Synths

Samplers

April 2, 2026
Bliss 3.8.4, Retromulator 1.3, discoLink released

We're pleased to announce updates to Bliss and Retromulator, plus the release of discoLink, an open-source cross-plugin data transport framework.

Bliss 3.8.4

Bliss is a professional sampler with VST/AU and hardware instrument recording capabilities, Visual Key Mapper, built-in wave editor, and comprehensive format support including AKAI S1000/S3000/S5000/S6000, AKAI XPM (Keygroup), NKI, EXS, SFZ, SoundFont2, and CD-ROM disk images.

Version 3.8.4 adds Akai MPC Keygroup export, new scaling options, sample editor enhancements, and bank saving improvements.

New Features

• Akai MPC Keygroup (XPM) export with Export submenu.
• Added 125% and 175% interface scaling options.
• Active cue zone waveform highlight with hue-shifted colour during playback.
• MIDI note labels displayed at top of cue zone markers.
• Recall menu in Sample Editor for quick access to recent actions.
• Cue button with smart playback-aware cue insertion.

Improvements

• Improved LCD font with corrected character alignment.
• Incremental bank saving — reuses unchanged FLAC data for faster saves.
• Optimized popup menu performance by eliminating redundant filesystem scans.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed AKP importer failing to parse keygroups.
• Fixed bank issues when overwriting an existing bank file.
• Fixed lazy load flag incorrectly set on active program during bank load.
• Fixed clear bank undo losing the bank file reference.
• Fixed macro dialog transparency.

This update is free for all Bliss 2.x and 3.x customers.

 

Retromulator 1.3

Retromulator is a multi-core retro hardware emulation plugin featuring ten classic synthesizer, sampler, and keyboard cores: Access Virus A/B/C, Access Virus TI, Waldorf microQ, Waldorf Microwave XT, Clavia Nord Lead 2X, Roland JP-8000, Yamaha DX7, Akai S1000, Wurlitzer 200A, and Yamaha OPL3.

Version 1.3 features OpenWurli 0.3, a significant upgrade to the Wurlitzer 200A physical modelling engine. The analytical preamp model has been replaced with a melange-generated 12-node DK circuit solver for a closer match to real hardware nonlinearity. The sine LFO tremolo oscillator has been replaced with a Twin-T circuit tremolo oscillator running at a fixed ~5.6 Hz rate matching the original hardware. Post-speaker gain has been recalibrated from +13 dB to +10.5 dB to match Brad Avenson's 2–7 mV measurement.

Additionally, the libresample library has been replaced with the Speex resampler (quality 5), improving SNR from 75 dB to 107 dB at the same CPU cost.

Improvements

• OpenWurli 0.3: melange-generated 12-node DK preamp circuit solver replaces analytical DkPreamp.
• OpenWurli 0.3: Twin-T circuit tremolo oscillator replaces sine LFO — fixed ~5.6 Hz rate matching real hardware.
• OpenWurli 0.3: recalibrated post-speaker gain from +13 dB to +10.5 dB.
• OpenWurli 0.3: speaker tanh saturation bypassed at character=0 to prevent nonlinear coloration on polyphonic ff chords.
• Replaced libresample with Speex resampler (quality 5) — SNR improved from 75 dB to 107 dB.
• Added Disk Operations backup/restore app data (all ROM files and presets) on None machine core.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed OPL3 preset navigation switching bank instead of stepping through patches.
• Fixed Standalone preset not sounding on project reopen.
• Fixed AU setCurrentProgramStateInformation overwriting DX7 voice bank RAM on state restore.

Retromulator is free with optional $29 USD support license.

 

discoLink Cross-Plugin Data Transport Framework

discoLink is an open-source cross-plugin data transport framework enabling real-time audio streaming and bidirectional MIDI/parameter control between independent processes via lock-free shared memory IPC. Pure C++17 with zero dependencies, released under the MIT License.

discoLink uses plugin instances (can be on the same DAW channel): a Host Plugin (e.g. Discovery Pro) that reads audio from shared memory and sends MIDI commands, and a discoLink Effect that writes audio to shared memory and receives commands. Audio flows through lock-free ring buffers with near-zero latency. The same architecture works across separate OS processes — a standalone synth, effect, etc. can register as a device, and a DAW plugin can discover and connect to it automatically.

Key Features

• Lock-free SPSC ring buffer architecture with 16,384 samples per channel.
• Cache-line aligned atomics — no mutexes, no blocking, no allocations in the audio path.
• MIDI 1.0, MIDI 2.0 UMP (32-bit velocity/CC), and MPE support.
• Parameter control, preset management, file exchange, and dynamic routing.
• Device registry with 16-slot bulletin board and auto-discovery.
• Dead process cleanup via PID validation.
• Session recall via linkTag — save, reload, and discoLink reconnects automatically.
• Three transport modes: Audio+MIDI, Audio-only, MIDI-only.
• Up to 12 channels with link routing and multiple audio taps.
• Cross-platform: macOS, Linux, Windows.
• JUCE module available for drop-in integration.
• Reference CLI tools included for testing without a DAW.

discoLink is free and open source under the MIT License.
Source code: github.com/reales/discolink

 

 

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