Charlatan
| Category | Audio Production / Virtual Instruments |
| Version | 2.0 |
| Format |
 |
| Compatibility |  Windows |
| License | Freeware |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | |
| Updated On | Jun 9, 2015 |
| Total Downloads | 1,226 |
| PC Downloads | 1,226 |
Virtual analog synth
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.
While making no compromises about sound quality, the algorithms have been optimized for efficient CPU usage making Charlatan well suited as a ''bread and butter'' synth even in projects with a large number of plugin instances.
Feature...
While making no compromises about sound quality, the algorithms have been optimized for efficient CPU usage making Charlatan well suited as a ''bread and butter'' synth even in projects with a large number of plugin instances.
Feature...
more...
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.
While making no compromises about sound quality, the algorithms have been optimized for efficient CPU usage making Charlatan well suited as a ''bread and butter'' synth even in projects with a large number of plugin instances.
Feature Summary
- 2 oscillators with triangle, sawtooth, rectangle and noise waveforms
- oscillator pulse-width modulation (PWM) and slew rate modulation (morphing between triangle and sawtooth)
- oscillator hard synchronization and ring modulation
- 2 ADSR envelope generators
- 1 LFO
- 3 filter types emulating nonlinear characteristics of classic hardware: 4-pole (24 db/oct) and 2-pole (12 db/oct) lowpass, bandpass
- 3 voice modes: Monophonic with retriggering, Monophonic Legato and 8-voice Polyphonic
- low CPU usage
- 100% coded in C++
- native 64-bit support
While making no compromises about sound quality, the algorithms have been optimized for efficient CPU usage making Charlatan well suited as a ''bread and butter'' synth even in projects with a large number of plugin instances.
Feature Summary
- 2 oscillators with triangle, sawtooth, rectangle and noise waveforms
- oscillator pulse-width modulation (PWM) and slew rate modulation (morphing between triangle and sawtooth)
- oscillator hard synchronization and ring modulation
- 2 ADSR envelope generators
- 1 LFO
- 3 filter types emulating nonlinear characteristics of classic hardware: 4-pole (24 db/oct) and 2-pole (12 db/oct) lowpass, bandpass
- 3 voice modes: Monophonic with retriggering, Monophonic Legato and 8-voice Polyphonic
- low CPU usage
- 100% coded in C++
- native 64-bit support
less...
Charlatan v 2.0
Jun 9, 2015
Windows
2.0 Final (2015-06-05)
Fix loading of 1.x presets
Fix popup menus with multiple monitors
Make Amp envelope sustain parameter logarithmic
Fix old presets (LFO Wave), add some new ones
Reduce pitch drift
2.0 Beta 3 (2015-05-03)
BUGFIX crashes on AMD systems
2.0 Beta 2 (2015-05-02)
BUGFIX not loading in some hosts
BUGFIX note hanging after switching voice modes
2.0 Beta 1 (2015-05-02)
completely rewritten DSP engine resulting in roughly 50% (!) CPU savings in polyphonic mode
unison mode with upto 7 voices and stereo spread. Even with 7-voice unison, CPU usage is very bearable
major GUI overhaul
additional LFO waveforms
stereo noise
some more presets
mostly compatible with presets for Charlatan 1.x (*)
Fix loading of 1.x presets
Fix popup menus with multiple monitors
Make Amp envelope sustain parameter logarithmic
Fix old presets (LFO Wave), add some new ones
Reduce pitch drift
2.0 Beta 3 (2015-05-03)
BUGFIX crashes on AMD systems
2.0 Beta 2 (2015-05-02)
BUGFIX not loading in some hosts
BUGFIX note hanging after switching voice modes
2.0 Beta 1 (2015-05-02)
completely rewritten DSP engine resulting in roughly 50% (!) CPU savings in polyphonic mode
unison mode with upto 7 voices and stereo spread. Even with 7-voice unison, CPU usage is very bearable
major GUI overhaul
additional LFO waveforms
stereo noise
some more presets
mostly compatible with presets for Charlatan 1.x (*)
Charlatan v 1.4
Jun 4, 2013
Windows
Noise source now separate from Osc 1
Osc 2: narrow pulse wave
LFO: extended rate range
GUI update
BUGFIX: potential crasher
more presets
Osc 2: narrow pulse wave
LFO: extended rate range
GUI update
BUGFIX: potential crasher
more presets
Charlatan v 1.2.1
Jan 5, 2013
Windows
Ring modulator: perform DC blocking at output rather than inputs
envelopes: reduce minimum decay/release time to 4ms
less excessive smoothing of filter cutoff parameter (adaptive to audio buffer block size): allows more accurate automation
GUI: change color of version text to light gray (for people changing background color)
minor filter tweaks
minor envelope tweaks
support Cockos VST extension to display correct parameter values in automation envelope lanes in REAPER
compiled with latest version of Microsoft(R) compiler: possibly improved Windows(R) XP compatibility
envelopes: reduce minimum decay/release time to 4ms
less excessive smoothing of filter cutoff parameter (adaptive to audio buffer block size): allows more accurate automation
GUI: change color of version text to light gray (for people changing background color)
minor filter tweaks
minor envelope tweaks
support Cockos VST extension to display correct parameter values in automation envelope lanes in REAPER
compiled with latest version of Microsoft(R) compiler: possibly improved Windows(R) XP compatibility
Charlatan v 1.2
Jun 3, 2012
Windows
New feature: LFO sync to host tempo
new feature: set LFO phase at song start (applies also to non-synced LFO rates!)
new feature: DCO ("Digitally controlled oscillator") switch (see readme.txt)
new feature: 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
ATTENTION: Patches with high resonance could sound slightly different than with previous versions! Adjustments of resonance, oscillator levels and master volume might be necessary.
improved UI graphics
Legato mode: only retrigger LFO delay on non-legato notes
BUGFIX: reset all voices when playback starts
some more presets
new feature: set LFO phase at song start (applies also to non-synced LFO rates!)
new feature: DCO ("Digitally controlled oscillator") switch (see readme.txt)
new feature: 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
ATTENTION: Patches with high resonance could sound slightly different than with previous versions! Adjustments of resonance, oscillator levels and master volume might be necessary.
improved UI graphics
Legato mode: only retrigger LFO delay on non-legato notes
BUGFIX: reset all voices when playback starts
some more presets
Charlatan v 1.1.4
Feb 10, 2012
Windows
Jet another revision of the 4-pole ladder filter implementation. Placement of nonlinearities is now correct wrt. the original circuit
new switch 2OCT for Osc2: double detune range (+/-2 octaves)
90 degree phase shift of Osc2 square wave wrt. Osc1 (only when sync is inactive). Emulates behavior of sub-oscs of Roland synths.
if Osc1 is set to noise, the ring mod input of Osc1 is now the rectangle signal rather than noise.
Reduced max. filter key tracking from 200% to 100%. 200% just isn't useful.
BUGFIX: LFO delay parameter was completely hosed (10x the displayed value!)
BUGFIX: handle LFO delay time on samplerate change
doubled max. LFO delay time (10s -> 20s)
minor tweaks'n'fixes
new switch 2OCT for Osc2: double detune range (+/-2 octaves)
90 degree phase shift of Osc2 square wave wrt. Osc1 (only when sync is inactive). Emulates behavior of sub-oscs of Roland synths.
if Osc1 is set to noise, the ring mod input of Osc1 is now the rectangle signal rather than noise.
Reduced max. filter key tracking from 200% to 100%. 200% just isn't useful.
BUGFIX: LFO delay parameter was completely hosed (10x the displayed value!)
BUGFIX: handle LFO delay time on samplerate change
doubled max. LFO delay time (10s -> 20s)
minor tweaks'n'fixes
Charlatan v 1.1.3
Nov 26, 2011
Windows
BUGFIX: corrected placement of nonlinearities in 4-pole lowpass filter. Mainly noticable with high resonance.
Filter key tracking: account for glide and pitch bend
introduced slight pitch tuning error of voices in polyphonic mode
Detune parameter is now nonlinear to make it easy to dial in small values
minor tweaking of presets
Filter key tracking: account for glide and pitch bend
introduced slight pitch tuning error of voices in polyphonic mode
Detune parameter is now nonlinear to make it easy to dial in small values
minor tweaking of presets
Charlatan v 1.1.2
Nov 7, 2011
Windows
Handle MIDI program change
BUGFIX: aliasing artifacts of triangle oscillators at very high pitch
smoothing of filter cutoff parameter to eliminate artifacts when doing fast manual sweeps
BUGFIX: regression which broke compatibilty with older hosts such as Cubase SX
some more presets (based on banks from KVR member Alvfaria)
BUGFIX: aliasing artifacts of triangle oscillators at very high pitch
smoothing of filter cutoff parameter to eliminate artifacts when doing fast manual sweeps
BUGFIX: regression which broke compatibilty with older hosts such as Cubase SX
some more presets (based on banks from KVR member Alvfaria)
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