Arturia EFX REFRACT - New free effect

[Jac459]

If I’m feeling underwhelmed by it compared to previous years, then I bet other people feel the same. So I was curious if that was the case, which is why I asked.

I'm the exact opposite - none of Arturia's previous Xmas freebies have interested me in the slightest but this one is definitely a keeper. Where the others are just yet another version of whatever they are, this is pretty unique and, therefore, worth having in your arsenal, I think. Even though I own a shit-tonne of licenses, this is the only Arturia product I currently have installed.

One of their previous freebies was an MS20 korg emulation. I would definitely agree with you on the fact that it was nothing new but it was still very nice.

I am on holidays now but can't wait to test this new effect.

[Jac459]

Hopefully this is a lite version of a future plugin

Maybe so but I would more bet on a part of a new version of pigments (they also did that in the past).

[BONES]

One of their previous freebies was an MS20 korg emulation.

It was an MS-20 filter emulation, not the whole thing. Complete waste of time.

[vurt]

One of their previous freebies was an MS20 korg emulation.

It was an MS-20 filter emulation, not the whole thing. Complete waste of time.

could have been worse, a ladder filter

[SHall1000]

One of their previous freebies was an MS20 korg emulation.

It was an MS-20 filter emulation, not the whole thing. Complete waste of time.

could have been worse, a ladder filter

Don’t bait the Bones!

[Jac459]

One of their previous freebies was an MS20 korg emulation.

It was an MS-20 filter emulation, not the whole thing. Complete waste of time.

Yes indeed, just the filter part, but a good part. Not a waste of time for me... (but I suspect I will prefer this one).

Anyway, the conclusion is Arturia rocks.
Simple.

[paramita123]

I LOVE the Arturia MS20 Filter plugin !
Maybe it's not for everyone. But for me I love using it on synths solos to bring movement with filter and distortion.
Sometimes on some drum parts, bass, it can be subtle or wild, and the advanced modulation really shines.

[osiris]

The best thing about this plugin is the presets can sound different dependent on what you put it on.

[foosnark]

I thought the MS20 filter emulation was good when I tried it, but in practice I don't seem to go for it and reach for other things instead.

I tend not to like the more "Korgy" filters as much in general though.

corgi.jpeg

[kritikon]

Can't say I've had much out of it that sounds particularly good so far, but I may not have experimented enough. On most instruments I tried it on it initially sounded promising, but once you adjust the volume back down to pre levels...kinda meh. So many of the FX in it have that instant wow effect that's really just blown up volume increase. Drums have more potential for sure, but more for the kind of destruction/distortion type thing that I don't tend to use. I like some of the metallic/enhancement type FX it can put on hats etc, but so far I found it goes from very subtle to in-yer-face with too little inbetween. I like the modulation, but especially if you modulate the unison effect, your volumes get so mangled as to be near useless IMO (unless you compress hugely, which brings its own issues).

I noticed one of the presets hinted at putting it before a send for reverb - that sounds like it might be interesting, haven't tried it yet. Nice that it's a freebie nevertheless and I suspect it's more useful for esoteric experimental kinda stuff. Probably not for me, though I can see others getting more use from it...