MaxSynths has announced the release of PAL-9000, a freeware noise generator instrument in 32-bit VSTi plugin format for Windows based host applications.
The plugin is released in celebration of the new MaxSynths website launch and dedicated to Arthur C. Clarke. PAL-9000 was designed as an obscure noise sequence generator for creating weird and almost fully random sci-fi sound effects, so none of the on-screen controls are labeled. There’s no user manual either, which means that the users will pretty much need to guess which control does what.
See also: Free Game Boy Drum Kit (NI Kontakt)!
I’ve spent around twenty minutes experimenting with the plugin and the only thing I could figure out is that the control in the upper-right corner is the output volume setting. Also, clicking the PAL-9000 links to the Wikipedia page about HAL-9000 and clicking the pink screen on the left will playback a voice sample (fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey will love this!). Everything else is pretty much beyond me at this point. :)
But that’s not a bad thing. After all, the main reason why obscure instruments such as this one are fun is because you never know what’s going to happen after you push a button or move a slider. What I didn’t really like about PAL-9000 though is that it’s not as unpredictable as some other instruments of this type (the completely crazy plugins by Insert Piz Here, for example). No matter how much I tweaked the available parameters, I’d always get a fairly similar sounding pattern of glitchy sounds and noise.
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. After all, the plugin is completely free to download and use (there’s no need to register before downloading, either) and it can generate some really weird noises. Some of the included factory presets are actually pretty cool and I also liked how the plugin reacts to Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheel data (Aftertouch is supported, too) making it possible to control the performance with a MIDI keyboard.
If you’re looking for a free noise generator, it’s quite possible that you’ll find PAL-9000 a worthy addition to your arsenal of virtual instruments. The plugin works particularly well for creating random percussive sequences which could be layered on top of drum loops or other percussive elements in a track. Please note that it will only work in 32-bit Windows plugin hosts because it was made with SynthEdit.
Download
PAL-9000 is available for free download via MaxSynths (4.75 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit VSTi plugin format for Windows, made with SynthEdit).
