KVR Audio

hotmitts · Post by **hotmitts** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 11:06 am

I picked up bundles from Nomad Factory and Black Rooster, and having so far tried out the latter, was pleasantly surprised at the high quality.
Both of these bundles are still Vst 2 though, which made me anxious they might not see development.
Has anybody heard news about these companies?

mcbpete · Post by **mcbpete** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 11:13 am

Yeah they're definitely both still active (Black Rooster more so than Nomad):
Black Rooster released TD-201 tape echo in October
Nomad Factory updated their ISP3 pack in October and 80s Spaces last month

careyletendre · Post by **careyletendre** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 12:38 pm

NF's founder, Bernie Torelli, passed away in 2016 and development has since been take over by Plugivery who have stated that they plan to update NF plugins to VST 3. The VST3 updates, so far, have been complete overhauls so will probably take significant time to complete. NF plugins are among my favourites and I have been using them for over 20 yrs.

Robmobius · Post by **Robmobius** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 12:55 pm

Yeah, Black Rooster are totally gone, bruh. And not active at all. LOOOOOL

hotmitts · Post by **hotmitts** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:31 pm

The black rooster ones are really high quality

Agreed · Post by **Agreed** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 4:31 pm

With Black Rooster, I reckon the codebase is not so easy to maintain by the fella behind Black Rooster, who is as I understand it quite adept at graphic design and not to mention he runs Black Rooster, but he's not the DSP guy. Originally that was Reimund Dratwa, but his involvement as a partner ended some years back (though he has noted in at least one Gearspace post that he does still have a good relationship with Andre and has consulted), since then I reckon it's been contracted in some way as far as the coding goes and I don't know details. However, I do know that Black Rooster has noted officially here that VST3 is obviously a goal and objective but not an easy one to meet for them quickly.

I love Black Rooster plugins, btw, and some of my favorites have come out in the period after Reimund's departure - I perceive no drop in quality, which is intended as high praise as the work Reimund did coding during his official big picture involvement is some fantastic DSP. I do hope that they're able to get VST3 in order one of these days soon, though, as I think it does hurt the perception of the brand, and I'd love for more people to give them a chance. I've got everything they make, starting with the Stay At Home Bundle 2 during the pandemic and adding the rest as they released since. Some of them have remained go-to tools this whole time, and I certainly hope for good things for their future.

hotmitts · Post by **hotmitts** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 4:53 pm

Thanks for the detailed answers - my impression was that the black rooster ones really up up there with the best, and no machiavelluan copy protection system either !

dmbaer · Post by **dmbaer** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:13 pm

NF recently released a new version of two vintage EQs. These not only had VST3 versions but they had significant improvements. One was the Pulseteq EQs plug-in, arguably the jewel in NF's crown. Next in the pipeline is a trio (bundle) consisting of Magnetic II (tape module), Echoes (first-rate vintage delays) and a Cosmos (harmonic exciter). The entire portfolio is said to be subject to upgrades. They are taking their time, but they are very much alive and doing some exciting development.

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:15 pm

I use Cosmos and Magnetic II all the time. They are very good at what they do.

mumpcake · Post by **mumpcake** » Tue Dec 05, 2023 11:45 pm

The Oilcan model in Echoes is a favorite of mine.

hotmitts · Post by **hotmitts** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:19 am

Just had a chance to try some of the NOnad ones (I hot the big integral bundle ) ,they're really good

Burillo · Post by **Burillo** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:27 am

I have a mixed opinion on NF. on the one hand, sometimes what they do just works regardless of how they do it. on the other, I do not like it when developers lie about their products. as a quick example, the "low end exciter" in COSMOS is an EQ, not an actual exciter. they've always had beautiful GUI's though - they're skeuomorphic, but very functional.

DCrown · Post by **DCrown** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:48 am

mumpcake wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 11:45 pm The Oilcan model in Echoes is a favorite of mine.

How to demo, installation doesn't work.
Do you need some license manager in addition?
Can you demo their plugins, couldn't find any information?

dmbaer · Post by **dmbaer** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:50 pm

One caution on *some* NF effects: there are plug-ins (Echoes is one of them, Pulsteq EQs is not) that are easily overdriven. You get what sounds like mild digital clipping if driven close to, but over, a reasonable level. I am very much hoping the new versions will address this. The workaround is simple, however: just back off the input level and compensate on the output level if you hear this happening.

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:18 pm

This is true. Look at the settings. One Bass setting on Cosmos pushes the gain +9. This is too much.

Nomad factory and black rooster still active?