
Sketch Audio Releases Free Series 9000 Filter & Distortion Plug-in
Sketch Audio has officially unveiled its latest offering, the Series 9000 plug-in, now available completely free of charge. This new addition to their software lineup brings a distinctive filter and distortion tool to music producers across various platforms. The Series 9000 is designed to provide powerful sound sculpting capabilities, making it a noteworthy utility for anyone looking to add character to their tracks without incurring any cost. Furthermore, its accessibility across multiple operating systems ensures a broad appeal for electronic music producers and sound designers alike.
Inspired by Classic Hardware
At the core of the Series 9000 is a unique sixth-order low-pass filter. This particular filter design draws its inspiration from a revered rackmount sampler from the late 1980s, a piece of hardware known for its distinctive sonic qualities. Consequently, the plug-in inherits the hardware’s steep 36 dB/Oct rolloff, enabling users to aggressively cut away frequencies from their audio signals. This characteristic allows for dramatic sound shaping, effectively carving out mixes in a profoundly satisfying manner. However, it is important to note that, much like its hardware counterpart, the filter does not fully close. Therefore, even when the cutoff is set to its minimum, the fundamental backbone of the sound will still remain audible, providing a unique texture rather than a complete mute.
Modern Additions and Controls
While the filter’s essence is rooted in classic design, Sketch Audio has integrated modern functionalities to enhance its versatility. The Series 9000 pairs this classic filter with several original additions, presented through four intuitive controls. Firstly, the Cutoff knob manages the filter’s frequency point, allowing precise control over the spectral focus. Secondly, Drive introduces custom saturators embedded within each filter stage, allowing for subtle warmth or aggressive distortion, ranging from fully clean at 0 dB upwards. Moreover, Q controls the filter’s resonance, enabling users to emphasize the cutoff frequency and create distinctive sweeps. Finally, the Env parameter provides envelope follower modulation of the cutoff, featuring an adaptive release for dynamic and responsive sound manipulation. These controls collectively offer a broad spectrum of sonic possibilities, from gentle shaping to extreme tonal transformation, making it a versatile tool for various genres.
Broad Compatibility and Accessibility
Accessibility is a key aspect of the Series 9000. This plug-in is widely available across major plug-in formats, including AAX, AUv2, AUv3, CLAP, and VST3. Additionally, it supports a range of operating systems, specifically macOS 11+, Windows 10+, and iOS 14+. Desktop users can download the installers from sketchaudio.com, though a free Sketch Audio account is required to access the downloads. Meanwhile, the iOS version is conveniently accessible via the Apple App Store, broadening its reach to mobile producers. For producers seeking even more advanced filtering capabilities, Sketch Audio also offers “Scissor Hands,” a related product that expands upon the Series 9000 by adding a high-pass filter, more filter orders, and deeper modulation options. Ultimately, Series 9000 serves as an excellent entry point into Sketch Audio’s distinct sound processing tools.
Features
- Sixth-order (36 dB/Oct) low-pass filter
- Inspired by a late 80s rackmount sampler
- Integrated Drive with custom saturators
- Adjustable Resonance (Q)
- Envelope follower modulation for Cutoff with adaptive release
- Available formats: AAX, AUv2, AUv3, CLAP, VST3
- Supported platforms: macOS 11+, Windows 10+, iOS 14+
Price
Free
👍 Pros
- ✓ Features a unique, steep sixth-order low-pass filter inspired by classic hardware
- ✓ Includes versatile controls like drive, resonance, and an adaptive envelope follower
- ✓ Extensive cross-platform compatibility (macOS, Windows, iOS) and multiple plugin formats (AAX, AU, CLAP, VST3)
👎 Cons
- ✗ The filter does not fully close, which might limit some extreme sound design applications
- ✗ Lacks additional filter types (e.g., high-pass) or deeper modulation options found in more advanced plugins
More info: Sketch Audio | Series 9000
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