Andrew Aversa (zircon)
@zirconst.bsky.social
CEO Impact Soundworks, founder @ Impact Gameworks, programmer, musician/producer, dad. I make stuff like Tangledeep, Shreddage, Super Audio Cart, Flowstone Saga etc :D
This may come as a shocker... but I don't like AI-generated music! I'm taking a break from talking about tech I DO like to talk about this specific tech I DON'T like, namely the services trained on vast catalogs of music without paying their creators. https://youtu.be/UaoaylW0lag
October 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This may come as a shocker... but I don't like AI-generated music! I'm taking a break from talking about tech I DO like to talk about this specific tech I DON'T like, namely the services trained on vast catalogs of music without paying their creators. https://youtu.be/UaoaylW0lag
Listen to another 12 of my classic video game remixes on all your favorite streaming platforms! "The Classic Video Game ReMixes: Volume 2" is out now feat. Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Mega Man, Super Mario RPG & more. https://open.spotify.com/album/7urb8USW5vqZcaD02iL6bz?si=zfl2-MmfR6qeJwYgf1wEKw
September 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Listen to another 12 of my classic video game remixes on all your favorite streaming platforms! "The Classic Video Game ReMixes: Volume 2" is out now feat. Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Mega Man, Super Mario RPG & more. https://open.spotify.com/album/7urb8USW5vqZcaD02iL6bz?si=zfl2-MmfR6qeJwYgf1wEKw
Phew, this video took about 40 hours to create from start to finish - a blind shootout and exploration of 10 different softsynth FILTERS to see how much they can impact your sound. Hopefully it inspires you to dive into your own gear further! https://youtu.be/SPjIT62uE5c #musicgear #producer #synth
September 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Phew, this video took about 40 hours to create from start to finish - a blind shootout and exploration of 10 different softsynth FILTERS to see how much they can impact your sound. Hopefully it inspires you to dive into your own gear further! https://youtu.be/SPjIT62uE5c #musicgear #producer #synth
I've been creating the perfect sound palette for the upcoming Tangledeep 2, something that captures the magic of late era PSX and early PS2 RPGs. This video shows how I'm doing that featuring the first track from the game, using a bunch of classic plugins + libraries! https://youtu.be/cfqHUYWZiZA
September 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I've been creating the perfect sound palette for the upcoming Tangledeep 2, something that captures the magic of late era PSX and early PS2 RPGs. This video shows how I'm doing that featuring the first track from the game, using a bunch of classic plugins + libraries! https://youtu.be/cfqHUYWZiZA
Now available on all platforms: Identity Sequence - The Instrumentals! Bandcamp album has also been updated (for free) w/ these tracks. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1JlFQ8bDHPhwtH185TwwXp?si=ammE-M85RTe6TK_Lvr2rsg
April 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Now available on all platforms: Identity Sequence - The Instrumentals! Bandcamp album has also been updated (for free) w/ these tracks. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1JlFQ8bDHPhwtH185TwwXp?si=ammE-M85RTe6TK_Lvr2rsg
I decided to challenge myself this week and dive into part of FL Studio that I've never touched before, the Formula Controller, and create a brand-new (to me) effect with it using Patcher. Here's the result (and you can download it!) https://youtu.be/Ya8u-kGkaNo
April 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I decided to challenge myself this week and dive into part of FL Studio that I've never touched before, the Formula Controller, and create a brand-new (to me) effect with it using Patcher. Here's the result (and you can download it!) https://youtu.be/Ya8u-kGkaNo
Did you know the BBC has a massive library of over 30,000 free sound effects? Sure, these might be handy for foley, but it's also a treasure trove for mangling and resampling in Pigments & Serum 2! Check it out: https://youtu.be/fT0k8CU6y0A
April 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Did you know the BBC has a massive library of over 30,000 free sound effects? Sure, these might be handy for foley, but it's also a treasure trove for mangling and resampling in Pigments & Serum 2! Check it out: https://youtu.be/fT0k8CU6y0A
It's a great time to be a synthesizer enthusiast with plugins like Serum 2 and Pigments 6... but this one flew under my radar. CUBE by Lunacy Audio is definitely unlike anything else I have, and I'm a fan. https://youtu.be/8VlTVT1815s
March 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It's a great time to be a synthesizer enthusiast with plugins like Serum 2 and Pigments 6... but this one flew under my radar. CUBE by Lunacy Audio is definitely unlike anything else I have, and I'm a fan. https://youtu.be/8VlTVT1815s
After spending about 6 hours with Serum 2, I can say it's one of the best soft synths EVER and easily worth the price. If you want to know my full opinion, check out the video below, highlighting my favorite features and also a couple of wishlist items. https://youtu.be/UR4KiN5InAk
March 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
After spending about 6 hours with Serum 2, I can say it's one of the best soft synths EVER and easily worth the price. If you want to know my full opinion, check out the video below, highlighting my favorite features and also a couple of wishlist items. https://youtu.be/UR4KiN5InAk
I've demonstrated the Allura Pop Stacks library (ft @JillianAversa) on the ISW channel before, but now here it is - with the new Sylvan Vocal Layers ft @jordistorm.bsky.social - in the context of EDM! https://youtu.be/NAMsmJ7ouh4
March 13, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I've demonstrated the Allura Pop Stacks library (ft @JillianAversa) on the ISW channel before, but now here it is - with the new Sylvan Vocal Layers ft @jordistorm.bsky.social - in the context of EDM! https://youtu.be/NAMsmJ7ouh4
"Colossus" is my most popular track ever with over 5m streams, so I thought it might be fun to show just how rough-around-the-edges it was throughout the production & writing process in this new video. I go all the way back to v1 of the project through v30! https://youtu.be/xqklZmNnqu0
March 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"Colossus" is my most popular track ever with over 5m streams, so I thought it might be fun to show just how rough-around-the-edges it was throughout the production & writing process in this new video. I go all the way back to v1 of the project through v30! https://youtu.be/xqklZmNnqu0
A little love letter to (and intro/tutorial about) one of my favorite plugins that gets used on pretty much everything I do. I don't hear IMPusher discussed much but imo it's as good and usable now as when it came out 9 years ago. https://youtu.be/rXxifNe_15g
February 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A little love letter to (and intro/tutorial about) one of my favorite plugins that gets used on pretty much everything I do. I don't hear IMPusher discussed much but imo it's as good and usable now as when it came out 9 years ago. https://youtu.be/rXxifNe_15g
Reflecting back on the last 20 years or so of making music, I thought about 4 things I wish I knew sooner. Stuff about inspiration/creativity, discipline, gear... take a look! https://youtu.be/I4MhRA-so2U
February 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reflecting back on the last 20 years or so of making music, I thought about 4 things I wish I knew sooner. Stuff about inspiration/creativity, discipline, gear... take a look! https://youtu.be/I4MhRA-so2U
I love me a nice warm synth pad, so here's a sound design tutorial on how to make super lush ones with the free Vital plugin. Enjoy! (Also, I love Frog's) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF5ku3Og0Nk
February 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I love me a nice warm synth pad, so here's a sound design tutorial on how to make super lush ones with the free Vital plugin. Enjoy! (Also, I love Frog's) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF5ku3Og0Nk
After I made that 'rating all my synth plugins' video, the #1 suggestion people kept making was to check out Arturia Pigments, which I did... and it's amazing?! How did I miss this?!! https://youtu.be/yLrug3Yekmg
February 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
After I made that 'rating all my synth plugins' video, the #1 suggestion people kept making was to check out Arturia Pigments, which I did... and it's amazing?! How did I miss this?!! https://youtu.be/yLrug3Yekmg
Twenty eight (28!!!) reverb plugins, tested, evaluated, and ranked for your viewing enjoyment. You might be surprised just how much excellent free stuff is in here (and some of the things I rank in C and D...) https://youtu.be/eDAlRPS_L9w
February 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Twenty eight (28!!!) reverb plugins, tested, evaluated, and ranked for your viewing enjoyment. You might be surprised just how much excellent free stuff is in here (and some of the things I rank in C and D...) https://youtu.be/eDAlRPS_L9w
Just wrapped up editing this beast of a video where I rank all 28 of my reverb plugins. Even with a LOT of edits it still clocks in at ~1hr. You just need a time to hear what they can do. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see it tomorrow (Valentine's Day!) https://youtube.com/zirconst
February 13, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Just wrapped up editing this beast of a video where I rank all 28 of my reverb plugins. Even with a LOT of edits it still clocks in at ~1hr. You just need a time to hear what they can do. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see it tomorrow (Valentine's Day!) https://youtube.com/zirconst
I asked my community what sort of new YouTube videos they'd like to see from me, and "Composition & Arrangement" was at the top. So... here's a beginner-friendly quickie on how to write more atmospheric chords! https://youtu.be/4-xzz_l3PUs
February 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I asked my community what sort of new YouTube videos they'd like to see from me, and "Composition & Arrangement" was at the top. So... here's a beginner-friendly quickie on how to write more atmospheric chords! https://youtu.be/4-xzz_l3PUs
I have too many synth plugins, so I decided to rate them all from S to F tier, because why not? See what makes the "desert island" list vs. the "delete immediately" tier below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Qa1rrOiyQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Qa1rrOiyQ
February 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I have too many synth plugins, so I decided to rate them all from S to F tier, because why not? See what makes the "desert island" list vs. the "delete immediately" tier below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Qa1rrOiyQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Qa1rrOiyQ
If you're wondering what that giant synth wall behind me is all about, stay tuned! I've got a video about it coming soon :)
January 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
If you're wondering what that giant synth wall behind me is all about, stay tuned! I've got a video about it coming soon :)
You know you're working on a banger when you hit the 300 plugin mark. 60 hours of project work time, 73 mixer tracks, 646 clips, 231 channels... and counting! with @jillianaversa.bsky.social
October 20, 2024 at 3:45 AM
You know you're working on a banger when you hit the 300 plugin mark. 60 hours of project work time, 73 mixer tracks, 646 clips, 231 channels... and counting! with @jillianaversa.bsky.social
Ah man I really didn't want to hear that... I've had my eye on it for awhile, but that price tag... I'm currently using an Optomix and a SSF Steady State Gate. Love the latter!
October 19, 2024 at 3:44 PM
Ah man I really didn't want to hear that... I've had my eye on it for awhile, but that price tag... I'm currently using an Optomix and a SSF Steady State Gate. Love the latter!