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Tag: music plugins

  • Review: Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63 Reverb Inspires Surf Music Landscapes

    Review: Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63 Reverb Inspires Surf Music Landscapes

    Guitarists and recording musicians need to check out the Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63 reverb plugin. It offers an accurate emulation of a spring reverb, suitable for surf music projects or even tracks where that musician surfer traverses outer space! The skeuomorphic guitar amp interface highlights the plugin’s intuitive UI design approach. If you recall, we recently posted the press release for this effects plugin.

    Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63 Reverb Features

    • Emulates the Classic Tube Spring Reverb Sound of 60s Guitar Amps
    • Provides Great Sonics and an Intuitive User Interface
    • Includes C10 Capacitor Mod and Three Different Spring Tanks
    • Suitable for Guitars, Synths, Vocals, and More
    • Supports Windows, MacOS, and Most Popular Plugin Formats
    • Available from Fuse Audio Labs for $59

    Note that the VREV-63 also adds that classic surf guitar amp reverb sound to synths, other instruments, and even vocals. Still, guitarists probably benefit the most from exploring this Fuse Audio Labs reverb plugin to see how it enhances their sound. Let’s examine the VREV-63 in more detail.

    A Classic Guitar Amp Interface

    VREV-63 features a skeuomorphic interface that looks and functions like those classic guitar amps of yore. A wise UI decision considering the plugin’s surf music roots. The simplicity of the intuitive interface makes guitar amp owners feel right at home. The Mixer, Tone, and Volume knobs are self-explanatory. The Dwell knob effectively manages how hard the input signal hits the amp’s virtual springs. In short, it controls the reverb level.

    Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63 1
    The VREV-63’s interface provides that vintage guitar amp feel. Image courtesy Fuse Audio Labs.

    The “back of the amp” features a few settings, again with a skeuomorphic interface. Switch between different types of the C10 capacitor for a richer reverb sound. You also get to select tube models between the NOS 6K6 and the heavier 6V6. Fuse Audio Labs also modeled the spring tank size, and there’s even a switch to emulate kicking the amp! Boom!

    Fuse VREV-73 2
    The rear of the VREV-63 interface also provides that vintage guitar amp feel. Image courtesy Fuse Audio Labs.

    Patch management features are also simple and intuitive. However, the plugin’s ease of use makes creating a new patch a fast and simple process.

    Accurate Spring Reverb Sound in a Plugin

    Simply stated, the VREV-63 sounds great. Expect a top-shelf spring reverb sound to highlight your guitar tracks. Of course, the plugin also works well in other use-cases, like synths or even an entire mix. Anytime you want a classic reverb – no matter the situation – try out this plugin.

    When mixing the new Church of Hed album, The Fifth Hour, I put VREV-63 through its paces. Jonathan Segel, from indie-rock legends, Camper Van Beethoven plays on the release. The track Hyades Noir features Segel’s violin and guitar. Remember, both Camper and Segel made their bones in California. Naturally, a surf music spring reverb seemed appropriate for the outer space sonics of the track.

    The VREV-63 worked perfectly, giving Segel’s axe and violin work the deep space surfing vibe the song needed. The spring reverb on his tracks stood out among the reverbs used for the other instrumentation and overall mix. It provided that unique California feel to a piece squarely set in a star cluster far, far away.

    If you want to add a spring reverb to your plugin collection, check out Fuse Audio Labs VREV-63. This plugin provides an appropriate look and feel as well as the right sound. At $59, it’s definitely worthy of further consideration.

  • MeldaProduction MCenter Provides Mid-Side Mixing

    MeldaProduction MCenter Provides Mid-Side Mixing

    We are big fans of MeldaProduction plugins, especially MDrummer, a major piece of our electric drum stack. The Czech plugin maker recently introduced MeldaProduction MCenter, a mixing tool focused on mid-side or M-S processing. MCenter is currently available for free through 2/18/2024, 9 Euros until 3/10/2024, and 49 Euros thereafter. So get downloading, you hear! Check out their press release below.

    MeldaProduction MCenter
    MCenter in action. Image copyright MeldaProduction.

    PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: MeldaProduction is proud to announce availability of MCenter — making finding true mid-side balance a breeze by unlocking the full potential of anyone’s stereo signal as a simple to use yet powerful plug-in designed to provide unparalleled control over stereo qualities, going beyond traditional mid-side processing by offering advanced features that accurately manipulate the‘phantom center’ and remaining stereo signal — as of February 12.

    MeldaProduction‘s MCenter lets its users take charge of their stereo signal’s elusive ‘phantom center’ by employing a complex spectral algorithm that separates what really sounds stereo and really sounds mono, which is not actually the case with mid-side processing. Put it this way: just hard panning a track is 50% mid and 50% side from a mid-side perspective, despite it naturally sounding stereophonic. Saying that, though, MCenter is not only for mastering, but for every occasion where true mid-side balance is needed — works well when mixing or just being creative, in other words. 

    Getting to the heart of the plug-in 

    Ultimately, users who do not wish to get bogged down in too much technical detail are best served by MCenter‘s single-knob operation offered by its simple CENTER / SIDES control that allows them to truly balance the center and side parts of the stereo signal to their satisfaction within a second! 

    Dual processing-powered results comparison 

    Comparing and contrasting results comes quickly to MCenter, thanks to its dual-processing capabilities combining the accuracy of spectral processing with traditional mid-side operation. On the face of it, then, users can quickly choose an approach that best suits their creative needs. 

    Freeform frequency drawing 

    Duly diving into detailed frequency manipulation comes courtesy of MCenter‘s freeform drawing capability. Controlling each frequency can be achieved separately, allowing users to sculpt their sound with precision by shaping the response of individual frequency bands. 

    Key features: 

    • Unlocks the full potential of anyone’s stereo signal as a simple to use yet powerful plug-in 
    • Lets users take charge of their stereo signal’s elusive ‘phantom center’ by employing a complex spectral algorithm
    • Single-knob operation allows anyone to truly balance the center and side parts of the stereo signal within a second!
    • Dual-processing capabilities combines the accuracy of spectral processing with traditional mid-side operation
    • Freeform drawing capability controls each frequency separately

    MCenter is available for free from February 12 through to February 18, 2024 by simply heading on over to MeldaProduction’s online shop via its dedicated webpage (https://meldaproduction.com/MCenter) that also includes more in-depth information, then adding it to the cart and checkout by ‘buying’ it for €0.00 EUR; thereafter, a time-limited introductory price of only €9.00 EUR comes into force until March 10, 2024, rising thereafter to its regular price of €49.00 EUR. (It is also worth noting that MCenter will always be free for MCompleteBundle, MMasteringFXBundle, and MMixingFXBundle owners, both current and future.) 

    A 15-day, fully-functional trial version of MCenter is always available by downloading the latest (MAudioPlugins 16.11) universal installer of MeldaProduction tools — to include all virtual effect and instrument plug-ins in 64-bit AAX-, AU-, VST- and VST3-compatible formats for macOS (10.14 or newer) and 64-bit AAX-, VST-, and VST3-compatible formats for Windows (8/10/11) as one shared core, with several new virtual instruments (including Cosmosis, Cyber Bear, Deep Vibes, Frozen Sparks, Magic Dust, Mecha Vox, Neon Dolls, Solar Flare, Sonic Pulse, Sugar Rush, and Twisted Wave) being brought to MSoundFactory, while both MGuitarArchitect and MTurboAmp are in receipt of a new virtual effect (Claritor) — from here: https://meldaproduction.com/downloads (Choose which ones to install and purchase licenses later with free-for-life updates.) 

    Watch MeldaProduction’s informative introductory video for MCenter here:

  • United Plugins Dropkick Transforms Your Low-End

    United Plugins Dropkick Transforms Your Low-End

    Need to give your kick drums a bit of an edge? If so, check out Dropkick, a fresh plugin from the folks at United Plugins. Crafted by one of United’s founding members, JMG Sound, it provides music producers with the means to supercharge the low-end on their projects.

    Dropkick
    Dropkick in action. Image copyright United Plugins.

    If this audio plugin intrigues you, check out the following press release:

    PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: independent development teams federation United Plugins is proud to announce availability of Dropkick from founding partner JMG Sound — suitably billed as the ultimate solution for transforming kick drums into powerful, focused, and impeccably controlled sonic masterpieces thanks to eight processors that have been extensively tested and fine-tuned to work with kicks and make them stand out from the sound of the plug-in crowd, or, indeed, any crowd — as of January 23… 

    Alive and kicking 

    Ultimately, United Plugins founding partner JMG Sound developed Dropkick for sound designers and electronic-based music producers alike; as such, it has been extensively tested and fine-tuned to work well across multiple genres, including drum ‘n’ bass, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), house, techno, trap, and more. Moreover, with so much having been packed into a single plug-in, Dropkick really represents the ultimate electronic kick drum toolkit! The eight processors involved in doing that all have much more going on under their respective hoods than might first meet the eye; each of them could well have been a one-knob plug-in in their own right, in fact, but JMG Sound‘s selflessness shines through for all to see and hear by including them all in one place for anyone to use as they see fit. 

    Set PHASE(rs) for stun(ning) and factor in WARP 

    With PHASE, for example, it is possible to offset the lower FREQ (frequencies) to shape the character of the transient and lower the peak level — not necessarily a new concept, yet one which Dropkick takes up a notch by using analogue-modelled filters to create non-linearities that make for extremely smooth transitions and also add a little extra warmth. WARP progressively shifts the frequencies in time; the lower the frequency, the more it is delayed — low values concentrating the phase shift closer to the attack, shaping the character of the transient, while high values extend the low frequencies, changing the character of the entire kick. Fortunately for all concerned, the filters involved here have been fine-tuned to work well on kick drums so users will arrive at their desired sweet spot far faster, which is also the case when working with Dropkick‘s other processors. 

    Feel the POWER and control the RESO(onant) peak 

    Dropkick duly puts POWER in the hands of its users by taking the tried-and-tested technique of using a high-pass filter to enhance the low end — setting the frequency of the filter at the fundamental and adding a little resonance not only boosts the bass but also removes unwanted sub-harmonics — to another level as its surgical peak can resonate a single frequency, making it possible to strengthen and extend the fundamental; RESO, meanwhile, controls the level of the resonant peak, the special peak filter used being extremely narrow so as to focus on a single frequency and not necessarily boost neighbouring frequencies but rather add power and definition to the fundamental while extending it as the control is increased — an effect so powerful that it can even be used to re-pitch the fundamental of the kick, completely transforming the character! 

    Get the balance right 

    Controlling kicks and enhancing them comes quickly to Dropkick users, thanks to the creative possibilities offered by several straightforward settings: CLEAN — dynamically removes boxiness and muddiness, freeing up precious headroom and helping the kick to translate better in the mix; DAMP — progressively removes higher frequencies while still allowing the transient to cut through, letting users reshape the frequency content of their kicks; FIRE — uses psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the sound of the kick; OVER — a dynamics processor based on an ‘over the top’ compression technique that has been fine-tuned for kicks; SNAP — enhances the attack and punch of the kick using an advanced transient processor that dynamically shapes the attack stage based on frequency content, fine-tuned for kicks; and TRIM — shortens the length of the kick tail to keep it tight and prevent boominess… simply listen in real time and adjust a single knob until achieving the perfect balance! 

    Take it to the limit 

    Last, but by no means least, a LIMIT section selects whether or not the three-mode limiter will be enabled: CLEAN limits the peaks as transparently as possible, introducing only 1ms of latency; WARM behaves like a soft clipper with some gentle distortion; and HOT heavily distorts the signal while hard clipping. And a DRIVE control adds up to 12dB of additional gain to drive the limiter; this can be used to create extra loudness, or — if one of the limiter’s distortion modes is selected — overdrive it to get super-fat- and aggressive-sounding kicks. 

    Key features: 

    • Ultimate electronic kick drum toolkit that transforms kick drums into powerful, focused, and impeccably controlled sonic masterpieces 
    • Eight processors tested and fine-tuned to work well across multiple genres, allowing users to arrive at their desired sweet spot far faster than when working with separate plug-ins

    JMG Sound’s Dropkick is available to purchase for a time-limited introductory promo price of only €19.00 EUR until February 29, 2024 — rising thereafter to its regular price of €69.00 EUR — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-compatible plug-in (using internal 64-bit audio processing capable of handling any sample rate) directly from its dedicated webpage (https://unitedplugins.com/Dropkick/), where a 15-day, fully-functional trial version for macOS 10.10 and newer and Windows 8/10/11 can also be downloaded for free. 

    Note that no iLok, dongle, or internet access is required for Dropkick activation. (All United Plugins software uses license files for activation and owners can freely use purchased software — with free-for-life updates — on all their computers for as long as they are the user.)

    See and hear Dropkick in action while watching United Plugins’ illuminating introductory video here: