Ragnarök
Key Features
- Four detuned oscillators with divide-down circuitry spanning four octaves for massive, layered tones
- Resonant multimode filter with adjustable overdrive for gritty, analog-style character
- Seven-band graphic EQ for broad tonal shaping after the filter stage
- Built-in chorus, LFO, and repeat/pseudo-arpeggiator for movement and rhythmic patterns
- Hard sync and sawtooth oscillators added in version 2.0 for expanded sound design
- Full MIDI controller mapping for every parameter with resizable interface
- Written in native C++ for high performance and ultra-low CPU consumption
Description
Ragnarök by Full Bucket Music is a virtual analog synthesizer that faithfully recreates a unique, custom-built hardware synth originally constructed in 1980. The plugin is a collaboration between Hans Peter (aka CrimsonWarlock), who designed and built the original hardware unit, and Björn Arlt (aka Full Bucket), who handled the DSP and GUI programming.
What sets Ragnarök apart is its oscillator architecture: four detuned oscillators combined with divide-down circuitry spanning four octaves, allowing all waveforms and all octave divisions to be blended simultaneously. This design, inherited directly from the original 1980 hardware, produces an immediately thick and harmonically rich tone that standard VA oscillator stacks struggle to match.
The signal path feeds into a resonant multimode filter with adjustable overdrive on the output, giving patches a raw, gritty edge when pushed. A seven-band graphic EQ sits after the filter, offering broad tonal shaping that adds serious weight to the low end or presence to leads.
Version 2.0 introduced velocity control with attack time modulation, a chorus section, hard sync, and sawtooth oscillators. The synth also includes an LFO, a repeat/pseudo-arpeggiator function, and full MIDI controller mapping for every parameter.
Written in native C++ code, it delivers high performance with minimal CPU load. The resizable interface keeps the workflow comfortable at any screen resolution.
Ragnarök is available as VST2, VST3, CLAP, and AAX on Windows, with AU added on macOS. Both platforms ship as Universal Binary 2, supporting Intel and Apple Silicon Macs natively.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Ragnarök's oscillator design different from other virtual analog synths?
Ragnarök uses four detuned oscillators combined with divide-down circuitry across four octaves, allowing all waveforms and octave divisions to be mixed simultaneously. This architecture, inherited from the original 1980 hardware unit, produces an unusually thick and harmonically rich tone that standard VA oscillator stacks cannot easily replicate.
What changed in the Ragnarök 2.0 update?
Version 2.0 added velocity control with attack time modulation, a chorus section, hard sync capability, and sawtooth oscillators. It also introduced a resizable user interface, making it more practical on modern high-resolution displays.
Is Ragnarök based on a real hardware synthesizer?
Yes. The plugin recreates a one-of-a-kind analog synthesizer that Hans Peter (CrimsonWarlock) built by hand in the early 1980s. The original hardware started as a DIY kit called the Chorosynth, which was then expanded with a proper keyboard, filters, and additional circuitry to become the Ragnarök.
How does Ragnarök handle CPU usage compared to other analog emulation plugins?
Ragnarök is written in native C++ and is designed for high performance with minimal CPU consumption. Users consistently report it as one of the lightest analog-style synths available, making it practical to run multiple instances in a session.
