KVR Audio has launched KVR Developer Challenge 2012, a software and soundware development contest which has gathered 55 entries.
The deadline for entries the KVR Developer Challenge 2012, the fourth free-for-all audio plug-in / audio application / soundware design event, has passed and we are now in the free download, vote and donate phase of the event – the best bit!
I’ve already announced this competition briefly in the Commodore 64 Synthesizer Sessions DELUXE article (a collaborative effort by Rhythmic Robot and myself, which you’re welcome to support in the contest!) , but I’ve spent some time testing the entries since then and here are some of my personal favorites.
Transient by STR – I’ve been looking for the perfect freeware transient shaper for ages and this one could be it! Transient is a smooth, natural sounding effect with one of the best looking GUIs around. Easy on the eyes and as snappy or as soft as you want it on the transients. I use all Sleepy-Time Records plugins, but this is definitely the best one so far.
kamioooka by g200kg – So much fun! The synth comes with a selection of very useful startup presets which can be used as starting points for further tweaking and cable patching. It also has a raw, brittle sound which I really like. Some users have reported GUI problems in certain hosts, but it works flawlessly here in MuLab 4.
ThrillseekerXTC by Variety Of Sound – Bootsie’s entry was the one I was looking forward to the most, and this amazing dude has delivered once again. The second release in the Thrillseeker effect series is a parallel analog style equalizer which is designed to work as an exciter. Does sweet things to both the bottom and high end.
Those three are the ones I liked the most so far, however I still haven’t checked out all of the stuff. I was also blown away by WaveShaper’s Modulok drum sample pack (it’s simply maginificent) and Proximity by Tokyo Dawn Labs and vladg/sound.
Still looking forward to testing PTEq-1a by Ignite Amps (a Pultec style EQ) and Space360 by cytoSonic, so I really hope I’ll have some free time this weekend.
Have you downloaded and tested any of the plugins or sound libraries so far? Let me know what you thing about this year’s entries in the comments section below!
Btw, I’ll release an updated version of Commodore 64 Synthesizer Sessions DELUXE this weekend (will contain several important bugfixes), so stay tuned.
Links
KVR Developer Challenge 2012: click here
