Ohm Force – Quad Frohmage
Price: $127
Web: www.ohmforce.com
Format: VST,
AU, RTAS
Quad Frohmage is a four-channel
multi-filter. Each channel includes eight main filter types: low-pass,
high-pass, band-pass, peak, notch, Moog, comb and ring modulator. Each type
gets its own additional options, including such parameters as Slope, Fatness
and Color. There’s also a self-oscillating SVF mode.
Quad
Frohmage offers three global signal configurations – mono, stereo and dual mono
– but it also includes many ways of configuring the four filter channels
The filter sections are followed by
distortion (Gain, Shape and Fatness), and then volume and pan. Prior to the
filter section each channel also includes an input delay (up to four beats),
and delays across all four bands can be linked, forcing them into a preset
delay ratio.
Quad Frohmage offers three global signal
configurations – mono, stereo and dual mono – but it also includes many ways of
configuring the four filter channels. Thankfully, when you’ve got your
parameters set up, each channel’s source appears in the window just above the
delay slider, so that you can always see what’s going where.
Modulation is a big part of Quad Frohmage,
which includes an LFO, envelope follower and ADSR envelope for each parameter.
There are ten LFO shapes, including random, brown noise and red noise, and
modulation sources can be triggered by MIDI velocity and pitch. This all adds
up to pretty powerful stuff, and you’ll be glad to hear that there are lots of
presets to help get things moving. Categories include Voice, Lead, Drums,
Distortion and Miscellaneous, as well some effects types (Flanger-chorus and
tap-delays).
Although there are some ‘classis’ presets
too, it’s obvious that Quad Frohmage is a creative processor at heart. Often
these patches distort or mangle the sound, making them ideal for special
effects creation rather than typical filtering duties. And while it includes a
lush Moog-inspired filter, Quad Frohmage definitely shares more with the
ideology of classic hardware such as the Sherman Filter Bank than it does with
the smoother classic Moog filters. If you like your sounds down and dirty, this
one is definitely worth a look.
Tone2 – BiFilter2
Price: $42
Web: www.tone2.com
Format: VST,
AU
Synth
designers Tone2 also produce a rather nifty little filter called BiFilter2
Synth designers Tone2 also produce a rather
nifty little filter called BiFilter2. As you can guess from the name, it’s
somewhat more than your run-of-the-mill design, and at the core are a multitude
of filter types. There are 47 in total, although this does includes slope
variants for some of them. Even so, with seven vowel types, three comb filters
and four FM types, as well as both analogue and digital types for the more
obvious ones, you really can’t complain.
The plugin also includes
pre-/post-distortion (eight types), dry/wet mix and a bunch of presets.
However, its most useful extra is the display, which gives excellent feedback
on the shape of your filter. The only thing missing is onboard modulation,
although you can of course automate parameters from your DAW. If you do want
modulation you might want to consider Tone2’s more pricey FilterBank3, but
BiFilter2 is capable of producing an amazing array of effects at a bargain
price.
Vengeance Sound – Philta XL
Price: $60
Web: www.vengeance-sound.com
Format: VST,
AU, RTAS
Philta
XL also offers a wealth of further options, including ring modulation,
frequency modulation, distortion, limiter, envelopes and LFO
Vengeance Sound’s Philta XL is a
twin-filter design with dedicated low- and high-pass filters. Each has four
slope options (12, 24 48 and 96dB per octave), resonance (with variable width)
and cutoff control. Cutoffs can be linked so that they move together, and the
interaction of the two filters can be set to band-pass or notch.
Philta XL also offers a wealth of further
options, including ring modulation, frequency modulation, distortion, limiter,
envelopes and LFO. These are all accessed from pop-up windows that sit over the
main frequency display. Rather usefully, the action of both the LFO and
envelopes is superimposed as an animated curve over the filter curve, so you
can always see what’s happening.
In use, Philta XL sounds great, and its
filter sweeps are wonderfully smooth. If you want to dig deeper, the modulation
options are extensive, and there are a bunch of excellent presets. Given the
price, this should definitely be on your list.
