d16 Group Punchbox 2 is the successor of its kick drum Synthesizer plugin with an all-new hard-kicking wavetable engine, more controls, and more.
Punchbox, from the Polish company d16 Group, is one of the most popular kick drum synth plugins. The developers have been teasing in forums like KVR Audio for some time now that they are working diligently on a successor.
It took longer than planned. But today’s the day. d16 Group has launched Punchbox 2 with major new features and improvements.
d16 Group Punchbox 2
A kick drum that cuts through and delivers a solid punch is essential when producing danceable electronic music. The original Punchbox plugin was developed precisely for this purpose.
With Punchbox 2, the d16 Group developers take the plugin’s original concept to the next level, making it far more versatile.
At the core of Punchbox 2 are four distinct generators, where the kick generator is the central element. It offers five selectable modes: sample, emulations of the 909, 808, and 606 kicks, and a brand-new wavetable.
Yes, there is a new wavetable engine dedicated to kick drum synthesis, introducing all-new, unusual synthetic timbres that go beyond those of classic drum machines. Judging purely from the appearance (dark blue, red knob) of the wavetable oscillator, one might think it was heavily inspired by the Waldorf Microwave 1.
It gives access to wavetable selection, frame position, phase, level, and filtering, while the Position parameter can also be modulated in the advanced editor for more dynamic results.
Three universal sample-based layers support the central kick and give the whole structure. This four-layer architecture is all about sound design and lets you create highly hybrid kicks that blend elements from classic drum machines, samples, and modern sources.
Craft Your Kicks In Even More Detail
Alongside the new wavetable engine, the d16 Group Punchbox 2 also introduces an advanced editor that combines real-time waveform preview with deep modulation.
Unlike Punchbox 1, you can now monitor each generator as well as the plugin’s final output in real time. Part of this is also a deep modulation engine that consists of multi-stage envelopes that let you shape selected parameters over time with precision.
To give your kicks the final shape or polish, it also houses a flexible re-routable multi-FX processor. It offers a Decimort-inspired bitcrusher, SH-101-style resonant filter, a distortion, and a Pultec-style vintage EQ.
Further, it has a mono bass option, a limiter, and a soft clipper. Don’t forget to take a look at the backside, where you can access the multi-output routing options.
It lets you send individual layers or the Kick directly into your DAW for separate processing and mixing. Plus, you get dedicated output trims and more.
Better Browser More Sound Content
On top of that, it ships an impressive set of ready-to-use sound content: 1,506 samples, 1,120 master presets, 243 kick presets, 66 wavetables, and dedicated preset banks for the effects.
A new sticky sound browser on the left side organizes the sound content and gives instant access to everything. Global presets and dedicated sub-presets let you quickly assemble and refine kicks without breaking your flow.
d16 Group Punchbox 2 First Impression
The original Punchbox was showing its age. No wonder the plugin was released in 2016. With Punchbox 2, d16 Group has now given the kick drum synth a major overhaul after 10 years that goes far beyond mere cosmetic changes.
It received useful new features, such as the wavetable oscillator, which brings more modern, exotic kick timbres to the sound palette. I like that the workflow remains very simple and focused. At 25€, the upgrade price for version 1 users is also very fair.
d16 Group Punchbox 2 is now available at an introductory price of 77,02€, down from 96,53€. Existing Punchbox 1 users can upgrade for 25€, using a coupon from their user account.
It runs as a VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
More information here: d16 Group
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