Normally, I have no problem getting an idea of what a company is trying to do with a specific product. V Collection is analogue synths brought into the digital age. But FX Collection stumps me. Initially, this started out as the “effects you’ll actually use” based on 3 classic hardware devices. But since then, they’ve added a mix of both modern and traditional modules to the whole suite, some lenfing themslves to mixing, some more to mastering - potentially.
Thinking about the other big players out there, Soundtoys stuff seems to be based on old school modules but promotes pushing those effects, so I can see the appeal of these. At the other end of the spectrum you have Baby/Denise/Excite Audio who aim to put a modern twist on classic sounds. These are, you might say the kings and queens of creative effects.
Then you have the likes of Brainworx, iZotope and Fabfilter who each in their own way have an eye on quality mixing and mastering tools with different USPs (eg: Brainworx - emulation, iZotope - AI type stuff, Fabfilter - industry standard.)
I can’t quite place FX collection though. I can see they seem to be moving more towards creative effects with EFX Motions/Fragments etc. Yet they have some proper vintage emulation stuff. And then there’s Bus FORCE, which appears to be pitched as a master bus finishing tool.
So if you have FX collection, what are you using it for, and at what stage in your process does it shine most?
They are definitely in a unique place, I agree with everything you said.
They do have some nice compressors, eqs, preamps, saturators, etc. that can stand toe to toe with the other brands, but I find I mostly use them for creative stuff (fragments, coldfire, etc), filtering, and distortion. Usually before I start the serious mixing stage.
I should probably try some more of the mixing ones as they are pretty slept on and can be a secret weapon (I have talked with some bigger producers that had a few up their sleeves).
I don’t think I would use them for mastering though. For me that stuff involves pretty specialized plugins like unisum mastering compressor, hardware clipper emulations like ash, dynamic eqs like gullfoss, etc. I can’t think of anything arturia I would use.
I use about 1/3 of the collection consistently. Most of them I use either per-track or as send effects to achieve a specific end. You could absolutely use some of them for mixing and mastering, but I’m lousy at studio-work and know I would get too overwhelmed by the options and clutter that come with the emulations, so I stick with Logic Pro’s stock plugins for finishing tracks.
IMO the collection is more tended towards creative fx than mastering or mixing, although the compressors are fine for that. I use the collection regularly, especially the chorus, filters, delays, plate and fragments.
The Culture Vulture clone has a few nice presets for master bus. I’ve used the dbx compressor, pres, and eq for mastering (though I can’t claim to be an expert on that). The filters can take you to some interesting places and are a big standout along with the granular. I’d like to use the space echo more but I get excitable and turn stuff up too high and get a feedback mess. I usually surf presets to see what is possible and then adjust to taste.
Personally I far far prefer Arturia’s non-emulation stuff, for example I think pigments is more interesting than the emulated synths. Similar feeling with the FX really, and even the emulated FX like the filters are interesting by way of the extra modulation capabilities and other extras.
I’d agree that some select bits and pieces are good for creative and “fun” applications but there are better and more “surgical” mixing and mastering plugins elsewhere.
My main feature request is an Arturia plugin chainer like Soundtoys effect rack or NI Guitar Rig. The delays, filters, reverbs and EFX fragnents and motion are all pretty fun but these things really come to life when you can rack them together in a single plugin and go crazy.
I use the Arturia fx collection mostly for several of the fx, but I do like that dbx clone compressor from time to time. For Channel strip mix stuff, I’m currently loving the PSP Infinistrip a whole lot. Izotope Ozone goes on the mix bus for me.
For just effects the Soundtoys bundle is fantastic, I think.
But back to Arturia, I’m glad I got the fx collection, but I personally wouldn’t use it much for mixing/mastering