MDV-II, BandMatrix, LAEA: Free Plugins of the Week
Free Emulation of the Alesis Midiverb II
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MDV-II, BandMatrix, LAEA: Free Plugins of the Week · Source: Temecula DSP, Kojima Audio, Analog Obsession
MDV-II by Temecula DSP brings the legendary Alesis Midiverb II to your DAW for free! Check it out in this week’s collection of free plugins.
Free Plugins of the Week
Temecula DSP MDV-II: Free Emulation of the Alesis Midiverb II
Long before the age of free plugins, the arrival of affordable digital reverb units like the Alesis Midiverb II was a godsend for bedroom producers. Until then, digital reverb only came in the form of prohibitively expensive units from iconic manufacturers like Lexicon or AMS – well beyond the budgets of most hobbyists tinkering away on their cassette portastudios. The Midiverb II was one of the first units to change that: it cost only a fraction of the professional studio units, but sounded much better than anything that had ever been available at a price this low.
Like other budget classics such as the 3630 compressor from the same company (the legendary ‘Daft Punk Compressor’), the Midiverb II is now cherished not so much for sounding great (it doesn’t), but for its unique and recognizable character that instantly takes you back to the early ‘90s. And with this new plugin from Temecula DSP, you can now enjoy this sound in your DAW for free.
MDV-II actually goes beyond emulating the Midiverb II by offering not one, but two mathematically modeled DASP-16 chips running in series. This means that you can combine any two of the included 100 effects programs, such as a reverb into a chorus, a gated reverb into a delay, or any combination you like. All 100 factory programs of the Midiverb II are included in MDV-II.
The plugin also offers a Vintage Mode for dropping the internal sample rate from 44.1 kHz to the original’s 31,250 Hz. The low sample rate was responsible for the Midiverb’s dark and soft tone, which is authentically reproduced in MDV-II.
As an extra bonus, the developer throws in the free MCV-I plugin, an emulation of the Alesis Microverb I, the Midiverb’s little brother.
MDV-II is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Kojima Audio BandMatrix: 6-Band Sidechain Compressor and Expander
BandMatrix by Kojima Audio is a versatile multiband compressor and expander with six adjustable bands, giving you precise control of the dynamics of your tracks. Each band offers its own set of controls, including Depth, Sharpness, Attack, Release, Knee, Gain, and more. You can also graphically edit the bands using the handy spectrum analyzer.
What sets BandMatrix apart is the ability to assign the detector source per band. Each band can be assigned to the internal or external sidechains, the overall mix, or even another band. The stereo mode (L/R or M/S) can also be assigned per band. This opens up a vast range of opportunities for dynamic shaping and creative experimentation. For example, you could have the low end react to the kick drum channel via the external sidechain, while the other bands drive each other to create movement or emphasis.
BandMatrix is available for macOS and Windows in VST3 and AU formats.
Analog Obsession LAEA: Free LA-3A Emulation
Analog Obsession has released LAEA, an emulation of the famous Teletronix / UREI LA-3A optical compressor from the 1960s. The plugin is a follow-up to the developer’s LALA plugin released back in 2020, which emulates the – arguably even more famous – LA-2A, the older tube variant of the same compressor. While the LA-3A uses transistors instead of tubes, it retains the same simple interface with just two big knobs: Gain and Reduction.
In addition to the two knobs, LAEA offers a VU-style meter and a row of buttons that lets you activate Limiter mode, engage a sidechain high-pass filter, engage the external sidechain, and activate bypass. Simple and effective – just like the original!
Analog Obsession LAEA is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Check out our archive for more free plugins like MDV-II, Bandmatrix, and LAEA!
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