KarmaFX Synth Reviewed in Computer Music Special Issue

Fri, 20 Apr 2007

One-page review and two-page tutorial in special issue of Computer Music on the top 50 free plugins of 2007: "THE CM FREEWARE TOP 50".

CM writes:

“ Your fast track to the best free music production software available today! The CM team have spent months researching and testing hundreds of freeware applications to root out the Top 50 tools for every job in your home studio. Find out what they are and how... ”

“ ...If there's a complaint to be levelled at modular synthesizers, it's that they're too complex. But KarmaFX Synth, built around a GUI that allows the user to instantiate and patch together various modules such as oscillators, filters and effects, won't leave you scratching your head. After a few minutes of playing with a factory preset, you'll be able to get the gist of what this big, beatiful beastie can do... ”

The KarmaFX Synth as well as the KarmaFX Plugin Pack is included on the accompanying CD.



Cosmosis endorses KarmaFX Synth

Thu, 22 Mar 2007

Bill Halsey/Cosmosis writes about KarmaFX Synth in his "ask Dr.Bill" section on the Cosmosis website, under Modular Synthesis vs Fixed Architecture.

In case you don't know: Cosmosis are one of the few artists on the Psy-Trance scene with an distinctive sound, Cosmosis were also one of the original artists that, along with Total Eclipse, Hallucinogen, Man With No Name and Astral Projection, pioneered the Goa and Psy-trance sound in the early nineties.

Bill Writes:

"If you decide that you really want to get into modular synthesis and that is your thing, then save yourself some money and download the excellent KarmaFX Modular synth. It's free/donationware and is an excellent piece of software. There, I have just saved you 700 euros :)"

KarmaFX Official Sponsor for Drum & Bass Event in March

Sat, 10 Mar 2007

KarmaFX is sponsoring 'Socialism' @ Inigo Bar with free plugins. A Jungle and Drum&Bass Event night Tuesday 27th March, 8pm til 2.30am,in London, SW8.

The line-up is pretty spectacular:
DJ PHANTASY (easy), MAGISTRATE (direct), DJ FU (hit & run), SIGMA UK (charge), DYMOND (advanced), KOMBINATE (lenition), DJ SWAY (futuredrumz) UK APACHI (SOUR), MC FREESTYLE (extreme), YOUNGMAN MC (technique), MC RIZLABLU (dnbww)

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.97 released !

Sat, 17 Feb 2007

KarmaFX Synth has been updated. Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.97 BETA changes.
  • Added oversampling to Oscillator2's ring modulation.
  • Added basic online auto update functionality; making it easier to get the latest version, without re-installing the Synth. Update is applied instantly, without any need to restart the plugin or host application.
  • Moved KarmaFX Synth core functionality into "KarmaFX Synth Core.dll". This saves disk space, reduces installer-size and makes automatic updates easier.
  • Bugfix: Right clicking on module type in captions would crash the synth. Fixed. (Thanks lalo!)
  • Bugfix: Modulating delay,fine or stereo in Delay Module had unpredictable results. Fixed. (Thanks Oliver!)
  • Bugfix: Check/Uncheck of options in GUI menu was broken. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Rangescale didn't work correctly in polyphonic mode. Fixed. (Thanks Alexeus!)
  • Bugfix: GUI was updated when window was hidden, causing overhead and artifacts in some hosts. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Pattern modules notehistory wasn't cleared on startup (potential crash bug). Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Fixed arpeggiator indexing-bug in Pattern module.

    This beta version expires June, 2007.

KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Sun, 04 Feb 2007

KarmaFX Synth Modular is again used in Scot Solida's excellent two-page Synth Essentials column. This time he experiments with Sequencer modulation using the step module in KarmaFX Synth.



KarmaFX site moved to www.karmafx.net !

Tue, 30 Jan 2007

The karmafx website has been moved to karmafx.net.

The contract with the previous webhotel was terminated since karmafx.dk was "using too many system resources".
We were basically thrown out.

After some technical difficulties, the site, forum, etc. has been restored and an auto redirection from karmafx.dk will be setup shortly.
Please note that forum posts (if any) for the last two days may have been lost.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause!

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.96 released !

Sat, 23 Dec 2006

KarmaFX Synth has been updated. Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.96 BETA changes.
  • Added 303-like 2/4 pole filter. Two Lowpass and one highpass variant.
  • Added 1-32 step, 1-4 octave Pattern controller with hold, loop, and legato support and 8 user programmable pattern presets. Can work in Step and Arpeggiator (1-4 octave, asplayed/up/down) mode.
  • Added S&H Modulator: Sample and Hold with rate control (and optional tempo sync) + transition curve (for built in slew limiting).
  • Added stream and stereo/mono/mixed mode selection to Input module. Two input streams from host are supported.
  • Added smooth knob to envelope follower for lowpass-filtering the envelope.
  • Control-automation of dropdown parameters is now supported.
  • GUI: Ctrl-left click on knobs and sliders now centers a parameter (like standard VST's).
  • GUI: GUI Dialogs are now "always on top".
  • GUI: Reduced clickable area of upper left logo in the control panel (Thanks Sean).
  • Bugfix: Parameter "Reset" did not reset its linked controller. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Sample selection was also shown in key/velocity editor. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Tweaked beat-sync precision to be 100% sample-accurate (Thanks Kim!).
  • Bugfix: Fixed uninitialized data bug in Compressor module.
  • Bugfix: Zolzer filters cutoff/reso values were interpolated incorrectly. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Amplitude modulating the OUT slider didn't work in stereo in SSE code-path. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Rewrote multithreading code to get rid of all possible deadlocks.
  • Bugfix: Aftertouch in MidiData module now works, supporting both Polyphonic and Channel Pressure (Thanks DJ_Bach).
  • Bugfix: Uninitialized data bug when using Panorama in Amplifier. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Step shuffle function was broken. Fixed.
  • Performance tweaks.
  • Added a few extra patches. Reduced size of some large sampler patches.


    • This beta version expires April, 2007.

KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Tue, 05 Dec 2006

Once again, KarmaFX Synth Modular is used in Scot Solida's two-page Synth Essentials column. This time he looks at Exploiting Noise as a modulation source.

The magazine also has a quick tutorial on how to do sidechained compression in KarmaFX Synth !

KarmaFX Plugin Pack Reviewed In Beat Magazine

Wed, 15 Nov 2006

KarmaFX Synth Reviewed in this months issue of the german magazine BEAT.
It received a top rating of 6 out of 6 !



KarmaFX Synth is Download of the Month in Electronic Musician !

Sun, 05 Nov 2006

KarmaFX Synth is Download of the Month in this months Electronic Musician.

EM writes:

“...The presets sound great and make excellent starting points for your own experiments, which is always the best way to get a handle on do-it-yourself soft synths. So download KarmaFX Synth, call up some presets, and start swapping modules. ”

Read Len Sasso's Full article here.

KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Sun, 05 Nov 2006

Again, KarmaFX Synth Modular is used in Scot Solida's two-page Synth Essentials column. This time its Pitch Envelopes that he's working on.

Scot writes:

“If you've been following this column regularly, you'll know that I absolutely adore KarmaFX Synth. This modular powerhouse offers the sort of flexibility we need to create just about any patch conceivable...”

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.95c released !

Mon, 16 Oct 2006

KarmaFX Synth has been updated. This is mostly a bugfix release, so no major version change. Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.95c BETA changes.
  • Added Unison Controller: Up to 16 simultaneous detuned voices with volume and panspread control. Each module is internally limited to a max of 64 voices. This means that it's possible to have, e.g., 8 polyphonic voices with 8 times unison, or 4 polyphonic voices with 16 times unison. But beware, many voices are heavy on the CPU.
  • GUI: Added "zoom" option to samplers right click menu.
  • GUI: Added simple effect template to "New Patch" menu.
  • GUI: If only one sample is loaded in Sampler, up/down arrows now defaults to disk browsing for samples.
  • Bugfix: Fix for rare but annoying deadlock hang in V0.95b.
  • Bugfix: Major polyphonic bug: Slave voices were always Mono ! Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Fix for rare division by zero bug when clearing sample in Sampler.
  • Bugfix: Detune (+1/-1 semitone) in osc1+osc2+notepitch was out of tune! Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Second attempt ME memory leak fix for EQ31 module (fix now confirmed).
  • Bugfix: Improved handling of patches that are either invalid, corrupt or wrong version.
  • Bugfix: Fixed memory leak in multi-sampler when in polyphonic mode.
  • Added a few extra patches.


    • This beta version expires February, 2007.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.95b and KarmaFX Plugin Pack 1.9 released !

Sat, 30 Sep 2006

KarmaFX Synth has now been placed in its own installer. Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.95b BETA changes.
  • Added multi-sample support to sampler with simple Soundfont/SF2 import.
    Replaced scale knob in Sampler with sample index knob for selecting (multi)-samples + Added sustain support with draggable start and end position-markers. + Added key/velocity range editor for changing sample ranges and root-key. + Added "sample trigger" led that auto-triggers sample when sample index changes.
  • To avoid overflow and/or machine crash or speaker damage, modules now detect very high volume-levels and self-disable with an "overflow!" warning.
  • Rewrote the Chorus, added feedback filter, and reworked its interface, so it's possible to crank out thick chorus as well as flanger style effects.
  • Added two-channel stereo Mixer to the Amplifier section.
  • Added "Panorama" option to Amplifier, that samples the current pan- position on key trigger.
  • Added keyboard tracking to Comb and Allpass filters, and increased their frequency range, so they can be used for physical modeling.
  • Increased max number of automation controls from 32 to 128. However, still only the first 32 are accessible from the control panel.
  • Added simple (delay-based) pitchshift module to Effects.
  • Improved Sampler's ramping between samples when changing position/sample.
  • Changing loop mode in sampler now instantly changes play direction.
  • GUI: Increased size of Step and Envelope modules.
  • GUI: To avoid ghost trails modules are forced to update on window redraw.
  • GUI: Added "Clone" and "Replace" options to right click on module menu.
  • GUI: Added "Bank Select" submenu to right click on background menu.
  • GUI: Added option to create a "New Bank" to right click menu.
  • GUI: Added "Antiphase" and "Negative feedback" options to Phaser.
  • GUI: Reordered right-click menu on definable knobs in controls panel.
  • GUI: Added "Shuffle" and "Flip" buttons to step sequencer.
  • GUI: Better zooming in Sampler by dragging mouse up/down in sample-display.
  • GUI: Added "ramp" option to Sampler that toggles sample ramping/crossfade.
  • GUI: Sample browse up/down buttons now browse multi samples. To do disk sample browsing press and hold shift, then click on the arrows.
  • GUI: Reorder New Patch/Store Patch in right-click menu for consistency.
  • GUI: Added Show/Hide Modulation options to right click option menu.
  • GUI: Added Rename option to right-click menu in sampler's sample-display.
  • GUI: Added simple sample selection (shift+drag) and Cut, Crop, Silence, Fade In/Out and Reverse functionality to sampler's sample-displays right-click menu.
  • Bugfix: Freq snap didn't work correctly in 4 and 8 octave mode. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Infinite loop check caused crash when changing input from menu.Fixed.
  • Bugfix: A sometimes hanging position marker in GUI was fixed.
  • Bugfix: Delay's Pingpong knob was inverted. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Zolzer lowpass would sometimes not work after disabling module. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Possibly removed Windows ME memleak in Step and EQ31 modules(?).
  • Bugfix: ADSR Decay and Release was too long in Exp mode. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Allpass filter zipper-noise bugfix.
  • Bugfix: Fixed patch corruption when using more than 256 char description.
  • Bugfix: Recoded Zolzer's bandpass and notch filters.
  • Bugfix: Cutting a connection wire could make the synth crash! Fixed.
  • Bugfix: A minor midi trigger/detrigger polyphonic bug fixed.
  • Bugfix: Effect/Controller were incorrectly ordered in New Sampler-Template.
  • Bugfix: Synth could crash when receiving too many simultaneous notes in mono mode.
  • Added extra skin. (Thanks Synchro!)
  • Reordered patches in categorized banks. There is now a Bass bank, a Drum bank a Lead bank, a Pad bank, and a SFX bank.
  • Made a few new patches, and added a bunch kindly contributed by friendly users.
  • Synth has been put in its own installer, to make room for patches, skins etc.


KarmaFX Plugin Pack 1.9 changes. KarmaFX Filter V1.1e 09/30/2006
  • Added more preset slots.
KarmaFX Deelay V1.1e 09/30/2006
  • Added more preset slots.
KarmaFX Reverb V1.1 09/30/2006:
  • Added more presets (Thanks Rick and Sink!) + Added more user preset slots.
  • Display wasn't updated with reverb type on preset load. Fixed.
  • Fixed memory leak.
KarmaFX Equalizer V1.1b 09/30/2006
  • Added more preset slots.

KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Sun, 10 Sep 2006

Once again, KarmaFX Synth Modular is used in Scot Solida's two-page Synth Essentials column. This time Scot experiments with Wavetable Synthesis.

Scot writes:

“Could it be that we've gone a whole issue without using my favorite donationware plug-in, KarmaFX Synth? If you don't have it go to www.karmafx.dk and grab it. It won't cost you a dime, but please donate to the developer, if you can. Load it up and and find the preset patch Bingobongo. This makes a very good starting point for our explorations...”

KarmaFX Synth Reviewed in this Month's Computer Music

Mon, 10 Jul 2006

The KarmaFX Synth Modular is reviewed in this month Computer Music and compared to Reaktor, a 300£ commercial synth. It scores 8.6, where Reaktor scores 8.8. KarmaFX Synth is given 9 out of 10 in Ease of use, Sound quality and GUI; and 8 out of 10 in Flexibility and Features. Not bad for a beta.



CM writes:

“...We decided to focus instead on what has become one of our favourite modulars regardless of price: KarmaFX Synth. KarmaFX is donationware, meaning that you can download it for free, but the developer asks that you make a donation if you like it. He doesn't ask for much, and there are no nag screens to badger you into donating. We will tell you right now that you might as well send the guy a tenner, because you're gonna love it. ... ”

KarmaFX Synth 0.94 released

Thu, 15 Jun 2006

Available in Plugin pack 1.8. Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.94b BETA changes.
  • Wiring two modules that produce an infinite loop, will now result in a warning giving the user a chance to cancel the operation.
  • Added range and snap options to right click menu on freq. controls in Osc1, Osc2 and Sampler.
    Choose between 2,4 and 8 octave range, and optionally snap to cents, semitones and octaves. Default is 2 octaves, no snap.
  • Tweaked keyb follow on filters.
    Setting keyb to 32 now means tracking 100% to incoming pitch, 64=200%, 0=no tracking, -64=-200% etc. (Thanks Jeroen).
  • Tweaked SSE prefetch optimizations.
  • Bugfix: Fixed possible division by zero bug in Reverb.
  • Improved performance of modulated LFO's.
  • Bugfix: Synth could modify state of incorrect module on entry point causing problems in MFC based hosts,
    e.g. SAVIHost. Fixed (Thanks Hermann).
  • Bugfix: Stupid bug had sneaked into v0.93 causing Formant filter to overflow and even crash on some systems. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Host GUI window was allowed to erase background leading to white squares in a few hosts.
    "Fixed" by subclassing the parent window.
  • Bugfix: Wire modulation volumes weren't saved with the patch. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Numerical precision could lead to signal not reaching zero with amp modulation. Fixed (Thanks Matthew).
  • Bugfix: The "Modules producing silence"-optimization resulted in sound-glitches in variable buffer size hosts. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Polyphony was broken in v0.93, especially for chords. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Legato trigger in adsr, envelope and step modules fixed.

Another KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Mon, 12 Jun 2006

The KarmaFX Synth Modular is again used in Scot Solida's two-page Synth Essentials column. This time Scot experiments with Cross Modulation inspired by the Prophet 5.

Scot writes:

“ Simply put, the Poly Mod section of the Prophets enabled users to route the outputs of Oscillator 2 or the filter envelope back to Oscillator 1 or the filter itself. We can, of course, do the same with modern modular software. And so we shall, calling once again upon the KarmaFX Synth...”

KarmaFX Plugin Pack 1.7 released

Sat, 03 Jun 2006

All plugins have been updated, and the KarmaFX Equalizer has been added to the pack.
Full list of changes below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.93b BETA changes.
  • Core sound engine optimizations + SSE optimizations enabled.
  • Modules producing silence are now disabled internally to save CPU.
  • Tweaked Moog filter - 8 pole version now works.
  • Added multi-range 31 band graphic equalizer with adjustable gain and bandwith.
  • Added aftertouch support to MidiData module (not tested).
  • Added support for loading 24 bit int and 32 bit float .wav files.
  • In non-trigger mode, modules now auto-trigger once to kickstart freerun.
  • GUI: Replaced line wires with thick, shaded, antialiased wires, that can be drawn in 3 modes: linear (default), curved, and bouncy.
  • GUI: Left pressing mouse on wire arrows will now bring up a volume/multiplier changer for patched signals.
  • GUI: When Ctrl clicking on modules to connect a wire, the wire is now shown.
  • GUI: Added skin switch support. No skins yet, but the functionality is there.
  • GUI: Increased the horizontal size of the sampler.
  • GUI: Added option to always start in "simplex" mode on startup.
  • Bugfix: Fixed uninitialized data bug in one pole filter.
  • Bugfix: Next-patch button would only go as far as patch 127, not 128. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: First half-period of hardsynced Osc2 square was improperly inverted.
  • Bugfix: Fixed potential crashbug when switching polyphony mode.
  • Bugfix: In monophonic mode, holding two keys and relasing one now reverts to last note still pressed.
  • Bugfix: Sampler normalize would sometimes peak detect incorrectly. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Rendering in non 44kHz could sometimes result in crackles. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Sampler's GUI position marker would sometimes wrap too soon. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Memtrash bug fixed in step sequencer.
  • Bugfix: "Unlink control" would not unlink controls in unused modules. Fixed.
  • Removed Bank2 and added a new Bass bank (still work in progress).
KarmaFX Filter 1.0d changes.
  • Rescaled filtermode midi range. Notch filter is now in range 95-127 instead of strict 127.
  • Bugfix: Fixed uninitialized data bug in one pole filter
KarmaFX Deelay 1.0d changes.
  • Bugfix: Fixed uninitialized data bug in one pole filter
KarmaFX Reverb 1.0c changes.
  • Added "mod" button to enable(=default) or disable delay modulation.
  • Bugfix: Fixed uninitialized data bug in one pole filter

KarmaFX Synth Tutorial in this Month's Computer Music

Tue, 18 Apr 2006

The KarmaFX Synth Modular is used in Scot Solida's two-page Synth Essentials column: "Modular synthesis made simple". Among other things, Scot shows how to setup a simple patch and modulate a filter's cutoff knob using an ADSR.

Scot writes:

“ This is an incredibly powerful yet easy-to-use software modular synthesis environment for the Windows platform. ...as it's donationware, the developers ask that you make a small contribution if you dig it. And believe me; you are going to dig it! ”

KarmaFX Synth 0.92 released

Wed, 01 Mar 2006

Available in Plugin pack 1.6. Full list of changes to the synth is listed below.

KarmaFX Synth Modular 0.92b BETA changes.
  • Patches are now selectable as presets in the host instead of the banks!
  • Synth now supports more than 2048 samples latency.
  • Instrument indices now start at 1 instead of 0.
  • Added "freerun" mode for generators and modulators when Trigger not enabled.
    This means the some modules (sampler,step,envelope) are triggered
    when host starts and detriggered when stopped.
  • User controls can now be renamed.
  • Added frequency info to comb filter.
  • Added value knob and manual mode to MidiData module.
  • Clicking on "Synth Modular" logo now switches to simplex GUI mode and back.
  • Bugfix: Blue "collapse" button in Sampler had stopped working. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Peak filter gain in Parametric could go out of range. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Modulation wires are now updated when switching Parametric filter.
  • Bugfix: Modulating Comb/Allpass filter parameters caused zipper noise. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Changing knobs in control panel did not update host parameters. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Patch count would not always go all the way up to 128. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Synth sent host automation events when opening the GUI. Fixed.
  • Bugfix: Loading an FXP with the GUI closed should now work.
  • Bugfix: Window resize worked incorrectly in some hosts.
  • Bugfix: Suspend/Resume (bypass) should now work.

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