music production tools – Jooyoung's Music Blog

Arturia FX Collection 5 Overview & Sale (50% Off, Until December 10th)

Hello everyone, this is Jooyoung Kim, an audio engineer and music producer.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to one of Arturia’s flagship bundles: FX Collection 5.

This product was provided to me as an NFR (Not for Resale) through Plugin Boutique and Arturia. If you make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll receive a small commission, which greatly supports my blog. Let’s dive in!

Purchase Arturia FX Collection 5 at Plugin Boutique

I remember using Arturia’s early audio interface, Audiofuse, back in the day. At the time, there wasn’t an FX Collection bundle—just a handful of hardware emulation plugins. Now that FX Collection has reached version 5, time really flies!

This bundle introduces 4 new plugins, bringing the total to 34 plugins. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Here’s one of my favorites: Arturia Chorus Dimension-D

Table of Features and Emulations

Name	Emulated Hardware	Key Features
Efx REFRACT	None	Adds distortion and harmonics for rich textures and tonal transformation.
Efx MOTIONS	None	Introduces dynamic movement and rhythmic variations, adding vibrancy to the mix.
Efx FRAGMENTS	None	Granular processing for rhythmic stutter effects and spatial soundscapes.
Bus EXCITER-104	Aphex Aural Exciter Model 104	Enhances brightness without noise; deepens vocals and kick drums.
Bus PEAK	None	Optimizes mix loudness, boosts low-end power, and controls drum energy.
Bus FORCE	None	A parallel processor combining filter, EQ, compression, and saturation.
Dist COLDFIRE	None	Dual-engine distortion ranging from warm tube saturation to aggressive clipping.
Dist TUBE-CULTURE	Thermionic Culture – THE CULTURE VULTURE	Adds analog warmth and natural distortion in a digital environment.
Dist OPAMP-21	Tech 21 SansAmp Guitar Pedal	Digital recreation of a guitar pedal, offering treble distortion and amp texture.
Tape MELLO-FI	Mellotron	Instantly adds vintage vibes and analog warmth.
EQ SITRAL-295	Siemens Sitral w295b	Smooth, musical curves with warm transistor character in a stereo EQ.
Pre 1973	Neve 1073	Modern recreation of the iconic ’70s British sound.
Pre TRIDA	Trident Audio A-Range Dual Channel Strip	Rare channel strip with musical EQ for unique tonal shaping.
Pre V76	Telefunken V76	Renowned for its ’60s pop sound, famously used in the “White Album.”
Rev LX-24	Lexicon 224	Realistic spatial depth with subtle shimmer textures.
Rev PLATE-140	EMT 140	Smooth and clear plate reverb, blending retro and modern elements.
Rev INTENSITY	None	Combines cinematic ambience with deep modulation for a fresh reverb type.
Rev SPRING-636	Hammond Spring Reverb	Captures the dynamic texture of real spring reverb.
Comp DIODE-609	Neve 33609	A crunchy compressor, perfect for drums.
Comp VCA-65	SSL G Series VCA Compressor	A powerful VCA compressor tailored for rhythm sections.
Comp TUBE-STA	Retro STA-Level	Vintage compressor ideal for bass and vocals.
Comp FET-76	Universal Audio 1176LN	Versatile studio compressor for all sound sources.
Filter MS-20	Korg MS-20	Adds dynamic filter sweeps and distinctive distortion.
Filter MINI	Moog MiniMoog	Features a 24dB/octave low-pass filter with modern enhancements.
Filter SEM	Oberheim SEM	Multi-purpose filter suitable for a variety of synth applications.
Filter M12	Oberheim Matrix-12	Offers advanced modulation and programmable control.
Rotary CLS-222	Dynacord CLS-222	Smooth stereo swirl with patterned spin effects.
Chorus DIMENSION-D	Roland Dimension D SDD-320	Simple 4-mode operation for warm stereo chorus.
Phaser BI-TRON	Mu-Tron Bi-Phase II	Complex routing with boutique phaser sounds.
Flanger BL-20	B.E.L Electronic BF-20 Stereo Flanger	Provides wide stereo imaging and intricate modulation.
Chorus JUN-6	Built-in Chorus from Roland Juno-6	Delivers rich stereo presence and analog warmth.
Delay TAPE-201	Roland RE-201 Space Echo	Combines tape saturation with metallic spring reverb.
Delay BRIGADE	Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man	Ambient delay with dark tones and enhanced feedback.
Delay ETERNITY	None	Rich modulation and texturing capabilities in a versatile delay unit.

The hardware replicas were identified by me, while the descriptions are from Arturia’s website. 😊

Among them, I frequently use the Pre 1973 (modeled after the Neve 1073), Comp Diode-609 (modeled after the Neve 33609/N), and Chorus Dimension-D (modeled after the Roland SDD-320). Other notable mentions include:

Comp VCA-65 (modeled after the dbx 165)
Chorus JUN-6 (from the Juno synthesizer)
Filter M12 (inspired by the Oberheim Matrix-12)

While I’d love to introduce every single plugin, covering all 34 of them in one post would be too much. Instead, I’ll share links to my previous reviews of FX Collection 2:

https://jooyoungmusic.com/2024/06/04/arturia-fx-collection-2-plug-in-review-part-1-bus-force/

This post will focus on the new additions: Bus PEAK, Bus EXCITER-104, Efx MOTIONS, and Efx REFRACT. Among these, Bus PEAK and Bus EXCITER-104 caught my attention as an engineer.

Bus PEAK

Bus PEAK combines a Clipper, Limiter, and Tilt EQ into one plugin, designed for mastering.

It offers convenient features like True Peak and LUFS metering. One standout feature is Equal Loudness, which allows you to compare the sound before and after applying effects at the same perceived loudness.

Another noteworthy parameter is Character: increasing it enhances attack, while lowering it softens attack.

I’ve tested it on a project, and it’s fantastic. It’s transparent yet effective, thanks to its built-in clipper. You won’t need to add a separate clipper plugin anymore.

You can even adjust the Clipper Knee, shaping how hard or soft the clipping sounds.

Previously, I relied on Fabfilter Pro-L2 for loudness boosting, but now I’m seriously considering using Bus PEAK for all my future projects. It’s that good.

For users of FX Collection 4, the upgrade decision might be tough, but if you have version 3 or older, I’d say the new additions make it worth it. Even as standalone plugins, I highly recommend them.

Bus Exciter-104

Bus Exciter-104 is a faithful recreation of the Aphex Aural Exciter Model 104, a type of saturator designed to enhance audio clarity and presence.

Recently, I’ve been exploring various saturators and enhancers, and this plugin has effectively addressed many of my concerns.

The plugin operates in two distinct sections: Big Bass, which handles low frequencies, and Exciter, which focuses on higher frequencies.

In the above image, the settings show some Drive applied in the Big Bass section and Mix in the Exciter section, though these aren’t the default values.

Big Bass adjusts the low-end frequencies by controlling both volume and drive.
Exciter generates additional harmonics slightly below the high-frequency range, enriching the sound with artificial overtones.

By carefully tweaking these parameters, you can achieve a well-balanced mix without overwhelming either the bass or high-frequency regions.

The results are immediately noticeable, and I imagine this would be particularly effective for producers working with drum loops or aiming for a more pronounced, textured sound.

Efx REFRACT

Efx REFRACT allows you to clone the original source up to eight times, expanding the stereo image through modulation.

The cloned signals are then passed through five different effects: Band Pass, Comb Filter, Bit Crusher, Distortion, and Harmonizer, enabling you to craft unique and experimental soundscapes.

This plugin is more suited for creative uses in the composition phase than traditional mixing. It works well not only on vocals but also on lead instruments and even background elements.

For genres like instrumental or experimental music, Efx REFRACT can truly shine.

Efx MOTIONS

Efx MOTIONS is a multi-effects plugin centered around Filter, Noise, Volume, Pan, and Drive.

Its design reminded me of Cableguys’ ShaperBox, suggesting a direct competition between the two.

The plugin offers a variety of control options, including Envelope Sequencers, Euclidean patterns, Transient detection, and MIDI triggers. It even includes advanced features like macros, sequencers, and an envelope follower, making it highly versatile for both sound design and mixing.

With additional functionalities like Repeat/FX for loop-based effects, reverse playback, and pitch modulation, it feels like a hybrid between a sampler and a virtual synth.

For someone like me who frequently uses ShaperBox in mixes, Efx MOTIONS feels even more flexible. I’m excited to explore its full potential in upcoming projects.

Purchase Arturia FX Collection 5 at Plugin Boutique

Arturia FX plugins can be resource-intensive, but their unique sound often makes them indispensable in my mixing workflow. With modern hardware, especially on Macs, these plugins run smoothly.

If you’ve been curious about Arturia’s mixing and mastering tools, this sale is a great opportunity. Even if you own previous bundles, the new Bus PEAK alone might justify the upgrade.

See you in the next post!

Baby Audio Transit 2 Sale (~12/31)

Hello! I’m Jooyoung Kim, an audio engineer and music producer.

Today, I’ll introduce “Transit 2,” a plugin developed in collaboration between Canadian musician Andrew Huang, known widely on YouTube, and Baby Audio.

As always, I received this plugin from Plugin Boutique in an NFR (Not For Resale) format. The views in this post are entirely my own.

Let’s dive in!

Purchase Transit 2 at Plugin Boutique

(If you purchase the Transit 2 plugin through the link above or below, a small commission will help support my blog!)

Transit 2 is an all-in-one plugin offering 28 effects.

Typically, plugins like this are less about mixing and more useful for adding dynamics during composition with tools like LFO and macros. Think of it as a way to add energy to your track.

Transit 2 features six modulation options: Macro, LFO, Audio Follower, Sidechain, Gate, and Sequencer, allowing you to alter effect parameters based on your chosen setting.

Rather than going through each of the 28 effects, let’s explore how you might best use Transit 2 in your workflow.

Clicking the dice icon in the top right corner…

…changes only the parameters for the top three effects, while the bottom four effects are fully randomized, including the effect type itself.

The dot in the center acts as a switch to toggle modulation on and off for parameters like Macro. Blue indicates a positive direction, red a negative direction, and yellow is a fixed, non-modulated value.

There are also numerous presets.

So, how should you use it? There are two main approaches:

If you’re familiar with each effect and know the exact sound you want, you can create a setup from scratch. It’s a bit time-consuming but allows for precise customization.
If you’re looking for something fresh, start by exploring presets. Once you find a tone you like, place the core effects in the top row and let the randomization feature introduce a bit of unpredictability, like a modular synth. This approach takes some time too.

Personally, I find that applying modulation effects and using the Follow or Sidechain functions creates a groove that blends well with other sounds.

Without any effects applied, there’s some basic saturation, and the volume decreases.

Interestingly, bypassing the plugin creates a unique harmonic distortion.

The plugin is well-optimized, with low latency considering the effects it offers. Testing a few presets, I noticed almost no channel latency, with the highest around 1.4 ms.

With a plugin like this, you can achieve various effects, making it a versatile addition.

I tried it with different instruments like piano, bass, guitar, and vocals. Personally, it worked exceptionally well with recorded electric bass.

Additionally, you can create interesting sounds by experimenting with samples from places like Splice.

Find out Solina and Orange Vocoder at Plugin Boutique

This month, if you purchase a plugin from Plugin Boutique, you can get AIR Music Technology’s Solina virtual instrument or Zynaptiq’s ORANGE VOCODER NANO for free.

With Black Friday approaching and Transit 2 on sale until the end of the year, it might be worth keeping an eye on it and grabbing it during the sale.

See you in the next post!

Cableguys FilterShaper XL Sale (Until 8/31)

Hello! I’m Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

Today, I wanted to share an exciting deal from one of my favorite companies, Cableguys, who are currently offering a discount on their FilterShaper XL plugin.

As with my recent plugin reviews, I received an NFR (Not for Resale) code from Plugin Boutique for this product.

Purchase FilterShaper XL at Plugin Boutique

(If you purchase through the above link, I’ll earn a small commission, which greatly supports the blog!)

Let’s dive in!

Cableguys is known for their best-selling product, ShaperBox.

ShaperBox can inject an artificial groove into your instruments, and I found it so compelling that I purchased it myself before I even partnered with Plugin Boutique.

Within ShaperBox, there’s a tool called FilterShaper Core. FilterShaper XL is essentially an enhanced version of FilterShaper Core, with additional parameters and features.

Looking at the UI, you’ll notice it’s split into left and right sections. Both sides represent filters, and the central Routing button allows you to choose between serial or parallel connections.

Pan, Mix, and Volume controls are likely familiar to most of you, so I’ll skip explaining those..:)

Now, let’s explore the filters!

If you’ve used filters before, this should feel intuitive. Even if you’re less experienced, you’ll probably grasp the basics of Cutoff (which determines the frequency at which the sound is attenuated), Pan, and Volume.

The Drive control allows you to choose between Pre and Post settings. Adding Drive enhances harmonics and can act somewhat like a compressor as the sound level increases and then decreases at a certain point.

Resonance, as shown in the image above, determines the amount of emphasis around the cutoff frequency.

Filter 2 off, Filter 1 with Drive 0, Resonance 0, Res. Drive 0, Volume 0, Cutoff Frequency at maximum (21.1kHz)

HARD button enabled with Res. Drive at 0

The Res. Drive below Resonance applies Drive specifically to the resonance band, creating harmonics and adding compression. The HARD button intensifies these effects.

Also, by clicking the text right below the Filter Power button, you can select the type of filter you want to use. That’s pretty much everything about the filter window!

Now, let’s move on to the lower section.

In the bottom section, you can draw automations for each filter’s parameters, allowing them to repeat automatically. You can create points by double-clicking with the mouse and drag them to shape the automation. Various cursor tools on the left can make this easier, and you can also start with presets available at the top.

Using both LFO 1 and LFO 2 (located at the top left), you can modulate LFO values like this. The thin blue line in the background represents the LFO that will modulate the parameter.

The Pan and Volume controls in the center manage the panning and volume of the master output. You can also adjust the amount of LFO modulation by clicking the settings button on the Amount knob in the bottom left corner.

Lastly, the Envelope Follower in the bottom right lets you change the intensity of the LFO based on the input signal. You can also set the LFO’s LFO in the same section, giving you more control.

It may seem complex at first, but it’s very intuitive once you start using it.

If you’d like to hear how it works, check out the demo video by Cableguys.

This sale is valid until the end of the month.

This plugin is versatile and can be creatively used in any genre, whether you’re into acoustic music, rock, dubstep, D&B, K-Pop, or anything in between. I highly recommend it to all music producers.

Purchase FilterShaper XL at Plugin Boutique

(If you purchase through the above link, I’ll earn a small commission, which greatly supports the blog!)

I primarily use acoustic instruments, and with a bit of tweaking—using a minimal Mix value—you can add a tight groove to your instruments that would be impossible to achieve with just human performance.

Having at least one or two plugins like this is essential, in my opinion. If I had to recommend just two, I’d go with this one and Volume Shaper. If your budget allows, picking up ShaperBox 3 during a sale would also be a satisfying purchase.

Also, if you buy any plugins from Plugin Boutique this month, you’ll receive either Softube’s VCA Comp or Imagine Audio’s K7D delay for free.

If you don’t have a dbx160-style compressor, I’d recommend the VCA Comp. If you need a versatile delay for guitars, electric pianos, or analog delay, go for the K7D.

See you in the next post!

Output Movement Rhythm Engine 50% Off (Until 8/16)

Hello, I’m mixing engineer and music producer Jooyoung Kim.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Output’s Movement plugin, a tool designed for creating dynamic rhythms.

As with my previous posts on Output products, this plugin was provided by Plugin Boutique under Not for Resale conditions, enabling me to write this review.

Purchase Output Movement at Plugin Boutique

(Purchasing through this link gives me a small commission, which greatly helps in running this blog.)

Let’s dive right in!

If you’re seeing this plugin for the first time, it might seem a bit overwhelming. To summarize the concept of Movement:

It separates sounds in parallel,
Modulates various parameters through signals like Step Sequencers, LFOs, and Sidechain,
And then combines the sounds back together.

This plugin is particularly specialized in rhythmic modulation, which is why it’s marketed as a Powerful Rhythm Engine.

Now, let’s break down its features one by one.

First, you’ll notice Engine A and B on either side, where you can adjust each engine’s volume and pan values. Above the engines is the rhythm section responsible for modulation. Let’s start from there.

The rhythm section allows you to choose between Step, LFO, and Sidechain.

When Step is selected, you can create up to 32 steps.

You can manually create steps, generate them randomly, or choose from presets. You can adjust the shape and swing of the steps, and determine how often the steps change through the Rate setting.

LFOs work similarly. You choose a shape from the shape presets, select the starting phase, and use the Chaos function to set the amplitude randomly, which creates a unique sound that is both unpredictable yet rhythmic.

Sidechain is exactly what it sounds like! You can use external audio signals as triggers for modulation.

By placing the rhythm section’s number buttons on a knob, you can modulate that knob according to the selected rhythm value. Right-clicking on the knob allows you to access a modulation window where you can adjust how much it modulates based on the x-y axis movement.

You can choose up to six FX to apply. I analyzed Comp, EQ, and Distortion in particular.

Comp

The above images show the frequency response and harmonic distortion with Warmth set to 0, while the ones below show the same with Warmth increased.

With Warmth at 0, it functions as a clean digital compressor. With Warmth added, the high frequencies are slightly rolled off, and the sound becomes more saturated.

Distortion

The Distortion effect includes High Pass and Low Pass Filters as basic parameters, so the extreme lows and highs are filtered out. The upper images show Crunch at 0, while the lower images show it at a medium setting. This effect can add strong saturation!

The EQ offers three types: Parametric, Shelving, and High/Low Pass.

Interestingly, this EQ still affects the sound even if Gain1 and Gain2 are set to the center. This applies to both Parametric and Shelving EQs, so keep this in mind when adjusting.

The EQ also tends to boost the extreme high frequencies.

When flattening the frequency response and examining the phase, you’ll notice some unique characteristics.

I’ll skip the details of the remaining FX as they are more straightforward.

Finally, the button at the bottom left of the plugin reduces the processing load, easing the burden on your CPU. It doesn’t affect the sound but reduces the amount of movement in the plugin’s UI, making it less taxing on your system.

Check out Output’s official trailer to see how it works and hear what it sounds like.

You might think this plugin is only useful for electronic music, K-Pop, or hip-hop, but it can actually be applied across various genres. The Sidechain function, in particular, offers some exciting possibilities.

Output’s products are on sale at Plugin Boutique until August 16th, so if you’re curious about other plugins, it’s worth checking them out.

Purchase Output Movement at Plugin Boutique

(Purchasing through this link gives me a small commission, which greatly helps in running this blog.)

When you purchase a plugin from Plugin Boutique, you’ll also receive a free plugin. This month’s free plugins are Softube’s VCA Compressor or Imagine Audio’s K7D Delay.

If you don’t have a dbx160-style compressor, I’d recommend the VCA Compressor. If you want to apply delay to a variety of sources, K7D is a great choice.

See you in the next post~:)

Table of Features and Emulations

Bus PEAK

Bus Exciter-104

Efx REFRACT

Efx MOTIONS

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: