Octav8r is a 7-node pitch-shifter that generates 6 differently pitched stereo versions of the audio input added to a ‘dry’ non-shifted signal to generate a richly layered sound. Each node has its own volume envelope and variable state filter plus send controls to vibrato, chorus, delay and reverb effects. The envelopes can be triggered by midi, audio gate or looped in sync with the host tempo.
The primary idea of Octav8r is to create multiple pitch-shifted layers of the incoming audio. With some twiddling you can get creative with panning to generate separation around the stereo field, use envelopes to bring each node in and out at different times and use chorus, delay and reverb to make each node sit differently in the mix. You can use the tempo-sync envelope trigger to create rhythmic gating or pulsing and the envelope toggles to make only some nodes modulated whilst others stay constant. Most controls have midi CC and midi learn support, so with some automation or midi knob twiddling, you can make the output really move around.
features
· 6 pitch-shifting nodes, with octave shifting (-3 to +3) and semitone shifting (-12 to +12, to 0.001 semitones)
· All nodes have independent volume, pan, ADSR envelope, variable state filter, vibrato, chorus, delay and reverb controls
· Node 0 is the ‘dry’ audio at incoming pitch, which also has pan, ADSR, chorus, delay and reverb
· Envelopes can be triggered by midi note, audio gate, a tempo-sync loop or bypassed
· Envelope contours can be changed and set to restart or pick-up at retrigger
· Mix level can be adjusted between dry and pitch-shifted nodes
· Each node can be fine tuned for pitch shift method and buffer size
· Each node, envelope and effect can be switched off to save CPU
· Midi CC support and midi learn for most controls
· 38 presets
· Multi-out version for hosts that can support this feature
Purchase Octav8r from FLipside webshop - $15
This link will take you to an external webshop in a new window / tab. It is run by Octav8r co-developer and trusted partner, Singing Crane, and uses paypal as the secure payment method
This plugin is also available in a bundle deal which saves money on the individual prices
demo VST and audio
Download demo VST - This demo version of the plugin is to allow you to fully evaluate Octav8r before purchasing. It is fully functioning except you will get 1 second of silence every 10 seconds and a nag screen on start up
You can also download audio demos to get a feel of what Octav8r can do, you will hear the 'dry' sound first, then the Octav8ted sound
Download audio demo 1 mp3 - Synth with some gated Ocav8ing
Download audio demo 2 mp3 - Synth with a big sound
Download audio demo 3 mp3 - Synthy strings made bigger
Download audio demo 4 mp3 - Plucked sound with delayed shifting
Download audio demo 5 mp3 - Fast gated synth
Download audio demo 6 mp3 - Guitar with high pitched overtones
Download audio demo 7 mp3 - Choir pad with panning shifting
Download audio demo 8 mp3 - Fuzzy synth gets choir-like overtones
Download audio demo 9 mp3 - Male choir with subtle width and air
WhiskeyPriest song demo mp3 - subtle vocal processing
Bahgheera vocal demo mp3 - unsubtle vocal processing
In the audio demos, you will hear several examples of what Octav8r can do to different source materials. In each case you will hear the dry followed by the wet signal path, so you can compare the before and after.
Guide, manual & support
Download runagate Guide and Preset pack - This guide, written by runagate, explains some of the sound design possibilities of Octav8r and includes 40 additional presets. There may be more tips in this KVR thread where the guide was originally posted
Download pdf manual - All the features and controls of Octav8r are fully described in this 12 page manual. The manual is also included in both the demo version download and the full version download
There is also a Support forum available at the FLipside - Please post any questions or requests for support on this forum and we can answer there. This way the answers will also be available for other users
Note for users with Multicore processors
Octav8r was developed using SynthEdit software version 1.016
There is a known bug with this version that affects some multicore processors, although it isn't widely documented. Some users with multicore processors and certain hosts have reported issues when trying to load multiple instances of the same SynthEdit plugin. This bug is not reproducable on all systems or hosts, and may not occur on your system. If you have a multicore processor you are strongly urged to fully test the demo version of Octav8r on your system before purchasing.
This bug does NOT affect single core processors or single instances of a plugin
This bug only seems to apply in hosts with multi-core support
It is intended that SynthEdit 1.1 will fix this bug, but there is no planned release date. There is no guarantee that Octav8r can be updated on release of SE 1.1, as the compatibility between the two versions is not certain.
If you do have issues with multiple instances, there is a potential workaround. By making several copies of Octav8r.dll (eg Octav8r_1.dll, Octav8r_2.dll, etc) in your VST directory, your host will see each one as a different plugin and be able load one instance of each
credits
Original idea, co-development and presets by Singing Crane
Additional presets, beta testing and GUI inspiration from WhiskeyPriest
Guide and additional presets by runagate
Thanks to the rest of the beta testers, especially brstma, for bug hunting and feature ideas
Thanks for the 3rd party modules from Dave Haupt, Chris Kerry, Scoofster and Kelly Lynch
