Free Music Software: Flechtwerk is a free synthesizer for Linux, Mac & Windows that features 24 synthesis engines, based on the Mutable Instruments Plaits.
The developer, Ternär Music Technology, says that “Flechtwerk merges the advanced synthesis capabilities of Plaits with a streamlined, performance-friendly interface.”
Mutable Instruments shut down in 2022, and open sourced their designs. Since then, their modules have been cloned, translated to software like VCV Rack, and incorporated into hardware synths, like Arturia’s MicroFreak and MiniFreak.
Pricing and Availability:
Flechtwerk is available now as a free download.
YAWN
“YAWN” is not the word I would use…
In this day and age of scams and malware I would be very careful installing it.
Right of the bat, installer on my Mac is blocked with the warning message not to proceed any further… I didn’t.
Install at your own risk… 😉
Hey, at least it’s not iLok!!!
You don’t have to give over any particular information to install it.
I’ve had no warnings or issues on the Windows VST/CLAP version.
plugins like these are always cool in concept;
As an enduser I feel a few things are needed.
1) Ability to play a patch monophonically or polyphonically. (This might be asking for too much from a coding perspective but for obvious reasons this would make a mutable plug cool
2) any sort of decent preset manager. (self explanatory but its a total hassle to have to not have that coded into the plug
3) lfo mod matrix. ( Most DAW’s have external lfo that can be routed to macros but this is a eurorack algorithm, a mod matrix with preset recall would legit make this a crazy dope tool)
I dont know if A version of plaits as a vst exist with these features already or not as there are a ton. But I do know that those are the features that would make one a legit tool for a sound designer/producer
Cool!
This is a lot of fun to play with.
A massive boon would be for the plugin to show the name of the algorithm in a textbox, and the readme to include the functions of the knobs. They refer you to the original Plaits documentation, but that doesn’t explain all the modules.
I’ve used the “twist” mode in Surge, and I really enjoy that set of models. This is a bit more immediate than that.
No Audio Unit
It’s really odd that they would choose to use icons for selecting algorithms instead of a drop list. Personally, I’d rather not learn yet another set of icons.
No presets? Good thing the DAW can save it’s own but most soft synths have a way to save presets, at least.
That’s just how the original Plaits module looked like. It’s not odd, it’s classic.