Minimal Audio offers the Rift Filter Lite ($49 value), morphing filter plugin as a free download for a limited time. Rift Filter Lite is available in 64-bit AU, VST, and VST3 formats for digital audio workstations on Windows and macOS.
The plugin is listed as free for early adopters with a value of $49, so check it out while it’s free.
See also: BPB Dirty Filter Is A FREE Distortion VST/AU PluginRift Filter Lite is a next-gen morphing filter packed into a compact interface. As morphing filters go, the sound that comes to mind for me is the stereotype vowel-shaping, and I’m not a massive fan of it. But, of course, there’s more to morphing filters than that.
In the past, I have used morphing filters to create unusual synth pads and more so to create tonal percussion with complex rhythms.
On paper, Rift Filter Lite promises to be more flexible than the average morphing filter. Based on the number of options it provides, it certainly appears to be more versatile than most.
There are 24 unique filters split between 4 filter types, which are Basic, Morph, Peaking, and Harmonic.
Basics are standard 24db filters with the usual LP/HP/BP/, notch, and peak types. Peaking filters are used to create formant or phaser-like effects. Harmonic filters are based on the harmonic series, and morphing filters morph between the different types.
One of the interesting things about this plugin is that you can map the filter cutoff to different parameters. When mapped to Hz, it works as standard, but when mapped to tune, the cutoff is set to a specific note value. The last and most interesting option is MIDI. When mapped to MIDI, the filter’s frequency tracks MIDI notes that the cutoff then transposes by semitones. It definitely provides more flexibility in shaping your sound.
In tune and MIDI modes, you can create melodies with the filter. You can even pitch snap the cutoff by selecting the notes it should snap to and notes it shouldn’t.
The other controls are pretty straightforward; resonance, morph, spread, and filter mix. Depending on your filter settings, the morph knob can throw up some interesting effects. The spread knob adjusts the cutoff of the left and right channels. For example, turning it up makes the right filter higher, and the left lower; turning it down does the opposite.
The filter mix slider is a simple dry/wet mix control.
I like when developers take a different approach, and I think that’s what Minimal Audio is about. As much as I think Rift Filter Lite is an impressive first step, I’m more excited to see what the future holds.
Download: Rift Filter Lite (64-bit VST/VST3/AU plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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