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Audio Damage heaps on the features for new Quanta 2 granular synth. The popular Quanta just got a major hike in specs and features

Quanta 2 adds many of the features that were missing from the much-loved, original granular synth favourite.

Most notably Quanta 2 adds a complete second virtual analogue oscillator, effectively doubling the texture options and thickening up the sound. There are also effects options (including chorus, delay and reverb) built-in and upgraded LFOs and envelopes – including much-needed amplitude and scaling knobs – to help you push the sound further.

In addition, there is a new auto pitch detection feature for any added waveforms, meaning anything of your own samples or waves that you want to use in Quanta will be instantly snapped and mapped to the right place for pitch, so spare yourself the fiddly stuff and get to work sooner.

Additionally, most visibly for users familiar with Quanta 1 is a completely redesigned slicker, smarter user interface with the old plug’s modulation matrix replaced with a new right-click ‘mod assign’ popup workflow, similar to that used in Audio Damage’s Continua and Phosphor 3. In addition, the controls now helpfully have indicators to show modulation as well.

Quanta 2 also includes new presets from Red Means Recording and Red Sky Lullaby, new factory content, and all of the original Quanta 1 presets plus all of the additional packs and packages released for the original plug. Plus Audio Damage promises “some nice preset surprises coming soon”…

The new Quanta 2 is 100% compatible with any of your own patches that you made in the original Quanta. Simply drag your folder of patches into the Quanta 2 user preset folder and they’ll be automatically added.

Quanta 2 is available on the Audio Damage website for $129, where there’s also a limited-time demo available for free. Whereas, Quanta 1 owners who purchased it in the Audio Damage Store and use the code QUANTA2UPGRADE at checkout to receive a $70 discount. Alternatively, if you purchased from Plugin Boutique it will send you a coupon to upgrade to Quanta 2 on its website.

Baby Audio releases “the hardest hitting compressor in the industry”. A reworking of its classic I Heart NY ‘New York (IHNY) compression’ plugin, IHNY-2 has been released to mark its third anniversary

Happy birthday Baby Audio, who’s just turned three and to celebrate its birthday has just revamped one of our favourites. Get ready for the new-improved return of the plugin that started the Baby Audio journey – the I Heart NY compressor plugin.

I Heart NY is now available in IHNY-2 form, and Baby Audio is promising a compressor that is “designed especially with modern genres in mind” and “optimized for loudness and impact, without a loss of clarity” that will “make your tracks slam and sing”.

Best of all they claim it’s “the hardest hitting compressor in the industry”.

So, what stands out the IHNY?

While it may seem that there are more compressor plugins out there than tracks that use them, the time-honoured classics need careful, persuasive coaxing in order to deliver the extreme compression techniques that today’s music and today’s producers are looking for.

Increasingly, plugins are stacked in series and parallel to deliver the levels required, delivering results far beyond the remit of careful hardware emulations.

In short, while a perfect software emulation of classic hardware is a wonderful thing, those old boxes (and their faithful recreations) might not have the edge to cut it in the music you’re creating today.

IHNY-2 works in parallel, effectively being an all-in-one parallel compressor with no additional plugs required.

Parallel compression works by blending your dry track with a heavily compressed version so you can enjoy the best of all worlds simultaneously.

In addition, you can compress more, while still preserving the dynamics of your original track. It gives an ultra-aggressive sound that’s perfect for today’s music, adding energy and “slap” to your mix buses. Or why even try it on the master channel?

The big step up with IHNY-2 is that it gives great controls for you to more accurately get the sound you want. An autogain algorithm gives a consistent predictable output level as you mix the wet and dry signals with the plugins X/Y pad.

You also now have control over Attack and Release, Punch – to emphasize attack transients, Harmonics – which adds harmonic saturation as determined by the gain reduction and Shape, which delivers Baby Audio’s famous ‘smiley’ top and bottom boosted EQ curve, which is all part of the classic ‘New York compression’ sound that gave the plug-in its name. A new Tilt control lets you skew the plug-ins attention to bass or high frequencies for taming unruly bass or letting a track ‘breathe’ and Hi-Low Preserve lets you set cut-off points which will escape the compressor, so you can squash your drum bus without destroying your kick drum.

IHNY-2 even now comes with 156 presets created by the likes of Delbert Bowers (Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes), Matt Sim (Nicki Minaj, The Chainsmokers, Gucci Mane), M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Demi Lovato), Preston “Prizzie” Reid (Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Muni Long) and Rob Kleiner (Cee Lo, SIA, David Guetta, Britney Spears).

The IHNY-2 is available at intro price of $39 until 30 September when it will revert to its standard pricing of $69. And if you are already an I Heart NY owner, you can upgrade to IHNY-2 for just $25. Find out more on Baby Audio website.

Arturia Dist COLDFIRE is a new dual-engine plugin distortion powerhouse

Arturia, the famous synth-maker amps up its effects offering with an all-new sonic mangler

Arturia Dist COLDFIRE is a dual-engine distortion effect that joins Arturia’s burgeoning effects rack and promises a whole new way for users to process and destroy their sound.

Dist COLDFIRE Is a virtual effect of two halves with two distinct A and B engines that can work together or in fractious disharmony with each other, each delivering a different take on classic distortion or whole new digital crushes that combine to deliver a sound that’s as retro or as futuristic as you want it to be.

Arturia describes the combination as a ‘dual distortion reactor’ with the two halves able to run in serial, parallel, stereo, mid-side and band split modes.

From simple, warm saturation effects through to custom dual-engine digital crunch COLDFIRE combines both analogue and digital algorithms across 11 different distortion types. On board features everything from tube heat to icy digital crush, across 150 built-in presets.

The analogue section includes Tape, Tube, Transistor, Transformer, Germanium and saturation and overdrive specialist Force effects, while digital algorithm includes Rectifier, Bit Crusher, Bit Inverter, Wavefolder and Waveshaper.

And the controls can be pushed to the maximum to introduce feedback loops and artificial harmonic reflections. Create a distortion effect that evolves with the tempo and tuning of your track with six modulation slots, envelope following and even an on-board 16 step sequencer to give you plenty of rhythmic control on everything the effect is doing.

Arturia promises a plug-in that’ll deliver exciting dual distortion with a few simple settings but can form the core of complex all-new sound design if you really want to get down and dirty with what’s on offer inside.

Arturia suggests that it’s the perfect plum for vocal enhancement, kick drum impact, speaker rattling bass and ‘denser than black hole wavefolding’…

Dist COLDFIRE is available separately with discounts up to 50% off right now or buy as part of a new FX Collection 3 + Dist COLDFIRE pack available at a discounted price of €299 for everything, until Thursday, September 15th.(including a €99 buy it now and a FREE downloadable demo version). Find out more on the Arturia website