What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… June 10, 2024 Thanks for stopping -- welcome. We’ll meet an expert explaining Fretboard Dysfunction -- common in older guitars. We’ll look at some strange but useful free DAW special effects -- the kind that add glitches, goofs, distortion, and mess up your music in a good way. There are some days of interest upon us in the USA: Flag Day, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and the first day of summer. We’ll also check out the artwork that surrounds this page. And we’ll enjoy a few quiet TV moments in the living room of an interesting young couple. So sit back and relax. Welcome to Zystrix, the heartbeat of the universe. Where creativity and free-thinking have more value than conformity. Flag Day Although it is not a national holiday, June 14th is celebrated and considered a legal holiday by various states in the USA. The Flag Resolution, passed on June 14, 1777 by the Second Continental Congress states: "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." The early original design had a circle of 13 stars which represented each of the thirteen states. The modern flag has 50 stars representing all 50 states. Three Oaks, Michigan (one of my my old stomping grounds) has an annual three-day Flag Day weekend event which includes a parade. They say they have the largest and the oldest Flag Day parade in the nation. Yeah, they most certainly do. Happy Father’s Day Father's Day honors fatherhood and the influence of fathers in the world. In most countries it is observed on the third Sunday of June although it is observed at other various dates according to the traditions of the area. Paternal bonds are universal. Thanks, dad. Happy Father’s day, everyone. Happy Juneteenth Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the USA and was enacted in 2021 by President Joe Biden signing it into law. It is an anniversary observance of the emancipation of the enslaved African Americans. On June 19, 1865 General Order No. 3 was issued by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for slaves in Galveston, Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the Confederacy on January 1, 1863, enforcement of the proclamation generally relied upon the advance of Union troops into those states. President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves in the Union states, and they were freed with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, on December 6, 1865. The final slaves to be freed were held by the Choctaw and were released in 1866. Although slow in coming, emancipation spread across the United States eventually freeing all. First Day of Summer There are many ways to define what times are considered summer, and I am using the astrological season here. The astronomical season for summer in the northern hemisphere is the 21st of June until the 23rd of September, but the meteorological summer season is the 1st of June through the last day of August. At any rate, when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. Background Artwork

Unfortunately the artwork that surrounds the

edges of this website is invisible to

many cell phone users. The artwork for

today is included here on the left for

your enjoyment. Multiple copies are

tiled together for a cohesive and seamless background

board seen all around this page. Enjoy.

Free Glitch Software I checked out several free programs that add distortion, skips, stutters, dropouts, tape grunge/anomalies, and so on. I downloaded and tried the folowing list: Fracture, Fragmental, Krush, Danaides, Glitch, Therapy, Fire, Cyclotron X2, Hysteresis, and BreadSlicer. After downloading and trying them all I picked out the ones that seemed the most promising for a rock or metal recording feel and situation. If you’re the extra adventurous type download the other ones and try them for yourself and see if you agree. I probably shouldn’t say this, but opinions are like, uh, well, hmm, it’s something vulgar, but you get the picture. Here are my favorites... Krush by Tritik Krush is an intuitive free plugin for Windows or Mac that has lots of interesting down-sampling distortions and lo-fi fuzzy weirdness to keep a person immersed for a while. I tried it on guitar and dialed in a sound similar to a distortion pedal with dying batteries. I like it on searing synth leads. Mixed properly it can give heavy drums an over-the-top head- spankin’ slam. This plugin is great for your sonic toolkit. Privacy Warning: when downloading be prepared to give away your email address. Click here to download Krush by Tritik or click on the plugin photograph. Excellent. Fracture by GlitchMachines This free plugin for Windows and Mac allows a variety of glitch effects like stutter, skip, and digital distortion, and it will process files already in your DAW or even audio files in real-time. There are plenty of presets to get a person started, and I especially like the preset effects called Classic Rewinder, Drill Stop, Drum Spice, and Ambient Guitarist. Fracture is a superior plugin, especially for free. Try it on big drums. Try it on weird ambient synth pads. Try it on your favorite breakfast cereal. Don’t be frightened, just try it. Click here to download Fracture by GlitchMachines or click on the Fracture plugin photograph. Glitch by Illformed There is a paid version of this plugin which is version 2.0. That’s not the same as the one available here which is version 1.3, but this free version still kicks some serious ass. This plugin for Windows or Mac does some insane effects in many, many variations. It’s hard to believe it’s free; I got lost in making all sorts of interesting craziness. I love how the random function button takes it to another level of insanity. And it even comes bundled with some other free plugins you may also enjoy. Click here to download Glitch by Illformed or click on the plugin photograph. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… Next time we’ll look at some budget guitar pedals by DEMONFX that sound like the big dollar stuff. And, as usual, lots more animations and artwork downloads. And we’ll enjoy yet another great holiday here in the USA – Independence Day – my favorite. And if you can’t afford fireworks, do like I do and just shoot off your mouth. Maybe I’ll see you then. I prefer older women because they’ve gotten used to life’s disappointments, and that means they’re ready for someone like me. Knowledge, art, and music for all…

ZYSTRIX POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS Here’s a free download of almost one and a half hours of original neo-classical solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors. This full length album called Piano Top to Bottom consists of 18 original piano pieces with the final piece in two movements. There is a bonus track making 20 files total. This download comes in three format options: the first option is a single file MP3 containing all the tunes in one chunk similar to tape recordings. The second download option is a folder with all of the separate MP3 piano pieces named and arranged in album order similar to a CD or MP3 player. The third download option is similar to videos found on “ZooTube” with the names and times on the screen. There is also a fourth surprise version made only for “ZooTube” and it is edited down to less than 15 minutes long because of their telephone number required rule. Basically it just guides the listener here. To download any or all of these options simply click here. Enjoy. Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses Introducing the next generation in guitar cabinet impulse responses. Try the new Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12. All of these cab IR files are based on old, new, and boutique 4x12 cab curves. All are recorded in beautiful 24-bit 48K mono and will work on most free and paid digital convolvers. Hear the guitar IR breathe fire with pure attitude. Don’t be suckered in with high-dollar sales pitches, there ain’t no guitar IR downloads better than these. Choose from many cab sound recording styles: cone, edge, angled, arm away, inside cab, back of cab, or back of room. Djammincabs is the world leader in guitar cab IR invention -- no other guitar IR company can imitate these. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 makes it easier for you to design your own personalized sound -- even your own Metal IR pack. If you can’t find a cabinet or combination you like here, then you don’t like 4x12 cabinets. This guitar IR download also includes a Tactical Munitions Manual with suggested uses and detailed cab combinations. This is the best free guitar impulse download available anywhere. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 “Murder Your Competition.” I feel brave. I want to try them now. Here’s my email... Djammincabs for Guitar Free Guitar Impulse Responses This is the original Djammincabs guitar cabinet impulse response collection that started it all. Click here to download over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Djammincabs for Bass Guitar Download Free Bass Impulse Responses Click here to download over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Best Free Guitar Impulses. The Top 11 Best Free Guitar and Bass Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022 (in alphabetical order…) Find, download, and test the best free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022. FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES FREE BASS LOOPS Over 200 samples are included in the collection Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here. NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs. Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate synth patches/presets Click here to download over 240 Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches) Synapse Audio Dune Synthesizer Download Over 200 Free Synapse Audio Dune 2 and Dune 3 Synthesizer Patches and Presets Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets. NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size. Free Reverb Impulse Responses Choose from hundreds available in 48K 24 bit WAV format including new original reverbs. CabSpace Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses, and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses. Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses. Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past. Click here to download free reverb impulse responses. Free Drum Samples Only Available from Zystrix Free Gong Samples and Sounds Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums. Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells. Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples. Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds. Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds. Dangerous Neighbors The SW Michigan Rock Band Power Trio. Free Rockin’ Music Downloads Download tunes from the 80s to today. Use the special codes on the Embalmed for Life page (see the DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS link below) and get free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book The Fluid - Embalmed for Life. Click here to download various music from the rock band Dangerous Neighbors. Download Free Synth Samples for Intros, Interludes, and Endings Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample) Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane laboratories. Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings. DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS The Fluid, Embalmed for Life There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up). There are also free sample downloads of the book reading. There are free downloads of music samples. There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback. There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world. The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download. The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or complete audio books here. I’m sorry for any inconvenience. Click here for free audio books, book reading samples, music samples, etc. Take me back to the top of the page. Zystrix Privacy Policy THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is a world leader in personal privacy and we take your privacy very seriously. We do not store, sell, give away, or barter with any of your personal or private information including your email, IP address, links clicked, location, habits, tastes, online activities and behaviors, or anything else considered personal or private information. We never have. Zystrix is not and has never been a participant in any advertising program including but not limited to the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Sweetwater, Reverb, or any other affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees from readers by click-through advertising and linking to the aforementioned or any other companies. Zystrix does not allow companies like Doubleclick, Clickbank, Zedo, Linkbucks, Hubspot or any other related clandestine personal privacy internet problems to occupy space or have any presence on or in the Zystrix website. 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