Svep is a simple yet surprisingly versatile modulation effect developed by Klevgränd Produktion, available as a freeware VST/VST3/AU plugin for Windows and Mac OS, as well as a $1.99 iPad app.
Good things come to those who wait. The talented team of developers known as Klevgränd Produktion has started releasing free effects back in June last year, however their tools were only available for use on Mac OS and iOS. I was really intrigued by their free Squashit multi-band distortion effect (it was even included in our round-up of free VST plugins from 2014) and quite disappointed by the fact that I couldn’t use it on my Windows machine.
Well, Klevgränd Produktion has announced their first Windows release today and it’s a cool little free modulation effect called Svep. Previously released as an iPad app priced at $1.99 in the App Store, the effect is now also available as a freeware VST/VST3/AU plugin. The aforementioned Squashit multi-band distortion unit is now also available as a VST plugin for Windows, although it is not a free download anymore (you can still purchase it for $7.99 or download a free demo version if you want to test it on your machine).
Svep kind of blurs the lines between a chorus effect, a phaser and a flanger. It can do all three of these effect types, as well as some more extreme (or really subtle) pitch modulation effects. The user interface is quite possibly the best part of Svep. It looks super stripped-down and simple, yet at the same time it doesn’t make you feel like you would need access to any additional control parameters. Using such a practical and well designed minimalist user interface is quite refreshing if you’re used to working with complex effects or virtual instruments.
The plugin comes bundled with as little as three factory presets, however they serve as a perfect showcase of how to achieve different types of modulation effects with Svep. Once you’ve understood how the user interface works, you’ll be able to dial in your preferred modulation effect in just a couple of mouse clicks.
Although Svep probably won’t become my go-to tool for chorus/phaser style effects in the future, I will definitely use it as a creative modulation tool, especially for subtle pitch variations. It works incredibly well for adding subtle sonic movement to static sounds, as well as for expanding the stereo image of mono audio material.
Video Demo
Check out the Svep demo video:
Download
Svep is available for free download via Klevgränd Produktion (2.4 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3/AU plugin format for Windows & Mac OS).
Last Updated on March 13, 2015 by Tomislav Zlatic.
