It’s been a while since we’ve released a new MOD OS update for the MOD Duo but we now have a new one and it’s a doozy. As of today, when opening the MOD Duo interface on your browser, you will be able to update your device to version 1.6, which enables, among other things, commercial plugins on the MOD Plugin Shop.
A distribution channel for independent audio developers
The idea of having a plugin marketplace in the MOD Plugin Shop was a long time goal for us. It represents the culmination of one of our most important missions: provide a platform in which audio developers can earn money for the hard work they put into making the plugins we hold dear.
We will continue to use the LV2 format and we will still produce devices for which anyone can freely program, no license fees required and no strings attached (quite like creating apps for Android systems as opposed to iOS). This is what we believe in and we will keep empowering the open-source audio community.
Also, the hundreds of free plugins that users know and love will remain on our store and keep evolving. We are just expanding the possibilities for plugin developers when making their creations available on our system. This not only provides a means to reward the talented community members for their efforts, but it will also attract well-known software developers to the MOD ecosystem.
So if you’re an audio developer or know a good one, hop on the MOD train and make your plugins available to hundreds of MOD users!
Six amazing new plugins for the launch
For the launch date of the new Shop on May 31st, we focused on 3 long-term supporters who jumped right on board as soon as we talked about the project. Those were acclaimed plugin maker OverTone DSP, Max for Live virtuoso K-Devices, and the Dutch sound designer Nino de Wit, aka Shiro Plugins.
OverTone DSP is already quite well-known in the LV2 world, having created years ago a famous Guitar Pack with analog gear emulations for hardcore audiophile guitarists. It is now making a long-awaited comeback on the MOD Duo. Combining 25 years of pro-audio experience with a true artisan approach to the craft, the Guitar Pack contains a distortion (DT-1), phaser (PH-1), chorus (CR-1) and wah pedal (WAH-1).
OverTone DSP’s DT-1 Distortion plugin design
With over 8 years of experience developing Max for Live devices, Alessio Santini, aka K-Devices, has designed a couple of advanced plugins exclusively for the MOD Duo. WOV, the first release, is a tremolo with unique features that can even be used as a wave generator and a modulator. A delay with a similar creative approach is also in the pipeline.
K-Devices Wov plugin design
Shiro Plugins, who has already developed some user favourites among the free plugins, is providing a Pro version of the highly-praised Shiroverb shimmer reverb. The Shiroverb MkII has improved features such as stereo inputs, tone control interaction with shimmer and non-shimmer, crossfade between early reflections and the tail of the reverb, the ability to have a fully wet mix, and an optional pre-delay that makes more room for the dry attack. Furanja, a flanger plugin, is also in the works for a near-future release.
The current roster of commercial developers still has some more plugins coming up, with a trippy delay from K-Devices and a flanger from Shiro Plugins. This group will be expanded with more talented developers from the LV2 community. We’re also in talks with established software brands that would like to distribute their work on our new marketplace and make it available to MOD users. All plugin developers are invited to join us in this venture.
Other cool new features of release 1.6
Release 1.6 also has other cool features such as:
- Display brightness control on the Duo’s left knob menu (to dim those lovely blue LCDs for added cosiness on stage).
- The settings menu for the device (that was accessible via its address on the browser) is now apparent on the Pedalboard Builder as a gear icon on the bottom-right corner. It contains several basic and advanced features such as backing up your Duo’s data, changing your sample rate, activating beta plugins or entering developer mode.
- The 400+ plugins community plugins that were clumsily called the “unstable” repository are now more aptly renamed “beta plugins” (their testing process is still the same, described here).
- Pedalboards with beta plugins can now be shared.
- The full changelog can be found here.
2018 is going to be a year with many milestones for MOD Devices: you can expect new products, new MOD OS releases and new features. Are you excited? Do you have any favorite devs whose plugins you’d like to see on the MOD Duo? Let us know in the comments!
