Introduction
W A Production have launched SphereDelay, an innovative MultiMode delay plugin available in VST, AU and AAX formats, 32 and 64 bit versions.
The plugin is typically priced at £69.95 but is currently on sale exclusively at PluginBoutique for £6.95, a huge 90% off until 31st March 2018.
Background
W A Production developed this plugin for the producers around the world who want something more when it comes to effects. The basic plugins that give the same Delay presets that we all know and are familiar with, whether it be DAW stock Delay plugins or third party Delay plugins just aren’t enough. W A Production wanted to add something new to the table. W A Production believe that Beginner and Experienced producers will enjoy the sleek and easy workflow of SphereDelay as well as the pure customization of your Delay sound. W A Production believe SphereDelay will give you a totally new depth experience, with a wide variety of customization features that makes the sounds it provides unique and limitless.
Download and Installation
This is a very straightforward process, there’s no requirement for a serial code.
Using SphereDelay
SphereDelay has four delay modes – mono, stereo, ping-pong and ping-pong separate. You select the mode from the middle white section and set the delay time that can be sync’d to your host DAW or free from 1ms to 3 seconds.
In each of these modes you can modulate the delay time with an LFO and envelope follower (follows the transients of the input signal) to create a variety of special effects. The LFO has three wave shapes, the frequency can be sync’d to your DAW or free and the ‘LfoRange’ control is like a mix control for the amount of LFO applied. There are ‘EnvTimeMod’ and ‘LfoTimeMod’ controls in the yellow section at the bottom of the display to further shape the delay effect. This also contains the feedback and dry/wet mix controls.
The signal then passes to the filter, a 24dB 3 mode (LP, HP, BP) with cutoff, emphasis and saturation settings. This is contained in the top part of the GUI along with the LFO controls and VU meter.
Another cool feature is the reverse option at the very bottom of the display. This works in each mode and reverses the input signal.
Conclusions
This is a very cool delay effect and definitely a bargain at the heavily discounted price. I wanted to get this review out much sooner to give longer notice of the sale but there’s still a couple of days to go if you’re quick.
It comes with about 30 presets that give you an idea of what it can do but to be honest it’s one of those addictive effects that just encourages you to experiment and see what happens.
Whilst it can do standard delays such as ping-pongs, slap, dub-type delays and stereo widening, it really comes alive when you add some modulation. You can get some excellent psychedelic effects, cool filtered effects and spooky, glitchy artifacts very easily. If it all goes wrong, simply double click the dial to restore the default setting and start again.
It can also produce some very interesting effects when manipulated live, there’s an unpredictability when adjusting the ‘EnvFollow’, ‘EnvTimeMod’ and ‘LfoTimeMod’ controls that results in some very unusual and unique sounds.
I’ve used the effect extensively on ‘oblique coherence’ embedded above. I’ve embraced the unique nature, unpredictability and some of the more extreme modulation effects to create an avant-garde, experimental album.
‘so called progress leaves me cold’ was created using Scaler to create the chord progression, 5 instances of SampleScience Player processed using SphereDelay, Blackhole (Eventide), mini filter V (Arturia), Cryogen (Glitchmachines) and SphereDelay. I’ve also used a sample from Urban and Suburban sample pack from Boom Library.
‘oblique coherence’, ‘bricks’ and ‘posters’ were recorded live in Usine Sensomusic Hollyhock 3. The chord progressions were created in Scaler and I’ve used SampleScience Player with SphereDelay and SpecOps (Unfiltered Audio); Synthmaster 2 (KV331 Audio) with SphereDelay and Blackhole. I’ve recorded quotes from YokoOnoBot on twitter processed in the joggle sampler with SphereDelay and also processed in the Grain MicroLoop sampler (using automation of speed and gain parameters) with SphereDelay. I’ve also used Type A (AudioThing) and Litote (Inear Display) with automation on the master channel.
‘disengage’ was created using 3 instances of SampleScience player processed with SphereDelay and Blackhole. Samples from the biomorph pack by Glitchmanchines were processed with SphereDelay and Blackhole.
‘fractured memories haunt my dreams’ was created using RapidComposer and four instances of SampleScience Player processed with SphereDelay, Blackhole and Octavox. The chord track was duplicated and processed with SpecOps.
‘drawn to the stara’ was created using RapidComposer and five instances of SampleScience Player processed with SphereDelay and Blackhole.
‘old houses’ was created using RapidComposer and six instances of SampleScience Player processed with Blackhole, SphereDelay and Octavox.
‘affirmation’ was created using Scaler for the chord progression, Synthmaster One processed with SphereDelay and Blackhole, three instances of SubBoomBass2, one processed with SphereDelay. A background sample from the Urban and Suburban sample pack by Boom Library.
All songs mastered using Ultrachannel (Eventide), Magnetite (Black Rooster Audio), Elevate (Newfangled Audio) and Stage (Fiedler Audio).
