Apollo View Modular has released Scope 1.2, a free beat-synced oscilloscope plugin for macOS and Windows.
The latest update makes this one worth a look for Windows users, as Scope was previously available only on macOS. Version 1.2 also adds AAX and CLAP formats, along with features borrowed from Apollo View’s paid DeltaScope plugin.
I use oscilloscopes quite a lot while working on sound design. The good old s(M)exoscope is still my go-to freeware pick, but there are definitely better ones out there, with Oszillos-Mega-Scope being among the very best.
If you still don’t have one, Scope is a good place to start. You can use it to see how a compressor changes a kick, check whether sidechain processing creates enough space, inspect clipping, or learn how different sounds behave.
The plugin was inspired by Bram de Jong’s classic s(M)exoscope. Like many of us, Apollo View founder Jon-Mark Hampson used that freeware oscilloscope for years. So, he created Scope after it stopped working reliably on modern systems (although I’m still getting some mileage out of it).
Scope offers 22 tempo-locked display divisions, ranging from 1/128 notes to 16 bars, with straight, dotted, and triplet values. PPQ snapping keeps transients in the same position on every cycle, while free-running mode provides time windows in milliseconds, Hertz, or musical notes from C0 to C8.
One of the most interesting additions in version 1.2 is Color by Frequency. It tints bass content red, mids green, and highs blue, so overlapping elements, such as a kick and a hi-hat, remain distinguishable within the same waveform.
You can now freeze the display while playback continues, zoom in on a transient up to 64 times, and pan across the captured waveform. This is especially handy when you want to inspect a short attack or tail without repeatedly chasing it across the screen.
Other features include Left, Right, Mono, and Stereo channel modes, adjustable amplitude scaling, custom waveform colors, CRT-style glow, and polarity-aware clipping indicators. The option to use manual sample or millisecond offset is also great because it helps align the display with the grid when upstream plugins introduce latency.
Scope can export the current display as a high-resolution PNG, and its settings can be exported and imported.
The developer also offers DeltaScope for £50. It adds a spectrum analyzer, metering, waveform measurement, phase correlation, sidechain input, and communication between plugin instances to compare two signals or perform null tests. It is a separate plugin, not a paid unlock for Scope.
Scope supports AU, VST3, CLAP, and AAX on macOS 13 or newer, with native Intel and Apple Silicon support. Windows 10 or newer supports VST3, CLAP, and AAX.
The download requires a £0 checkout through Paddle, but no store account is needed. You’ll get the license key by email, and it activates locally without iLok, a dongle, or a permanent internet connection. One key covers both operating systems.
Download: Scope 1.2 (FREE)
Deal of the day 🔥: Get the VATRA mix finisher plugin by Flame Sound!More:
