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Chainer is a low-cost VST / VSTi host that functions as both a stand-alone application and as a plug-in itself. It can effectively make any combination of your synths and / or effects stand-alone, free from the complexity and CPU drain of Cubase et al. These 'chains' can also be accessed through your favourite host by using Chainer as a plug-in. I bought it for live use but have found myself constantly using it on my main DAW.
It can even host multiple instances of itself; what's the point of that then? Well, suppose you find a combination of synths and effects that sound awesome together (with strategic mixing and panning) and you want save the 'chain' as a single preset. You can do this very easily and recall the preset in a couple of clicks, run it alongside an existing chain or on a different channel, load / save the same configuration under Cubase or FL Studio and so on. If like me you occasionally take a semi-modular approach to your plug-ins (like layering several instances of Synth1 for example) these features come in very handy.
It functions very well as a lightweight host, but its strength is really in the ease of editing and routing / automation possibilities it presents. Mapping the controls from my MIDI keyboard to a plug-in is a breeze using the parameter list editor, when I'm done I can just save the configuration as a preset. One thing I have to mention is how the parameter list focuses on whichever control is being adjusted in the plug-in's main GUI. Then it is just a case of using Chainer's own MIDI learn to map the controller knob to the parameter.
This is a must for all live musicians and sound designers, as well as people who are just extremely lazy. Chainer gives you the maximum of control with the minimum of fannying around. I love it!
User Interface
The GUI is extremely intuitive and usable. Everything feels like it's in the right place, and the 'slot-based' concept for plug-ins works really well. You can drag and drop plug-ins between slots, bypass single instances or entire channels. I would have deducted a point for the rather garish colour scheme, but there is now an alternative skin available now :-)
Sound
This is a difficult area to score for a host. Although it doesn't make any sounds itself, it allowed me to create combinations of sounds and effects that I couldn't (or simply wouldn't take the time to) in another host.
Features
Chainer is a lightweight and minimal host, but it does far more than you might expect. The preset lab is great and a sound designer's dream. I also found it really useful for editing two or more plug-ins alongside one another; none of the random window behaviour I have observed with other hosts here. A few more hot keys (such as copying, pasting and renaming presets) and a Mac version would have been nice.
Documentation
The on-line help is there if you need it, but the learning curve is not exactly steep. Five minutes worth of experimenting with it should be sufficient.
Presets
Again very difficult to know how to score this, let's assume we are talking about the way the program handles presets. You can load and save presets or banks per plug-in, as well as the entire rack. For instance, I have found it a lot easier to make banks under Chainer than with FL Studio.
Customer Support
Support is provided by direct E-mail, which is a good thing I reckon. I had a couple of questions which were answered within a few hours, really nice guy too.
Value For Money
You get a lot for your $60, although at first glance it may not appear so. Chainer looks like Minihost with bells on, it does a lot more than just host plug-ins.
Stability
At the time of writing, the program hasn't seen an update since 2002. What does that tell you? It's a mature product that just works, that's what.
Overall
Clever, convenient, cheap and mind-blowingly useful. I defy anyone not think this is the best $60 they have ever spent on software for their DAW.Read Review
It can even host multiple instances of itself; what's the point of that then? Well, suppose you find a combination of synths and effects that sound awesome together (with strategic mixing and panning) and you want save the 'chain' as a single preset. You can do this very easily and recall the preset in a couple of clicks, run it alongside an existing chain or on a different channel, load / save the same configuration under Cubase or FL Studio and so on. If like me you occasionally take a semi-modular approach to your plug-ins (like layering several instances of Synth1 for example) these features come in very handy.
It functions very well as a lightweight host, but its strength is really in the ease of editing and routing / automation possibilities it presents. Mapping the controls from my MIDI keyboard to a plug-in is a breeze using the parameter list editor, when I'm done I can just save the configuration as a preset. One thing I have to mention is how the parameter list focuses on whichever control is being adjusted in the plug-in's main GUI. Then it is just a case of using Chainer's own MIDI learn to map the controller knob to the parameter.
This is a must for all live musicians and sound designers, as well as people who are just extremely lazy. Chainer gives you the maximum of control with the minimum of fannying around. I love it!
User Interface
The GUI is extremely intuitive and usable. Everything feels like it's in the right place, and the 'slot-based' concept for plug-ins works really well. You can drag and drop plug-ins between slots, bypass single instances or entire channels. I would have deducted a point for the rather garish colour scheme, but there is now an alternative skin available now :-)
Sound
This is a difficult area to score for a host. Although it doesn't make any sounds itself, it allowed me to create combinations of sounds and effects that I couldn't (or simply wouldn't take the time to) in another host.
Features
Chainer is a lightweight and minimal host, but it does far more than you might expect. The preset lab is great and a sound designer's dream. I also found it really useful for editing two or more plug-ins alongside one another; none of the random window behaviour I have observed with other hosts here. A few more hot keys (such as copying, pasting and renaming presets) and a Mac version would have been nice.
Documentation
The on-line help is there if you need it, but the learning curve is not exactly steep. Five minutes worth of experimenting with it should be sufficient.
Presets
Again very difficult to know how to score this, let's assume we are talking about the way the program handles presets. You can load and save presets or banks per plug-in, as well as the entire rack. For instance, I have found it a lot easier to make banks under Chainer than with FL Studio.
Customer Support
Support is provided by direct E-mail, which is a good thing I reckon. I had a couple of questions which were answered within a few hours, really nice guy too.
Value For Money
You get a lot for your $60, although at first glance it may not appear so. Chainer looks like Minihost with bells on, it does a lot more than just host plug-ins.
Stability
At the time of writing, the program hasn't seen an update since 2002. What does that tell you? It's a mature product that just works, that's what.
Overall
Clever, convenient, cheap and mind-blowingly useful. I defy anyone not think this is the best $60 they have ever spent on software for their DAW.Read Review
Spook Keys
Reviewed By Modeler [all]
August 11th, 2006
Version reviewed: 1.0 on Windows
When I first got Mysteron (another great, free Theremin simulation) I thought that was as good as it got. This on the other hand, proved me wrong.
pheeleep's review says it all; I just don't think this plug-in doesn't get enough credit. Spook Keys is as close to a Theremin as I ever could have hoped to get in a bit of software. Although I use it sparingly, it does its thing beautifully. I can't name another plug-in that can achieve this level of authenticity - I love it!
GUI
Simple, clear and rather groovy.
Sound
"Is that a real Theremin? It sounds like one!" - genuine quote from a listener after hearing one of my tracks with Spook Keys all over it. Says it all really!
Features
Choice of four waveforms, tweakable to the nth degree. Fabulous!
Docs
Anyone with half a brain should know what they're doing with this, so doesn't really count.
Presets
Very few but that's all you need. The classic sounds are all there.
Support
It's free; that's full marks regardless.
VFM
As above!
Stability
No issues - ever.Read Review
pheeleep's review says it all; I just don't think this plug-in doesn't get enough credit. Spook Keys is as close to a Theremin as I ever could have hoped to get in a bit of software. Although I use it sparingly, it does its thing beautifully. I can't name another plug-in that can achieve this level of authenticity - I love it!
GUI
Simple, clear and rather groovy.
Sound
"Is that a real Theremin? It sounds like one!" - genuine quote from a listener after hearing one of my tracks with Spook Keys all over it. Says it all really!
Features
Choice of four waveforms, tweakable to the nth degree. Fabulous!
Docs
Anyone with half a brain should know what they're doing with this, so doesn't really count.
Presets
Very few but that's all you need. The classic sounds are all there.
Support
It's free; that's full marks regardless.
VFM
As above!
Stability
No issues - ever.Read Review
reFX had obviously been reading my wish book with this one. I remember the first VSTi plug-ins I used was Chris Huelsbeck's MicroSynt (yeah I know I was about five years late to the party, I was happy enough with AXS before then) and what struck me was how SID-like it was. I approached Chris rather naively and asked how difficult it would be to combine a VST instrument with a SID emulator; he pointed out that there already was such a product - quadraSID.
I was like "Wow, a virtual SIDStation!" and I've been in Galway-heaven ever since. The recent, unexpected release of v1.5 has given it a new lease of life. The new Vanguard-esque GUI and fantastic presets (thank you again Mister Huelsbeck) have really put a new shine on this already superb little plug-in.
GUI
reFX opted not to make quadraSID resemble anything like a C64 in all its beige plastic glory (they saved that for Trasher 2). A very functional display - no knobs to tweak! Since v1.5 there's a been a nice compact option with a preset browser ideal for people like me who can't program a synth for toffee.
Sound
Well, it sounds like a C64. I read somewhere it's based on the code used by the VICE emulator which is pretty damn authentic; I spent most of my life listening to the real thing and I can't fault it. Multiply that by four and what you get is more SID than you can handle. As if my tracks weren't enough like loading music already...
Features
The 6581 and 8580 are there, even the infamous filter bug is there and can be disabled at will! The only thing missing is a facility that would allow me to program it in BASIC. ;-)
Docs
All very well documented, not that anyone who's used to programming a real one would need to read to manual. Nice bedtime reading for the rest of us.
Presets
Brilliant - all the sounds from the Commodore era are here and that's all I wanted. The fact that the synth is capable of a lot more than a single SID is a bonus and many of the presets demonstrate this very well.
Support
v1.5 was a complete surprise, there wasn't huge demand for an update but Mike did it anyway. Not only that but all of the bugs I found were ironed out in v1.5.1 which performs flawlessly on my system.
VFM
There are freeware SID emulations doing the rounds, some better than others but nothing can touch this. It's not exactly expensive; neither are the new Rob Hubbard presets (a must) so the cost isn't an issue bearing in mind what you get.
Stability
No issues - it does its thing and doesn't give me any grief whatsoever.
Overall
Whether you like the SID sound or not, if KVR had a Top Gear style "cool wall" this would be in the sub-zero category, right next to the special fridge that has Vanguard in it. :-)Read Review
I was like "Wow, a virtual SIDStation!" and I've been in Galway-heaven ever since. The recent, unexpected release of v1.5 has given it a new lease of life. The new Vanguard-esque GUI and fantastic presets (thank you again Mister Huelsbeck) have really put a new shine on this already superb little plug-in.
GUI
reFX opted not to make quadraSID resemble anything like a C64 in all its beige plastic glory (they saved that for Trasher 2). A very functional display - no knobs to tweak! Since v1.5 there's a been a nice compact option with a preset browser ideal for people like me who can't program a synth for toffee.
Sound
Well, it sounds like a C64. I read somewhere it's based on the code used by the VICE emulator which is pretty damn authentic; I spent most of my life listening to the real thing and I can't fault it. Multiply that by four and what you get is more SID than you can handle. As if my tracks weren't enough like loading music already...
Features
The 6581 and 8580 are there, even the infamous filter bug is there and can be disabled at will! The only thing missing is a facility that would allow me to program it in BASIC. ;-)
Docs
All very well documented, not that anyone who's used to programming a real one would need to read to manual. Nice bedtime reading for the rest of us.
Presets
Brilliant - all the sounds from the Commodore era are here and that's all I wanted. The fact that the synth is capable of a lot more than a single SID is a bonus and many of the presets demonstrate this very well.
Support
v1.5 was a complete surprise, there wasn't huge demand for an update but Mike did it anyway. Not only that but all of the bugs I found were ironed out in v1.5.1 which performs flawlessly on my system.
VFM
There are freeware SID emulations doing the rounds, some better than others but nothing can touch this. It's not exactly expensive; neither are the new Rob Hubbard presets (a must) so the cost isn't an issue bearing in mind what you get.
Stability
No issues - it does its thing and doesn't give me any grief whatsoever.
Overall
Whether you like the SID sound or not, if KVR had a Top Gear style "cool wall" this would be in the sub-zero category, right next to the special fridge that has Vanguard in it. :-)Read Review
I wasn’t sure what to make of Crystal when I first tried it. A thread was started that raised questions about whether the plug-in was overrated (over which opinion was very much divided), which drew my attention back to it. It wasn't until I began to experiment with it as a lead instrument that I noticed how much of a presence it had in the mix. Browsing through Tim Conrardy's patches provided the inspiration to use it for atmospheres; the results were quite staggering. I have recently noticed myself moving away from pop-oriented music towards more ambient, atmospheric productions and this would not have been a reality without Crystal. If you haven't tried it already, you might be surprised by what you can do with it.
GUI
Recently overhauled to give it a more conventional, industrial look. The layout is intuitive to tweakers; professional sound designers don't seem to have any issues with the more advanced controls (the rest of us might as well be watching Star Trek).
Sound
Didn't grab me at first but it's like nothing else out there in the realms of freeware. As mooted by people on the forum, this is the closest thing to a freeware Absynth. The range of sounds is staggering; from Japanese-style plucks to warm, evolving pads and atmospheres. Everything from the conventional to the completely absurd!
Features
The patch breeding feature is superb; extra points here for that alone.
Docs
Green Oak provide documentation and a set of tutorials on their site. There isn't a lot more you could want for a free synth.
Presets
The supplied patches are plentiful but there are hundreds of high-quality presets available for this synth. Special thanks to all those who took the time to make and share them.
Support
It's free so that's a ten in my book. Developer support is not really an issue.
VFM
See above.
Stability
Works a treat in my host. No issues at all here.
Overall
I have used Crystal to breathe life back into several of my older tracks; those that were built around demo versions of pricey commercial synths that have long since expired. Simply put, I was able to evolve my long-forgotten work into something that sounded new and exciting virtually effortlessly with this plug-in. Keep it installed even if you don't think you can use any of the sounds you've tried.Read Review
GUI
Recently overhauled to give it a more conventional, industrial look. The layout is intuitive to tweakers; professional sound designers don't seem to have any issues with the more advanced controls (the rest of us might as well be watching Star Trek).
Sound
Didn't grab me at first but it's like nothing else out there in the realms of freeware. As mooted by people on the forum, this is the closest thing to a freeware Absynth. The range of sounds is staggering; from Japanese-style plucks to warm, evolving pads and atmospheres. Everything from the conventional to the completely absurd!
Features
The patch breeding feature is superb; extra points here for that alone.
Docs
Green Oak provide documentation and a set of tutorials on their site. There isn't a lot more you could want for a free synth.
Presets
The supplied patches are plentiful but there are hundreds of high-quality presets available for this synth. Special thanks to all those who took the time to make and share them.
Support
It's free so that's a ten in my book. Developer support is not really an issue.
VFM
See above.
Stability
Works a treat in my host. No issues at all here.
Overall
I have used Crystal to breathe life back into several of my older tracks; those that were built around demo versions of pricey commercial synths that have long since expired. Simply put, I was able to evolve my long-forgotten work into something that sounded new and exciting virtually effortlessly with this plug-in. Keep it installed even if you don't think you can use any of the sounds you've tried.Read Review
Over the last few years, my work has occasionally been criticised for sounding like “loading music” or like it was done on a cheap and nasty Casio keyboard. This did not bother me as that was essentially the sound I was after, as long as it didn’t sound thin or tinny. But how could I make my tracks sound vintage without them sounding so computer-like? Taking a look at my audio software collection I realised it was lacking something - a big VA.
It was time to splash out on a plug-in with some balls, but which one? I must have tried the demo for practically every decent subtractive synth and been suitably impressed (I still can’t believe what they can do with software nowadays) but none of them had made a lasting impression except one - Oddity. What’s more, it has recently dropped in price so it was a bit of a no-brainer. ImpOSCar and Minimonsta are both great, but I absolutely love the ARP sound and what we have here is effectively the ARP 2810.
The sounds this plug-in makes just grab you; unfeasibly thick basses and leads that send shivers down your spine. I try to use more powerful synths sparingly, but it’s not easy with this one. One thing’s for sure I will be using Oddity a lot, this thing is an absolute killer.
GUI
The interface is based on the classic vintage look of the Odyssey; a nice touch for an emulation and anyone who has used a real one will feel right at home. Moreover, the layout is clear and the inertia of the sliders somehow just feels right. It even has my name on it! Now I feel special.
Sound
I have never used a real ARP so I cannot comment on how precise the emulation is, although I have spent most of my life listening to tracks that have been made with one. It IS the ARP sound; exactly what I wanted - thick, earthy and organic. When I first tried the demo I wasn’t expecting it to sound vintage; I was absolutely blown away.
Features
It was its bass sounds that sold it to me, but I since have found Oddity particularly good for leads. The patch morphing and flying slider features are an added bonus and I can’t think of anything that would make it much more useful. Polyphony would have been nice, but it excels at being a monosynth so who cares?
Docs
The manual shipped with the boxed version came with it in PDF format. I had a quick gander at it and it’s worth a read, as a ‘tweaker’ I haven’t felt the need to go right through it yet.
Presets
4 banks of 64 presets plus the original Odyssey factory patches - brilliant. My only criticism is that they are not arranged by genre; it would have been ideal if there was a bank for bass, one for leads, one for FX etc. At least this way I’m more likely to try them all, what you choose isn’t always what you were looking for.
Support
After upgrading to v1.15 I encountered an envelope bug in FL Studio. GForce E-mailed me a fix the next working day; too bad this scale only goes up to ten.
VFM
The new pricing structure means this little beauty is yours for €79.00, which is nothing considering how much work went into it. EDIT: Shortly after I purchased Oddity, both it and M-Tron went up by €20; points deducted accordingly. Oddity is still worth €99, but to reduce the price of a piece of software only to raise it again is unjust and unfair. EDIT: The price tag of €79 was an oversight; it is still well worth €99 of anyone's money.
Stability
Rock solid, no crashes and more importantly no speaker-destroying static bombs.
Overall
A beautiful piece of software. ARP fans should cherish it [sniff]. It makes me want to change my name to Jean-Michel Jarre.Read Review
It was time to splash out on a plug-in with some balls, but which one? I must have tried the demo for practically every decent subtractive synth and been suitably impressed (I still can’t believe what they can do with software nowadays) but none of them had made a lasting impression except one - Oddity. What’s more, it has recently dropped in price so it was a bit of a no-brainer. ImpOSCar and Minimonsta are both great, but I absolutely love the ARP sound and what we have here is effectively the ARP 2810.
The sounds this plug-in makes just grab you; unfeasibly thick basses and leads that send shivers down your spine. I try to use more powerful synths sparingly, but it’s not easy with this one. One thing’s for sure I will be using Oddity a lot, this thing is an absolute killer.
GUI
The interface is based on the classic vintage look of the Odyssey; a nice touch for an emulation and anyone who has used a real one will feel right at home. Moreover, the layout is clear and the inertia of the sliders somehow just feels right. It even has my name on it! Now I feel special.
Sound
I have never used a real ARP so I cannot comment on how precise the emulation is, although I have spent most of my life listening to tracks that have been made with one. It IS the ARP sound; exactly what I wanted - thick, earthy and organic. When I first tried the demo I wasn’t expecting it to sound vintage; I was absolutely blown away.
Features
It was its bass sounds that sold it to me, but I since have found Oddity particularly good for leads. The patch morphing and flying slider features are an added bonus and I can’t think of anything that would make it much more useful. Polyphony would have been nice, but it excels at being a monosynth so who cares?
Docs
The manual shipped with the boxed version came with it in PDF format. I had a quick gander at it and it’s worth a read, as a ‘tweaker’ I haven’t felt the need to go right through it yet.
Presets
4 banks of 64 presets plus the original Odyssey factory patches - brilliant. My only criticism is that they are not arranged by genre; it would have been ideal if there was a bank for bass, one for leads, one for FX etc. At least this way I’m more likely to try them all, what you choose isn’t always what you were looking for.
Support
After upgrading to v1.15 I encountered an envelope bug in FL Studio. GForce E-mailed me a fix the next working day; too bad this scale only goes up to ten.
VFM
The new pricing structure means this little beauty is yours for €79.00, which is nothing considering how much work went into it. EDIT: Shortly after I purchased Oddity, both it and M-Tron went up by €20; points deducted accordingly. Oddity is still worth €99, but to reduce the price of a piece of software only to raise it again is unjust and unfair. EDIT: The price tag of €79 was an oversight; it is still well worth €99 of anyone's money.
Stability
Rock solid, no crashes and more importantly no speaker-destroying static bombs.
Overall
A beautiful piece of software. ARP fans should cherish it [sniff]. It makes me want to change my name to Jean-Michel Jarre.Read Review
When I first saw this synth the name conjured up images of those big box 'no creativity or talent required' bloatware MP3 apps that they sell at PC World. But what we have here is great VSTi.
I can't say enough good things about eJ. As soon as I fired up the demo version I fell in love with it. I'll keep this review short as I don't to overdo it.
To surmise, I've always had this feeling that high-end FM synthesis isn't accessible by everyone due to the high price tags of FM7, Sytrus and their ilk. At $59 they're practically giving this away. Way to go Maxx Claster, if more developers made plug-ins of this quality in this price range, the audio software world would be a better place...
EDIT: Sorry Maxx, but after upgrading to Toxic I still prefer eJ. Maybe it's just the wealth of useable presets, but I still love this thing.
User Interface
I had no issues with the v1.2 GUI, now it has that nice 'brushed aluminium' look. I like how each operator is displayed in a little TV screen. Nicely laid out, pretty, class.
Sound
I love FM synths, but this one fits the style of music I produce perfectly. Less of the toy town 'dwang' and 'ping' noises and more professional sounds that you can actually use. For $59 I expected it to sound like a Sega Megadrive, but eJ gives FM7 a run for its money. It has taken centre stage in my latest production, enough said.
Features
Chorus, flanger, delay, EQ, tons of presets. eJ is especially good for leads but can do a pretty good job of the rest.
Documentation
Nice Windows help file included with the download, updated for version 2.0 as well.
Presets
I have never seen a VSTi come with so many presets, or so many good ones. It gives me that 'kid in a candy shop' feeling. Still can't decide which sounds to use on my latest production.
Customer Support
The download link came through minutes after the order. Had a minor problem but received a work-around within hours of my E-mail.
Value For Money
This is where this synth shines. $59 is a giveaway for a synth of this quality. Compared to the cost of FM7 or Sytrus this is a steal.
Stability
Slight problem with FL Studio 5 but this was fixed by the developer and an update released within days.Read Review
I can't say enough good things about eJ. As soon as I fired up the demo version I fell in love with it. I'll keep this review short as I don't to overdo it.
To surmise, I've always had this feeling that high-end FM synthesis isn't accessible by everyone due to the high price tags of FM7, Sytrus and their ilk. At $59 they're practically giving this away. Way to go Maxx Claster, if more developers made plug-ins of this quality in this price range, the audio software world would be a better place...
EDIT: Sorry Maxx, but after upgrading to Toxic I still prefer eJ. Maybe it's just the wealth of useable presets, but I still love this thing.
User Interface
I had no issues with the v1.2 GUI, now it has that nice 'brushed aluminium' look. I like how each operator is displayed in a little TV screen. Nicely laid out, pretty, class.
Sound
I love FM synths, but this one fits the style of music I produce perfectly. Less of the toy town 'dwang' and 'ping' noises and more professional sounds that you can actually use. For $59 I expected it to sound like a Sega Megadrive, but eJ gives FM7 a run for its money. It has taken centre stage in my latest production, enough said.
Features
Chorus, flanger, delay, EQ, tons of presets. eJ is especially good for leads but can do a pretty good job of the rest.
Documentation
Nice Windows help file included with the download, updated for version 2.0 as well.
Presets
I have never seen a VSTi come with so many presets, or so many good ones. It gives me that 'kid in a candy shop' feeling. Still can't decide which sounds to use on my latest production.
Customer Support
The download link came through minutes after the order. Had a minor problem but received a work-around within hours of my E-mail.
Value For Money
This is where this synth shines. $59 is a giveaway for a synth of this quality. Compared to the cost of FM7 or Sytrus this is a steal.
Stability
Slight problem with FL Studio 5 but this was fixed by the developer and an update released within days.Read Review
