Deimos
Key Features
- Two oscillators with waveform manipulation, frequency/phase/shape modulation, and hard sync for broad subtractive and animated sound design
- Mixer section includes a noise source and ring modulation, with the latter added in the 0.8.0 update highlighted by BPB
- Filter section offers multiple modes plus Clean and Rough character settings, with Rough mode opening the door to more aggressive feedback behavior
- Deep modulation structure with two envelopes, one LFO, an extra processor slot, and nine modulation slots total
- Built-in chorus, oscilloscope, and spectrum analyzer help with both sound shaping and visual feedback while programming
- Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux with CLAP, VST3, and AU coverage depending on the operating system
Description
Deimos is a beta synthesizer from Tom Trnk that packs a lot of modern modulation and oscillator control into a compact cross-platform instrument. The plugin aims for high sound quality and ease of use, but its dense interface clearly prioritizes depth over a stripped-down beginner layout.
At the core are two oscillators with multiple waveform manipulation modes, plus frequency, phase, and shape modulation, hard sync, noise, and ring modulation in the mixer. A multimode filter with Clean and Rough character options adds extra personality, and the Rough mode can push the instrument toward more unstable, feedback-rich behavior.
The modulation system is where Deimos starts to feel unusually ambitious for a free synth. In addition to two envelopes and one LFO, it includes an extra modulation processor slot that can become an envelope, LFO, sequencer, or math operation, all feeding into nine modulation slots.
Tom Trnk also includes useful built-in analysis and finishing tools, such as chorus, an oscilloscope, and a spectrum analyzer. The fixed internal sample rate is another deliberate touch, keeping presets more consistent across different DAW sample-rate settings.
Bedroom Producers Blog described the interface as busy but rewarding, with a slightly retro visual feel and enough synthesis depth to stay interesting once you get past the first impression. For producers who want a flexible beta synth that rewards exploration, Deimos already covers a lot of ground on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deimos a finished stable synth or still in development?
It is still considered beta. Tom Trnk explicitly notes that bugs or compatibility issues may still appear, and the itch.io page asks users to report technical problems or discuss them on KVR.
What plugin formats does Deimos support?
Windows supports CLAP and VST3. macOS supports CLAP, VST3, and AU. Linux currently supports CLAP according to the official itch.io product page, while BPB also frames it as a Linux-capable synth in the current release.
What changed in version 0.8.0?
BPB specifically calls out the new ring modulation option in the mixer. That addition expands the raw oscillator-processing side of the synth and gives you another way to create metallic or more complex tones before the signal hits the filter.
What does the fixed internal sample rate do?
Tom Trnk says it keeps presets sounding the same everywhere. In practice, that means Deimos is designed so patches translate more consistently across different DAW sample-rate settings instead of changing character as the host project changes.
