Tweakbench, a developer from the early VST era, is back after a 20-year hiatus with all its synths and effects.
The first VST plugins were released by Steinberg with Cubase 3.0.2 in 1996. This was a game-changer for the music production industry. An actual avalanche of plugins rolled into the audio world, and this continues unabated to this day.
Many developers emerged during this time. Many of them stayed, while others disappeared without a trace. Among the last to disappear was Tweakbench, an early player in the VST game, which vanished in the early 2000s.
After a 20-year hiatus, Tweakbench is back with the plugins they originally made, but revamped for modern systems.
Tweakbench
The company was active when I was busy gaming, attending school, and listening to music. Therefore, I have no memory of the plugins. Many who have been around longer still remember them. As some write: “a blast from the past”.
One thing is for sure: Tweakbench has a large number of plugins in its old and now new plugin arsenal—all at very reasonable prices between $5 and $10. In total, there are 22 plugins, spanning synthesizers, virtual instruments, and effects.
According to the developer, these are rebuilds with improved sound quality and performance. Please excuse me if I don’t describe the plugins in detail; otherwise, the article would be enormous.
Synthesizers & Instruments
- Triforce: an 8-bit Synthesizer plugin that emulates the sounds of a classic Nintendo NES with real synthesis and no samples
- Tapeworm: a Mellotron-like Synthesizer plugin based on remastered versions of J.P. Hovercraft’s original Mellotron multisamples.
- Peach: an 8-bit Synthesizer plugin with 30 waveforms based on the classic Nintendo NES PSG audio system.
- Field: a multi-sample-based ambient generator based on original field recordings by Shawn Hatfield
- Padawan: a hybrid (VA + wavetable)synth for pad and ambient sound creation
- Minerva: a granular generator for creating percussive sounds
- Ritual: an analog-style bass Synthesizer that uses several unique techniques to create a thick & rich sound
- Toad: a drum kit rompler plugin based on the Nintendo NES
- Dropout: a sample player that uses granular pitch shifting and sample slicing to play back a sample in new and unusual ways
- Rebar: a mono synth plugin with a drawing oscillator based on Mark Andrew’s step oscillator
- Monomate: a mono synth plugin for retro-sounding basslines and shrill leads
- Pippo: a unique Karpus Strong synth plugin based on an array of self-oscillating delay units controlled via a simple interface.
- Papaya: a waveform-based mallet Synthesizer plugin
- Carillon: a waveform-based bell and chime Synthesizer with chorus and reverb modules from Padawan synth.
Effects
- Yoink: a live performance effect processor with a sampler. that grabs samples from the current live effect channel. Then, you can loop, reverse, and process with effects in real-time
- Maelcum: a tape-like delay that emulates the classic tape delays with tape noise generation, and more
- Pudding: a granular delay effect with detailed sync features and lots of randomization thrown in the mix
- Sideslip: a granular pitch shifter with an internal variable-length step sequencer
- Mashup: a multimode delay effect plugin with an internal variable-length step sequencer
- Breakdown: a multimode filter effect plugin with internal variable-length step sequence
- Cairo: a tempo-sync gate effect plugin
- Grumblebum: a stereo effect that uses the incoming audio to drive its internal synth.
New demos aren’t available. Here is one from 2012.
Tweakbench First Impression
22 plugins at once is quite a release. Okay, they’re re-releases. It’s great that Tweakbench is bringing them back to modern systems after so many years. A little retro charm is always welcome.
However, one shouldn’t forget that, even with the new compatibility specifications, the features remain somewhat outdated. What was once innovative, like granular, is now commonplace. Technology has advanced, as evidenced.
Perhaps that’s one reason the plugins are so inexpensive. However, the developer states that the plugins offer improved sound quality and performance. Nevertheless, there are some fun synths and effects included.
Tweakbench plugins are now available and priced between $5 and $10. You can also get all 22 plugins in the bundle for $50.
With code KVR2025, you get an additional 20% OFF through the end of the year. Existing customers of the v3 bundle can ask for an upgrade price.
They run as VST3 and AU plugins on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows with no DRM.
More information here: TB website
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