Blackheart

February 16, 2026 · View on GitHub

alt text A JUCE-based VST3 audio effect plugin combining analog-style octave fuzz with chaotic digital pitch-shifting and modulation. Designed for heavy, downtuned guitar and experimental sound design.

Project Overview

The initial prototype of Blackheart was developed with AI assistance. I am now rewriting all core DSP components from scratch to practice my own signal processing design and implementation skills. This is primarily a learning project to explore DSP concepts and real-time audio processing.

Features

  • Fuzz Engine – Analog-style nonlinear waveshaping with three modes (Scream, OD, Doom) and active EQ shaping
  • Octave-Up Generation – Rectification-based harmonic generation with dynamic gating
  • Pitch Shifting – Momentary +1 and +2 octave shifts using granular synthesis with variable grain density, window degradation, and feedback
  • Chaos Modulation – LFO, sample-and-hold, and envelope-responsive modulation with cross-modulation and zero-floor envelope tracking
  • PANIC Detune – Detuned pitch-bent grain copies for atonal destruction
  • Ring Modulation – Audio-rate amplitude modulation at high Speed settings for metallic, inharmonic textures
  • Low Latency – Optimized for real-time performance (<10ms)

Parameters

ParameterDescription
GainDistortion intensity
GlareOctave-up amount + gate interaction
BlendDry/wet mix
LevelOutput level of fuzz block
ModeFuzz voicing — Scream, OD, Doom
ShapeActive EQ sweep
SpeedLow: chaos modulation rate. High: ring modulation
ChaosModulation depth + randomness
RisePitch shift attack time
PanicDetuned pitch destruction — subtle chorus to full atonal chaos
Octave +1Momentary +1 octave pitch shift
Octave +2Momentary +2 octave pitch shift

Building

Requirements

  • JUCE Framework (v7.x recommended)
  • C++17 compatible compiler
  • CMake 3.15+ or Projucer

Build with Projucer

  1. Open Blackheart.jucer in Projucer
  2. Export to your IDE (Xcode, Visual Studio, etc.)
  3. Build the generated project

Acknowledgments

  • Initial prototype developed with AI assistance
  • Built using the JUCE Framework

License

AGPLv3 (Same license that JUCE uses for Open Source projects)