PreSonus has released Retro Mix Legends, a collection of three Mix Engine Effects plug-ins for the Studio One Professional DAW.
Retro Mix Legends follows PreSonus’ CTC-1 Pro Console Shaper Mix Engine FX plug-ins, significantly expanding the Mix Engine Effects library. The three plug-ins – Alpine Desk, Brit Console and Porta Cassette – may be purchased individually or as a bundle, and are also included in a PreSonus Sphere membership.
Mix Engine FX is a plug-in paradigm exclusive to Studio One Professional that can ‘subtly alter or completely transform’ Studio One’s native mix engine. In contrast to plug-ins that must be inserted independently on each channel, with limited or no interaction between channels, activating a Mix Engine Effect on any bus in Studio One will simultaneously affect and cross-process all channels feeding that bus, using one plug-in.
State Space Modeling technology and the Mix Engine FX architecture enable the plug-ins deliver thorough and emulations of real hardware behaviour, including inter-channel crosstalk, noise, drive, saturation, and character. Any bus, including the main stereo bus, can have its own Mix Engine FX assigned.
The Alpine Desk plug-in emulates the complex sonic textures of one of the world’s most coveted American consoles. Its Drive control allows the console’s preamps to be driven hard, resulting in saturation and compression, while the Crosstalk and Noise controls can be used to glue tracks together so everything sits well in a mix. Unique to Alpine Desk is a variable output transformer that offers switching between a 1:1 to 3:1 gain ratio for higher drive settings and a unique dark and warm tonal contours.
Brit Console targets the sound behind arguably more platinum-selling records than any other console. Inherent signal noise plays an important role in defining the sonic character of any analogue console; the modelled analogue noise in Brit Console is different on every channel being processed, making mixes more cohesive. Brit Console features three Style options – Vintage, Super, and Modern. Vintage offers a bit of top-end roll-off and a smoother character that defined the sound of British pop in the 1980s, while those interested in an ultra-clean sound may prefer Super. Enabling the Modern mode.
Perhaps the most unusual offering, Porta Cassette replicates the smooth, analogue, slightly off-kilter, lo-fi of the four-track cassette recorders of the 1980s and 1990s. Its Character control functions dramatically differently than that of any other Mix Engine Effect: Low settings govern the amount of console coloration, while cranking it up introduces tape wow and flutter. The unique Pitch control allows you to detune or up-tune every element of your processed bus. Unlike hardware cassette machines, however, the Pitch control won’t affect playback tempo.
The Retro Mix Legends bundle is available via the PreSonus Shop at a street price of US$79.95. Alpine Desk, Brit Console, and Porta Cassette can be purchased individually for US$29.95 each. All three Mix Engine Effects plug-ins, as well as CTC-1 Pro Console shaper and every PreSonus Studio One add,-on are included in PreSonus Sphere memberships.
