The AKAIZER Project

Akaizer v1.7
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Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Ben Burchett

I discovered this little piece of software thanks to the author, Ben Burchett, who posted about it on a comment on my other blog about AKAI S900



Its aim is quite simple: emulate the time stretch function of old AKAI samplers.

Akaizer is a freeware audio processing tool which can 'time stretch' any 8/16/24/32-bit WAV sound file in the style of the 'cyclic mode' time stretch, which featured on old Akai sound samplers, like the S950 / S1000 / S2000 / S3000 series.
This is ideal for computer-based dance music producers who want that classic metallic-sounding time stretch effect, as used in many old school Jungle / Drum and Bass / Speed Garage tunes from the 1990's, without the need for an actual Akai sampler.

Since it claims to make " that classic metallic-sounding time stretch effect " I immediately tested it by slaughtering some samples out of my JoMoX X-Base 09 kit.
The results are convincing: percussive material gains lot of craziness and I haven't tried with voices yet! Anyone serious in Industrial sound research should give it a try.

Find it for Windows and other platforms here: http://akaizer.blogspot.com/

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JoMoX percussions through Black Audio Destructor samples

The Black Audio Destructor (BAD!) does exactly what its name suggests: destroys audio! Anything fed is reduced to shreds.

The mode switch selects between Crunch mode, Saturated mode and Tone mode. In every mode the audio is distorted and ground up at a frequency selected by the frequency knob, Selecting Crunch mode with the switch in the upwards position gives a spluttering crunchy distorted sound that can sound like anything from an old fuzz pedal with a nearly dead battery, to a mixing desk with every light running in the red. In Saturated mode with the switch in the central position you get a much more intense effect, where the input signal and the effect signal start to blend into one mighty noise. In this mode you can get brutally saturated and distorted synth like tones running at the frequency of the input signal. The final mode is the Tone mode with the switch in the downward position. In this mode the box starts playing a constant tone at certain settings, with the input signal interacting with the tone in bizarre ways. With an input signal as a sweeping synth waveform we have managed to get pseudo ring modulator tones in this mode.

To test its full potential I needed something with a fierce output, something analog that can withstand this degree of audio degradation. A JoMoX X-Base 09 would be perfect!



So I borrowed the one from my friend Hask and started to experiment with snares, kickdrums and different layerings of them together, to see where how far the boundaries of harshness were.

The result is a unique and huge collection of Industrial hits, suitable for Powernoise, Techno, and maybe some hard EBM.

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Ferox tape saturation modeller VST plugin

I mentally divide distortion effects into two breeds: simple audio "inflaters" and "spicers". "Spicers" are the ones that can add "spice", usually with a knob that sums some kind of harsh noise.

This VST plug-in from the same author of Timemachine is definitely of the second, more rare, breed. It doesn't produce raw sounds only by exploding the existing waveforms but can add something of its own with the usual "noise" knob.



I found it effective on both long synths and short percussive material.

Ferox is a free tape saturation modeller VST plugin. It has separate controls for saturation and hysteresis effects. Feedback with variable tape speed is provided to simulate vintage tape echos.

Nice to see that it also does its original job flawlessly: an analog tape emulator.

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