Skew is an experimental reverse delay plugin that has been around for a few years and was recently updated to Skew v2.
With this new update, Sinevibes has implemented various improvements, tweaked the interface, and decided to give us Skew for free.
It’s always nice to get a new plugin without digging into your pockets, but it’s even nicer when it’s something more unusual, and that’s what Skew is (thanks to Soundvibes for the freebie).
Skew records incoming audio into a buffer before playing it back in reversed chunks. These chunks are rhythmically synced to the host transport, and you can adjust the duration of the chunks with the Time control.
The Time parameter is extensive, with a maximum chunk size of sixteen bars at 60 BPM (over 60 seconds).
What makes Skew unusual or even unique in some ways is the non-linear curves applied to the reversed playback and the three-playhead design.
Skew offers twelve non-linear curves that warp and mangle the delay playback speed in various ways, creating interesting pitch movements.
The reversed chunks and available curves (Bi-Cubic, Warp, Wavy 4/6/8x, and more) create a wide range of effects, including subtle glitches, tape rewind, scratches, detuning, vibrato, pitch-bending rises and falls, and complete mangled destruction.
For a smoother effect, such as transitioning one bar into a rising transition, you can create smoother looping with the Overlap control.
The three-playhead design (one for overdubbing feedback and two for playback) allows consistency in pitch bend effects between feedback repeat cycles.
As wild as Skew is, its structure makes it possible to craft rhythmically accurate effects.
The interface is straightforward: reverse delay parameters are blue, and i/o parameters are red.
You have an Intensity control to set the amount of the selected curve that is applied to the reverse delay playheads. Similarly, you have a Feedback control to adjust the amount of the delayed signal (with the curve applied) that is fed back into the input.
The previous versions’ Crossfade control has been replaced by dedicated Send, Return, and Mix knobs.
Skew is available in 64-bit AU, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS (10.13 or later), Windows (8.1 or later), and Linux (2020 or later).
It’s a good day for creative delay plugins; go grab Skew for free if you don’t have it already.
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Last Updated on December 18, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
