LNDF recently released the Philodendron ring buffer plugin, a free and open-source release capable of some truly wild and wacky sounds.
The plugin is a VST release for macOS and Windows.
The developer describes Philodendron as a container that keeps writing itself.
At this point, I think it’s worth heading to the product page and listening to the audio demo embedded there for a concrete example of what the plugin can do when applied to a piano part.
There’s also a manual linked on the product page, which has a labeled diagram showing how the plugin operates, which is useful for picturing exactly what happens.
The section labeled Present is held between the Write and Reference points.
You can use up to four heads to simultaneously read the Present repeatedly as it writes itself.
Alternatively, you can freeze the buffer to “freely explore the Past.”
As you can hear from the audio demo, Philodendron dramatically changes the audio signal.
It can modify the piano part in several ways, ranging from comparatively subtle modulations to experimental sounds that are completely unrecognizable as a piano part.
LNDF notes that the Philodendron’s output can get loud and suggests using a comp and/or a limiter to rein in the volume, especially if you are working with the Feedback control.
Philodendron has an unconventional user interface, with the various parameters set into layers of circles, sort of like an onion.
I have to say it’s a bit to take in visually at first, but the manual has an in-depth explanation of what each part of the interface does.
The interface includes the following controls: Read Offset, Buffer Size, Read Speed, Feedback, Ratio between the head speeds, Number of Heads, and Dry / Wet.
LNDF has made downloading Philodendron nice and easy, as you can download the macOS or Windows installers with a single click from the product page.
You can also check out the source code for Philodendron on LNDF’s GitHub.
LNDF is an indie dev based in Paris, France, and the name stands for Le Nom Des Fleurs (Flower Names).
LNDF gives some background Philodendron on the How and Why page linked on the product page, noting that the origin of the plugin came when working on the internals of Hellebore.
Hellebore is a previous free plugin release from LNDF that the dev describes as a group of feedback loops.
Just like the Philodendron, the Hellebore is capable of producing some strange and experimental sounds.
In all my time writing for BPB, I haven’t ever seen a plugin quite like this one before, so if you’re tired of meat and potatoes releases and want something very different to spark some creativity, then Philodendron could be just what the doctor ordered.
UPDATE: We noted the developer about the issues reported by BPB readers. They responded immediately and released an updated version, which solved the reported issues. You can download the plugin again from the developer’s website to test the new version. A big thank you to LNDF for listening to our community, and thank you all for posting the comments!
Download: Philodendron (FREE)
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Last Updated on January 11, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
