard so that you can still operate your computer by moving the mouse and not make unwanted parameter value changes.

Moving Filters

Moving Filters passes its input signals through two parallel bandpass filter. The center frequency, bandwidth, and stereo position of each filter is independently adjustable. In addition, there are four low-frequency oscillators that can be used to modulate the frequency and stereo position of the filters. Each LFO provides three wave shapes, which are available simultaneously.

Multi-Filter

Multi-Filter gives you two multi-mode filters with variable resonance. The cutoff frequencies of the two filters can be linked, with a variable separation. Each of the filters has a 12 dB/octave response, so linking them with no separation can give you a single, 24 dB/octave filter.

Nebula

Nebula applies amplitude and phase-inversion changes to the input sound to create a subtle swirling, stereo illusion. It works well on textural sounds, like pads and beds. And bed pads.

Noyzckipper

Noyzckippr multiplies-yes, multiplies-the input signal by bandpass-fitlered white noise. It's a highly non-linear effect that ranges from irregular tremolo at very low filter center frequencies to relatively useless simulations of poor radio reception at higher center frequencies.

Noyzckippr

Noyzckippr multiplies-yes, multiplies-the input signal by bandpass-fitlered white noise. It's a highly non-linear effect that ranges from irregular tremolo at very low filter center frequencies to relatively useless simulations of poor radio reception at higher center frequencies.

OneByEight

OneByEight is a one-input, eight-output matrix mixer. It uses polar coordinates to mix its input to eight outputs (a stereo input is mixed to a mono signal). The amount sent to each of the eight outputs is calculated using r (radius) and t (theta). The eight outputs are positioned equidistant along the perimeter of the unit circle at angles 0 Pi, 1/4 Pi, 1/2 Pi, 3 /4 Pi , 5 /4 Pi, 3 /2 Pi, and 7 /4 Pi. Each output can be assigned to either the left or right audio output channels, or to a PluggoBus channel.

Panning Filters

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Pendulum

Pendulum is a four tap delay (two taps per channel) where the delay time each of the taps is controlled by a ramp wave oscillator. The range of the ramp is defined by its window. The spread controls determine how much each tap's parameters differ from one another.

Phase Scope

Phase Scope is a utility that lets you check the phase alignment of a stereo signal. If the left and right inputs are in phase, you'll see a line similar to the one shown in the left screen shot. If the left and right inputs are not in phase, you might see something like the screen shot on the right.

Phase Shift

Phase Shift is a digital emulation of an old analog stomp-box effect popular with guitarists of yesteryear. A phase shifter creates its characteristic sound by applying very short, frequency-dependent delays to a signal and mixing the delayed signal with the original. The effect is similar to a flanger, but usually more subtle.

Rather than using a delay line, which shifts all frequencies equally, a phase shifter uses allpass filters. Allpass filters have an equal amplitude response to all frequencies, but a phase response which varies with the frequency of the input signal.

Phase Shifter

Phase Shifter is a digital emulation of an old analog stomp-box effect popular with guitarists of yesteryear. A phase shifter creates its characteristic sound by applying very short, frequency-dependent delays to a signal and mixing the delayed signal with the original. The effect is similar to a flanger, but usually more subtle.

Rather than using a delay line, which shifts all frequencies equally, a phase shifter uses allpass filters. Allpass filters have an equal amplitude response to all frequencies, but a phase response which varies with the frequency of the input signal.

Phone Filter

Phone Filter makes its input sound like it's coming over the phone by distorting it slightly and limiting its bandwidth and dynamic range.

Pitch Shifter

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PlugLoop

PlugLoop is an audio looping and sampling tool based on Looper, a Max/MSP program from jhno/Delicate Ear. It gives you three virtual tape loops, into which you can record fragments of audio, or continuous streams. The speed, direction, and retriggering of the loops are all user-controllable.

pluggoBus Rcv

PluggoBus Rcv accepts audio input from the pluggoBus and sends it to one or both of its plug-in outputs.

pluggoBus Send

PluggoBus Send puts its audio input signal(s) on the PluggoBus so that they can be sent to other plug-ins that are PluggoBus aware. Examples inlclude the Vocoder and Convolver, where you want to be able to use two input sources that wouldn't necessarily be grouped together in a stereo pair.

PluggoFuzz

PluggoFuzz is a distortion plug-in. It distorts signals and makes them fuzzy. And it does this with four clipping modes and multi-mode filters on the input and output.

Distortion effects are, of course, primarily of interest to guitarists, but there's no need to let them have all the fun. Particularly in recent years, distortion has become a popular signal-enhancement effect for synthesizers, drums loops, vocals, and cellos.

PluggoSynth

The PluggoSynth plug-in opens any VST instrument in VST 2.0 host applications and lets you change its parameters with pluggo's multiple resolution egg sliders and the plug-in's editing window. Most importantly, you gain the ability to modulate the plug-in's parameters with Pluggo's Modulators (such as LFO, Mouse Mod, and Step Sequencer). Plus, the pop-up menu shown below lets you undo parameter changes, randomize the parameters to create new effects programs, and copy effects settings from other programs.

Pluglogic

PlugLogic allows you to shape, massage, and multiply modulator control signals.

First, send a modulator signal to the PlugLogic Control Signal input. For example, choose PlugLogic 1 Control Signal in the modulator destinations menu of an LFO plug-in. You can also move the Control Signal slider manually to generate a signal. Next, you can apply up to six different modifiers to the Control Signal-Gate, Offset, Scale, Damp, Curve, and Quantize. At each modifier stage, the value of the Control Signal is displayed by a slider and a number box. You can not change these sliders directly-they just reflect the effects that the modifiers are having. Finally, you can send the Control Signal to up to three different PlugMod destinations. Each destination can use any modifier as its source. This means, for example, you can send the scaled signal to one destination, the damped signal to another, and the quantized signal to a third.

Raindrops

"Raindrops was inspired by watching the rain fall late at night in front of the warehouse loft where I live in San Francisco. I wondered how you could turn a sound into a field of moving particles. So, when I went back inside I tried making a network of bandpass filters, each one offering a tiny peek into the frequency spectrum. The result is Raindrops." - jhno

Randomizer

Randomizer generates random modulation signals that can be fed to the cows.

Resonant Feedback

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Resonation

Resonation sends its input signal to 12 bandpass filters (resonantors) in parallel. The filters are tuned in semi-tone intervals. Each filter is followed by a delay element, with a delay time of up to two seconds. You can adjust the frequency of the lowest filter and the ratio between frequencies of adjacent filters, from which the frequencies of the other filters are derived, the time of the longest delay, and the spread of delay times relative to the longest.

Resosweep

Resosweep provides you with six bandpass filters, each of which can be modulated independently. In addition, each filter has a short delay line that can be used for subtle stereo positioning effects. By arranging the modulations so they're out of sync with each other, you can create complex, evolving timbres.

Ring Modulator

Ring Modulator multiplies two signals together. The resulting signal contains only frequency components equal to the sum(s) and difference(s) of the frequencies present in the input signals.

For example, if both input signals are sine waves, of frequencies 300 and 500 Hz respectively, the output signal will consist of two sine waves, one with a frequency of 200 Hz and one with a frequency of 800 Hz. If the input signals are more complex than sine waves, the output will be correspondingly more complex, and often clangorous or inharmonic.

Typical hardware ring modulators provide an internal oscillator as signal, and hence have only one input. In Ring Modulator, the two signals may be any of the following: either input channel for this plug-in, an internal sine-wave oscillator, or any of the PluggoBus signals.

Rough Reverb

Rough Reverb is a simple effect that can be especially useful when a super-smooth, lush sound is just not what you are looking for. It is fully stereo (both channels are independent).

Rye

Rye is part of the Pluggo Signature Series Granular Synthesizers. Rye offers a basic pallette of controls for real-time granular synthesis, including a unique stereo effect that uses phase reversal.

ShepardTones

ShepardTones ShepardTones is a plug-in that produces its namesake as output - a tone whose timbral balance and rate of pitch change produce the illusion of a continually rising (or falling) tone. Use it to get a rise on the dancefloor, or to construct large, mournful slabs of ascending/descending textures.

Shuffler

Shuffler can re-arrange its audio input signal with astonishing dexterity. It works by recording incoming audio into a loop, and then playing back slices of that loop in real-time. For example, if you set the Loop Time to 1000 ms and the Number of Slices to 4, then each second you will hear the last second of audio cut up into 250 ms slices. Using the slider interface, you can specify the position of each slice within the playback sequence, as well as the slice's playback speed. Once you get the hang of it, you can do things like reversing single drum beats in a pattern, stutter effects, and just plain random mangling.

Sine Bank

Sine Bank is a synthesizer that plays up to 32 sine waves. Global parameters such as Transpose and Spread make it an ideal animal to control from a Modulator plug-in. You might use Sine Bank as an input to the Convolver or Vocoder, or simply on its own as a background texture. You can us ethe upper multislider to set rough frequencies for the entire collection of sines, then use the MIDI Note number and Frequency controls to fine tune each oscillator. The lower multislider sets an amplitude value for each oscillator. This value can be fine-tuned with the Amplitude control.

Sizzle Delays

Sizzle Delays creates a broad range of interesting effects by a simple method. The input signal is fed into a stereo delay line. Two high-pass filters are applied to the delay outputs, which are then fed back into the delay lines. Exciter effects can be achieved with short delays and high feedback levels that are clipped within the feedback loop.

Slice-n-Dice

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Space Echo

Space Echo was inspired by the classic Roland RE-201 tape delay/reverb unit. But it has a sound all its own. It features tape speed effects (warble and inertia) that can be made to sound quite a bit more extreme than a correctly functioning tape delay unit. As for a comparison with a malfunctioning tape delay, that's a matter of speculation.

Spectral Filter, a.k.a CA Forbidden Planet

Spectral Filter is like having a 253-band graphic equalizer. The input signal is processed by a 1024-point FFT-based analysis/resynthesis algorithm that adjusts the level of each frequency band according to the graph you draw. If your sequencing environment supports real-time parameter changes, you can record and play back changes in the graph as you scribble with the mouse.

Speed Shifter

Speed Shifter is like running your signal through two tape loops, each running at a different speed with a different length of tape, feeding back into each other. It's capable of some extreme effects as well as subtle doubling/thickening treatments.

Squirrel Parade

Squirrel Parade Squirrel Parade produces its unique output by means of Animal Modeling, which is actually the process of dividing an input channel into four granular channels. The playback of these granular channels is controlled by the grain base speed and frequency modulation parameters. A modulation matrix(that grid of red and blue dots) controls which granular channels modulate one another's playback speed.

Step Sequencer

Step Sequencer is a Modulator plug-in that generates a control signal from a sequencer inspired by an analog control voltage system. Step Sequencer does not process audio, it passes its input signal to its output.

Stereo Adjuster

Stereo Adjuster adjusts the stereo spread of an existing stereo recording. Setting the slider in the middle means that stereo is unchanged. Move it to the right and the sound becomes distant (by mixing in a left-minus-right signal). Move it to the left and the sound becomes close and mono.

Stereo Faker

Stereo Faker creates a stereo image from a mono signal by electronically rechanneling.

Stutterer

Stutterer is designed to play back fragments of its input signal in a number of different ways. Operated manually, you can grab a "snapshot" of the audio and loop it a specified number of times. In automatic mode, it will do this for you. You can change the pitch of the fragments, play them backward, and more to get a variety of deconstructive effects. With Stutterer, you can mangle drum loops in the manner of experimental jungle/drum and bass composers, get that M-M-Max Headroom™ effect, etc.

Swirl

Swirl is a mono-to-stereo effect that uses only delay time modulation to create a variety of moving ambiences. Delay-based "panning" uses the auditory system's sensitivity to interaural time differences, whereas traditional amplitude-based panning effects (exemplified by plug-ins such as Audio Rate Pan and Nebula) use our sensitivity to interaural intensity differences.

Swish

Swish consists of four filters and two LFOs that can create complex, sweeping filter effects. Each of the filters can be controlled by either of the LFOs, or neither. Other features include user-drawable LFO waveforms and six independent filter modes.

Synth

Synth is the first of many Pluggo synthesizer modules. It does not process its audio input. Rather, it generates sound according to built-in step sequencers and parameters you can control with its on-screen interface or through other Modulator plug-ins. Synth has three sound sources - a sawtooth wave oscillator, a sine wave oscillator, and a noise generator. These are mixed together and sent through a dual low-pass filter. Synth includes two step sequencers - one to control the pitch of the oscillators, and one to control the cutoff frequency of the filter.

TapNet

TapNet is a four-tap delay line with a couple of unique features. Most importantly, instead of one feedback path from the output to the input, each individual tap has a feedback path to every other tap and itself, also. This gives you a silly number of parameters to tweak, so I recommend just hitting the Randomize buttons 'til it sounds good - and it will. TapNet supports host sync, which can keep delay times in tempo - even when you Randomize them. And finally, each tap delay has an independent modulator that lets you do pitch-shifting and chorus-type effects.

Tapped Delay

Tapped Delay is a delay line with 16 equally spaced output taps. You can adjust the output level and stereo position of each tap independently.

Tremellow

Tremellow is a stereo panning effect, similar Audio Rate Pan, yet different in its own way, as Rye is to Wheat..

Very Long Delay

Very Long Delay is a delay effect that can use a delay line of up to 30 seconds (if you have the memory). It has all the things you'd want in a delay, such as vibrato, a low-pass filter, and a resonant bandpass filter you can patch into the delay line with distortion. The bandpass filter mode is useful for creating background ambience effects that are semi-related to the input material.

Vibrato Cauldron

Vibrato Cauldron consists of a pair of allpass filters modulated by a smoothed random process. This unusual combination creates a variety of pitch effects ranging from subtle to rather off-the-wall. The "bubbling" character of the pitch modulation found in many of the presets gives the effect its name. While Vibrato Cauldron has a subtle stereo character, it can also be used with a single output channel.

Vocoder

Vocoder is a digital emulation of an analog vocoder. A vocoder consists of two banks of bandpass filters, connected in parallel. One signal, the carrier, is sent to one bank; another signal, the modulator, is sent to the second bank. The filter banks divide each signal into a number of frequency bands, one band per filter. The loudness of the frequency bands generated by the modulator signal are used to control the amplitude of the frequency bands of the carrier signal. The net effect is that the timbral and amplitude characteristics of the modulator are imparted upon the carrier.

Warble

Warble changes the playback speed of its input signal, resulting in effects that range from subtle vibrato to record scratching emulation to complete mayhem. The playback speed is modulated by a built-in LFO module. The LFO can be retriggered in real time for envelope effects.

Warp

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Warpoon

Warpoon is an ambient chorus effect that can also create clusters of pitches around the original signal. It uses four stereo taps that can be individually modulated.

WasteBand

WasteBand splits each channel of your stereo file into three frequency ranges and allows you to mute, pass, or overdrive each band individually. You can use it to obliterate entire frequency ranges, create narrow bands of warm overdrive, or simply turn your entire low end into a fizzy mess.

Waveshaper

Waveshaper transforms signals by using a transfer curve to map the input signal to a new signal. The transfer curve shows the relationship between the input signal, which is plotted on the horizontal axis, and the output signal, which is plotted on the vertical axis. Hence a diagonal line running from the lower left to the upper right, at a 45° angle, creates an output signal that is identical to the input. Any other curve will alter the signal in some manner.

Wheat

Wheat is part of the Pluggo Signature Series Granular Synthesizers. Wheat features the usual granular synthesis controls for grain speed, length, crossfade, pitch etc. However, it also includes a pitch envelope that can be applied to the grains. This additional capability can create effects that are even more extreme than you might expect from granular synthesis and the other PSSGS effects.

Xformer

Xformer is a groove-oriented plug-in that rhythmically mutes and accents your audio, transforming even a simple sine wave into a toe-tapping (or booty-shaking) riff. If your application supports host sync, Xformer's tempo can lock to your sequencer, providing perfectly synced effects. The delay parameter offsets Xformer from your sequencer's clock, allowing you to slide it to match the feel of your drum loops, bass lines, or bouzouki riffs. The attack and decay parameters let you smooth Xformer's extreme gating into softly rounded envelopes. In addition, Xformer is a stereo plug-in. You can use the Input Mix button to send a mono signal to both channels, or combine the left and right channels of a stereo signal and build different patterns on the left and right button banks to create stereo panning effects.

Xmod synth

Xmod synth is analog-modeled synth with three oscillators, two LFOs, and a multi-mode filter and modulation matrix that gives this otherwise modest configuration its considerable expressive range.

additive heaven

additive heaven is an additive synthesizer featuring eight harmonic voices with individual settings for volume, harmonic and pan position. This synthesizer also includes an amplitude envelope that affects all eight voices, and an overall volume control.

analogue drums

analogue drums is a tasty analog drum emulator, with synthesized bass, snare, hi-hat and tom voices. Each voice is wildly programmable, with timbres from rattling to blipping. All of the user interface elements can be modified using MIDI continuous controllers.

analogue percussion

analogue percussion is a versatile analog-style percussion synthesizer with four voices - each one spanning an octave of MIDI input. The main editing function of analogue percussion is provided by a multi-envelope editor. The envelope selector to the left of the display activates one of the five-point envelopes, which control voice amplitude, noise level and oscillator pitch.

bassline

bassline is a simple but powerful analog-style bass synthesizer. It features a single oscillator design (with sub-oscillator), 2- and 4-pole low-pass resonant filter, integral LFO and independent amplitude and filter envelopes.

beatN

beatN is a handy calculator which accepts either host sync information from a host application or values you enter and calculates useful tempo and sync-based values which are useful in recording sessions.

big ben bell

big ben bell is an FM-based bell synthesizer, with five preset harmonic settings, a stereo spread synthesizer and a simple attack/decay envelope. It provides wonderfully complex tones with relatively few controls.

easy sampler

easy sampler is a simple but effective one-sample playback device. A sample can be selected from your computer, and assigned loop, tuning and root note information. Additionally, an ADSR amplitude envelope allows for level-based effects.

filtered drums

filtered drums is an eight-channel sampled drum module. In addition to numerous channel controls, there is a routing system allowing individual channels to be sent through an overdrive and resonant filter circuit.

flying waves

flying waves is the virtual Theremin that you've always dreamed about - swooping howls, but without having to get out of the chair! In addition to volume and pitch, you have control of the pitch scaling, and can use the Theremin interface to drive any sampled waveform.

fm 4-op

fm 4-op is an experimenter's kit for FM programming. Unlike dealing with those old two line displays, you are now able to play with FM as the gods intended - using graphic envelopes!

harmonic dreamz

harmonic dreamz is an additive synth which exposes the first 16 partials of the primary tone. This allows for wide ranging sound possibilities with harmonic tonality. This synthesizer also includes a random detuner, a tremolo system (with both LFO and audio-rate oscillation) and an amplitude envelope for sound shaping.

lo-fi drums

lo-fi drums is an easy-to-use drum module featuring gritty 8-bit samples. The samples are taken from some classic drum machines, but the recordings were intentionally sample rate and bit depth reduced for some unique sounds.

moving waves

moving waves is a crossfading synth. It's unique tone is created by using a four-corner (joystick-like) fading system, with X- and Y-axis automation (using built-in LFOs). The four oscillators have 32 different waveforms for a broader range of core tones.

pgs-1

pgs-1 (Pretty Good Synth version 1) is an analog-style monosynth with some extreme flexibility and a whole lotta filtering. Three oscillators, two filters and four envelopes are the start of this machine. An integrated effects section (with overdrive and digital delay) allows presets to provide a total instrument experience.

pluggoSync

PluggoSync accepts an audio signal and generates synchronization control signals. Other plug-ins can use this synchronization information to trigger events, such as restarting a step sequence or an LFO waveform. PluggoSync provides five different sync outputs, each with its own Beat Division, that run at multiples of the master sync signal generated from the audio input. PluggoSync can also run in an Internal Clock mode that generates the synchronization information whether or not an audio signal is present.

qsynth

qsynth is a quick little synth that combines a single oscillator with three discrete resonant filters.

quick drums

quick drums is a simple eight-channel sampled drum module, with pan and volume control on each channel. This module uses almost no CPU, and is a great way to inexpensively add some percussion sounds to the mix.

shape synth

shape synth is a killer synthesizer featuring a waveshaper for extensive real-time sound manipulation. Dual oscillators feed a waveshaper, followed by a resonant lowpass filter. Mod Wheel control of the waveshape makes this an unsurpassed realtime sound machine.

vocalese

vocalese is something a bit different - a phoneme-playback synth with a nifty 3-D image to tag along. Why have an image? Because we can, and because interesting interfaces can often help you create interesting results.

wavy waves

wavy waves is a wave-sequencing synthesizer - it steps through a number of waveforms, either synced to a sequencer's clock, or in free-running mode.

white grains

white grains is a granular synthesizer, with individual seven-point envelopes for amplitude, pitch and grain size. Granular synthesis can provide deeply complex tones, and the variations provided through the envelopes range from simple robotic phrases to full whisk-broom wonder.

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