SoundToys Native Effects 4.1.1: A Comprehensive Review of the Six Amazing Plug-ins for Mac
SoundToys Native Effects 4.1.1: A Review of the Ultimate Effects Rack for Mac
If you are looking for a collection of high-quality, versatile, and creative audio effects for your Mac, you might want to check out the SoundToys Native Effects bundle. This bundle includes six amazing plug-ins that emulate the sound and vibe of classic analog gear with modern and musical twists. Whether you need an echo, a saturation, a granular, a filter, a phaser, or a tremolo effect, you will find it in this bundle.
SoundToys Native Effects 4.1.1 AU VST RTAS MAC OSX INTEL.rar
In this article, we will review the SoundToys Native Effects 4.1.1 version, which is the latest update as of June 2023. We will cover the features, specifications, installation, usage, examples, pros, cons, and prices of each plug-in in the bundle. We will also provide a comparison table for easy reference. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of whether this bundle is worth your money or not.
Before we dive into the details, let's first talk about the AU VST RTAS MAC OSX INTEL.rar file that you might have downloaded or seen online. This file is a compressed archive that contains the installation files for the SoundToys Native Effects 4.1.1 bundle for Mac OS X. It supports AU (Audio Units), VST (Virtual Studio Technology), and RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) formats, which means you can use these plug-ins with most DAWs ( Digital Audio Workstations) such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Cubase, and more. It also requires an Intel-based Mac computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. To install the bundle, you need to extract the .rar file using a program like WinRAR or UnRARX, and then run the installer. You will also need to activate the plug-ins using a valid license key that you can get from the official SoundToys website. Alternatively, you can download the installer directly from the website and skip the .rar file altogether.
Now that we have cleared that up, let's move on to the main attraction: the SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins. These are:
EchoBoy: The ultimate echo machine
Decapitator: The best analog saturation emulator
Crystallizer: The creative granular echo synthesizer
FilterFreak: The most flexible filter effect
PhaseMistress: The ultimate phaser effect
Tremolator: The most versatile tremolo effect
We will review each of these plug-ins in detail in the following sections.
SoundToys Native Effects Overview
The SoundToys Native Effects bundle is designed to give you a wide range of sonic possibilities for your music production, mixing, and mastering. Whether you want to add some warmth, depth, movement, color, or character to your tracks, you will find a plug-in that suits your needs in this bundle. Each plug-in has its own unique features, parameters, presets, and sounds that you can explore and tweak to your liking. You can also combine them together using the SoundToys Effect Rack, which allows you to create custom chains of effects with drag-and-drop simplicity. You can also sync them to your host tempo, modulate them with LFOs and envelopes, and control them with MIDI or automation.
Let's take a closer look at each plug-in and see what they can do.
EchoBoy: The Ultimate Echo Machine
If you are looking for a versatile and powerful echo effect, look no further than EchoBoy. EchoBoy is not just a simple delay plug-in; it is a complete echo studio that emulates the sound and feel of vintage tape, analog, and digital delays. You can choose from over 30 different echo styles that cover everything from classic oil cans and plates to modern digital delays. You can also adjust the tone, feedback, groove, swing, saturation, modulation, diffusion, and more to create your own custom echo sounds.
EchoBoy has four main sections: Style, Echo, Rhythm, and Tweak. The Style section lets you select the echo style and adjust the input drive and output level. The Echo section lets you set the delay time (in milliseconds or note values), feedback amount, mix level, and ping-pong mode. The Rhythm section lets you create rhythmic patterns with up to 16 taps, each with its own level, pan, time offset, and accent controls. The Tweak section lets you access more advanced parameters such as low-cut and high-cut filters, saturation type and amount, wow and flutter modulation, stereo width and balance, diffusion amount and size, and ducking threshold and release.
EchoBoy also has a large collection of presets that you can use as starting points or inspiration for your own sounds. You can browse through categories such as Vocal Delays, Guitar Delays, Drum Delays, Space Echoes, Dub Delays, Special FX, and more. You can also save your own presets and share them with other users.
Some examples of EchoBoy presets and sounds are:
Vocal Slapback: A classic rockabilly-style echo with a short delay time and a warm tape saturation.
Guitar Space Echo: A lush and spacious echo with a long delay time and a smooth analog modulation.
Drum Room: A realistic room simulation with a short delay time and a subtle diffusion.
Dub Delay: A reggae-style echo with a long feedback time and a high-cut filter.
Reverse Delay: A psychedelic effect that reverses the input signal before applying the delay.
Decapitator: The Best Analog Saturation Emulator
If you want to add some warmth, grit, distortion, or character to your tracks, you need FilterFreak. FilterFreak is not just a simple filter plug-in; it is a flexible filter effect that emulates the sound and feel of classic analog filters with modern and musical twists. You can choose from four different filter types (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject) and four different filter modes (single, dual, rhythm, and envelope). You can also adjust the cutoff frequency, resonance, saturation, modulation, and more to create your own custom filter sounds.
FilterFreak has four main sections: Filter, Modulation, Output, and Mode. The Filter section lets you select the filter type and mode and adjust the cutoff frequency, resonance, drive, and mix. The Modulation section lets you set the modulation source (LFO, envelope follower, or external sidechain), rate (in hertz or note values), shape (from sine to random), amount, and phase offset. The Output section lets you adjust the output level, wet/dry balance, and analog style (from clean to dirty). The Mode section lets you switch between single and dual filters, rhythm mode (where you can create rhythmic patterns with up to 16 steps), and envelope mode (where you can adjust the attack, decay, sustain, and release of the filter envelope).
FilterFreak also has a large collection of presets that you can use as starting points or inspiration for your own sounds. You can browse through categories such as Bass, Drums, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Vocals, Sound Design, and more. You can also save your own presets and share them with other users.
Some examples of FilterFreak presets and sounds are:
Bass Wobble: A dubstep-style effect that creates a wobbling bass sound with a low-pass filter modulated by an LFO.
Drum Lo-Fi: A vintage-style effect that adds some crunch and character to drum tracks with a high-pass filter driven by a saturation.
Guitar Wah: A classic-style effect that creates a wah-wah sound for guitar tracks with a band-pass filter modulated by an envelope follower.
Keys Phaser: A modern-style effect that creates a phaser sound for keyboard tracks with a dual band-pass filter modulated by an LFO.
Vocal Formant: A creative-style effect that changes the vocal formants with a band-reject filter modulated by an envelope follower.
PhaseMistress: The Ultimate Phaser Effect
If you are looking for a rich and smooth phaser effect, you need PhaseMistress. PhaseMistress is not just a simple phaser plug-in; it is a ultimate phaser effect that emulates the sound and feel of classic analog phasers with modern and musical twists. You can choose from over 60 different phaser styles that cover everything from vintage stompboxes and rack units to modern digital phasers. You can also adjust the depth, speed, feedback, color, saturation, modulation, and more to create your own custom phaser sounds.
PhaseMistress has four main sections: Style, Phaser, Modulation, and Output. The Style section lets you select the phaser style and adjust the input drive and output level. The Phaser section lets you set the number of stages (from 2 to 24), depth, speed (in hertz or note values), feedback, color (from dark to bright), and mix. The Modulation section lets you set the modulation source (LFO, envelope follower, or external sidechain), rate (in hertz or note values), shape (from sine to random), amount, and phase offset. The Output section lets you adjust the output level, wet/dry balance, and analog style (from clean to dirty).
PhaseMistress also has a large collection of presets that you can use as starting points or inspiration for your own sounds. You can browse through categories such as Bass, Drums, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Vocals, Sound Design, and more. You can also save your own presets and share them with other users.
Some examples of PhaseMistress presets and sounds are:
Bass Funk: A funky and groovy effect that adds some movement and flavor to bass tracks with a 4-stage phaser modulated by an envelope follower.
Drum Swirl: A swirling and spacious effect that adds some width and depth to drum tracks with a 12-stage phaser modulated by an LFO.
Guitar Leslie: A realistic and smooth effect that emulates the sound of a Leslie speaker for guitar tracks with a 6-stage phaser modulated by an LFO.
Keys Flanger: A metallic and flanging effect that adds some edge and character to keyboard tracks with a 24-stage phaser modulated by an LFO.
Vocal Chorus: A warm and chorus effect that adds some thickness and harmony to vocal tracks with a 8-stage phaser modulated by an LFO.
Tremolator: The Most Versatile Tremolo Effect
If you are looking for a dynamic and flexible tremolo effect, you need Tremolator. Tremolator is not just a simple tremolo plug-in; it is a most versatile tremolo effect that emulates the sound and feel of classic analog tremolos with modern and musical twists. You can choose from over 30 different tremolo styles that cover everything from vintage amps and organs to modern digital tremolos. You can also adjust the depth, speed, shape, groove, feel, saturation, modulation, and more to create your own custom tremolo sounds.
Tremolator has four main sections: Style, Tremolo, Modulation, and Output. The Style section lets you select the tremolo style and adjust the input drive and output level. The Tremolo section lets you set the depth, speed (in hertz or note values), shape (from sine to square), groove (from straight to swung), feel (from ahead to behind), and mix. The Modulation section lets you set the modulation source (LFO, envelope follower, or external sidechain), rate (in hertz or note values), shape (from sine to random), amount, and phase offset. The Output section lets you adjust the output level, wet/dry balance, and analog style (from clean to dirty).
Tremolator also has a large collection of presets that you can use as starting points or inspiration for your own sounds. You can browse through categories such as Bass, Drums, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Vocals, Sound Design, and more. You can also save your own presets and share them with other users.
Some examples of Tremolator presets and sounds are:
Bass Pump: A pumping and rhythmic effect that adds some movement and energy to bass tracks with a square-shaped tremolo modulated by an envelope follower.
Drum Gate: A gating and stuttering effect that adds some variation and interest to drum tracks with a random-shaped tremolo modulated by an LFO.
Guitar Vibrato: A subtle and smooth effect that adds some vibrato and pitch modulation to guitar tracks with a sine-shaped tremolo modulated by an LFO.
Keys Rotary: A realistic and expressive effect that emulates the sound of a rotary speaker for keyboard tracks with a dual sine-shaped tremolo modulated by an LFO.
Vocal Tremble: A dramatic and emotional effect that adds some tremble and intensity to vocal tracks with a triangle-shaped tremolo modulated by an envelope follower.
SoundToys Native Effects Comparison Table
To help you compare the features, specifications, and prices of the six effects in the SoundToys Native Effects bundle, we have created a table that summarizes the main information for each plug-in. You can use this table as a quick reference or a guide for your decision making.
Plug-in
Type
Features
Specifications
Price
EchoBoy
Echo/Delay
- Over 30 echo styles- Rhythm mode with 16 taps- Tweak mode with advanced parameters- Saturation, modulation, diffusion, ducking- Presets for vocals, guitars, drums, etc.
- Delay time: 0.01 ms to 5 s- Feedback: 0% to 110%- Mix: 0% to 100%- Ping-pong mode- Stereo or mono operation
$199
Decapitator
Saturation/Distortion
- Five saturation models- Tone control with low-cut and high-cut filters- Drive control with auto-gain compensation- Punish mode for extra gain- Presets for bass, drums, guitars, etc.
- Saturation model: A/E/N/T/P- Drive: -24 dB to +24 dB- Tone: Dark to Bright- Mix: 0% to 100%- Stereo or mono operation
$199
Crystallizer
Granular Echo/Synthesizer
- Granular slicing and processing- Pitch shifting and reverse playback- Recycle control for feedback looping- Modulation control for pitch envelope- Presets for ambient, drums, guitars, etc.
- Grain size: 0.01 ms to 1 s- Delay time: -1 s to +1 s- Pitch shift: -2400 cents to +240 cents- Mix: 0% to 100%- Stereo or mono operation
$149
FilterFreak
Filter/Modulation
- Four filter types- Single or dual filter mode- Rhythm mode with 16 steps- Envelope mode with ADSR control- Presets for bass, drums, guitars, etc.
- Filter type: LP/HP/BP/BR- Cutoff frequency: 20 Hz to 20 kHz- Resonance: 0% to 100%- Drive: -24 dB to +24 dB- Stereo or mono operation
$149
PhaseMistress
Phaser/Modulation
- Over 60 phaser styles- Up to 24 stages- Color control for tone shaping- Feedback control for resonance- Presets for bass, drums, guitars, etc.
- Number of stages: 2 to 24- Depth: 0% to 100%- Speed: 0.01 Hz to 10 Hz- Feedback: -100% to +100%- Stereo or mono operation
$129
Tremolator
Tremolo/Modulation
- Over 30 tremolo styles- Groove and feel control for swing and syncopation- Shape control for waveform shaping- Saturation control for analog warmth- Presets for bass, drums, guitars, etc.
- Depth: 0% to 100%- Speed: 0.01 Hz to 10 Hz- Shape: Sine to Square- Groove: Straight to Swung- Stereo or mono operation
$129
Total
$954
Bundle Price
$499 (save $455)
SoundToys Native Effects Pros and Cons
As you can see from the previous sections, the SoundToys Native Effects bundle has a lot to offer for any music producer, mixer, or mastering engineer. However, like any product, it also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. Here is a list of the pros and cons of using the SoundToys Native Effects bundle:
Pros:
High-quality sound: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins sound amazing and realistic. They emulate the sound and feel of classic analog gear with accuracy and detail. They also add some modern and musical twists that make them more versatile and creative.
Easy to use: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins are easy to use and intuitive. They have simple and clear interfaces that let you access the main controls and parameters quickly and easily. They also have helpful tooltips and manuals that explain the functions and features of each plug-in.
Flexible and customizable: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins are flexible and customizable. You can tweak and adjust every aspect of the sound to your liking. You can also combine them together using the SoundToys Effect Rack, which lets you create custom chains of effects with drag-and-drop simplicity. You can also sync them to your host tempo, modulate them with LFOs and envelopes, and control them with MIDI or automation.
Large collection of presets: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins have a large collection of presets that you can use as starting points or inspiration for your own sounds. You can browse through categories such as Vocal Delays, Guitar Delays, Drum Delays, Space Echoes, Dub Delays, Special FX, and more. You can also save your own presets and share them with other users.
Affordable price: The SoundToys Native Effects bundle is affordable and worth the money. You get six amazing plug-ins for the price of one. You also save $455 when you buy the bundle instead of buying each plug-in separately. You can also try the free 30-day trial before buying the bundle to see if you like it or not.
Cons:
CPU-intensive: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins are CPU-intensive and can cause some performance issues on older or slower computers. You might experience some latency, glitches, or crashes when using multiple instances of these plug-ins in your projects. To avoid this, you might need to freeze or bounce some tracks, lower the buffer size, or upgrade your computer system.
Compatibility issues: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins are compatible with most DAWs and formats, but not with all of them. You might encounter some compatibility issues with some older or less popular DAWs or formats. To avoid this, you might need to check the compatibility list on the official SoundToys website, update your DAW or format, or use a different DAW or format.
Learning curve: The SoundToys Native Effects plug-ins are easy to use, but not easy to master. You might need some time and practice to learn how to use them effectively and creatively. To help you with this, you might need to watch some tutorials, read some manuals, or join some forums.
Conclusion
The SoundToys Native Effects bundle is a great collection of high-quality, versatile, and creative audio effects for your Mac. It offers six amazing plug-ins that emulate the sound and vibe of classic analog gear with modern and musical twists. You can use