v2.0.0 — DESKTOP APP

Riser Rocks
Desktop

All 8 synthesis engines and the full FX chain — running natively in a dedicated window. No browser, no latency, stays open while you work.

↓
Download for macOS
DMG · macOS 10.15+ · Intel + Apple Silicon
↓
Download for Windows
EXE installer · Windows 10/11 · 64-bit
What is the desktop app?
The same full-featured browser app — bundled into a native window using Chromium (Electron). It runs offline, launches from your dock, and keeps your session alive between takes. Not a DAW plugin; use the VST3 for in-DAW automation.
macOS — "unidentified developer" warning?
Right-click the app → Open → Open. One-time only. Or run xattr -cr "/Applications/Riser Rocks.app" in Terminal to bypass Gatekeeper permanently.
SOURCE RELEASE — BUILD REQUIRED

VST3 / AU Plugin

The same synthesis engine compiled to native VST3 and AU — run inside any compatible DAW with MIDI triggering and full automation support.

Engines + FX

Classic
Pure sine sweep with optional overtones
Shepard
8-octave Shepard tone — infinite ascending illusion
Formant
Vowel-filtered carrier for vocal-texture risers
Additive
8-harmonic additive synthesis, harmonics diverge over time
FM
Ramping modulation index for evolving metallic tones
Granular
64-grain cloud with jitter and sine-window envelopes
Noise
Pink noise swept through a resonant low-pass filter
Wavetable
Sine → triangle → sawtooth → square morphing sweep
Resonant FilterSoft Clip DistortionStereo ChorusTempo-Sync DelayFreeverb ReverbVCA CompressorBit Crusher

System requirements

macOS
  • macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later
  • Apple Silicon or Intel (Universal Binary)
  • VST3 or Audio Unit (AU) compatible DAW
  • Xcode 14+ (to build from source)
  • CMake 3.22+
Windows
  • Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
  • VST3 compatible DAW
  • Visual Studio 2022 with C++ workload
  • CMake 3.22+

Compatible DAWs:

Ableton Live 11+Logic Pro X+FL Studio 21+Bitwig Studio 4+Cubase 12+Reaper 6+Studio One 6+Reason 12+

Build for macOS

bash
# 1. Prerequisites
xcode-select --install          # Xcode Command Line Tools
brew install cmake              # CMake 3.22+

# 2. Clone / navigate to the VST source
cd apps/riser-rocks-vst

# 3. Build (downloads JUCE automatically via CMake FetchContent)
chmod +x build_mac.sh
./build_mac.sh

# 4. Install VST3
cp -r build/RiserRocks_artefacts/Release/VST3/"Riser Rocks.vst3" \
      ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/

# 5. Install AU (Logic / GarageBand)
cp -r build/RiserRocks_artefacts/Release/AU/"Riser Rocks.component" \
      ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
CMake will download JUCE 8.0.3 automatically on first build (~800 MB). Subsequent builds are fast. The Standalone app is also built at build/RiserRocks_artefacts/Release/Standalone/Riser Rocks.app.

Build for Windows

powershell
# 1. Prerequisites
# - Visual Studio 2022 (C++ workload)
# - CMake 3.22+ (add to PATH)

# 2. Open Developer PowerShell and navigate to source
cd apps\riser-rocks-vst

# 3. Configure and build
cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -G "Visual Studio 17 2022"
cmake --build build --config Release --parallel

# 4. Install VST3
# Copy build\RiserRocks_artefacts\Release\VST3\Riser Rocks.vst3
# to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
AU format is macOS-only and will not appear in the Windows build. VST3 is produced for both platforms.

Source layout

text
apps/riser-rocks-vst/
├── CMakeLists.txt          # JUCE FetchContent + plugin config
├── build_mac.sh            # one-command macOS build
└── Source/
    ├── PluginProcessor.h   # state, parameter layout, engine enums
    ├── PluginProcessor.cpp # all 8 synthesis engines + 7 FX
    ├── PluginEditor.h      # custom LookAndFeel, knobs, level meter
    └── PluginEditor.cpp    # 680×360 UI — engine grid, knobs, FX strip

Automatable parameters

engine
0–7
Synthesis engine selection
bars
0–4
Riser length (1/2/4/8/16 bars)
bpm
60–200
Tempo (matches host by default)
startFreq
20–2000 Hz
Start frequency
endFreq
200–20000 Hz
End frequency
volume
0–1
Output level
curve
-1–+1
Frequency curve shape
fxFilter
on/off
Resonant filter
fxDist
on/off
Soft-clip distortion
fxChorus
on/off
Stereo chorus
fxDelay
on/off
Tempo-sync delay
fxReverb
on/off
Freeverb reverb
fxComp
on/off
VCA compressor
fxCrush
on/off
Bit crusher

MIDI triggering

Any MIDI note-on triggers a riser at the configured length. Note-off stops playback early. Map a pad or key to fire risers inline with your arrangement — no automation clips required.

Built with JUCE 8 · Electron · MIT licensed · Made by Riverun

Use the browser version →