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Crescendo Is A FREE Fully Programmable VST Plugin

By 17 Comments2 Mins Read
Crescendo

Bjt2 has updated Crescendo, a freeware, fully programmable VST plugin for Windows.

Crescendo is a free fully-programmable VST plugin with Soundfont import.

The plugin allows you to create custom VST instruments or filters using Crescendo’s complete programming language.

Crescendo includes sampled/synth waveforms and FM synthesis. It also offers unlimited oscillators, envelopes, distortions, effects, and filters per layer.

The Oscillators have synthesized or sampled waveforms, and the Envelope generators offer programmable shapes. You can combine Oscillators and Envelopes to create unique distortions.

There are two modes; Instrument mode and Effect/Filter Mode.

Instrument Mode features a MIDI pre-processing step, Layers processing step, and Post-processing step.

Crescendo has a long list of features/functions, including adding global and per-layer settings for things like default filter frequency and default phase LFO for FM Modulation.

Other features include Delays with or without feedback, Sample & Hold, Filters with stereo automation, and Stereo image manipulation functions.

It’s 2023, and I still don’t have a Windows system; I thought about getting a Windows PC for a while but reverted to giving Apple all my money. Since I can’t test Crescendo, I can’t say how easy it is to use and implement features or how well it works since the recent bug fixes.

It certainly offers enough to make things interesting, so if it provides a stable workflow, it’s worth checking out. In terms of interface design, it seems to be pretty limited but allows basic customization like resizing sliders, etc.

While it might not be the way to go to create the finished article, Crescendo could be a cool way to test ideas for instruments and plugins. Or, a good first step in learning about creating plugins.

If any Windows users have tried Crescendo previously, it would be great to hear what you think of the latest update.

Also, a quick reminder that Cableguys TimeShaper is FREE with any purchase at Plugin Boutique right now.

Crescendo is now in version 1.0.38, and the update brings some bug fixes along with improved support for Soundfont import.

The developer tested Crescendo on Windows 10 with Ableton Live 9.7; if you have a good or bad experience with any other OS or DAW, feel free to share.

Download: Crescendo

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James is a musician and writer from Scotland. An avid synth fan, sound designer, and coffee drinker. Sometimes found wandering around Europe with an MPC in hand.

17 Comments

  2. Darryl Lim

     on

    A bit outdated (AMD has released competitive new DDR5 Ryzens by now, & i currently recommend them over Intel or Nvidia), but this was a fantastic guide to building your first Windows audio-production PC! :)

    (Gentle Nudge for James Nugent, from a thoroughly-biased Windows PC enthusiast, *wink wink* :))

    https://youtu.be/ayt8-s77cQs

    Reply

  3. Mike

     on

    Read the entire KVR thread and I still have no idea what this “programmable vst” does. There’s not a single sentence in six pages related to anyone actually doing something with it. What is it for? There’s a huge list of features like “Conforming to the version 2.4 of the VST specification” (the most important feature apparently, since it’s listed first – but who the hell cares), “Instrument mode and effect/filter mode” (that means nothing) and “In instrument mode it has MIDI pre-processing step, LAYERs processing and POST processing step, with the same features of the filter mode” (who cares).

    “Fast functions for oscillators and filter with the default parameters”. Oh my, that’s going to save a lot of time. With the default parameters, that is. But what the hell does it do?

    I’ve been a programmer and a musician for three decades but I have no idea what this is.

    Reply
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