BlauKraut Engineering has updated its freeware synthesizer plug-in for Windows. Charlatan now includes LFO sync to host tempo and more in version 1.2.

Charlatan is a polyphonic, subtractive virtual analog software synthesizer plugin whose design focuses on sound quality and easy usability. The design philosophy was to provide a feature set just large enough to cover a wide range of sounds rather than an infinite number of parameters and modulation options cluttering the user interface and distracting from the creative process. That said, Charlatan’s synthesis architecture is flexible enough to create all kinds of sounds, from conventional classic leads, basses and pads to weird blips and noises.

Changes in Charlatan v1.2

  • New: LFO sync to host tempo.
  • New: set LFO phase at song start (applies also to non-synced LFO rates).
  • New: DCO (“Digitally controlled oscillator”) switch (see readme.txt).
  • New: Osc1 shape parameter now applies lowpass/highpass filter to noise source (center position yields white noise). Note: no shape modulation for noise.
  • Improved filters: better solver for nonlinear zero-delay feedback (credits to Teemu Voipio aka mystran), nicer saturation characteristic.
  • Improved UI graphics.
  • Legato mode: only retrigger LFO delay on non-legato notes.
  • Fixed: reset all voices when playback starts.
  • Some more presets.

The Charlatan plug-in for Windows (VST) is a free download.

More information: BlauKraut Engineering