Arturia FX Collection 3: the 2022 update to Arturia's effects collection

Arturia FX Collection continues to grow. FX Collection 3 contains 26 plug-ins, combining classic studio equipment emulation with modern features and convenient controls. Four additions in 2022 expand its sound-shaping options. Dist TUBE-CULTURE models a tube saturation processor. Dist OPAMP-21 models a famous guitar pedal. Tape MELLO-FI brings lo-fi processing from a vintage keyboard. Efx FRAGMENTS offers a powerful tool for sound design and creative experiments.

Alongside the new effects, FX Collection 3 improves usability. A/B switching instantly compares two settings, as in many other plug-ins. Revised interfaces offer easier navigation and optimized performance.

Dist TUBE-CULTURE and Dist OPAMP-21 add oversampling options for different tasks. Render prioritizes maximum quality. Studio uses simpler algorithms to reduce CPU load. During the final mixdown, the plug-in uses maximum quality regardless of the working setting. Studio therefore saves processing power while building the project. We may see similar options in other effects, especially those with high CPU demands.

We previously covered the additions to FX Collection 2. Today we will examine the new effects in this update.

Dist TUBE-CULTURE

Dist TUBE-CULTURE models the Thermionic Culture Vulture tube processor. Introduced in 1998, the hardware initially added warmth to recordings made with digital equipment of the period. Its unusual design added adjustable tube saturation without otherwise changing the signal. This gentle processing quickly made Culture Vulture popular with leading recording and mastering engineers.

Thermionic's British engineers released several revised versions over the years. Ultra Vulture was the most advanced, with improved specifications and another saturation mode. Arturia chose this version for Dist TUBE-CULTURE.

The original has three tubes in series: preamp, distortion, and output. Bias controls voltage in the distortion tube, while Drive pushes the preamp tube into saturation. The plug-in models these controls for flexible saturation adjustment. Four hardware modes remain: Triode, Pentode 1, Pentode 2, and Pentode 3, with different distortion amounts and characters. Presence adds some mid and high frequencies. Arturia adds Air, affecting only the highs. A virtual ammeter shows current in the distortion tube.

Advanced view adds functions beyond the hardware. Stereo and Mid/Side operation are supported, alongside extra EQ. Cut filters have adjustable frequencies and fixed 24 dB/octave slopes. An output tilt EQ provides ±12 dB adjustment around 630 Hz. Dynamics smoothly changes the response from gating to upward compression. A spectrum display replaces the virtual ammeter in the center and conveniently shows the signal before and after processing.

We find Dist TUBE-CULTURE very attractive. Its processing algorithms are of high quality. Listen to the audio examples on the manufacturer's website, or better still, install the demo and try it on your own tracks.

Dist OPAMP-21

Dist OPAMP-21 is based on the Tech 21 SansAmp Classic guitar processor from 1989. The pedal modeled different tube amplifiers, letting a guitar connect directly to a line input without a large tube amp. This is common today, but was a major innovation then.

Tech 21 later developed more complex SansAmp-based products, including GT-2, Bass Driver, PSA-1, and RPM. Software versions of these exist in various forms. Until recently, however, SansAmp Classic had no software counterpart. Arturia fills that gap by recreating the first Tech 21 pedal's character in Dist OPAMP-21.

OPAMP-21 looks different from the original pedal. Its more convenient interface also has room for extra functions. Familiar SansAmp Classic controls adjust distortion and equalization. Alongside Normal, Lead, and Bass amp modes, Arturia adds Modern. This cleaner mode suits general distortion on sources other than guitar. As on the pedal, Character combines amp emulations and microphone positions in front of the cabinet.

Additional controls sit on the Advanced tab.

Dist OPAMP-21 supports stereo and Mid/Side. Separate EQ works before processing (Pre-Drive) and after it (Post-Drive). Input cut filters have fixed 24 dB/octave slopes and can isolate a narrow band for creative processing. Curve slightly reduces low-frequency distortion. A three-band output parametric EQ has adjustable frequencies and Q. Its spectrum display clearly shows changes.

Dist OPAMP-21 works very well and captures the pedal's authentic character. Flexible settings make it useful on guitars, many other sources, and synthesized sounds. Processing examples are available on the manufacturer's website, along with a full demo version.

Tape MELLO-FI

Tape MELLO-FI is an interesting lo-fi effect based on Arturia Mellotron V. It adds vintage character, including the tape mechanism's distinctive behavior from the classic Mellotron M400.

MELLO-FI is effective and very simple to control. Three consecutive sections model different aspects of the original instrument.

The preamp section adds tape saturation and authentic tape hiss. Automatic gain compensation keeps the final level steady as saturation increases.

The next section models mechanical imperfections, uneven tape transport, and tape wear. Output controls provide level adjustment and a low-pass or high-pass filter.

Tape MELLO-FI processing examples are available on the manufacturer's website. The effect works well and fairly gently, adding a vintage character. Tape saturation and uneven playback speed are its most valuable and useful features. Modeling the Mellotron mechanism's other characteristics may also help with creative tasks.

Efx FRAGMENT

Unlike the earlier effects, Efx FRAGMENTS does not model hardware. It is a modern granular processor. Granular synthesizers usually work with stored samples. FRAGMENTS instead applies granular synthesis to any track or input, capturing audio in real time. Many settings transform the source into spatial effects and changing textures.

The plug-in continuously captures audio and blends granular processing of that capture with the original signal. Its buffer holds up to 16 seconds before being overwritten. Capture can synchronize to project tempo, with lengths of 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 1.5, 2, or 4 bars.

The captured signal produces many short sound particles, or grains, for creative processing. FRAGMENTS offers several grain generation and playback options, from random behavior to complex controlled sequences.

Despite its many unusual controls, operation is fairly simple. Three modes change grain settings and behavior. Classic plays grains in sequence. Texture layers several grains at once. Rhythmic adds step-sequencer functions for rhythmic patterns. Each mode has three main controls for grain amount, duration, and pitch range. Stereo panning and built-in effects, familiar from other Arturia software, complete the processor.

Advanced functions expand FRAGMENTS considerably. Almost all settings can be modulated by three function generators and an envelope follower. There is also another step sequencer and two macros for controlling several parameters together. Assignments and control remain as simple and convenient as in other recent Arturia products.

FRAGMENTS is a powerful sound-design tool with well-implemented, interesting functions. Time spent learning it properly can pay off in excellent results. Presets also provide starting points for either controlled ideas or freely chaotic sounds. Processing examples are available on the manufacturer's website.

Conclusions

Arturia continues to surprise us. Each FX Collection update adds outstanding, interesting effects and expands the range. Dist TUBE-CULTURE and Dist OPAMP-21 are among the more successful hardware recreations and deserve close attention. MELLO-FI is more specialized, but its gentle saturation can still be useful. FRAGMENTS shows that Arturia successfully explores ideas beyond vintage replicas. All effects are available individually as well as in the collection. Full demos on the manufacturer's website allow testing in personal projects.

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-3.shtml.