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MSpectralDelay

MSpectralDelay has an average user rating of 4.14 from 7 reviews

Rate & Review MSpectralDelay

User Reviews by KVR Members for MSpectralDelay

MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By DavidCarlyon [all]
July 16th, 2018
Version reviewed: 1 on Mac

Just like the rest of the Melda stuff, this is insanely imaginative, incredibly inspired and ultimately, useful.

The prices of these plugins are as good as the plugins themselves. I will support this dev always.

Its important to note that literally every plug by this dev has features you just dont find anywhere else. This is why 90 percent of the time, i use melda. You can just solve any problem you have, almost guaranteed.

Great plug!.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By Kitusai [all]
July 10th, 2018
Version reviewed: 12 on Mac

Not an easy one but a true creative masterpiece for sure.

The water seems cold at first impression. I'm not a fan of the GUI but the manual is complete and the more you dive in this instrument (to call it an effect would reduce it too much) the more you love it.

Hours and hours of discovering and ears pleasure, very inspiring too.

Bravo.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By Robert Kanaan [all]
May 24th, 2018
Version reviewed: 12 on Windows

Hello, I must say, the rating of ONE STAR pushed me to write a comment with some opinions. Actually I am a fan of good delay effects - got Echoboy, Unfiltered Audio Sandman Pro, PSP Stomp Delay, some Valhalla stuff etc - so one might say, what get another delay for? But obviously free intro offer encouraged me to install this exceptional plugin. Maybe this was a good idea to promote other commercial plugins, because compared to free Melda plugins, this one shines. I must say, I use a lot free Melda plugins (perfect stability, very usefull functions), but no one complains with free stuff, does one? Anyway, this is like space rocket against bicycle.. I love deep manipulation options, love tweeking possibilities, graphical response. Very usefull chain shines.. I love the clarity of eq-ing, The control I have over all the parameter is fantastic, intuitive, encouraging for creativity. The presets offer so different potential, that it absolutely deserves 5*. The sound obviously unquestionable. Perhaps this is not my ne go-to delay, I got accustomed with other plugs, but certainly there will be situations, where MSpectralDelay will be the obvious first choice delay. That's a 5 star plugin! Thank You Melda for the opportunity to get it free with all the benefits of professional series.

Best, Robert.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By SparkySpark [all]
May 23rd, 2018
Version reviewed: 12 on Windows

This is the first plugin I review in years. I just felt the need to do that since it is, in my mind, such an awesome and uniquely creative product.

I am obviusly very impressed. Here are my findings:

Sound: it sounds great of course, but on top of that, it sounds so musical. I created a video (https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=138&t=505273&p=7084899#p7084899) in which one can here how well it treats a drum loop. No muddyness or harshness - it just does cool stuff whatever preset I throw at the loop, somehow separating the bass drum from the hihats and share, for instance.

UI: this is perhaps the best Melda UI I have seen. It is very clearly laid out and the graphics are super cool (think FabFilter Pro-R). It's really easy to make the plugin "your own", since it really screams at you that it wants to be experimented upon.

Versatility: is this plugin useful? Well I think that it can be used very creatively but also as a more normal delay effect, to add some surprising elements to a specific sound.

All in all, this is, to me, a clear winner and absolutely worth checking out.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By RobinWood [all]
May 23rd, 2018
Version reviewed: 12 on Windows

This was the first plugin from Meldaproduction I'm actually interested in. Their other free stuff is pretty basic "bread and butter" stuff but this seemed special.

Unfortunately MSpectralDelay is a real CPU hog. The bigger the fft size the more CPU it uses. I then experienced it needs higher fft sizes to sound good. Using some modulators in addition will result in even more CPU usage. I bet the latter can be optimized by ourself if you're into their system. I tried to dig deeper but after opening the manual I instantly closed it again.
NI Spektral Delay (which was obviously the inspiration for this plugin) was not that hungry when using similar basic settings. Another difference is the smearing of transient material. This is more prominent in the melda plugin.

Some things other users experienced as well: randomizing settings blew up my speakers, audible distortion and artefacts in the higher frequency range "like mp3 codec noise". Downloading a big installer that copies many more files and presets than needed and AV warning aren't a good thing either.
Someone wrote it runs out of sync but I couldn't reproduce this in real use scenarios. Registering at their website to get the free license is something I can understand.

A downside of the plugin is the ui and workflow (sorry I just can't get used to it, it doesn't make fun opening them) and their exaggerated marketing phrases.

IMO the problems are not acceptable from someone who "reinvented" the delay. It will not replace anything in my setup and it is not usable in production. I might use it offline for soundscapes or so. I'm sure there are users loving it, especially melda customers who are used to it. It is free but please understand that doesn't mean we can't criticize it.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By connmach [all]
May 23rd, 2018
Version reviewed: 12.01 on Windows

A very good sounding creative machine, with a beautiful GUI which parts with the "As a company we decide what you want"-doctrine disguised with those cheap clichés in wrong contexts as "less is more". The GUI lets the user who knows what she/he wants do what is more in his or her context.

MSpectralDelay excels big time in creativity and sound.

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MSpectralDelay

Reviewed By R0bins0n [all]
May 18th, 2018
Version reviewed: 1 on Mac

I already have Valhalla Uber mod and Fabfilter timeless 2, and for the style of music I make they cover all bases. However, who doesn't want to take a look at a potential freebee.

I don't like the Melda's "Microsoft Excel" UI. They offer the option to tweak the colours of it, but it needs a total graphic overhaul. It's like the people at Melda think musicians working in a bank. Look at what Fabfilter did with Pro EQ2 THATS designing a UI with a view to productivity AND creativity.

I spent many years making experimental music, soundscapes and aural installation art, and can imagine that this plug in would have been a joy to use in those contexts.

My overriding feeling after playing with it for about an hour is "so what". The 2 awesome delays I already have (and Uber Mod can do much more than just delay fx) are designed with so much more thought.

There's a reason why someone made up the saying "less is more", because in some circumstances it is, and for me Mspectral Delay suffers from 'too much' that has been lazily applied. If you want to make a plug in deep, don't just throw tonnes of options onto tabbed screens. Think of ways you can achieve the same deptht via a simpler UI. Once again, as a guide, I'd say look at what fabfilter do with their plug ins .

If you want to make some FX or do experimental soundscapes, MspectralDelay might give you some joy, and as it's free for the next 10 days I would say its worth a try. But I would not recommend anyone spend cash on it until they've seriously played the hell out of the demo version. Fabfilter Timeless 2 and Valhalla uber mod are vastly better value for money (IMHO)

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Latest 7 reviews from a total of 7

Comments & Discussion for MeldaProduction MSpectralDelay

Discussion
Discussion: Active
nichttuntun
nichttuntun
23 May 2018 at 1:28pm

Hi Robinson, .

with all respect. Do you think you can really write a profound review after playing around with this delay for about an hour?

I wouldn't dare to do such a thing. And I cannot offence you in any way with my opinion about that because you didn't write a review either. You didn't even write a true comparison toward the 2 plugins you mentioned. You just picked out the non-sound-related elements you didn't like and dared to give 1 star without even explaining something about the sound and the sound-design possibilities MSpectralDelay offers...although you said it has "tons of options". It's just a bland statement based on some user-GUI preferences of yours which says nothing at all about the Melda product.

You shoul'd ask yourself what the real intention of yours was as you did such a thing and why your mind played such a cheap monkey trick on you.

Cheers.

colobelporridge
colobelporridge
23 May 2018 at 7:11pm

I agree, Robinsons 1 star rating seems unjustified. I will admit that you have to learn meldas way of doing things and it takes a while but the effort is worthwhile.

MeldaProduction
MeldaProduction
23 May 2018 at 10:08pm

Thank you guys for the defense. Robinson is apparently very Melda non-lover, perhaps even competition :). But that's life, important is that apparently thousands of people seem to love it. MSpectralDelay (or more like Melda GUI :)) is not for everyone, but it made an impact on many, and hopefully it will give many people fun & creative ideas, and that's important ;).

Mathematics
Mathematics
19 July 2018 at 11:37pm

R0bins0n's comment was completely unprofessional and biased. He is making a comparison to plugins he already owns and wasn't making an objective review on the plugins effectiveness. Unfortunately, monkeys are allowed to post comments too...this is what results. I personally find that MSpectralDelay is a wonderful device that delivers effectiveness. I will write more about this later. I just wanted to chime in on the absurd and unwarranted negative review that R0binson0n posted.

sramsay
sramsay
25 May 2018 at 2:34am

Well, I haven't been using Melda stuff for "an hour." I own the "big three" (MPowerSynth, MDrummer, and MXXX) and have used them for years (along with the free stuff off and on). They are very advanced tools and the sound is superb.

But I have never, ever, ever heard anyone who doesn't actually work for the company praise the GUIs. Certainly not in a review from any reputable audio magazine or blog. The best anyone can seem to summon is something along the lines of "it's not to everyone's taste" (though I've seen the word "migraine" used in a published review). The more usual statement is a complaint. And honestly, I can't think of any other plugin maker that has been so criticized for so long and has stood so intractably by their design decisions. They just adamantly refuse to admit that there is any problem at all.

There is a problem, and it's not far from what the OP said: Melda plugins adhere to a very old, and frankly outdated approach to visual design and organization. It's not unusable, or terrible, or anything like that. But here's the simple truth: If Melda plugins looks liked FabFilter's, they would crush every plugin maker in existence in a week's time. I don't mean *literally* look like them; I mean if Melda took to the time to ask themselves, "How do we pack this many features into a plugin, and still have a simple, intuitive workflow?"

Now, they will say, "We do! We have 'easy mode'!" But that's a solution from 1995. Go look at PhotoShop. Or any of the Izotope products. Or hell, look at the newest version of Max/MSP. Or the Unity game engine. Or any really complex piece of graphical software made today. They have all moved on from the set of metaphors that govern Melda plugs. Perfect? Hardly. But honestly, if *every single reviewer* is mentioning your problematic GUI, you have a problem. Maybe Melda is content with the "thousands" of happy users (many of whom, I would guess, are happy the same way I am: delighted with the audio and the capabilities, frustrated with the GUIs), but you might ask if that number wouldn't be considerably higher if the "GUI problem" weren't a constant, relentless drum beat every single time your product is mentioned.

Honestly? I think that when it comes to the GUI, Melda is way more interested in making developers happy than users. They have a framework (they're very proud of their resizable GUI "engine") that can be effortlessly ported from one project to the next, and it just makes their life easier. Who wants the kind of painstaking graphical work that goes into, say, a U-he plug (with 3d models rendered into 2d, and all of that)? The answer is, the users. They want it to look nice. Or better. Or something. They want it all carefully thought out. And it's not. Not by a mile.

I'm sure there are people out there who just love the Melda GUIs. And the OP might be stating things a bit extremely. But the majority opinion is far closer to the latter than the former.

SparkySpark
SparkySpark
25 May 2018 at 4:53pm

Hmmm.... Sramsay - you didn't state that you have been trying MSpectralDelay. While it's not on par with Fabfilter's products beauty-wise (nothing is in my opinion), I do think it's the best Melda plugin UI I've seen. It's also very easy to understand, while complex and powerful at the same time.

What's interesting is that all Melda plugins are active "forever", which means that improvements to the UI should make _all_ their plugins better-looking than they might be today. I don't know what people want to be changed, but it's interesting to note that UI elements could be changed as part of a simple Melda update (say, version 13).

nichttuntun
nichttuntun
25 May 2018 at 10:28am

Hi, .

I never will understand the discussions about GUIs, except they are far too small and unreadable. Beside that for my that is just pixels which form a surface with which I can use the plugin and work with. I never run over a plugin I couldn't work with. I am interested in sound and possibilities. I feel absolutely no need to become emotionally involved due to a look or a certain feel a virtual thing seems to spread out. That feeling is nothing but an illusion. It (the plugin) has to do the job. that's all for me. I am totally rational and sober regarding that matter and I know that pixels no matter how ever they might look doesn't make the sound.

Cheers.

mike_the_ranger
mike_the_ranger
25 May 2018 at 11:58am

You're right, pixels don't make the sound. But the users do ;-) And if they can't get into the plugin they won't use it.

nichttuntun
nichttuntun
25 May 2018 at 12:58pm

Hi Mike. I got your point and I am aware of the fact that this is common reaction and thinking.

But really... the only thing out eyes can see is form and colour. Everything else... all the concepts about good and worse and whatnot... is just mind invented.

There is absolutely no need to get into a plugin or you have a certain feeling by it's appearance. The restriction to use something is not caused by a plugin it's caused by yourself, based on your preferences.

It's enough to just use something. Its very easy just to do it. :)

Sorry I can't forfill common expectations. I am deep into ZEN and meditation for several years now and I am beginning to see things like they really are.

inkwarp
inkwarp
25 May 2018 at 9:40pm

these are generally really good plugs. as has been stated already the only real drawback to them is the GUI. they need to find a way to condense all the features into one screen. honestly, i tried their synth which sounds wicked but it took me so long to navigate and find everything that i kind of gave up on it.

i do agree, most of their stuff is quality..

MeldaProduction
MeldaProduction
26 May 2018 at 7:59pm

Hey folks, thanks for the feedback. I understand the concerns about the GUI. However the truth is, many people love it. But as anything "nonstandard" it really attracts haters :). It's really easy to trash someone's work by saying it doesn't look like Fabfilter's stuff, but quite frankly, to me this is just sad. Fabfilter's stuff is like 100x simpler, and to me it is quite ugly actually :). But that doesn't matter, it's the sound and use that matters. And people are just different and want different things... Some like Fabfilter's way, some like Melda way... and that's how it should be ;).

For the record the Melda GUI was always oriented towards quick workflow and versatility, not simplicity itself. So the learning curve is steeper indeed. But then everything is in one place. And I know for a fact, that people, who get used to it, wouldn't change it, because it just works. And fast.

BlackWinny
BlackWinny
26 May 2018 at 8:32pm

+1.

And there is MTexturedStyleEditor which can also be used to tweak the colors, the styles of the knobs and sliders, and so on... for all the Melda plugins. And that you distribute for free.

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