Wavesfactory Spectre - Multi-band Enhancer

[wavesfactory]

Spectre is a sound-shaping tool that combines the best features of an enhancer coupled with a graphical parametric equalizer. Spectre only processes the difference between the input signal and the EQ signal, introducing harmonic content to just the part of the spectrum that you want from a variety of saturation algorithms based on classic recording hardware including:

• Tube
• Warm Tube
• Solid
• Tape
• Class B
• Diode
• Digital
• Bit
• Rectify
• Half Rectify

Adjust any of the five bands to add the audio process to just one or up to five bands, with adjustable Q the effect can go from broad to razor sharp.

Spectre can be used on individual tracks, sub-mixes, the master bus and is ideal for mastering.



HOW IT WORKS:
Spectre process the incoming audio with a five parallel band EQ, it extracts the difference between this signal and the dry input and process it through one of the eight saturation algorithms included, then it mixes it back with the dry signal. The result is a signal with character, full of color, with bigger and warmer low frequencies, shiny shimmering highs and powerful mids that any other processor just can’t give you.

MORE FEATURES:
Optional 4x and 16x oversampling modes offer pristine audio quality with no aliasing even with aggressive settings.
With 3 saturation modes: subtle, medium and aggressive you have a quick way of warming up your tracks. Adjust the harmonics with the input and output volume parameters for a more precise control over your music.
Spectre can process:

• Mono and Stereo signals.
• Left or Right channels only.
• Mid / Side channels only.

When we say it’s the ultimate enhancer we really mean it.

WHAT THE PROS SAY:


DEMOS AND PRICE:
Available for Mac and Windows (32 / 64 bit) in VST, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in formats.
Demo versions also available for Mac and Windows.
Demo limitations: noise bursts every 45 seconds, parameters and presets not saved.

Regular price: €99.
Intro price: €69 until March, 8th.

Available here: https://www.wavesfactory.com/spectre

[BeeDog]

I'm definitely nowhere skilled enough to comment on the capabilities of this plug-in, but gotta say I LOVE the design of it. Truly a sucker for those highly stylized and clean interfaces.

[rod_zero]

So it is like Fabfilter Saturn, but with fewer modulation options.

[MogwaiBoy]

So if you boost at, say, 100hz, you don't get any actual volume increase at 100hz like a normal EQ - instead you are adding harmonics (ie: 200hz etc for second order tube style).. is that how it works?

[Naenyn]

That was a really nice demo video. Pretty tempting!

[soundmodel]

Yea the GUI is quite nice.

Hard to say about the sound. It sounds okay, but not sure if it's better or worse than the Ozone Exciter. Some of the modes sound very similar like Spectre Triode vs Ozone Diode, but Tube vs Tube gives noticeable differences, Ozone having much more presence and density whereas Spectre sounds perhaps a bit too much like the Diode mode, at least on low-mid settings.

For an Ozone owner this is therefore possibly not that big deal, but for non-Ozone owners it could be more affordable than Ozone.

[jens]

So it is like Fabfilter Saturn, but with fewer modulation options.

I was about to say that it looks like Saturn on a strict cruel diet - then again I'm not a huge fan of the sound of Saturn's actual algorithms.... so if these sound more appealing....

[Ivan_C]

it extracts the difference between this signal and the dry input and process it through one of the eight saturation algorithms included, then it mixes it back with the dry signal

It's not quite a standard multi-band distortion or exciter either

[axembler]

I thought every band could have different type of saturation but that it's not possible cause it's global so just lost my interest...overpriced for what it does IMHO.

[RPH]

When we say it’s the ultimate enhancer we really mean it.

I thought every band could have different type of saturation but that it's not possible cause it's global so just lost my interest...

Agreed, to make it more ultimate add saturation options per band.

[Hez]

Also mildly disappointed with global saturation type, would definitely see myself needing to cascade a couple of instances to separately saturate highs and lows with the current setup for example.

I've been ABing it with Saturn this morning and it definitely sounds different.

One unique use I've found so far is using it on 100% mix. In this configuration, only the saturated/boosted regions are passed, i.e. a flat EQ will pass no audio at all. This is quite fun for shaping dirty lofi drums etc. and for getting background elements to sit in the mix - just draw in some EQ until you like what you hear. It's almost like inverse-filtering - you gradually paint in the parts of the sound that you like. Obviously you could reproduce this in other plugins to some extent, but it would probably be fairly fiddly (playing around with phase inversion in parallel etc.).

[wavesfactory]

I'm definitely nowhere skilled enough to comment on the capabilities of this plug-in, but gotta say I LOVE the design of it. Truly a sucker for those highly stylized and clean interfaces.

Original design by Zahir Ramos: https://dribbble.com/zramos

So it is like Fabfilter Saturn, but with fewer modulation options.

Not like Saturn. I think Spectre has been taken in this forum like a multi-band distortion plug-in, and it's not like that. Spectre is an enhancer with the workflow of a graphical EQ.

So if you boost at, say, 100hz, you don't get any actual volume increase at 100hz like a normal EQ - instead you are adding harmonics (ie: 200hz etc for second order tube style).. is that how it works?

Spectre doesn't have de-emphasis filters so you'll get the actual volume increase. But it's not a bad idea for a future update.

That was a really nice demo video. Pretty tempting!

Thank you! Done by Julian Rodgers.

So it is like Fabfilter Saturn, but with fewer modulation options.

I was about to say that it looks like Saturn on a strict cruel diet - then again I'm not a huge fan of the sound of Saturn's actual algorithms.... so if these sound more appealing....

It's not the same concept as Saturn, although I understand the comparison.

it extracts the difference between this signal and the dry input and process it through one of the eight saturation algorithms included, then it mixes it back with the dry signal

It's not quite a standard multi-band distortion or exciter either

Exactly! Thanks for pointing this out!

I thought every band could have different type of saturation but that it's not possible cause it's global so just lost my interest...overpriced for what it does IMHO.

I thought every band could have different type of saturation but that it's not possible cause it's global so just lost my interest...

We're planning to add this feature in a future update, along with auto-gain and maybe de-emphasis as pointed above.

Also mildly disappointed with global saturation type, would definitely see myself needing to cascade a couple of instances to separately saturate highs and lows with the current setup for example.

I've been ABing it with Saturn this morning and it definitely sounds different.

One unique use I've found so far is using it on 100% mix. In this configuration, only the saturated/boosted regions are passed, i.e. a flat EQ will pass no audio at all. This is quite fun for shaping dirty lofi drums etc. and for getting background elements to sit in the mix - just draw in some EQ until you like what you hear. It's almost like inverse-filtering - you gradually paint in the parts of the sound that you like. Obviously you could reproduce this in other plugins to some extent, but it would probably be fairly fiddly (playing around with phase inversion in parallel etc.).

Yeah, that's a good use indeed! Set the mix knob to 100% and start "painting" from there.


I have loved enhancers since I started music production. I liked them so much that, in fact, I usually put too much 'enhancement' in my tracks, I think I was addicted. Plug-ins like Sonic Maximizer, Aural Exciter or MaxBass were always present in my tracks. But these processors only work on a particular range of the frequency spectrum. For example, Aural Exciter only saturates the highs.
I always dreamed of an enhancer where I could see a representation of the areas where the saturation is being applied. A plug-in to which I can specify any frequency range for it to 'enhance'.
This concept working together with a graphical equalizer, plus the fact that works in parallel and which results feel much more natural, and being able to change the saturation type (or color, or character, call it whatever you want), make me love Spectre. I think it's a unique plug-in.

[TMaudio]

Will be testing this today...

[khanyz]

Is this similar to Voxengo HarmoniEQ?

I’m going to try it this weekend as it seems to fill a gap between HarmoniEQ and FabFilter Saturn.

[macdutch]

Is this similar to Voxengo HarmoniEQ?

I’m going to try it this weekend as it seems to fill a gap between HarmoniEQ and FabFilter Saturn.

I am doing the same and am very interested in your results. So far I find I can duplicate SOME Spectre settings on guitar and vocals with HarmoniEQ but find it much harder to "dial in" the subtle levels in Saturn. I am sure there must be some presets to the intrinsically very complex saturn that can "do a spectre" but if workflow is important I can see why it deserves its own spot. I'm monitoring via Munroe Eggs and cross-referencing via AKG K812 with correction curve from Sonarworks, mainly acoustic recordings. What are your findings?