VST Plugins

VST Plugins (10)

Monday, 22 April 2024 09:43

Sounds Space Welcomes "Waves Audio"

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The recent collaboration between "Sounds Space" and "Waves Audio" represents a pivotal development in the music production industry, bringing together two powerhouses in a union that promises to significantly enhance the capabilities and reach of audio professionals and enthusiasts alike. "Sounds Space," known for its comprehensive online marketplace that caters to the diverse needs of musicians, producers, and sound engineers, has established itself as a trusted platform where creativity meets technology. The addition of Waves Audio's esteemed plugins to this platform not only enriches "Sounds Space’s" already robust offerings but also democratizes access to professional-grade audio tools that have been the backbone of countless hit records.

 

Waves Audio, with its impeccable reputation for quality and innovation, has been at the forefront of audio plugin technology for over two decades. Known for their meticulous emulation of classic analog gear and pioneering new digital processing techniques, Waves plugins have become indispensable in the music production process. From dynamics processing and equalization to reverb and spatial effects, their extensive catalog offers tools that can transform raw sounds into polished productions. By making these tools available on "Sounds Space," both entities synergize their expertise and resources to serve a wider community of audio creators, enabling them to achieve professional sound quality in their projects.

This partnership is more than just a commercial venture; it is a strategic alignment that aims to foster a thriving ecosystem where artists and producers can flourish. The integration of Waves plugins into the "Sounds Space" marketplace means that users can now easily browse, demo, and purchase from an expansive selection of top-tier audio processing software directly alongside other musical resources. This convenience is crucial in today's fast-paced production environments, where efficiency and quality are paramount. Furthermore, "Sounds Space" offers educational content and support, making it an ideal platform for both seasoned professionals and those just starting out. This educational aspect ensures that users not only acquire tools but also the knowledge to use them effectively, thereby enhancing their overall creative output.

 

Moreover, the collaboration is set to drive innovation through shared insights and feedback from a diverse user base that spans genres, techniques, and geographies. This feedback loop will likely lead to refined product features and new plugin development, tailored to the evolving needs of modern producers and musicians. For Waves Audio, this partnership opens up new avenues for user engagement and product evolution, grounded in real-world application and user experiences.

In essence, the partnership between "Sounds Space" and Waves Audio is a landmark event that celebrates the fusion of technology with artistic expression. It underscores a shared vision to empower creators with the tools they need to express themselves, push the boundaries of sound, and ultimately shape the future of music. The availability of Waves plugins on the "Sounds Space" marketplace not only provides practical benefits but also symbolizes a commitment to quality, accessibility, and community-oriented growth in the ever-expanding universe of music production. As this partnership blossoms, it is poised to inspire a new generation of artists, produce innovative sonic landscapes, and contribute to the vibrancy and dynamism of the global music scene.

UAD Audio Plugins released Verve Analog Machines Essentials, an analog-style one-knob saturation plugin for Windows and macOS. The plugin is free to download until April 30th.

saturation plugin from the DSP giants at Universal Audio is a reason to celebrate, but the good news doesn’t end there.

 

Universal Audio also offers a free copy of the Galaxy Tape Echo plugin to the first 6,176 users who claim Verve Analog Machines.

So, if you’re fast enough, you can grab two free UAD plugins in one day.

 

 

 

Verve Analog Machines Essentials

Verve Analog Machines Essentials is an analog saturation plugin by Universal Audio.

UAD is known for some of the best DSP codes on the VST plugin market, especially in the saturation department.

Their emulations of classic analog hardware, like the Neve 1073 and Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder, are as close as you can get to real hardware.


The new Verve Analog Machines Essentials plugin takes some of that DSP magic and packs it into a more playful and user-oriented one-knob plugin form. It simplifies the processing workflow and provides the user with four analog-style effects: Sweeten, Warm, Thicken, and Vintage.


Sweeten simulates the subtle saturation effect of reel-to-reel tape recorders. You can use it for gentle overdrive and some light compression. UAD recommends using it on vocals, instruments, and the mix bus.

I tested the Sweeten mode on a drum track in a hip-hop beat I’m working on, and it’s safe to say that it sounds excellent on drums. It glues the drums together and adds a bit of loudness without killing the transient.

You can also try adding more gain to make the plugin distort, but to my ears, it sounds best at moderate settings on drums and basslines.

 

Warm is another tape machine emulation. However, this one is more focused on the lo-fi tape sound of a 4-track recorder instead of the pristine audio quality of a reel-to-reel tape machine.

This is my favorite Verve Analog Machines Essentials mode. It sounds wonderfully lo-fi and is very easy to use. I applied it to an analog pad, and it instantly brought life with light saturation and noticeable but not too obvious pitch modulation. Warm won’t let you go crazy with lo-fi pitch artifacts like our BPB Dirty VHS plugin, but it shines as a more moderate effect. The trick is to apply it to multiple tracks across the mix and give your entire track a more analog feel.

 

 

Thicken

Thicken turns Verve Analog Machines Essentials into a gentle distortion box. It makes the sound fuller and gently overdriven without squashing the life out of it.

It’s the least interesting of the four available modes for me, but you can use it with great results on your rhythm section and the mix bus.

 

Vintagize

Lastly, the Vintagize mode simulates the sound of a semi-broken tape recorder you’d find in a thrift store or an old box in your parent’s basement.

As a big fan of lo-fi effects, I wasn’t blown away by Vintagize, mainly because it doesn’t sound any better than other similar plugins like Tape Cassette 2 and our free BPB Dirty VHS.

 

That said, if you don’t already own a bunch of lo-fi plugins, the Vintagize mode in Verve Analog Machines is an excellent starting point.

Free Download

 

You can download Verve Analog Machines Essentials from the product page below. The free download offer ends on April 30th.

Will you be able to keep using the plugin after April 30th? Yes, if you claimed your free Verve Analog Machines Essentials license before the deadline, you can keep using the plugin for free forever.

Verve Analog Machines Essentials is compatible with 64-bit VST, AU, and AAX plugin hosts on Windows and macOS. It is compatible with any DAW on the market and doesn’t require UAD hardware.

 

Download: Verve Analog Machines Essentials (FREE until April 30th!)

 

 

 

Monday, 19 February 2024 17:42

Sounds Space Welcomes Cherry Audio:

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In the ever-evolving world of music production, where the fusion of technology and creativity births new dimensions of sound, Sounds Space is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership that marks a significant milestone in our journey. We are proud to welcome Cherry Audio into our family, a move that promises to enrich our marketplace with an array of innovative, high-quality audio products. This collaboration not only signifies the merging of two pioneers in the digital audio realm but also underscores our commitment to providing music creators with unparalleled tools to unleash their creativity.

 

Cherry Audio: Synthesizing the Future of Sound

Cherry Audio has carved a niche for itself in the music technology landscape, renowned for its cutting-edge synthesizers, effects modules, and a plethora of software instruments that have captivated musicians, producers, and sound designers alike. Their dedication to replicating the warmth of analog synths, combined with the precision and flexibility of digital design, has resulted in products that are both nostalgically familiar and thrillingly innovative. From modular synthesis environments like Voltage Modular to emulations of classic synthesizers with modern twists, Cherry Audio's offerings are designed to inspire and elevate musical compositions across genres and styles.

 

A Symphony of Selection at Sounds Space Marketplace

With the inclusion of Cherry Audio's product line in the Sounds Space Marketplace, our customers now have direct access to a treasure trove of audio tools that are at the forefront of music technology. This partnership aligns with our mission to democratize music production by making professional-grade instruments and effects accessible to all, regardless of their level of expertise or the size of their studio. Below you can find some of the products that can be purchased on our marketplace:

- Lowdown Bass Synthesizer
- Mercury-4 Synthesizer
- Polymode Synthesizer
- Memory mode Synthesizer
- Elka-X Synthesizer

And many more...

 

Why Cherry Audio Products Stand Out

1. Innovation and Quality: Cherry Audio's commitment to innovation, coupled with meticulous attention to sound quality, ensures that each product not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the modern musician. Whether you're crafting intricate soundscapes, laying down tracks for your next album, or experimenting with new sounds, their plugins provide a canvas limited only by your imagination.

2. User-Friendly Design: Recognizing that the power of a tool is not just in its capabilities but also in its usability, Cherry Audio designs its products with the user in mind. Intuitive interfaces, extensive preset libraries, and robust documentation mean that you can start creating right away, without steep learning curves.

3. Affordability: By joining forces with Sounds Space, Cherry Audio ensures that more creators can access their premium products without breaking the bank. Our marketplace is known for its competitive pricing, special offers, and bundles, making professional sound design more affordable than ever.

 

Exclusive Deals and Bundles

To celebrate this partnership, Sounds Space is offering exclusive deals and bundles on Cherry Audio products, available only through our marketplace. These special offers are designed to give both new and existing customers an opportunity to explore the full range of Cherry Audio's catalog at unbeatable prices. Whether you're a seasoned producer looking to expand your arsenal or a newcomer eager to start your music production journey, now is the perfect time to dive in.

 

Join the Sonic Revolution

The arrival of Cherry Audio at Sounds Space is more than just an addition to our product lineup—it's a testament to our vision of a world where the power of music creation is in the hands of many, not just a select few. We invite you to explore Cherry Audio's innovative products on our marketplace and join us in this sonic revolution. Together, we can push the boundaries of what's possible in music production, one track at a time.

In conclusion, the partnership between Sounds Space and Cherry Audio is a harmonious blend of innovation, quality, and accessibility, aimed at empowering music creators with the tools they need to realize their visions. We are excited to see how our community will leverage these new offerings to create music that inspires, entertains, and transcends.

 

 

Capsule Audio Instruments: Transforming Music Creation, Now Available at Sound Space

In the ever-expanding universe of music production, the pursuit of exceptional sound is a constant endeavor. Musicians and producers are always on the lookout for groundbreaking tools that can elevate their compositions and bring their artistic visions to life. Enter Capsule Audio Instruments, a revolutionary addition to the music production landscape, and now, conveniently available for purchase at Sound Space—a premier platform for top-notch audio solutions.

Capsule Audio Instruments have been making waves in the music industry for their innovative approach to virtual instruments. Unlike conventional plugins, Capsule Audio Instruments transcend the limitations of traditional sound libraries by offering a diverse array of meticulously crafted instruments. From realistic orchestral ensembles to cutting-edge synthesizers and unique hybrid sounds, Capsule Audio Instruments empower musicians to explore a rich tapestry of sonic possibilities.

The collaboration between Capsule Audio Instruments and Sound Space marks a significant milestone in the world of virtual instruments. Sound Space, recognized for providing musicians with access to high-quality audio products, now extends its offerings to include the groundbreaking Capsule Audio Instruments, further solidifying its commitment to meeting the diverse needs of the music production community.

 

One of the standout features of Capsule Audio Instruments is their commitment to authenticity. Each virtual instrument within the Capsule collection is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the nuances and subtleties that make real instruments unique. This dedication to realism ensures that musicians can achieve lifelike performances in their compositions, bringing a new level of depth and emotion to their music.

Navigating the vast landscape of virtual instruments can be a daunting task, but Capsule Audio Instruments simplifies the process with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to music production, the plugin seamlessly integrates into popular digital audio workstations (DAWs), facilitating a smooth and efficient workflow.

The extensive range of instruments available within Capsule Audio Instruments at Sound Space caters to a broad spectrum of musical genres and production styles. Whether you're a film composer in search of expressive orchestral sounds, an electronic music producer looking for futuristic synthesizers, or a songwriter seeking authentic guitar tones, Capsule Audio Instruments offers a comprehensive palette of options.

 

Purchasing Capsule Audio Instruments at Sound Space is a streamlined and secure process. The platform provides users with a user-friendly interface for browsing through the available instruments, accompanied by detailed descriptions and demo options to aid in the decision-making process. With secure transactions and excellent customer support, Sound Space ensures a seamless journey from selecting the ideal instrument to integrating it into your music production workflow.

As the landscape of music production continues to evolve, having access to cutting-edge virtual instruments becomes essential for staying ahead. Capsule Audio Instruments at Sound Space stand at the forefront of this evolution, providing musicians with the tools they need to unlock new realms of creativity and expressiveness in their compositions. Elevate your music, broaden your sonic horizons, and redefine your approach to music creation with Capsule Audio Instruments—now within reach at Sound Space. Embrace the future of sound and embark on a transformative musical journey today.

Friday, 06 October 2023 21:00

How To Use a Reverb Plugin Properly

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How to Use a Reverb Plugin Properly

 

Introduction

Reverb is an essential audio effect used in music production and audio engineering to add depth, space, and realism to audio recordings. While it's possible to achieve reverb effects using physical spaces, reverb plugins offer a versatile and convenient way to manipulate the reverberation of your audio. In this article, we'll explore how to use a reverb plugin properly, covering the fundamental principles and techniques to help you achieve the desired sound.

 

1. Understand the Basics

Before diving into the practical aspects of using a reverb plugin, it's crucial to understand the basics of reverb. Reverb, short for reverberation, is the reflection of sound waves off surfaces in an environment. Reverb plugins simulate this effect by adding artificial reflections to audio signals.

 

2. Choose the Right Reverb Plugin

Selecting the appropriate reverb plugin is the first step. There are various types of reverb plugins available, such as plate, room, hall, and convolution reverbs. The choice depends on the project's needs and the desired sonic characteristics. Experiment with different plugins to find the one that fits your audio best.

 

3. Set Up Your Signal Chain

To use a reverb plugin effectively, set up your signal chain correctly. Place the reverb plugin on an auxiliary (aux) or bus channel rather than directly on the audio track. This allows you to control the reverb amount individually for multiple tracks and maintain a more coherent mix.

 

 

4. Adjust Pre-Delay

Pre-delay is the time between the direct sound and the onset of reverb. It helps create a sense of distance. Short pre-delay values (10-30 milliseconds) make the sound source feel closer, while longer values (100-200 milliseconds) add a sense of space. Adjust pre-delay to suit the desired ambiance of your mix.

 

5. Control Decay Time

Decay time determines how long the reverb tail lingers. Short decay times work well for tight spaces, while longer decay times suit larger, more open environments. Be mindful not to overdo it, as excessive decay can muddy your mix.

 

6. Set the Wet/Dry Mix

Balancing the wet (reverb) and dry (original) signals is crucial. Typically, you'll want to add just enough reverb to enhance the audio without overwhelming it. Start with a subtle wet/dry mix and adjust as needed.

 

7. Use EQ to Shape the Reverb

Most reverb plugins offer EQ controls for shaping the reverb's tonality. Use EQ to remove unwanted frequencies, such as low-end rumble or harsh highs, to achieve a cleaner and more transparent reverb sound.

 

 

8. Experiment with Different Reverb Types

Don't limit yourself to a single reverb plugin or type. Experiment with different reverbs on various tracks to create depth and dimension in your mix. For instance, use a short plate reverb on vocals and a longer hall reverb on instruments.

 

9. Automate Reverb Parameters

Automation can be a powerful tool for adding dynamic movement to your mix. Automate parameters like wet/dry mix, pre-delay, or decay time to create evolving spatial effects throughout the song.

 

10. Consider the Positioning of Sound Sources

In virtual environments, consider the positioning of sound sources within your mix. Adjust the panning of tracks and apply different reverbs to each channel to mimic the spatial positioning of instruments in a room.

 

11. Use Sends and Returns

When dealing with multiple tracks that require reverb, use sends and returns to send audio from multiple tracks to a single reverb bus. This conserves CPU resources and ensures a cohesive reverb effect across multiple elements.

 

12. Listen Critically

Finally, the most important aspect of using a reverb plugin properly is listening critically. Trust your ears and make adjustments based on what sounds best for your project. Use reference tracks to compare your reverb settings and achieve the desired level of professionalism.

 

Conclusion

Properly using a reverb plugin is a skill that can greatly enhance your music production and audio engineering. By understanding the basics, selecting the right plugin, and applying the techniques mentioned in this article, you can effectively add depth, space, and realism to your audio recordings. Remember to experiment, trust your ears, and strive for a balanced and cohesive mix that suits the artistic vision of your project.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023 17:44

Polyverse Supermodal Filter Plug-In

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Polyverse Supermodal

Introducing Polyverse Music’s new unique filter ‘Supermodal’, allowing full creativity with its countless possibilities. This powerful Modal filter helps take a track to the next level, lifting and enhancing an incredible range of characteristics throughout the music - for example, using its modulation system will allow the creator to strip and recreate a sound in a whole new way, manipulating every detail into their own style. Single audio signals can be uniquely operated through its wide variety of frequencies to design cinematic soundscapes, pulsating rhythms, pads with harmonic motion, to name a few. 

An excellent selling point for all music producers is how extensive this modal filter allows a sound to be destroyed in the most beautiful refreshing way. Most filters are implemented with many limitations, not enhancing the creative flow as many plug-ins should. With Supermodal, music creators at all stages will find themselves messing around with this filter for hours - the possibilities are endless and discovering new sounds, blends and frequencies will help take the track to a game-changing stage. 

FEATURES

  • Modal filter capable of seamless morphing between modes
  • 27 Modes ranging from musical to mangled
  • 200+ presets and counting
  • Drive SVF filter input and Modal filter output
  • Modulate any parameter with fast, intuitive modulation sources 
  • Cross-modulate between 4 modulation slots
  • 24dB per-octave slope state-variable filter
  • Blend between SVF and Modal filter
  • Self-resonate when resonance is boosted past 100
  • Control partials to completely eliminate high or low frequencies
  • Shape modal tails with decay and damping controls
  • 9 models, each with 3 variations giving you a total of 27 modes to play around with
  • You get flangers, phasers, vocal filters, physical, and some unique mathematical m resonators
  • You can control its character with various parameters (decay, xform, damping, and partials)
  • Blend both filters together to create an interesting mix

Check out our Polyverse range here on Sounds Space.

Saturday, 24 December 2022 11:11

‘The God Particle’ Plug-In Review

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‘The God Particle’ Plug-In Review

A plugin that is described as the ‘Grammy-winning mix bus chain in a simple package’. The God Particle plug-in comes with no fuss and directly does as it says by being a quick-to-use, very effective all-in-one processor, low-latency and CPU hit, plus it can perfectly help glue a mix. All producers and mixing engineers require software that avoids tedious confusion on how a product works and helps allocate time to simply get the job done, without delay.

The God Particle has been constructed by 15x Grammy-winning producer Jaycen Joshua’s kit and workflow. (known for Nicki Minaj, Kid Ink, Beyoncè, Chris Brown, Nelly, A$AP Rocky, and David Guetta, to name a few). This all-in-one bus compressor has a secret mix of EQ, multiband compression, saturation/excitation and widening, controls for 3-band EQ, effect amount, input/output and a built-in Limiter, plus an intelligent adaptive limiter. All of Joshua’s go-to’s in order to create ideal sounds that had led him to his greatest hits with some of the world’s biggest names - sharing these styles with aspiring engineers is absolutely what we’re looking for to help producers learn and adapt new sounds and styles, thanks to this plug-in. 

More 'The God Particle' Features:

  • A multitude of processing algorithms under the hood gives depth, detail, and clarity to your next mix
  • You can be certain your dynamics and transients will be preserved while achieving competitive commercial loudness.
  • rest assured your mix will be both dynamic and loud with a well-balanced EQ response.
  • Particle Of God is an ensemble effect for Native Instruments Reaktor. The idea behind this effect is to create a delay where the delay time is accelerated.
  • The single delays are getting faster (or even slower) each time the delay is repeated. To get a “musical” result, the delay time and traction are synchronized in time and tempo.
  • Stay focused on your creative process, while Jaycen’s world-class engineering keeps your master channel locked in.
  • Several parameters can be changed in real-time and tweaked by the step-sequencers.
  • Suitable for use on the mix bus or groups of tracks. Can be used on just about any type of track (vocals, drums, guitars, etc.), creating versatility.

Discover more & BUY ‘The God Particle’ directly through Cradle

Friday, 09 December 2022 15:55

INVIGORATE Plug-In | Eventide Audio

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Invigorate Plug-In

Introducing Eventide's ‘Invigorate’ Plug-In 

This bus compressor and enhancer from Eventide is a plug-in constructed to boost all limiting and overdrive elements to the extreme. Built to take your creations to the next level and add an explosion of colour to your mix, featuring its mammoth sound all within its uniquely simple radar navigation.

‘Invigorate’ is the buzzing compressor plug-in of 2022/23 and it’s no surprise at all that some of the greatest beatmakers are on the hype, having this beastly product as their go-to. 

Let’s look at the key features and see what’s creating the hype.

Eventide ‘Invigorate’ | Key Features

  • Using a combination of expansion features to enlarge a project’s sound; including compression, limiting and overdrive. The intent behind this feature is to help incorporate the details of each technique and implement this into a straightforward tool for all purposes.
  • Unique ‘Radar’ control to help navigate a specific sound to the user’s preference. Cruise from the right touch of gain to compression, limiting, and distortion. 
  • Operate the track’s finishing touches with its MIX control knob. 
  • Emphasis the tone with Invigorate’s SENSITIVITY control. Fine-tune the frequencies of the sidechain signal. 
  • INPUT EXCITER tone controls allow you to overdrive the dynamics processor.
  • OUTPUT TONE controls allow you to tailor the sound of the wet signal before the mix control.
  • Control the gain curve and manage the perfect tone using the SHAPE, SQUASH and GATE controls.
  • Use and abuse the powerful level detector to help compression at its strongest versus calmest. 
  • Truly understand the performance of controlled volume using the ‘gain compensation algorithm’. 

Artist Presets

  • Count (Run the Jewels, New Order, No Doubt, Tycho, DJ Shadow, Gang of Youths, Lady Blackbird).
  • Justin Hergett (FINNEAS, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Ashe).
  • John O'Mahony (Marina, Coldplay, Sara Bareilles).
  • Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Yes, Meatloaf, Rob Halford, Sepultura).
  • Jacob Shea (Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Inception).
  • ROCASound (The Orville, Iron Man 2).
  • Matthew Wang (Tiger King, Glow, Reno 911!).
  • Scott Gershin (Pacific Rim, American Beauty, Team America).
  • David Gnozzi (MixbusTv, MC Solaar).
  • APS Mastering (Vampire Weekend, The Shivers, Deer Tick).
  • Ronit Kirchman (The Sinner, Evil Eye, Limetown).

This top-tier plugin shows the effort and time throughout its development. Its easy use makes all the difference in a session and allows time-efficient mixing - all available within an affordable budget of $97. An absolute bargain in comparison to comps which sell well into the triple digits! 

Download INVIGORATE here on Sounds Space!






Tuesday, 15 November 2022 21:26

Audiomodern’s LOOPMIX VST

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Audiomodern’s LOOPMIX VST

 

Sounds Space proudly represents Audiomodern’s LOOPMIX VST on our platform. We’re all about efficiency for musicians as time is everything and this top-quality remixer is precisely what we admire and recommend for creatives at all stages of their careers.

 

This plug-in exceptionally allows musicians to amplify their sound and enhance their creative abilities; being able to generate loop remixes, upload personal sounds, x6 intelligent sequencer engines, mangle up to 6 audio loops, generate infinite patterns & grooves, ability to create their own packs,  the use of its multi-functional performance keyboard, plus more.

 

Users praise this VST as “bringing life to samples”, inviting musicians to create outside the box using its endless number of controls and varieties, keeping projects organised and within a simplified layout system.

Music quality and industry expectations are continuously progressing. So it is crucial for musicians and creatives to surround themselves with the most up-to-date software in order to keep their sound one step ahead of the game, which LOOPMIX compliment perfectly through their unique multi-purpose software.

 

Each week, we’re bound to hear a new track hitting the charts that features a popular sample and so as musicians adapt to music industry trends, it’s time sampling was taken to the next level and done so in a refreshing way. Use Audiomoderns new piece of eye-candy to the max where you can sequence, re-arrange, reverse, glitch (density), mix (volume), change the pitch chromatically as well as use its distinctive “remix” feature that gives you several variations of your meshed loops!

 

Only $69.00, download your new VST here!

Tuesday, 15 February 2022 18:08

SWAR-PLUG Review

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Good day our dear friends! it's been a minute since we last had a chat but we are back with another "product review"!

This time around, we have reviewed a giant of a product all the way from Switzerland called "SWARPLUG". Do not let the manufacturing country fool you, this product is far from Europe and it is actually based in the far east, India to be precise!

When we first heard of "SwarPlug", we were shocked. Cos we have not heard of a plugin fully based on Indian instruments, 80 of them if we have to mention the actual amount of instruments. And they didn't do a bad job! They actually did a marvelous job!

 

 

 

The main interface of the plugin has 1 main section and 6 sub-sections. The main section of the interface shows the selected instrument, BPM, and the position of the instrument. It also shows Folders and Items on two separate screens.
The 6 sub-sections show the following screens to help distinguish the capabilities of this plugin from one another to give an easier user experience:

1 - Library
2 - Keymaps
3 - Effects
4 - Scales/Ragas
5- Pitch/MPE
6 - Modulators

 
Everything about SwarPlug relates to two things in our opinion, at least that's definitely the idea we got: Ease of use and Quality! We love that combo when it's done properly and in Swar's case, it is done perfectly!
We would like to mention some of the key features of the SwarPlug in the small bullet-point section below, but we will be giving you a detailed description later on in our post:

Key features

  • Over 80 perfectly sampled Indian instruments
  • Customizable mapping of playing areas with specific parameters settings
  • Multi-mic fader (for ML instruments)
  • MPE support
  • Cross-Legato mode for seamless cross-fading pitch bendings
  • Scales customization with semitone tuning
  • Modulations panel with a large array of modulation possibilities
  • Time-stretching
  • Buses and effect
  • and much more...

And one more thing: SwarPlug is an "M1" chip suitable plug-in! It's been modified to work on all the latest Mac series that contain the latest "M1" chip!

 

So let's talk about some of the details of SwarPlug. SwarPlug comes jam-packed with 80 of the finest Indian instruments and we have tested them all out. Do you want the truth? They all sound GREAT! SwarPlug manufacturers have divided the entire instruments into 10 main categories and then they get divided into their sub-categories within them.

We believe this makes the user experience much better and easier to navigate around when looking for a specific instrument. 10 main categories are as follows:

1- Drums
2- Plucked Strings
3 - Bowed Strings
4 - Wind
5 - Voice
6 - Bells
7 - Keyboard
8- Other Percussions
9 - Drone
10 - Clear Instrument

 



Like we said above, dividing instruments into such specific categories makes any producer's job easier and helps us save precious time. Cos, who wants to go and look for a sound for hours right? Saving time and making an "Easy-To-Use" user interface is all that we always desire as musicians and "SwarPlug" has delivered that precisely!

We can go ahead and name some of the instruments below to give you even bigger excitement:

1 - BIHU DHOL
2 - CHENDE
3 - BANJO
4 - EKTARA
5 - ISRAJ
6- SARANGI
7 - ANSURI
8 - BANGOZAY
9 - BOLS
10 - SARGAM

These are to name only a few instruments but believe when we say; this is only the tip of the "Iceberg".

 

KEYMAPS

 

The KEYMAPS section lets you customize the different playing styles/parts of the instrument. Each one can be positioned at a specific key range and set to specific parameters.

You can also have the same style on different rows. You can drag additional instances of a style from the bottom of the screen.

 

 


FX SECTION

Alongside their instruments, SwarPlug comes with a section of "Built-In" effects as well and these FXs are quite powerful and they can be tweaked as you desire to help the sound design of your instrument to make it sound even more diverse. We have carefully tested all of the effects of this plugin to make sure to give you the ultimate advice we possibly can. There are 4 main effects that can be added and tweaked on the FX panel and they are as follows:


1 - Ladder
2 - EQ
3 - Convolution
4 - Reverb

 



All of the effects can be tweaked to the finest detail to make them suit your sound design and to make them fit in the mix. You can add reverb, play with its gain, tail and turn around, and EQ the unnecessary frequencies without having the need for a third party plug-in which makes 
SwarPlug that much diverse and desirable.

 

 

SCALES/RAGA

The scales and Ragas section allows one to specifically customize your sound to a western scale or an Indian Raga. The drop-down menu on top of the section shows you a variety of scales/raga to chose from. When you chose a scale/raga, you will see the notes flash that are included in that scale/raga flash up. This will make your job easier to know which notes that are involved so you can go ahead and play without any confusion or write down a midi progression within that scale/raga by using the same notes. Do not forget to check the "Ignore Other Notes" box to only play the notes in that scale/raga.

 

 

 

 PITCH/MPE

This section here contains all of the information and controls regarding the pitch adjustments and the Midi Polyphonic Expression.
The Pitch section allows you to change the pitch of any instrument completely and lets you pitch-shift it into the right key of the song. This way, you can use any instrument in any given way to make it fit into any song by tuning it into the right route-note.
You can use the drop-down menu to pick a specific key as well. 

PBR section is also a very important part of the Pitch/Mpe section of the SwarPlug which comes in very handy in Indian music. This is purely because, in Indian music, a higher range of semi-tone tweaking is required compared to western music which is usually tweaked by 2 semitones.

 

 

One more important section here is the LFO! The LFO section allows you to add a Low-Frequency Oscillator to modulate either the pitch or the volume of the chosen instrument.
By using the "Level" and the "Accel" knobs, you can adjust their depth and frequency. This option here gives you so much freedom and control over your instruments that you will not feel the need for a third-party plugin to do the job.

 

MODULATORS

The modulators section allows you to modulate all of the controls on SwarPlug.
Almost every single control on the SwarPlug can be modulated by using a large section of modulators. In order to modulate a control, you have to choose the control you want to modulate and then turn around and link to a modulator.

3 main sections in the modulators section define the character of your modulation choice. These sections are:

CC
CHANNEL MSGS (After-Touch, Pressure, Note On-Velocity, Note Off-Velocity)
MPE MSGS (MPE Note On-Velocity, MPE Note Off-Velocity, MPE PRESSURE, MPE TIMBER)

 

When the connection between the parameters and the modulators has been made, the next step is to decide the direction of the modulation. You can easily choose one of the directions from the drop-down menu which are "Upwards, Downwards or Centered".

How to add a modulation? Very simple! All you have to do is to click on the "Add Modulation" button and select the parameter you want to modulate from the drop-down menu and add it.

The modulation capability is available for every instrument within SwarPlug and you can modulate all of the parameters for them freely and as you desire.

 

 

 

With all that being said about this amazing plugin! We would like to tell you that we've had an amazing time reviewing SwarPlug 4! 
We can easily say that it is the best Indian Instrument Plugin that's out there and there isn't anything like it. Is there room for growth to make it a better plugin? Of course, there is! Growth is an ongoing process and it never ends. 

 

Please check out Swar VST via the link below and grab your copy if you enjoy what you've seen here!

http://www.swarvst.com 

Also, do not forget to follow the Swar family via the links below:

 
 
Musician Life

24/2/2022