Unfiltered Audio SpecOps: Available Now

[Srae]

SpecOps2 soon? When DrumSynth1?

I really doubt it.

Unfiltered Audio doesn't have a history of updating their plugins with major 'V' versions, except for some simple maintenance. Once they are out, they stay pretty much the same.

A while ago, one of the devs mentioned SpecOps2 and a drum synth were deep into development, and maybe coming out at the end of 2023. I imagine something is close.

[GaryG]

SpecOps ... Finally I have done that, come up with some general methods as well as specific understanding of each effect and how I can use it. Those notes are here.

that's a really useful write up, thanks. I've been guilty of using it too much as a preset machine to mess around with when you want to make some 'interesting' rather than dig into it, will remedy that now.

[martinjuenke]

About a week and a half ago, I wrote up a bunch of notes on several plugins that I use, but SpecOps was accidentally left out... in retrospect it was really a glaring absence.

That turned out to be a good thing though. There's a lot in SpecOps, and it's one of those plugins I felt like I'd never really used to the fullest. I owned it for years and kind of poked at it at random on occasion, but that was it for a while.

When Synthesis Technology announced the E520 effects processor for Eurorack, I preordered one. But I discovered that there was a limited set of spectral effects that I really found myself using, and SpecOps could do most of them. But I still didn't do a deep dive and really figure the plugin out.

Finally I have done that, come up with some general methods as well as specific understanding of each effect and how I can use it. Those notes are here.

The plugin may be a few years old but it's still a delight and still fully capable of surprises. (I do wish the patch cables were easier to grab with the mouse, though!)

Thanks!
Reminds me of using my already bought stuff more instead of buying new fancy (and actually often redundant) stuff.

[foosnark]

Reminds me of using my already bought stuff more instead of buying new fancy (and actually often redundant) stuff.

That's a big part of why I did it

[Sampleconstruct]

As I'm currently comparing spectral processors again for processing acoustic instruments live on stage, here is a little experiment.

Processing a gong Improvisation with SpecOps (Unfiltered Audio) and Tai Chi reverb.

[swilow11]

^Nice!

Specops is basically untameable on about 80% of the settings for me, but really nice to add some movement and weirdness to pads and atmospheres. I made a mudpie of a basic drum loop through Silo into Specops while randomising presets and have been harvesting all sorts of crazy little pieces of it for literally months. Can't say I truly like Specops, the ui isn't great and just don't feel like patch cables work with this sort of effect, I don't really understand how everything works, but for creating really strange textures, I haven't found anything else like it. Maybe Infiltrator 2 with the spectral fx?

[catamorphism]

As I'm currently comparing spectral processors again for processing acoustic instruments live on stage, here is a little experiment.

Processing a gong Improvisation with SpecOps (Unfiltered Audio) and Tai Chi reverb.

Would love to read what you think after you are done comparing.

[Funky40]

SpecOps allways looked to me like one of the biggest things in FX ever donne.
But as others, I´ve had a hard time to dive into it.
I never understood it. But when i had enough good sessions in a row i started "to feel it".
So i could steer it "by feel" and got to have some great results.

But quickly after my start with it, it started to look to me more like a -good!- starting point, rather than something donne. Not saying it was not finished.....but saying it is so so deep, he should pick up on that legacy and develope it further.
But then, seeing, how it was sold over PA allready shortly after release for very little money, and not too long later for next to nothing, how should the work to be invested to take it further, be justified ?


i´m a sucker for FFT based FX.
I´ve not seen anything comparable. Not even close.
some other tools are more simple, and from there better graspable, more distinct, and from there better planable vs. what they can do. So, in that sense easier to use. But specOps is a king.

A MKII would be awesome. Whatever it´d be.

[Sampleconstruct]

As I'm currently comparing spectral processors again for processing acoustic instruments live on stage, here is a little experiment.

Processing a gong Improvisation with SpecOps (Unfiltered Audio) and Tai Chi reverb.

Would love to read what you think after you are done comparing.

Well I added it to my current live rig as it does pretty unique things at a decent sound quality and sending the SpecOps signal to the other effect plugins involved makes for some amazing, unheard sound textures.

[catamorphism]

Thanks!

[swilow11]

Apart from its use for obliterating your source sounds, I actually find the compressor/expander part really useful as a kind of unusual OTT. I've been throwing it on KONTAKT Session percussion which is weirdly low volume and it really makes it poke out

[ChamomileShark]

Great effects Simon, if it's ok I'll copy some of those settings as a starting point for my own experimentation. Although I've had SpecOps since it came out and have made a number of presets on it, I've not really found I've been using it much even though I've been working on similar experimental spectral pieces using a single original sound source.