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Tag: VST plugins

Review: The Line 6 Helix Native Plugin isn’t only for Guitarists
Of course, guitar effects aren’t the sole domain of those rampaging hordes of axe-wielders. Synthesists, keyboardists, and drummers – especially e-drummers – also benefit from manipulating the sound of their instruments. The keen application of a flanger on John Henry Bonham’s drumming in Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir provided a sonic dreamscape throughout my teenage years and beyond.

Line 6 is known for their line of effects pedals. The Pod family especially holds a legendary status in the music industry. I use the Line 6 DL4 stompbox paired with a Yamaha MM8 for adding delay to pianos and their associated offspring. Read my love letter to the DL4 to get an idea of its high suitability for effecting keyboard tones.

Helix Native in action with PolyM. Deep sounds abound! Screenshot by author.

In recent times, Line 6 earned accolades for its Helix multi-effects pedal. The Helix combines high-end signal processing with a graphical editing system resulting in great sound that’s easy to program. Combine virtual amplifiers, speaker cabinets, and effects to you heart’s content.

A plugin version – the Helix Native – provides the same functionality on a PC or Mac. Best of all – your patches are transferable between the hardware pedal and plugin. It also provides support for MIDI controllers and automation.

Line 6 Helix Native Plugin Features
- Accurate Models of Hundreds of Vintage Amps, Speakers, Mics, and Effects
- Innovative Graphical Programming Interface makes Patch Creation a Breeze
- Transfer Presets between Native and the Helix Family of Hardware Processors
- Available for Windows 7-10 and Mac OS X 10+
- Supports the AU, AAX, and VST Plugin Platforms
- Street Price of $399
If you are interested in high-end effects modeling for your DAW, Helix Native needs to be explored. Current owners of a Helix hardware pedal should check it out as well. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the details.

The Perfect Companion to a Line 6 Helix Stompbox

Helix Native partners nicely with a Helix hardware unit if you own one. Presets are mostly compatible between the desktop and the stompbox; you use the free Line 6 HX Edit application to transfer presets, setlists, and bundles back and forth. In fact, if you are already familiar with HX Edit, using Native becomes second nature, as both use a similar user interface for patch design.

The plugin includes features to help control a Helix stompbox in a live environment. Snapshots let you quickly choose between different parameter settings within a patch. Hardware controller assignments, Impulse Responses (audio files derived from running a test tone through an amp/speaker combo), and so much more are usable in both the plugin and the stompbox. HX Edit becomes your best friend when you own Helix Native along with the compatible hardware.

Helix Native provides a Deceptively Simple User Interface

If you are a veteran of using semi-complex plugins, working with Helix Native won’t be a problem. The user interface operates like many others, with the I/O meters and sliders on either side of the Signal Flow Window. The preset library and other utility functions reside at the top. Hiding the library de-clutters the UI nicely.

The Signal Flow Window is where the fun in Helix Native happens. Individual amps, cabinets, effects, and more are placed and routed to create a preset. You are able to create multiple signal paths within a preset, with the only limitation being the horsepower of your computer.

An Inspector Window lets you drag new components – called blocks – into the preset, as well as edit the parameters for existing ones. Yes Virginia, MIDI automation of those parameters is supported. There are hundreds of blocks; emulating a wide array of classic (and newer) amps, speakers, effects, and more. Deleting blocks and creating new routings is a breeze. Just manage the signal flow, man.

In short, if you are familiar with any relatively complex plugin – Reaktor comes to mind – Helix Native won’t cause you any problems. As always, take a look through the robust amount of factory presets to get an idea of what’s possible.

An Erector Set for Sound Design

As noted earlier, guitar effects aren’t just for guitarists anymore. To put Helix Native through its paces, I paired it with XILS-Labs excellent Polymoog emulation, PolyM. I found a suitable preset and went to town. A stunningly huge sound appeared out of my monitor speakers.

The combination of the PolyM patch (re: otherworldly 70s string synth inspired) and the Helix Native preset sounded powerful, full, and realistic. I saved the session for future use. After spending time auditioning and mangling presets as well as making a few of my own, it’s reasonable to expect Helix Native to be an important part of my software effects arsenal.

Occasionally, some digital distortion happened when the CPU usage peaked. Line 6 provides advice on optimizing the signal flow for performance. The most important takeaway is ensuring you use mono blocks if a stereo signal isn’t a requirement. Also, consider limiting your preset to one signal path.

For reference, my studio laptop sports Windows 10, a 7^th generation Intel i5 processor with 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD.

Helix Native emulates Tons of Vintage Gear

The copious number of blocks in Helix Native features a cornucopia of legendary gear, from Line 6 as well as other manufacturers. One example relevant to my musical realm is the Cosmos Echo block, which emulates the classic Roland Space Echo – quite well, actually. Maestro, Boss, EHX, TC Electronic, Vox, Eventide, and MXR are just some of the manufacturers included.

Essentially, an erector set for sound design, Line 6 Helix Native belongs in the studio toolkit of any musician, even if they aren’t a guitarist or own a hardware version of the Helix. It’s an easy to use sandbox of sonic manipulation that plays well with synths, keyboards, and electric percussion. Add it to your plugin collection.
August 16, 2018
Review: Objeq Delay – a Plugin that inspires Creativity
Musicians and producers searching for a unique plugin that rewards experimentation and creativity need look no further than Objeq Delay. Combining an LFO, an acoustic modeled filter, and a delay, this is an effect useful for mindwarped beats, intergalactic echoes, or really anything your imagination is able to conjure.

Objeq Delay Features
- Flexible LFO, Filter, and Delay, with Acoustic Modeling
- Hundreds of Presets to Inspire your own Creations
- Intuitive User Interface
- Small Footprint – Install takes only 14MB
- Supports Most Major Plugin Formats
- Street Price around $100
Developed by Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS), Objeq Delay needs to be in the toolbox of creative musicians all over the world. Let’s check it out!

One Delay to rule them All

After an easy install, Objeq Delay inspires creativity almost instantaneously. I created a simple 2/4 beat and ran it through one of the many presets and was shocked at the musicality of this new loop. It evolved in a myriad of interesting and inspiring ways. Tweaking ensued.

Objeq Delay in action. Photo by author.

The included presets are organized in banks by function – echoes, rhythm manglers, drones, etc. The navigation bar at the top of the plugin window allows for saving new and edited presets as well as the creation of user banks. Some time spent vetting these presets offers a nice overview of Objeq Delay’s capabilities.

Thankfully, the plugin’s intuitive and straightforward interface makes tweaking of the presets a simple process.

Objeq Delay’s Intuitive Interface

In a similar manner as Eventide Fission, Objeq Delay features a user interface that fosters the creative process. We already talked about the navigation bar, and the rest of the plugin is laid out in a clear manner. From left to right, there are LFO, Filter, Object, Delay, and Mixer modules.

The LFO module lets you modulate various parameters throughout the rest of Objeq Delay. You are able to sync its rate to an external clock source and/or tweak it manually. Waveform type (along with its phase and pulse width), modulation destination (with amount and offset) are the other LFO parameters. Be sure to try out the random waveform!

Objeq Delay provides both high and low pass filters that let you control the number of poles. The cutoff frequency for each filter is also controllable. The Filter module works closely with the Object module to effect the overall sonic output.

The Object module obviously lies at the heart of Objeq Delay. You are able to switch between four different physical objects – beam, plate, string, and drumhead – with each greatly influencing the resultant sound. Use the frequency parameter to control the first partial or resonant frequency of each object type.

The formant and material parameters warrant experimentation as well as an analysis of Objeq Delay’s copious amount of presets. The effect of each parameter changes based on the object type. Explore! Experiment!

Featuring two channels (left and right) each with two delay lines (labeled First and Echoes), the Delay module is also a blast to play with. Both lines are syncable and there is a Ping Pong switch for added stereophonic fun. The feedback, high cut, and low cut parameters work as they should.

You are even able to summon wild-sounding effects without using the delay, but remember that ancient Chinese wisdom – delay is the antidote for anger. A pretty self-explanatory Mixer module and a convenient level meter round out Objeq Delay’s interface.

Objeq Delay is the most fun I’ve had using an effect – hardware or software – in years. Strymon could put this functionality in a piece of hardware, release it as a limited edition, and it would be fetching four-figures on Reverb.com. If you are a creative musician, you need this effect! Boom!

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May 12, 2017
Superbooth, Novation, Behringer, Propellerhead — Synth News Digest 1
This is the first installment of what I hope to be a regular series on TabMuse. Essentially, it collects recent interesting news stories and product announcements from the synthesizer and music technology worlds. Expect the occasional interjection of my own analysis and insights – for better or worse.

Superbooth 17 features New Synth Announcements from Novation, Behringer

The German synthesizer convention, Superbooth, continues to raise its profile. This year’s edition rivaled the more-established Musikmesse in overall buzz factor, at least within the music press I typically peruse. For my eyes, more interesting synth announcements seemed to come out of Superbooth 17 compared to its older cousin.

Novation’s new Peak polysynth looks to be a winner. Image copyright Novation.

In some respects, Novation stole the show with the announcement of its Peak desktop polysynth. Each of the Peak’s eight voices features three oscillators and a resonant analog filter. The “numerically controlled” oscillators combine the best of the analog and digital domains, with warm sound as well as the sonic flexibility provided by 17 wavetables.

The Circuit Mono Station was Novation’s other big reveal. A mashup of an analog monosynth with the sequencing functionality from the original Circuit, this looks to be a product of interest to the DJ and beatmaking communities. A paraphonic mode and CV I/O are two of its other attractive features.

Behringer introduced a desktop version of its DeepMind 12 analog synth as well as a six-voice keyboard model, imaginatively known as the DeepMind 6. They also caused a measure of buzz with a demo of their Eurorack Minimoog clone. The audio demos I heard were definitely enticing, but I’m not in the Eurorack market… yet.

Uli Behringer’s company receives a lot of flack in the music technology community for subpar quality. As an owner of a MX3282 32-channel 8-bus mixing board for nearly 20 years, I can say I’ve never had an issue with the unit. Your mileage may differ. We’ll see how Behringer’s entry into synthesizer manufacturing changes the perception of the organization over time.

Many other alluring synth announcements happened at Superbooth 17. Check out Synthtopia’s thorough coverage for more details.

Propellerhead Reason finally adds Support for the VST Standard

Propellerhead’s recent announcement that version 9.5 of its venerable Reason music production studio app finally supports the VST plugin standard almost seems like a case of “too little, too late.” Way back at the turn of the century, I considered Reason as a natural upgrade to my beloved Rebirth. Instead, the lack of VST support made me head down the FL Studio path for my beatmaking needs.

Long-time Reason fans used to its workflow and skeuomorphic interface will now enjoy a veritable cornucopia of new synths and effects. Reason 9.5 hits the market on May 29 and current owners are able to upgrade to the new version for free when available. I may need to reconsider Reason, as one can’t have too many audio workstation applications.

Plugin Alliance 354e Multiband Compressor Plugin

The Plugin Alliance is a consortium of different audio companies under a “virtual roof.” One partner, Lindell Audio, recently announced the 354e – a mastering plugin modeling the venerable Neve 2254ETM diode bridge compressor. 354e supports most of the popular plugin formats and looks to be something of interest to anyone looking for great sounding masters without spending thousands on vintage hardware.

For more information, check out the following Plugin Alliance web page.

Wide Blue Sound Orbit and Eclipse

KONTAKT and MASCHINE users searching for a great new virtual synth need to check out Orbit and Eclipse from Wide Blue Sound. The company states “ORBIT and ECLIPSE are the perfect powerhouses for creating stunning synth sounds, driving pulses, and atmospheric worlds, thanks to their critically-acclaimed interface and world-class sound design.” Both synths include seamless integration with KOMPLETE KONTROL S-series keyboards as well as MASCHINE models. In short, anything supporting Native Instruments’ NKS standard.

The otherworldly sounds revealed in the video demos of the synths make me want to get my own KONTROL S-series unit. Of course, all major plugin formats are supported, so those without a NKS-ready controller can still travel the outer reaches.

Audified Studio Bundle

Plugin maker, Audified, recently released Studio Bundle, a convenient package including a variety of the company’s latest products in most popular plugin formats. The bundle includes Mix Checker, the U73b Compressor, the U78 Saturator, and the TNT Voice Executor. All in all a great deal for those interested in checking out some of Audified more popular virtual effects.

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May 5, 2017