Savant Audio releases IM90 Multi-Effects Plug-in

[savantaudio]

Introducing the Savant IM90, a plug-in that captures the delay, pitch-shifting, time-manipulation, and reverb sounds of the iconic French multi-effects processor from the 1980s. Now available from Savant Audio Labs.





The Savant IM90 is a purely algorithmic plug-in that emulates the iconic Pitch-Shifting, Delay, Echo, Reverb, and Time-Manipulation sounds heard on countless hit records from artists such as Prince, Tangerine Dream, and Stock Aitken Waterman*.

Key features:

• Create classic doubling and widening effects with powerful micro pitch-shifting
• Go beyond the hardware with advanced time-manipulation techniques and the ability to combine multiple functions to create new complex multi-effects
• Access 52 Reverb Programs and 13 Room Sizes ranging from very small rooms to large cathedrals
• Meticulous modeling of vintage hardware circuits and harmonic distortion
• Use MIDI control to unlock new and expanded features

Special Introductory Pricing:

The Savant IM90 is currently offered for the special introductory price of $79 (reg. $179) until December 18, 2025. The plug-in is currently compatible with VST, AU, and AAX hosts.

We will be available on this forum to provide any clarification or answer any questions that you might have. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly at support@savantaudiolabs.com with any questions related to your account or installation.

Download a free trial and check out additional information here

Future plug-in developments might include a dedicated Sampler Module utilizing the existing algorithms of the IM90.

Thank you, and we hope that the IM90 offers you a new tool to spark inspiration and creativity.

*Use of artist names does not constitute official endorsement of Savant Audio Labs plug-ins

[aMUSEd]

Wow - does it also cover the Publison Infernal Machine's granular and spectral fx?

[CinningBao]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

[kraster]

Wow. This sounds incredible.

The IM90 is one of those strange unicorns. Extremely hard to get but used on a lot of hit records of the 80s.

I'm surprised how well the various algos hold up and the implementation here is fantastic.

I'll be definitely picking this up.

[kraster]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

I don't think there was any granular or fft in the infernal machine.

For pitch shifting it used multiple read heads in a short delay buffer that moved at different speeds relative to the write head. These were crossfaded and interpolated using proprietary algorithms.

It's not dissimilar to eventide's approach but a kind of smoother sound.

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

I'd be very interested in how Savant modelled it. It sounds uncannily close in the video.

[savantaudio]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

I don't think there was any granular or fft in the infernal machine.

For pitch shifting it used multiple read heads in a short delay buffer that moved at different speeds relative to the write head. These were crossfaded and interpolated using proprietary algorithms.

It's not dissimilar to eventide's approach but a kind of smoother sound.

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

I'd be very interested in how Savant modelled it. It sounds uncannily close in the video.

That's correct, not really any granular or FFT stuff going on. As mentioned above, the magic and charm of the pitch-shifting is in the phase alignment of crossfades happening many times per seconds.

[sqigls]

Gearslutz must be frothing surely

[aMUSEd]

OK I was going by this as obviously I don't have a real one so I looked it up:

'The Infernal Machine offered an impressive collection of effects, ranging from standard audio processing tools like reverb, delay, and chorus to more exotic and unique effects such as granular synthesis, pitch shifting, and spectral processing.'

https://blog.insideblackbird.com/the-pu ... xploration

[CinningBao]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

I don't think there was any granular or fft in the infernal machine.

For pitch shifting it used multiple read heads in a short delay buffer that moved at different speeds relative to the write head. These were crossfaded and interpolated using proprietary algorithms.

It's not dissimilar to eventide's approach but a kind of smoother sound.

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

I'd be very interested in how Savant modelled it. It sounds uncannily close in the video.

That's correct, not really any granular or FFT stuff going on. As mentioned above, the magic and charm of the pitch-shifting is in the phase alignment of crossfades happening many times per seconds.

Interesting, so it’s possibly one of the first PSOLA-type operations? Granular is, I suppose (to a degree), a PSOLA operation but without the phase aligning stage. But the pitch shifting stuff in this sounds too good to be regular granular..

[kraster]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

I don't think there was any granular or fft in the infernal machine.

For pitch shifting it used multiple read heads in a short delay buffer that moved at different speeds relative to the write head. These were crossfaded and interpolated using proprietary algorithms.

It's not dissimilar to eventide's approach but a kind of smoother sound.

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

I'd be very interested in how Savant modelled it. It sounds uncannily close in the video.

That's correct, not really any granular or FFT stuff going on. As mentioned above, the magic and charm of the pitch-shifting is in the phase alignment of crossfades happening many times per seconds.

Interesting, so it’s possibly one of the first PSOLA-type operations? Granular is, I suppose (to a degree), a PSOLA operation but without the phase aligning stage. But the pitch shifting stuff in this sounds too good to be regular granular..

PSOLA was more late 80s when it was implemented.

The Publison was released in 1982.

The publison used multiple read heads on a small buffer. As one head reached the end of the buffer the next read head would be crossfaded. They also implemented phase alignment and sample interpolation.

I think a lot of people are taken aback by how good it sounds despite being nearly 50 year old tech.

[kraster]

It does look like a lot of fun. Turning the algorithms into a sampler? Yes please!

I've gone through the hardware manuals but I can't find exactly what the FFT stuff did? Do you know?
The granular stuff must be the pitch stuff; it sounds really well implmented but it's definitely time-domain.

I don't think there was any granular or fft in the infernal machine.

For pitch shifting it used multiple read heads in a short delay buffer that moved at different speeds relative to the write head. These were crossfaded and interpolated using proprietary algorithms.

It's not dissimilar to eventide's approach but a kind of smoother sound.

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

I'd be very interested in how Savant modelled it. It sounds uncannily close in the video.

That's correct, not really any granular or FFT stuff going on. As mentioned above, the magic and charm of the pitch-shifting is in the phase alignment of crossfades happening many times per seconds.

I'd love to see the sample/freeze option implemented. I know it's pretty rudimentary by today's standards but still...

Anyway I lasted about 5 minutes with the demo before I bought.

I've always lusted after an IM90 and this is just a superb implementation of it.

For me the IM90 was a large part of the sound behind mid 80s Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.

It was always a classy sounding box.

[bmanic]

Holy shit!! A publison!! Never ever thought anybody would make an emulation of this thing. Thanks for the heads up on this! Will definitely demo.

[bmanic]

The designer scratched off the numbers on the ics and sealed the eprom in epoxy resin so it could not be reveresed engineered!!

.. or be proven that he used other people's trade secrets.

Legend has it both ways. Nobody really knows for sure, but there are rumors.

[morphex]

Now this is an unexpected, and very nostalgic plug-in design! From the demos that I’ve watched, I think that it sounds fantastic!! The original was such an important innovation for music in the 80’s.

It allowed artists the freedom to explore wildly creative effects that were used to add extreme drama and flair to pop music, new wave, synth pop, goth, etc. It’s easy to see why an effect like this would be such a useful tool.

[jamcat]

I’ve been waiting for this to finally get released. I will definitely be getting it. And soon.

I also prefer Savant’s QRS to Relab’s, because Savant’s controls are true to the original, while Relab’s are not.