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MB-5 Dynamix
Reviewed By contrary [all]
February 19th, 2011
Version reviewed: Vista on Windows
One could quite logically ask the question whether the world needed another Multi band compressor plug in . The fact that the MB-5 has stayed under the radar certainly points to some sort of "MB comp FATIGUE syndrome " or something like it !!! I admit that my first reaction to the news of this processors release was less than a hardy "Meh" !!
But having used some of this developers other plugs , I definitely thought it would be worth it to see what was on tap because Blue Cat definitely has a way of providing functionalities that others never get around to !!
Let me start out by alerting the reader that Blue cat has had a broadband dynamic processor for quite some time and has been constantly refining it. What this means is that when they finally decided to go for a multi band version , they weren't starting from scratch ......
I basically was trying to avoid getting anymore plugs , and wasn't initially impressed with the ability to use the detector feed from one band to drive the dynamics processing in another band ...( side chaining between bands ).
After all , usually you turn to a multi band when you are trying to avoid having signals in one part of the spectrum cause unwanted modulations in another ( inter-modulation distortion ) .
But once you dig into the details and examine some of the presets you might have an "a ha" moment !!
The plug has expansion as well as compression , and has mid/side capabilities.
This is where the plug excels! How about having they sides of the upper band ( AIR) expanded by the mid signal spectrum's side chain ?? A frequency dependant target reacting from/to a specific targeted source... all within the plug itself . There are allot of possibilities to explore .....
User Interface:
Any plug of this sort is going to be muy busy .. some of the controls are a little smallish , No deal breakers though.
Sound:
Because this dev gives you lots of adjustments , you really have to move beyond the preset hopping mode here . ( not that that's a real viable thing with dynamics plugs to start with !!)
you can add anything from grunge to distortion if you need it . Does it sound holy grail analog-ish?? I couldn't tell you , and thats so much fairy dust subjectiveness anyhow !! It sounds good to me !!
You have the unique ability to mix peak and RMS in the envelope follower/detection circuit .... very useful .
Basically you will be able to find the sounds ... and many , many of them . But you'll have to be a little more persistent and give it more thought sometimes ....
Features:
Have you been paying attention ??? features in spades!
Documentation:
It's all there , but don't expect much hand holding here . This isn't an overly noob friendly document.... The Dev trys and has very much improved in this area but , at least for me , I can't give an overly high rating in this category ... The great coder may not be a great communicator in PDF format !! You do have the option of some on-line tuitorials , though not numerous.
Presets:
What can I say?? There are some very interesting ones given the capabilities of this plug . Expecting allot of spot on presets in a compressor is pretty futile.
Customer Support:
A great track record . Always responsive and friendly. Uber professional.
Value For Money:
The cost benefit ratio is great ... It's just not blatantly obvious!
Stability:
No crashes here; ever .
If your wanting a super capable Multi band compressor/expander look no further!
Read ReviewBut having used some of this developers other plugs , I definitely thought it would be worth it to see what was on tap because Blue Cat definitely has a way of providing functionalities that others never get around to !!
Let me start out by alerting the reader that Blue cat has had a broadband dynamic processor for quite some time and has been constantly refining it. What this means is that when they finally decided to go for a multi band version , they weren't starting from scratch ......
I basically was trying to avoid getting anymore plugs , and wasn't initially impressed with the ability to use the detector feed from one band to drive the dynamics processing in another band ...( side chaining between bands ).
After all , usually you turn to a multi band when you are trying to avoid having signals in one part of the spectrum cause unwanted modulations in another ( inter-modulation distortion ) .
But once you dig into the details and examine some of the presets you might have an "a ha" moment !!
The plug has expansion as well as compression , and has mid/side capabilities.
This is where the plug excels! How about having they sides of the upper band ( AIR) expanded by the mid signal spectrum's side chain ?? A frequency dependant target reacting from/to a specific targeted source... all within the plug itself . There are allot of possibilities to explore .....
User Interface:
Any plug of this sort is going to be muy busy .. some of the controls are a little smallish , No deal breakers though.
Sound:
Because this dev gives you lots of adjustments , you really have to move beyond the preset hopping mode here . ( not that that's a real viable thing with dynamics plugs to start with !!)
you can add anything from grunge to distortion if you need it . Does it sound holy grail analog-ish?? I couldn't tell you , and thats so much fairy dust subjectiveness anyhow !! It sounds good to me !!
You have the unique ability to mix peak and RMS in the envelope follower/detection circuit .... very useful .
Basically you will be able to find the sounds ... and many , many of them . But you'll have to be a little more persistent and give it more thought sometimes ....
Features:
Have you been paying attention ??? features in spades!
Documentation:
It's all there , but don't expect much hand holding here . This isn't an overly noob friendly document.... The Dev trys and has very much improved in this area but , at least for me , I can't give an overly high rating in this category ... The great coder may not be a great communicator in PDF format !! You do have the option of some on-line tuitorials , though not numerous.
Presets:
What can I say?? There are some very interesting ones given the capabilities of this plug . Expecting allot of spot on presets in a compressor is pretty futile.
Customer Support:
A great track record . Always responsive and friendly. Uber professional.
Value For Money:
The cost benefit ratio is great ... It's just not blatantly obvious!
Stability:
No crashes here; ever .
If your wanting a super capable Multi band compressor/expander look no further!
Ok,
Just as any self respecting vsti synth whore should , I tried this baby when it popped up around KVR . Being a bit jaded with soft synths ( see aforementioned whore reference !)
I have to admit my expectations were low .
Pleasant suprize folks !!! If your not a big reader , then just go slap down your twenty five and get it . (get while it's so underpriced !!)
I don't usually hype like that , but it's sound is apart from the usual VA pack , and has lots of potential on top of that .
U.I.
A little dark,some controls a little smallish . The developer worked out a bug that caused problems for users with custom DPI settings very quickly once he was made aware of it.
Sound
This is why your sweaty fingers should be clicking and downloading the demo now . Try it , you'll like it!
Xenos has covered the tech details better than a less than average so-called "sound designer" like me ever could!!. ( and get his free patches whilst you are demoing , or your and idiot :-).
Features
Well about the only thing I could fault would be not having what any self respecting '80s poly type synth might want ... 5 or 6 point envelopes . I'm sure the developer wanted to keep it simple so good old adsr envelopes will do the trick . It's not like most of us know what to do with extra break point and ramp stages anyway ... maybe in a future version after an army of kvr'ers buy it ( subtle , subtle hint) that will increase time to tinker with it for leslie.
Documentation
Much better than most , but you gotta buy the synth to get it !!
Presets
Thats why you better spring for the $25 , so sound designers see the potential market and get busy . There are some 300 , which are good ! More from Xenos ( subtle hint !) would be great.
Customer support
Great , quick responses
Value for money;
Are you kidding ????
Stability
; ... I can only think that the developer must be unstable to sell this so cheap ............. and the instrument never caused any guff on my system.
OK get the demo , and , ...Then , ... of course you'll buy , ... then , ... you owe me !!!
:-)
Read ReviewJust as any self respecting vsti synth whore should , I tried this baby when it popped up around KVR . Being a bit jaded with soft synths ( see aforementioned whore reference !)
I have to admit my expectations were low .
Pleasant suprize folks !!! If your not a big reader , then just go slap down your twenty five and get it . (get while it's so underpriced !!)
I don't usually hype like that , but it's sound is apart from the usual VA pack , and has lots of potential on top of that .
U.I.
A little dark,some controls a little smallish . The developer worked out a bug that caused problems for users with custom DPI settings very quickly once he was made aware of it.
Sound
This is why your sweaty fingers should be clicking and downloading the demo now . Try it , you'll like it!
Xenos has covered the tech details better than a less than average so-called "sound designer" like me ever could!!. ( and get his free patches whilst you are demoing , or your and idiot :-).
Features
Well about the only thing I could fault would be not having what any self respecting '80s poly type synth might want ... 5 or 6 point envelopes . I'm sure the developer wanted to keep it simple so good old adsr envelopes will do the trick . It's not like most of us know what to do with extra break point and ramp stages anyway ... maybe in a future version after an army of kvr'ers buy it ( subtle , subtle hint) that will increase time to tinker with it for leslie.
Documentation
Much better than most , but you gotta buy the synth to get it !!
Presets
Thats why you better spring for the $25 , so sound designers see the potential market and get busy . There are some 300 , which are good ! More from Xenos ( subtle hint !) would be great.
Customer support
Great , quick responses
Value for money;
Are you kidding ????
Stability
; ... I can only think that the developer must be unstable to sell this so cheap ............. and the instrument never caused any guff on my system.
OK get the demo , and , ...Then , ... of course you'll buy , ... then , ... you owe me !!!
:-)