LinPlug Virtual Instruments

Focussed on the essential modules of a subtractive synthesizer Alpha 3 offers true hands on operation. Everything is where you would expect it, nothing is more complex than it needs to be. Nothing is less powerful than it needs to be. Alpha 3 is the sum of all our experience in synthesizer manufacturing.

Just when you are tired of the over-complex synthesizers of today, and when you want to return to the roots, the beginning of all synthetic sound, the times when a Synthesizer could be fully programmed, then the Alpha 3 is the right synthesizer for you. Get the synth that you can control.

(no flash ? please check mp3's in rightmost tab below)

Specification
News
Downloads
FreeAlpha
Requirements
Purchase
Voices
Sounds
mp3

AU and VST plug-in instrument for Mac and PC
2 Oscillators with numerous waveforms
PWM (symmetry of all waveforms modulatable)
Switchable freerun for both oscillators
Extended Ring Modulation (modulatable Off-AM-RM)
Noise Oscillator
Spread (5 detuned oscillators per voice, adjustable)
Rich sounding multimode filter with saturation
dedicated ADSFR filter envelope
Amplifier section with dedicated ADSFR envelope
7 slot Modulation Matrix, 19 sources, 18 destinations

3 individual LFOs with attack, host-sync, etc..
Portamento / Glide with various modes
adjustable Chorus, no other effects (intentionally)
Adjustable analogness
Global tuning and Microtonal support
Powerful ECS (MIDI learn for almost all Controllers)
sample accurate processing, total recall
all controls automatable
direct access to all banks and presets
32 voice polyphonic (adjustable), true mono mode

Version	Date	Changes
3.2.2	31.Oct 2012	Mac only update: OSX 10.8 certified installers Fixed hangs when switching presets Compatibility enhancements Added MIDI output (parameter feedback) for Audio Units Ended support for PowerPC processors
3.2.1	28.Feb 2012	Mac only update: Fixed detune problem when loading on PowerPC systems (may require removal from rack) Stability improvements Fixed transport sync in RTAS Ended support for PowerPC G3 processors
3.2	1.Nov 2011	Most changes apply to both Alpha and FreeAlpha Additional new 24 db LP Filter type Improved Bank / Preset system now for up to 200 banks 44 new presets of various types (Alpha only!) fixed Release time might be too short in rare cases fixed ECS (MIDI Learn) not being stored permanently on Windows
3.1.5	18.Jul 2011	Mac only update: added support for Mac OSX 10.7 Lion fixed crash when loading aupreset (AU only)
3.1.4	1.Jul 2011	Mac only update: Fixed double click behavior in modulation matrix Stability improvements
3.1.3	2.Jun 2011	Mac only update: 64 bit native Mac version included
3.1.2	6.Dec 2010	fixed crashes in Reaper x64 / Sonar 8.5 x64 fixed MIDI Controller feedback not working in 64 bit version support for asian languages in filenames
3.1.1	24.Feb 2010	fixed audio problem on PowerPC Macs fixed rare sound spikes with certain presets corrected setup GUI (setting default preset on Mac)
3.1	3.Dec 2009	fixed program change issues Mac OSX 10.6 compatibility improved Windows Vista compatibility Windows 7 compatibility improved Digital Performer compatibility native 64 bit version for PC available
3.0.1	5.Apr 2007	Fixed preset restore problem upon song restore in some hosts
3.0	25 Feb 2007	New major release with the following main improvements improved sound quality noise oscillator filter-FM adjustable and modulatable ring modulator increased polyphony (now 32 voices) improved ECS (MIDI learn) now 3 LFO’s larger modulation matrix (now 7 slots) more than 150 new presets

Demo Download

The demo version comes with a reduced amount of presets and emits a "demo noise" once in a while.

Full Version Download

The full download requires a serial number and contains all presets. It functions as a first or update install. No need to deinstall previous versions!

User Manual Download

You need a PDF viewer to read it, most likely your computer already has one.

FreeAlpha

A cut down version of our acclaimed Alpha Synthesizer is available for free - the FreeAlpha:

Alpha comes as a commercial product and in 3 different versions free of charge:
Specification			Alpha	Alpha
Polyphony	32 Voices	16 Voices	12 Voices	12 Voices
Oscillators	2 Oscillators, Pitch, Amplitude and Symmetry can be modulated
Oscillator Freerun	switchable	no	no	no
Ring Modulator	Yes, can be modulated	no	yes	no
Noise Oscillator	Yes	no	no	no
Waveforms	Mix of 30 Waveforms	Mix of 30 Waveforms	Mix of 30 Waveforms	Mix of 30 Waveforms
Filter	LP12, 2 kinds of LP24, BP12, HP12 Saturation, Filter-FM	LP12, 2 kinds of LP24, BP12, HP12	LP12, LP24, BP12, HP12	LP12, LP24, BP12, HP12
Envelopes	ADSFR for Amplitude and Cutoff (may be inverted)
LFO	3 LFO, 6 Waveforms each, Tempo-Sync, Freerun, Attack adjustable	1 LFO, 6 Waveforms each, Tempo-Sync, Attack adjustable	1 LFO, 6 Waveforms each, Tempo-Sync, Attack adjustable	3 LFO, 6 Waveforms each, Tempo-Sync, Attack adjustable
Portamento / Glide	Mono & Polyphonic, Normal, Held and Auto-Bend-Mode, adjustable Speed
Glide Speed Setting	Time or Rate	Time
Voice Limit	Yes
Polyphonic Unison	Yes	No
Precision	Yes, 90...100 (analog warmth..digital cold)	No
MIDI Learn	Yes
Chorus	Yes, adjustable Depth and Speed
Master Tuning	Yes, 415...466 Hz	No
Modulation Matrix	7 slots 19 sources 18 destinations	7 slots 17 sources 14 destinations	7 slots 17 sources 15 destinations	7 slots 19 sources 15 destinations
Pitch Bend Range	separately adjustable up/down, each 1..24 semitones	Fixed 2 semitones
Microtuning	TUN File support	No
True Mono Mode	Yes
Availability	Exclusively from the LinPlug store	Free Download here	Exclusively with Computer Music magazine	Exclusively with KEYS magazine

A Mac or PC computer with at least 500 MHz CPU
An AU or VST2.0 capable host software (DAW), like Cubase, Logic, Orion, FL Studio etc
Alpha itself requires about 8 Mb memory only (first instance, 2 Mb for all additional instances)
a Screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or better
Mac OSX 10.5 and newer, any Intel Processor or Windows XP and newer, any Processor
Alpha comes as both native 32 bit and 64 bit plugin

The Alpha 3 is exclusively available as download directly from LinPlug.

It comes with a comprehensive 32 page PDF-manual in English and German.

Included are more than 1000 factory preset sounds

The license fee is 99 US$ / 79 Euro

European Union

Japan

International

The upgrade is 19 US$ / 19 Euro

“Alpha gives you the fuel to ignite that inspiration spark rather than bogging you down with 1001 features that only a lab-coated technician could love.”

Computer Music

Rating 9/10

[ read the full review ]

“It’s a truly premium instrument at a ridiculously low price”

Future Music

[ read the full review ]

The additional Alpha sounds listed here are exclusively available as download from LinPlug.

Ian Boddy Alpha Signature

This set of 200 additional patches made by Ian Boddy gives you a vast variety of pure and edgy electronica sounds from the mind of one of the UK's most celebrated synthesists.

26 Analogue Fx

20 Atmospheres

20 Bells

20 Drones

30 Pads

20 Percussive Loops

28 Sequences

36 Synth

Travelogue