Wavesfactory, creators of innovative plug-ins and Kontakt instruments, announce Spectre, a multi-band enhancer plug-in.
Spectre is a sound-shaping tool that combines the best features of a boosting parametric equaliser coupled with a multi-band enhancer. Spectre enables the user to introduce harmonic content from a variety of algorithms based on classic recording hardware. Adjust any of the five bands to add the audio process to just one or up to five bands, with adjustable Q the effect can go from broad to razor sharp. Spectre can be used on individual tracks, sub-mixes, the entire mix and is ideal for mastering.
Why The Name Spectre?
Spectre does not work like a conventional equalizer, they cut or boost the volume of a band based on the audio being presented. Spectre introduces harmonic content that was not in the original recording, bringing colour and life to the sound not possible with a conventional EQ, this ability to offer almost phantom content across the audio spectrum led us to the name Spectre.
Features
Enhancer / Exciter with five parallel boost-only parametric bands (Low Shelf, 3 Peak, High Shelf) with the workflow of a graphical equaliser with frequency, Q and gain parameters for each band.
Spectre is more versatile than a simple enhancer as you can choose from eight different saturation algorithms to get different colours:
Tube
Tape
Solid
Warm Tube
Class A
Diode
Bit
Digital
Additional "clean" channel that converts Spectre in a parallel boosting EQ
Optional 4x and 16x oversampling modes offer pristine quality with no aliasing even with aggressive settings.
Spectre can process mono/stereo signals, only left or right, mid or side channels.
System Requirements: Mac and Windows (AAX / VST / AU), 32 and 64 bit.
Price and Shipping
Regular price: €99.
Intro price: €69 ends March 8th.
Release date: February 21st.
Spectre is a sound-shaping tool that combines the best features of an enhancer coupled with a graphical parametric equalizer. Spectre only processes the difference between the input signal and the EQ signal, introducing harmonic content to just the part of the spectrum that you want from a variety of saturation algorithms based on classic recording hardware including:
Tube
Warm Tube
Solid
Tape
Class B
Diode
Digital
Bit
Adjust any of the five bands to add the audio process to just one or up to five bands, with adjustable Q the effect can go from broad to razor sharp.
Spectre can be used on individual tracks, sub-mixes, the master bus and is ideal for mastering.
HOW IT WORKS:
Spectre process the incoming audio with a five parallel band EQ, it extracts the difference between this signal and the dry input and process it through one of the eight saturation algorithms included, then it mixes it back with the dry signal. The result is a signal with character, full of color, with bigger and warmer low frequencies, shiny shimmering highs and powerful mids that any other processor just can’t give you.
MORE FEATURES:
Optional 4x and 16x oversampling modes offer pristine audio quality with no aliasing even with aggressive settings.
With 3 saturation modes: subtle, medium and aggressive you have a quick way of warming up your tracks. Adjust the harmonics with the input and output volume parameters for a more precise control over your music.
Spectre can process:
Mono and Stereo signals.
Left or Right channels only.
Mid / Side channels only.
When we say it’s the ultimate enhancer we really mean it.
WHAT THE PROS SAY:
DEMOS AND PRICE:
Available for Mac and Windows (32 / 64 bit) in VST, AU and AAX plug-in formats.
Demo versions also available for Mac and Windows.
Demo limitations: noise bursts every 45 seconds, parameters and presets not saved.
Regular price: €99.
Intro price: €69 until March, 8th.
I already own Waves Vitamin. It will be interesting to compare the two.
Please, do it
Quote:
Originally Posted by b15fliptop
Trying the demo now. Great stuff! I’ve wanted something like this for a long time.
Great to hear!
Quote:
Originally Posted by b0se
Absolutely love this plugin. Killer on the mixbus!
I agree, it's great for warming up the final mix exactly where it's needed. Even using it as a stereo enhancer by boosting the high frequencies only on the sides.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macaroni
What exactly are the demo limitations? I hear a pink noise every now and then but it's not consistent.
Noise bursts every 45 seconds, parameters not recalled when saving a project and presets saving disabled.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaner
Type of saturation is global and not per band...just lost my interest in this plugin.
This has been the #1 request since the plugin came out two days ago and I'll definitely implement this.
How does this compare to FabFilter's Saturn? That has bands and several saturation/distortion techniques like Tape,Tube etc as well. And one can even select the type of saturation per band which is hitherto only promised by the dev ( Nice quick response there from Mallorca). Saturn uses bands in stead of the variable Q bell-shapes here but you can set the width of each band as well.. Anyone tried both on some material? I will have time to do so maybe in the weekend.
How does this compare to FabFilter's Saturn? That has bands and several saturation/distortion techniques like Tape,Tube etc as well. And one can even select the type of saturation per band which is hitherto only promised by the dev ( Nice quick response there from Mallorca). Saturn uses bands in stead of the variable Q bell-shapes here but you can set the width of each band as well.. Anyone tried both on some material? I will have time to do so maybe in the weekend.
They're complimentary. Saturn is more versatile as a distortion tool and can be used for complete destruction in multiple ways. When I think Saturn, I think distortion.
Spectre is (in most cases) more subtle in its approach (although it can be used to mess signals up). I tend to think of it as a tone/colour EQ.
Give it a pop, the only way, you may find different uses :¬)
Having white-noise demo versions of Spectre on, say, 8 tracks, while evaluating, sure makes for one hell of a confusing ride
Yes the demo limitations are frustrating. Fortunately, I was able to tell pretty quickly that it would a very useful tool for me. It will be even better when per band distortion type get's implemented. Looking forward to that!
I have spent some hours comparing Spectre to my current equalizers, exiters and saturators on different source material. My head is about to explode with white noise, but I made it.
Spectre is not the same as the others! Maybe not a surprise, but it's good to just ignore rumors and promotional videos and do some tests on my own. I'm glad to report that I quite like what Spectre is doing and how easy it operates. Good job, Jesus / @
wavesfactory
!
I have spent some hours comparing Spectre to my current equalizers, exiters and saturators on different source material. My head is about to explode with white noise, but I made it.
Spectre is not the same as the others! Maybe not a surprise, but it's good to just ignore rumors and promotional videos and do some tests on my own. I'm glad to report that I quite like what Spectre is doing and how easy it operates. Good job, Jesus / @
wavesfactory
!
There is no escaping the fact that there is a lot to like about Spectre.
I got the demo with great hesitation because, like you Henrik, I have more eqs, saturators, tape emulations etc than you can poke a stick and really did not think I could possible need another one.....
But with Spectre set up to my liking on the stereo buss in mastering sessions, there is GREAT disappointment when I bypass it.
Liking the Tape colour a lot.
Mastering would also benefit from a saturation-only mode, adding harmonics to a flat or previously attenuated area without the EQ boost.
Actually if it could also cut while adding harmonics (not inverted polarity, though) it'd tackle some jobs that no other single plug-in can do.
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