Slate Digital & FG-Bomber

Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack (9/10, 214)
is a rack-style modular efects plugin that
hosts the company’s range of proprietary
processing modules. On initial release a year
ago, ive such processors were available, four
of them bought as a bundle (FGN ‘Brit-N’ EQ,
FGS ‘Brit-4K’ EQ, FG116 FET Compressor and
FG401 VCA Compressor), the ifth (Revival, a
simple two-band EQ) included with the VMR
rack itself – which is a free download – as a
‘taster’ option. A physical iLok 2 key is required
for all VMR authorisations, including the rack
and free plugin.
When VMR was launched, it was made clear
that further modules would follow – and indeed
they did. The irst was a revised version of Slate’s
Virtual Console Collection, plus a free gain and
phase reverse module (Trimmer). Now, the
second wave is upon us in the shape of the
two-module Custom Series Bundle ($149),
comprising Custom Series EQ and Custom
Series Lift, and FGBomber ($99), described as a
“dynamic impact enhancer”.
Playing the Classics
Custom Series EQ is a four-band hybrid
emulation with additional high- and low-pass
ilters, based on custom combinations of classic
hardware EQs. Slate don’t say which ones
speciically, but they do state the type. When
boosting, the HF (high frequency) band is a
Slate Digital
Custom Series Bundle
& FG-Bomber
$ 1 4 9 / $ 9 9
Slate’s API 500-inluenced plugin package delivered impressive sonics on
release, and now, as promised, new modules are starting to appear for it
“When VMR was
launched, it was made
clear that further
modules would follow”
FILTERS
The high- and
low-pass filters
are very gentle,
delivering a highly
musical outcome
CUSTOM EQ BANDS
Like the classic gear
that inspired it,
Custom Series EQ
uses fixed
frequency settings
BOOST
Custom Series Lift’s parallel
EQ bands only boost
TONE
Choose one of three
frequency focuses:
two low and one
mid-range
METER
Shows the post-input, pre-
processing level, to find the
processing sweet spot
LOW LIFT
‘Big’ influences the weighty lows, and
‘Punchy’ emphasises the low to low-mids
DRIVE/INTENSITY
Set the Drive so that the
meter peaks roughly at
the ‘bomb’ in the middle,
then set the effect blend
with the Intensity
HIGH LIFT
‘Present’ affects the upper mids,
and ‘Silky’ affects the highs
classic valve design combined with mastering
EQ-style air, while the HMF (high-mid) band
combines multiple discrete analogue designs,
the LMF (low-mid) band is a mixture of valve and
solid state, and the LF (low) band is modelled on
two classic mastering EQs. In contrast, all the cut
curves are based on a modern transparent
mastering EQ.
The crucial thing here is that the boost curves
emulate combinations of EQs rather than a
single unit, and although this may seem like an
odd approach, it actually emulates the way in
which many pro mix engineers work. The
frequencies are at ixed points, rather than
sweepable, which is also to be expected given
the inely tuned methodology.
The HF and HMF bands are great for adding
focused edge and musical air to vocals, snares
and acoustic sounds such as guitars and
orchestral instruments. Viewed in a spectrum
analyser, it’s also clear that while the HF band is
2
MINUTES
WITH…
VIDEO
96 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2016
> reviews / slate digital custom series bundle & fg-bomber
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