Sognevo Galdr is a new free, open-source Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows with a black metal soul.
In recent months, we’ve been inundated with new Synthesizer plugins, many of them free. And it’s not stopping.
Andrea de Murtas from Sognevo, a new developer, has released Galdr, a new cross-platform, free Synthesizer plugin
Sognevo Galdr
Galdr is a new free, open-source Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows. The code is available on GitHub under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
According to Sognevo, the Galdr synth was developed using the JUCE framework. Whether it was created with AI isn’t mentioned. I’d guess it was, though.
Galdr is a 12-voice polyphonic virtual analog/wavetable Synthesizer plugin with a black metal soul. The developer doesn’t explain why it has this sound or what makes it a black metal synth.
At its core are two band-limited PolyBLEP-based oscillators, each with up to 7-voice unison with detune and stereo spread. The oscillators have classic waveforms as well as a morphing wavetable mode.
They have controls for the octave, pulse-width (also PWM), morph, hard-sync, and FM. Plus, you have a multi-wave sub-oscillator with selectable octave, and a white or pink noise generator. Per-voice analog drift is also onboard.
From here, it goes directly into the filter section, which consists of a multimode filter with low-pass (12/24dB), high-pass, band-pass, and vowel option.
Along with the classic cutoff and resonance controls, you have a built-in drive, dedicated envelope, and key-tracking.
Modulation & Refinements
On the modulation side, you have three ADSR envelopes (amp, filter, free), two assignable multi-wave tempo-synced LFOs, velocity, aftertouch, MPE, mod-wheel, and per-note random. An 8-slot modulation matrix manages all these modulators and the destinations.
To refine your sounds, Sognevo Galdr features a multi-FX processor with a non-linear stage oversampled 4-mode distortion, bit-crusher, ring modulator, chorus, tremolo picking, delay, and a FDN-based reverb with pre-delay and octave-up shimmer.
Part of this is also the Blizzard, a granular texture that can be gated by note activity or free-running as a continuous drone.
As already written, MPE is onboard as well as microtuning support via Scala files (.scl). Galdr ships with various factory presets that are available in a preset browser. The interface also has an oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. There is no sound demo available at the moment
First Impression
After playing it for a while, I can better understand the “black metal soul” description. The included sounds are raw, dirty, and noisy. Those looking for something with a bit more crunch and with character will find potentially suitable sounds here.
It’s another nice free synth, probably yet another example from the wonderful world of automated coding.
Sognevo Galdr is available now as a free download. The code is open-source on GitHub under the GNU General Public License v3.0. It runs as a VST3, AU, and CLAP plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux, and Windows.
More information here: Sognevo
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