Skaka is a sample-based sequencer plug-in designed for shaken percussion instruments. What sets Skaka apart is its audio engine and sequencer, which manage samples with a defined musical start. This feature allows you to set the timing of each shake in a natural way. As a result, you can create very lifelike rhythms that feel realistic.

The sequencer and sample player are built from the ground up to give you the necessary parameters and features for achieving lifelike percussive sounds. With Skaka, you have 12 independent sequencers, each capable of controlling multiple parameters. For instance, you can adjust pitch control and the velocity parameter, which determines how fast the instrument is shaken. Skaka also allows for tempo synchronization with the playhead position of a host application.

You can fully control the shuffle amount to give your rhythms a swing feel. The app includes a complex humanizer settings panel that helps make your sequences sound more organic. Skaka can differentiate between in and out shakes, making your music feel even more natural. You can use grids divided into triplets, quintuplets, and septuplets for precise timing, along with time fine-tuning and variable sequence lengths. This means Skaka can mimic how a human percussionist would sound at almost any tempo, without degrading the quality through time stretching or similar techniques.

In addition to the 12 sequencers and their internal parameters, Skaka includes a reverb feature, a room simulator, and a high shelf filter to enhance your sound further. Skaka also comes with nearly 200 preset patterns that cover most musical genres and styles.

Using Skaka is straightforward. The main view displays 12 slots, each containing a sequencer and its parameters. These sequencers operate using MIDI Note On and MIDI Note Off, corresponding to each MIDI note from C to B. To start editing a sequencer’s events and parameters, simply tap the sequencer overview located in the middle of each slot.

With Skaka, you can work with a variety of shaken percussion instruments, including an egg shaker, tambourine sample, caxixi instrument, dry tambour, and more. Each of these instruments provides a unique sound that adds richness to your music.

For every pattern slot, you can customize various parameters, including pitch, duration, and the humanize amount. You also have control over the sequence fade in time and sequence fade out time, allowing for smoother transitions. Additional controls include pan settings, LP filter settings, and reverb send features for placing sounds in a virtual space. Plus, you can adjust the output gain to make sure everything sits well in your mix.

On a global level, Skaka provides 4 different room simulations and 9 different reverbs to choose from. You can manage the reverb decay time and level, room level control, and the LP filter frequency, helping you shape your sound just the way you like.

With all these features, Skaka stands out as an excellent tool for anyone looking to create complex percussive sounds that reflect the nuances of live performance. Whether you're an experienced musician or just starting, you will find Skaka to be an invaluable asset for your music production needs.