Twisted Electrons VBLASTBEATS is an authentic emulation of the BLEASTBEATS hardware FM groovebox for desktop and iPadOS – here is a review.
In mid-August, Twisted Electrons broke new ground. Alex released the VMEGAfm – the company’s first Synthesizer plugin – an emulation of its own MEGAfm retro hardware FM synth.
Plugin number two is here today, and it is another hardware emulation. Twisted Electrons has today released VBLASTBEATS, a virtual version of its gritty hardware FM groovebox
Alex from Twisted Electrons kindly invited me to beta test the app for a while. This gave me some time to check it out.
Twisted Electrons VBLASTBEATS
VBLASTBEATS is an authentic emulation of the Twisted Electrons BLASTBEATS hardware groovebox for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS.
The original hardware is based on the OPL3 (YMF262) FM chip found in Sound Blaster sound cards. It’s one of the first instruments to make this retro, gritty 18-channel FM synth engine accessible for musicians to program.
The plugin emulates the hardware with all its features, including the control layout. At the top are the parameters for the individual voices; at the bottom is the groovebox programming, including all the features.
Drums & Synths
Twisted Electrons VBLASTBEATS consists of six drum tracks (bass drum, snare, tom, closed & open hat, and cymbal) and four synth tracks. You program them in the first section of the GUI with faders.
Each voice has various parameters: volume, waveform (8 selectable waveforms), feedback or multiplier, attack, decay, and more depending on the voice.
VBLASTBEATS uses 4-operator FM synthesis, and yes, it also has algorithms. With the dedicated algorithm slider, you can select one of five algorithms for each synth instrument.
On paper, this sounds simple, but some operators are shared between instruments, so some faders affect more than one voice. This can be a bit confusing at first until you figure out the trick.
For example, hats and tom share the same pitch modulation, and the snare multiplier also affects the pitch of the hats and tom. Wait, the synth voices are even more uniquely interconnected.
Synth 1 and 2 are monophonic (2×2 OP or 1×4 OP), while S3 and S4 (4×2 OP or 2×4 OP) are duophonic, but they use their two voices differently. Here is what the hardware manual says:
Synth 3 has two overlapping voices for two-note chords. You can record one or two notes on each Synth 3 step. Synth 4 triggers both voices at once. They can be detuned with the Operator 3 Tune fader, which is useful for wide bass lines and chord stabs.
The FM sounds you can craft here from scratch have nothing to do with those of a DX7. VBLASTBEATS takes you on a train ride through the raw, gritty, glitchy, and rich sounds of DOS-era video games and sound cards. It’s a very crunchy trip.
Sequencing FM Sounds
The heart of every groovebox is a sequencer. On the BLASTBEAST hardware, you program this using the clicky buttons and the function key—without a display, relying solely on the buttons for minimal visual feedback.
The plugin also lets you follow this programming approach if you want to experience the original workflow. Alternatively, Twisted Electrons included a second user interface in VBLASTBEATS that makes programming beats and melodies easier.
Here, you get the perfect visualization—the kind you’re used to from software products with direct access to all 64 steps without switching views. Programming and using the advanced functions, however, are very hardware-centric.
You have to get used to the original workflow—something that could certainly have been implemented more easily in the software realm. When I asked Alex about it, he said he wanted to replicate the hardware approach exactly.
This crucial function button covers both the basic (save, clear…) and creative functions, including custom length per track, swing, and probability. These are modern ingredients that let you spice up sequences with polymetric behavior and more.
Bring Motion Into The Dirt & Glitch
Dive even deeper into your sequencers with parameter automation. Tweak the parameters, and you’ll quickly see that you can coax even more grit and character out of the voices. Of course, you can also give the sequencer a more organic and evolving character.
Three additional punch-in sequencer FXs (stutter, bend, and freeze) take this glitchiness to a performance level. They manipulate playback in real time and can be played live or automated. Perfect for accentuating the instrument’s dirty, glitchy, wobbly nature within the sequencer.
Also, unlike the hardware, a built-in mixer is available on a separate UI screen. Each instrument has its own dedicated channel strip, with pan, mute, and solo functions. A very simple yet useful addition for gaining full control over the sounds.
Additionally, Alex added a WAV recorder that lets you capture sound patterns and export them as WAV files.
Twisted Electrons VBLASTBEATS Review
In my opinion, even without owning the hardware, the emulation captures the instrument’s retro character and behavior beautifully. You get a full dose of FM synthesis’s gritty side and its distinct sonic characteristics.
The spectrum ranges from raw FM sounds like chiptune-style tones and noise to glitches. Sequence these sounds, and you’ll feel like you’re tapped into a retro gaming soundtrack.
The only thing I couldn’t quite warm up to is the workflow—carried over directly from the hardware—that ties operations to the function button. I would have preferred an iPad interface adapted to the workflow, without having to press an extra function key.
It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve mastered it, however, the VBLASTBEAST is a fantastic, highly distinctive groovebox that is perfect for any fan of nostalgic FM sounds.
A sound demo of the plugin isn’t available yet.
Twisted Electrons VBLASTBEATS is available now for 39.99€. It runs as a standalone and VST3 and AU plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
The iPadOS version is out now for 9,99€ on the Apple App Store. It runs as a standalone and AUv3 plugin on iPadOS.
More information here: Twisted Electrons / App Store
The hardware is available from my partners
Thomann
nice.
But, i Hope He won’t Stop with the real Machines.
have the First Therapsid.
This is literally the only company I never received my synth from\n Buy with caution. I did receive a refund. vst3 would be better then ios
it’s available for desktop (VST3, AU, and AAX) and iPadOS (AUv3)
oh, No..
thats sad.
crazy.😔