Sugar Bytes
Sinevibes
Cluster
€29
The second plugin from
sequenced-effects kings
Sinevibes in this round-up
(they really do specialise
in this), Cluster keeps its
sequencing activity to
filtering, with an
adjustable envelope shape
to apply to it. The filter
types are low- and high-
pass, and band-cut/pass.
All-out filter-frenzies
aren’t exactly Cluster’s
raison d’etre, however
intriguing our screengrab
above looks to you. The
most productive and
impactful setups are more
sparse and restrained,
proving simple rhythms.
You can knock the
complexity up a notch
yourself by redrawing the
lanes, or use the Evolve
parameter to add slight
variations with every click
that you make.
There’s plenty of
flexibility with eight
snapshots to save entire
setups, copying/pasting
between them, global
Division Duration and
Swing parameters, instant
‘looping’ of the first
quarter, half or eighth of
the pattern into the
remaining slots, and
movement of the entire
pattern earlier or later.
Cluster’s filters sound
great, and the rhythmic
potential given by Cluster
can go as far as you want
it to. Still, you might well
find that Cluster’s most
useful setups are relatively
simple in comparison.
sinevibes.com
VERDICT 7.8
Sugar Bytes
Looperator €119
After the success of Effectrix, which could get a bit overcrowded at
times, Sugar Bytes’ spiritual follow-up is far more restrained,
intuitive, slicker, and in many ways more creative. You get six rows
to sequence, with a master volume and randomisation control for
each, as well as a randomiser for all lanes and steps. Naturally,
there’s a global tempo control, which can strangely only be set to
1/2, 1/4, or 1/8, and a Dry/Wet slider for the whole effect.
In the sequencer, you get six lanes to program, split into Slice
(overwrite this step with your choice of the whole 16 steps), Env
(choose a volume response for that step), Loop (stutter or reverse
that step a number of times), and Filter (high, low and comb-style,
with a choice of eight vowel formants). There are two ‘FX’ catch-all
lanes: the first handles tapestops, delays and distortions by default,
with the other going for reverb, vinyl and phaser effects.
You can move the lanes up or down, changing the order of the
signal path through them. You can also set up your own User
formulations for steps on certain lanes, and tie steps together to
make longer-lasting effects.
It all adds up to a sequencing playground that can inspire
completely unique sounds. It’s easy to start messing with
Looperator ad nauseam, but used with restraint, it’s a superbly
simple sound-mangler.
sugar-bytes.de
VERDICT 9.0
FM
|
STUDIO ESSENTIAL!
Sequencer-driven Effects | Roundup
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