Fragmental: A Non-Standard Multi-Effect Laboratory for Sound Experiments
Immerse yourself in the whirlwind of sound transformations and discover limitless creative possibilities with Fragmental – a unique multi-effect plugin from the developer ndc Plugs, created in close collaboration with the KVR music community. This tool goes beyond standard effects, offering a powerful arsenal for sound designers, musicians, and anyone who strives to give their audio a unique character and depth. If you’re tired of the usual processing and are looking for fresh ideas and tools to realize your boldest ideas, Fragmental will be your reliable partner in the world of experimental sound.
The Heart of Fragmental: A Unique Combination of Effects
Fragmental combines several key processing modules, each of which can work independently or in complex interactions with others:
- Delay: A fundamental delay effect that serves as the basis for creating both classic echo effects and more complex rhythmic structures or ambient tails. Its integration into a complex routing system allows you to create effects that change dynamically.
- Granulator: A powerful tool for granular synthesis and processing. It allows you to “cut” the input audio signal into small fragments (grains) and manipulate their properties – size, shape, density, randomness. This opens the door to creating unique textures, drones, special effects, and entirely new soundscapes that resemble microscopic soundscapes.
- Phase Vocoder: Fragmental is equipped with not one, but three different variations of the phase vocoder effect, based on the code of the famous PVOC plugins. These effects are key to performing complex transformations such as:
- Changing the formant characteristics of the sound.
- Extreme time stretching without significant pitch changes.
- Creating “robotic” voices or instruments.
- And much more that goes beyond traditional processing.
These modules add exceptional uniqueness to the plugin and make it indispensable for creating futuristic or abstract sounds.
- Reversinator: A specialized reverse effect designed to create an audio signal that sounds in the reverse direction. This is a simple but extremely effective tool for adding unexpected accents, creating a mystical atmosphere, or forming interesting transitions between sections of your track.
- Modulation: To enliven static effects, Fragmental offers three types of modulation sources that can be flexibly assigned to various plugin parameters. A unique feature is the modulation routing system, implemented in the form of a “pie chart,” which provides a visually clear and experimental approach to creating complex modulation connections.
Unprecedented Routing Flexibility
Fragmental is distinguished by an extremely flexible system of internal signal routing. The user has full control over how the effects combine with each other. You can easily configure both sequential chains, where the sound passes through the effects one after another (serial processing), and parallel configurations, where the original signal is split, processed by different effects in parallel, and then mixed again. This ability to create complex parallel and serial combinations is key to achieving multi-layered, unique, and dynamic processing results. Experiment with the order and parallel combination of effects to find completely new sound combinations that cannot be obtained using more traditional multi-effect racks.
Technical Details and User Recommendations
The Fragmental plugin is developed in the highly efficient C++ language, which ensures its stable operation and relatively low processor load, as far as possible for such a complex tool. An important technical feature is the presence of a fixed internal signal delay of 7680 samples, which is a consequence of using complex phase vocoder algorithms. However, don’t worry: virtually all modern digital audio workstations (DAWs) that support the Plugin Delay Compensation (PDC) function will automatically calculate and compensate for this delay, guaranteeing perfect synchronization of your tracks in the mix.
Fragmental is available for use in VST format and is compatible with 32-bit Windows operating systems (Win32). This makes it available to a wide range of users of classic versions of music creation software on the Windows platform.
Pay Special Attention: Before first launching the plugin or loading built-in presets, we strongly recommend reducing the overall volume of your monitors, headphones, or master output in your DAW. Some of the factory presets in Fragmental may be set to a fairly high output level, which could potentially be too loud and even cause overload. The safety of your hearing and equipment is a priority, so be careful when exploring the plugin’s capabilities.
Fragmental: Your Tool for Non-Standard Sound
Fragmental is ideal for a wide range of creative tasks: from creating atmospheric backgrounds and textures to completely transforming vocals or instrumental parts. It will be a valuable addition to the arsenal of electronic musicians, ambient, industrial, noise producers, and any experimental genres. The plugin encourages exploration, finding new sounds, and going beyond the usual processing methods. Its unique combination of effects and flexible architecture make it one of the most interesting free multi-effect plugins available today.
Conclusion
Fragmental by ndc Plugs is more than just a set of effects. It’s an invitation to a creative laboratory where you can freely experiment with sound, creating something completely new and unique. Its powerful modules (Delay, Granulator, Phase Vocoder, Reversinator), innovative modulation system, and flexible routing make it an exceptional tool for anyone who wants to expand their sonic horizons. Try Fragmental today and see for yourself its potential to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary!
