Arturia FX Collection 2: the 2021 update to Arturia's effects collection

In 2021, Arturia updated FX Collection. FX Collection 2 brings together all Arturia audio effects available at the time, totaling 22 products. VST, AU, and AAX formats remain, now with full NKS support. Presets have ready-made assignments for compatible controllers and appear correctly on NI hardware and in Komplete Kontrol.

What is new in FX Collection 2? First, there are 7 new effects: Bus FORCE, Comp DIODE-609, Phaser BI-TRON, Chorus JUN-6, EQ SITRAL-295, Chorus DIMENSION-D, and Flanger BL-20. The interfaces have also changed slightly. As in V Collection, settings can be saved conveniently, with preset searching and tag filtering. Another 200 presets join the existing collection. Tips and short tutorials have improved too. These effects often model analog devices with unfamiliar controls. Guidance helps new users understand each knob and use the processing correctly. We will examine all seven new effects.

Bus FORCE

Bus FORCE is a multi-effects processor for buses or the master channel. It combines several effects for parallel processing: blending processed and original signals while controlling the details within one plug-in.

Its greatest strength is flexibility. Internal routing splits the signal into three paths with separate processing. The first carries the dry signal but can include EQ. The second can use EQ, a filter, and compression. The third adds saturation to those options. Each path has its own level and effect selection. For example, one can remain dry, another can use EQ and compression, and the third can use filtering and saturation. The compressor output can also feed the third path's saturator instead of going directly to the master output. Arturia counts 36 routing combinations, providing many options for creative experiments.

A display shows signal changes. When adjusting filters and EQ, it shows the response curve and spectrum. Compressor and saturation views show the relevant processing curves. A switchable hard clipper cuts everything above the selected output level. This is a clipping effect rather than a conventional limiter and can add distortion.

Bus FORCE uses a three-band equalizer inspired by Pultec hardware. Its resonant filter comes from the popular Oberheim SEM design. The compressor and saturator are based on Overstayer analog studio equipment. Each module is impressive alone; together they form a powerful, flexible processor.

Comp DIODE-609

Comp DIODE-609 is another major addition. This stereo compressor continues Arturia's tradition of modeling classic studio hardware: the widely used Neve 33609 diode compressor/limiter.

DIODE-609 is primarily a bus or master compressor, but can also process individual channels. On stereo tracks, it switches between L/R, Dual Mono, and Mid/Side. Sidechain options add flexibility. A Mix control at the end blends dry and processed signals for parallel compression.

DIODE-609 follows the original controls: threshold, ratio, attack, recovery, and gain. The original Neve 33609 had a fixed 5 ms attack. Arturia makes attack adjustable. The compression knee remains fixed by design, as its shape contributes to the musical character.

The limiter has conventional settings and fixed attack times of about 2 ms in Fast and 4 ms in Slow. Alongside needle gain-reduction meters, a spectrum display clearly shows processing changes. Input Drive adds harmonics for more analog-style warmth.

Comp DIODE-609 processing is of high quality. We find the plug-in very interesting. Listen to the audio examples on the manufacturer's website, or better still, install the demo and try it in your own projects.

EQ SITRAL-295

EQ SITRAL-295 models modular equalizers from Siemens Sitral broadcast consoles of the 70s. It combines W293, W294, and W295b modules covering three frequency ranges. The result is a three-band equalizer with cut filters, supporting stereo and Mid/Side. Its main purpose is to recreate the Siemens Sitral sound. Arturia captures the vintage modules' character and analog warmth very well.

EQ controls follow the hardware, with gain adjustment at fixed frequencies. A continuous mode allows finer frequency choices. There is no individual Q control; Range affects all bands together. A spectrum display and EQ curves clearly show adjustments. Charakter selects either the original Siemens module emulation or an alternative analog character with stronger low-frequency compression and saturation.

Equalizer examples are available on the manufacturer's website.

Phaser BI-TRON

Phaser BI-TRON models the popular Mu-Tron Bi-Phase guitar phaser from the 70s. The original's unusual feature was two phasers with independent six-stage phase-shift circuits and flexible control. Mu-Tron Bi-Phase was also the first phaser with feedback control. Its two-channel design enabled true stereo. BI-TRON retains the main hardware features and adds more functions.

Two independent oscillators provide selectable rates and waveforms. A pedal can control the first oscillator's rate and the phase shift. Synchronization to DAW tempo is available. The pedal's alternative mode is an envelope follower. The source for the envelope follower can be the Phasor A input, Phasor B input, A + B, or an external sidechain.

Modulation is configured below. On the hardware, oscillator 1 modulated Phasor A and oscillator 2 modulated Phasor B. The plug-in allows either oscillator to be used.

Extensive routing creates varied sounds. Mono offers two options. Parallel splits the mono signal between the phasers, then mixes the results. Series sends it through Phasor A, then Phasor B. Stereo is more flexible. Dual Mono keeps two signals separate, one through each phaser. Stereo Series sends both channels through A and then B for double processing. Stereo Parallel sends the signals through A and B, then mixes A's right output with B's right output and A's left output with B's left output.

The 37 supplied presets sound noticeably different. They provide useful starting points for further adjustments.

Chorus JUN-6

Chorus JUN-6 is a separate effect version of the famous Juno chorus, recently modeled in the V Collection instrument Jun-6 V.

The effect is simple and effective. It sends the signal to two delay lines with fixed stereo positions. An LFO modulates delay time, gradually changing pitch. Opposite delay-time changes in the left and right channels, combined with the dry signal, create stereo chorus.

Two buttons select different modulation intensities. Both can be enabled together. This changes the modulation to a sine wave, increases its rate, and shortens delay time, producing something closer to vibrato. Only the plug-in provides manual modulation adjustment, allowing users to shape it to taste.

Chorus DIMENSION-D

DIMENSION-D models Roland's hardware chorus of the same name from 1979. Like JUN-6, the original uses bucket-brigade device (BBD) chips. This circuitry gives it a recognizable sound.

Chorus DIMENSION-D recreates the hardware and adds features. Advanced settings select modulation shape, compressor/expander type, stereo width, and dry/wet balance. Operation is simple, but the effect remains interesting.

Flanger BL-20

Flanger BL-20 models the BEL Electronics BF-20 stereo flanger from Britain. In the late 70s, the hardware became a favorite of leading recording artists and studios, including Phil Collins, Yes, The Rolling Stones, AIR Studios, RSK, and Townhouse Studios.

Controls largely follow the BF-20. Conventional settings include modulation source, LFO, envelope follower, effect amount, and feedback. Advanced controls add functions absent from the hardware.

The advanced panel offers more complex modulation shapes, which can resemble a small pattern sequencer. A cut filter can exclude low frequencies from modulation.

Like the chorus units, the original BEL Electronics BF-20 used BBD chips. BL-20 therefore has pleasant saturation and distinctive coloration. Combining it with DIMENSION-D or JUN-6 can produce excellent results.

Conclusions

The additions fit Arturia's FX Collection 2 concept very well. Modulation and bus effects make the collection more attractive and versatile. Dynamics processing remains a particular Arturia strength, but the other new effects are interesting too.

Arturia's website provides processing examples with different signals. Full demos also allow testing in real projects to assess the plug-ins' capabilities.

All FX Collection plug-ins can be bought separately, but the complete collection costs significantly less overall.

Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/soft/arturia-fx-collection-2.shtml.