Helm

Helm is a free, cross-platform, polyphonic synthesizer that runs on GNU/Linux, Mac, and Windows as a standalone program and as a LV2/VST/AU/AAX plugin. Release is in beta so there are outstanding bugs. Please send any bugs found to [email protected]

Installing:

Go to tytel.org/helm for builds. If you're on Ubuntu you can download it through the command line:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tytel/helm
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install helm

Building:

If you want to build VST/AAX plugins You'll need their SDKs located in ~/srcs
For AU on the Mac you'll want to put the CoreAudio SDK in /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Extras/CoreAudio
Nothing extra is needed for building LV2 plugins

Linux

make

The standalone executable is located in standalone/builds/linux/build
The LV2 plugin is located in builds/linux/LV2

To build a GNU/Linux VST plugin:

make vst

The VST plugin is located in builds/linux/VST as an .so file.

OSX

Open /standalone/builds/osx/Helm.xcodeproj for standalone version
Open /builds/osx/HelmPlugin.xcodeproj for plugin versions

Windows

Open /standalone/builds/vs12/Helm.sln for standalone version
Open /builds/vs12/HelmPlugin.sln for plugin versions

Features:

• 32 voice polyphony
• Interactive visual interface
• Powerful modulation system with live visual feedback
• Dual oscillators with cross modulation and up to 15 oscillators each
• Unison and Harmony mode for oscillators
• Oscillator feedback and saturation for waveshaping
• 12 different waveforms
• 7 filter types with keytracking
• 2 monophonic and 1 polyphonic LFO
• Step sequencer
• Lots of modulation sources including polyphonic aftertouch
• Simple arpeggiator
• Effects: Formant filter, stutter, delay
• Still more...