Charlatan3
Key Features
- Two dual oscillators per voice with custom drawable waveforms, cross-modulation, windowed hard sync, and up to 7 unison voices for massive detuned sounds
- Nine filter types across two filters per voice with flexible serial, parallel, or dual routing for precise tonal shaping
- Four freely drawable modulation generators that operate as either LFOs or envelope generators with drag-and-drop signal routing
- Four XFORM modulation transformers for reshaping any control signal through user-defined mapping curves
- High-quality master FX section with distortion, phaser, chorus, reverb, delay, and EQ plus optional 2x oversampling
- Extremely low CPU and RAM usage that allows multiple instances in complex sessions without performance issues
Description
Charlatan3 by BlauKraut Engineering is a virtual analog synthesizer that delivers convincingly analog tone through carefully modeled oscillators and filters. A subtle drift effect under the hood gives it a lively, organic character that sets it apart from typical subtractive synths.
The interface follows the philosophy of classic polysynths, keeping everything plain and easy to see. Two dual oscillators per voice support custom drawable waveforms, cross-modulation (phase mod, linear FM, ring mod), windowed hard sync, and a noise generator.
Up to seven unison voices per oscillator open the door to thick supersaw leads and wide detuned pads. Two filters per voice offer nine types including a 4-pole ladder, Acid LP, Sallen-Key variants, notch, and comb, with serial, parallel, or dual routing.
Four freely drawable modulation generators double as LFOs or envelope generators, and four XFORM transformers let you reshape any control signal through user-defined curves. Drag-and-drop modulation routing keeps the workflow fast and intuitive.
The built-in FX section covers distortion, phaser, chorus, reverb, delay, and EQ. Optional 2x internal oversampling cleans up non-linear processes like distortion without a heavy performance hit.
CPU and RAM usage remain remarkably low, making it practical to run multiple instances in large sessions. The synth runs on Windows and Linux in VST3 and CLAP formats, with version 3.3.2 being the latest release.
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Tips
- Experiment with the custom drawable waveforms to create unique sounds.
- Utilize the cross-modulation options to add complexity to your patches.
- Take advantage of the flexible filter routing to shape your sound in creative ways.
- Use the modulation transformers to map control signals to performance controllers like Mod Wheel or Pitch Bend.
- Explore the preset browser to find inspiration and starting points for your own patches.
- Enable the optional internal 2x oversampling when using non-linear processes like distortion to avoid aliasing.
- Keep an eye on CPU and RAM usage to ensure efficient performance in large projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlatan3 available for macOS?
No, the developer has stated there are no current plans for a macOS version. Supporting the Apple platform requires a significant time commitment that cannot be justified for a spare-time project. The developer has chosen to focus on open platforms like Linux instead.
Can Charlatan3 do pulse-width modulation (PWM)?
Yes, though it requires a specific technique. Mix two sawtooth waves with a 180-degree phase offset, invert one of them, then modulate the phase of either oscillator with an LFO. This is not a workaround but the same method used internally by most hardware and software synths that offer PWM.
Will Charlatan3 load presets from Charlatan 2.0?
No, Charlatan3 cannot load patches from Charlatan 2.0 at this time. While the new version is far more capable overall, the architecture has changed significantly enough that backward preset compatibility is not supported.
How does Charlatan3 compare to more feature-rich synths in terms of CPU usage?
Charlatan3 is widely praised for its exceptionally low CPU consumption. Users consistently highlight that it uses a fraction of the resources compared to paid alternatives while still delivering quality analog-modeled sound, making it well-suited for large sessions with many instances running simultaneously.
