EMAGIC SPACE DESIGNER
Jan 1, 2004 12:00 PM, BY WALT SZALVA
Emagic has jumped into the world of software-based convolution reverbs with its new native plug-in Space Designer. Hardware-based convolution reverbs have been around for a few years now, and Audio Ease's popular Altiverb plug-in was one of the first software-based convolution reverbs on the market to take advantage of the ever-increasing power of native DSP. Emagic has taken Space Designer quite a bit further with a feature-packed plug-in that sounds luscious and boasts an intuitive, highly tweakable GUI.
Convolution reverbs are based upon reverb samples called impulse responses, which are actual recordings of real-world spaces and reverb devices. An impulse response can be sampled following an initial signal spike (such as a starter pistol or a sine-wave sweep). The resulting audio file is analyzed and “convoluted” into a working reverb reflection tone.
Space Designer allows for tweaking existing impulse responses and includes a wide range of control of dynamics, timbre and reverb length through a comprehensive set of parameters. The graphically editable envelopes are optimized for reverb tasks, allowing creation of smooth envelope curves. Space Designer also includes an onboard impulse-response synthesis function that incorporates the editing flexibility of the envelopes and filters — a unique feature for convolution reverbs.
LISTEN TO THAT SUSTAIN
The overall look and feel of the Space Designer GUI is elegant, with typical reverb parameters such as input, direct output, reverb output, predelay and length prominently displayed. The input (cross-feed) parameters allow the user to tweak the input signal's stereo imaging from stereo to mono to inverted. There is also a Latency Compensation function that can be switched on and off.
Space Designer's envelope display window incorporates Bezier curves that are color-coded to represent three different envelope modes (Volume, Filter and Density), with two curve segments (attack and decay) forming a complete envelope. Envelope parameters are adjusted graphically via two types of nodes displayed on the curves, which are controlled by a mouse-click. The larger nodes control the main envelope parameters, and the smaller nodes, which the manual calls Curve Form Nodes, adjust the contour of the curves. The Volume Envelope output, which is selected by a button, can be linear or exponential. There is also a Reverse button that reverses the output of the impulse response for creation of unusual processing effects.
The Filter Envelope section provides timbral control, is independent from the Volume Envelope and only works when the filter section is switched on with the Filter On switch. Attack time, break level, decay time and end level parameters are graphically tweakable. You can select from four filter modes: 12dB lowpass, 6dB lowpass, bandpass and highpass. There is also a resonance parameter controlled by the Reso knob. Low-Shelving EQ and Stereo Spread knobs finish up the output-stage parameters.
The impulse-response parameter section is where you select or create impulse responses for yourself. Impulse responses can be read as AIFF, SD2 and WAV files. You can also adjust the sample rate of the impulse response at the input stage, allowing for some pretty cool space and time effects, a feature I had a lot of fun with.
FEELING VERY ENO
Emagic supplies a tutorial that walks you through the process of generating an impulse response. The tutorial was simple, and I easily created a few of my own using a Roland RE-501 Space Echo and a few other spring reverbs. The very nature of convolution reverb as a sampling device opens up countless possibilities. I went into “experimental mode” by grabbing a few reverb tails from various recordings (King Tubby and Led Zeppelin, to name two), and the results were interesting — I highly recommend trying it yourself.
If you don't have the time or the inclination to create a library that is all your own, not to worry: Space Designer ships with 400 MB of impulse responses and reverb settings. Most of them sound quite good. I also did a Google search for “impulse responses” and found a lot of downloadable “spaces” out there that people have developed. All in all, with Space Designer, Emagic has come up with another excellent plug-in that is tweakable and luscious-sounding. And at $459, it's money well spent.
Product Summary
EMAGIC
SPACE DESIGNER > $459
Pros: Infinite reverb-effect possibilities. Excellent interface. Includes wealth of sampled material and presets.
Cons: Works only with Logic 6.3.
Contact: tel. (530) 477-1053; e-mail info@emagicusa.com; Web www.emagic.de
System Requirements
Mac G4/G5; 512 MB RAM; Mac OS 9.x/10.2.5; Logic 6.3 or higher
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
