- MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? MAC OS
- MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? PLUS
- MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? SERIES
So, for example, the ‘British E’ module is described as “an amalgamation of great Neve equalisers”, while the EQ’76 is loosely based on the Urei 545, but neither offers exactly the same configuration of controls. Turning first to the EQ section, many of the 12 designs on offer are inspired by vintage units, but the emphasis is on general sonic flavour rather than slavish emulation. Pretty much all the parameters are set using rotary controls these often bear little by way of calibration markings, but when you click and turn one, a pop-up numerical window tells you the precise setting. Some of them borrow obvious visual cues from vintage hardware, but none are merely a simulacrum of a physical unit. The modules themselves are clear, colourful and slightly cartoon-like in appearance. It’d be friendlier still if you could choose using miniature graphical versions of the module interfaces, as you can for example in SoundToys’ Effect Rack. If I have one criticism, it’s that when choosing modules, you only have the module name to go on and since many of these names are fairly cryptic, it can be a while before you reliably associate the name with the relevant module. The factory presets are themed according to instrument, and are generally of a high standard.Īs plug-in user interfaces go, then, this is one of the simplest and most satisfying I’ve encountered in quite a while. (In other words, like most plug-ins, this one accepts a single side-chain signal from the host DAW, but you can choose which modules hear it.) Preset loading and saving applies to the plug-in as a whole, and it’s not possible to save and load presets for individual modules.
The three slots are bookended by input and output modules with their own gain controls and meters the former also provides individual side-chain enable and listen buttons for each module. Clicking and dragging allows modules to be reordered, but the modules retain their numbering regardless of order. What’s really neat is that when you use this list to switch from one EQ or compressor module to another, the settings are maintained as closely as the controls of the new EQ or compressor will allow, making it easy to compare what the idiosyncracies of individual modules are contributing sonically to the mix. One of three console-style buttons illuminates to show which of the three modules is the ‘target’ replacing this module is then simply a matter of choosing an option from within the Module Selector list. It’s clear that the main focus behind these plug-ins is ease of use, and there are lots of nice touches to the 6050 user interface to help you get results as fast as possible.
MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? MAC OS
Authorised using the iLok system, it’s available on Mac OS and Windows, in all common native formats, and also in AAX DSP format - a welcome bonus which will make it all the more tempting for Pro Tools HDX owners.
MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? PLUS
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip, the subject of this review, is truly modular its three ‘slots’ can host any of the compressor and EQ modules available to the other two plug-ins, plus a selection of ‘other’ modules which currently includes gates, expanders and saturation processors. In the case of 60, a single plug-in can take on the characteristics of your choice of 10 different equalisers or compressors, depending on which module is selected from the list at the left.
Like Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack, the 6020 Ultimate EQ, 6030 Ultimate Compressor and the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip draw their inspiration from the popular 500-series ‘Lunchbox’ modular format for hardware processors.
MCDSP PLUGINS WORK ON A PC? SERIES
With these concerns in mind, Colin and his team have now drawn on their many years of development experience to create a series of plug-ins that embody the sonic virtues of FilterBank and CompressorBank within a very different interface. No matter how sonically faithful it is to the original, calling up a Fairchild preset in a generic compressor plug-in just isn’t the same as opening a big grey window and adjusting the faux Bakelite controls until the needle on a fake VU meter moves just right! However, the controls that make this power available perhaps represent too much complication for some, and there’s also the undeniable fact that many of us mix as much with our eyes as with our ears. Both are also deceptively powerful, with configuration options that allow them to mimic the behaviour of a wide range of vintage hardware units, as well as to create powerful original designs.
Originally stalwarts of the Pro Tools TDM world, both are now available on all major native formats on both Mac OS and Windows. McDSP’s principal developer Colin McDowell has been in the game longer than most, and if there’s such a thing as a classic plug-in, his FilterBank and CompressorBank definitely belong in that category. With almost 30 separate processing modules available, McDSP’s 6050 promises to be the “ultimate channel strip”.