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Cassette Keys.01 for SFZ Player preset instrument artwork by THEPHONOLOOP
THEPHONOLOOP·Expansion Packs

Cassette Keys.01 for SFZ Player: Vintage Cassette Keys Instrument by THEPHONOLOGOP

Cassette Keys.01 for SFZ Player is a preset instrument by THEPHONOLOOP that blends physical modelling and FM synth sounds, recorded on an old cassette recorder. It runs in any compatible SFZ player.

REQUIRESSFZ PlayerHost synth sold separately
All presets for SFZ Player
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
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01Overview

Cassette Keys.01 is an expansion preset for SFZ-compatible players. THEPHONOLOOP built it from a mix of physical modelling and FM synth sources, then recorded them on a cassette machine for a worn, vintage character. The instrument covers the range from C0 to E6 with four velocity layers, and it comes with a simple single-page interface for quick sound design.

Best for

  • Vintage keys
  • Lo-fi production
  • Ostinato patterns
  • Sound design
  • Textured chords
Developer
THEPHONOLOOP
Requires
SFZ Player
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Physical modelling and FM synth sources recorded to cassette
  • Range from C0 to E6
  • Four carefully designed velocity layers
  • 848 MB of samples
  • Noise slider with independent volume and filtering
  • Automatic de-noising to avoid noise stacking in chords
  • Simulated round robin for fast ostinato playing
  • Single-page interface with vibrato, filters and envelope control
03In depth

Vintage Character and Noise Control

The developer recorded the sounds on an old, wonky cassette recorder, which gives them a lo-fi, tape-style quality. Each note was de-noised with a high-quality algorithm so that playing several notes at once does not stack noise. A separate noise slider lets you add tape noise back in, and its volume can be adjusted independently and shaped with filtering.

The developer notes that a five-voice chord carries a single noise sample rather than five stacked on top of each other, which keeps the noise level more natural.

Playing Feel and Controls

THEPHONOLOOP describes the interface as simple and close to a synth, with everything on one page. Editable parameters include volume, volume envelope, panorama, vibrato amount and speed, and low-pass and high-pass filter cutoff and resonance. Vibrato amount is mapped to CC1, so the mod wheel controls it.

A simulated round robin is included to make repeated notes sound less mechanical when played in fast ostinato patterns.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

DeveloperTHEPHONOLOOP
TypePreset pack / expansion
CategoryExpansion Packs
RequiresSFZ Player
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What do I need to use Cassette Keys.01?

You need a compatible SFZ player, such as Plogue Sforzando. The instrument is a preset and does not run on its own.

What is the note range and velocity layering?

The instrument covers C0 to E6 and uses four velocity layers. Velocity layers change the timbre as you play harder or softer.

How much sample content is included?

The package contains 848 MB of samples and one preset.

Can I add noise to the sound?

Yes. The noise slider adds tape noise, and you can set its volume independently and apply filtering to it.

07Developer

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