How to Use Spektral Delay to Transform Your Sound in the Frequency Domain
Native Instruments Spektral Delay v1.57 (h20) 64 bit: A Review
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you could split your audio signal into hundreds of frequency bands and manipulate them individually? Well, wonder no more because Native Instruments has created a plugin that does exactly that. It's called Spektral Delay and it's one of the most innovative and creative effects processors ever made.
Native Instruments Spektral Delay v1.57 (h20) 64 bit
Spektral Delay is not your ordinary delay plugin. It uses real-time FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) to analyze each channel of a stereo signal into up to 160 separately modifiable frequency bands (even up to 1024 bands internally). You can then adjust the level, delay time, and feedback amount for each band independently. You can also apply various modulation effects to the signal in the frequency domain, which allows for even further sound manipulation.
In this article, we will review Spektral Delay v1.57 (h20) 64 bit version and see what makes it so unique and powerful. We will also look at its features, pros and cons, how to use it, tips and tricks, and alternatives. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what Spektral Delay can do for your music production.
Features of Spektral Delay
Spektral Delay has many features that make it stand out from other delay plugins. Here are some of them:
FFT analysis: Spektral Delay uses real-time FFT to split each side of a stereo signal into up to 160 separately modifiable frequency bands. You can link or unlink the left and right channels for different effects. You can also choose between different FFT window sizes and overlap settings for different spectral resolutions.
Modulation: Spektral Delay has an onboard LFO that can modulate the level, delay time, or feedback amount of each frequency band. You can also use external MIDI signals as modulation sources, such as notes, pitch bend, or controllers. This allows you to create dynamic and expressive effects that respond to your performance.
Attenuation: Spektral Delay has a global attenuation parameter that lets you control the overall level of the processed signal. You can also adjust the attenuation for each frequency band individually, which gives you precise control over the spectral balance of the output.
Delay: Spektral Delay has a global delay parameter that lets you set the overall delay time of the processed signal. You can also adjust the delay time for each frequency band individually, which creates interesting rhythmic and spatial effects. You can sync the delay time to the host tempo or use free values in milliseconds.
Feedback: Spektral Delay has a global feedback parameter that lets you set the overall feedback amount of the processed signal. You can also adjust the feedback amount for each frequency band individually, which creates complex and evolving soundscapes. You can also use a feedback filter to shape the tone of the feedback signal.
Editor panel: Spektral Delay has a graphical editor panel that lets you view and edit the parameters of each frequency band in real time. You can use the mouse to draw curves, lines, or points on the editor panel, or use the keyboard to enter numerical values. You can also copy, paste, invert, or randomize the parameters of each frequency band.
MIDI plug: Spektral Delay has a MIDI plug feature that lets you route MIDI signals from one plugin instance to another. This allows you to create complex modulation chains and interactions between different instances of Spektral Delay.
Pros and Cons of Spektral Delay
Spektral Delay is a powerful and creative plugin that can produce amazing results. However, it also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of. Here are some of the pros and cons of Spektral Delay:
Pros
Cons
It offers a unique and flexible way of manipulating sound in the frequency domain.
It can create a wide range of effects, from subtle enhancements to radical transformations.
It can produce sounds that are impossible to achieve with other plugins.
It can inspire new ideas and spark your creativity.
It is very complex and requires a steep learning curve to master.
It can be CPU-intensive and cause latency issues if used excessively.
It can be unpredictable and hard to control at times.
It can produce unwanted artifacts and noise if not used carefully.
How to Use Spektral Delay
If you want to use Spektral Delay in your music production, here are some steps that you need to follow:
Install and activate Spektral Delay: You need to download Spektral Delay v1.57 (h20) 64 bit version from Native Instruments website or from other sources (at your own risk). Then, you need to install it on your computer and activate it with your serial number. You can find more information on how to install and activate Spektral Delay in the user manual.
Load Spektral Delay as a stand-alone or a plug-in: You can use Spektral Delay as a stand-alone application or as a plug-in in your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). To use it as a stand-alone, you need to launch it from your applications folder and configure your audio and MIDI settings. To use it as a plug-in, you need to load it on an audio track or an instrument track in your DAW and route your audio signal to it. You can find more information on how to use Spektral Delay as a stand-alone or a plug-in in the user manual.
Select a preset or create your own settings: You can use one of the many presets that come with Spektral Delay or create your own settings from scratch. To select a preset, you need to click on the preset name at the top of the plugin window and choose one from the drop-down menu. To create your own settings, you need to adjust the parameters of each frequency band using the editor panel or the knobs below it. You can also use the modulation effects and the MIDI plug features to add more movement and variation to your sound. You can also save your settings as a new preset by clicking on the save button next to the preset name.
Enjoy the results: You can now listen to the results of Spektral Delay on your audio signal. You can tweak the parameters as you like and experiment with different settings. You can also record or export your processed audio signal for further use in your music production.
Tips and Tricks for Spektral Delay
Spektral Delay is a very versatile and creative plugin that can produce many different effects. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of it:
Use presets as a starting point: Spektral Delay comes with a lot of presets that cover various styles and genres. You can use them as a starting point for your own settings and modify them as you wish. You can also learn from them and see how they are made.
Use automation to create dynamic effects: You can use automation to change the parameters of Spektral Delay over time and create dynamic effects that evolve with your music. You can automate any parameter of Spektral Delay using your DAW's automation features or using external MIDI controllers.
Use modulation sources to add movement and variation: You can use modulation sources to modulate the level, delay time, or feedback amount of each frequency band. You can use the onboard LFO or external MIDI signals as modulation sources. You can also use different modulation sources for different frequency bands to create complex and interesting effects.
Use spectral editing to shape your sound: You can use spectral editing to edit the parameters of each frequency band in real time using the editor panel. You can draw curves, lines, or points on the editor panel or enter numerical values using the keyboard. You can also copy, paste, invert, or randomize the parameters of each frequency band.
Alternatives to Spektral Delay
Spektral Delay is a unique and powerful plugin that offers a lot of possibilities for sound manipulation. However, it is not the only spectral delay plugin that is available on the market. Here are some other spectral delay plugins that you might want to check out:
MeldaProduction MSpectralDelay: This is a versatile and flexible spectral delay plugin that lets you process each frequency band differently. You can apply various effects, filters, modulators, pitch shifters, and more to each frequency band. You can also use MeldaProduction's signature morphing feature to morph between different settings.
iZotope Spectron: This is a creative and colorful spectral delay plugin that lets you manipulate your sound in the frequency domain. You can apply various effects, such as distortion, filtering, panning, flanging, phasing, and more to each frequency band. You can also use iZotope's signature spectral shaping feature to sculpt your sound.
Unfiltered Audio SpecOps: This is a futuristic and experimental spectral delay plugin that lets you process your sound in the frequency domain. You can apply various effects, such as granularization, freezing, glitching, looping, pitch shifting, and more to each frequency band. You can also use Unfiltered Audio's signature modulation system to modulate any parameter with any source.
Conclusion
Spektral Delay is a unique and powerful plugin that lets you manipulate your sound in the frequency domain. It uses real-time FFT analysis to split your audio signal into up to 160 separately modifiable frequency bands. You can then adjust the level, delay time, feedback amount, modulation effects, and more for each band independently. You can also use spectral editing to edit the parameters of each band in real time using the editor panel.
Spektral Delay can create a wide range of effects, from subtle enhancements to radical transformations. It can produce sounds that are impossible to achieve with other plugins. It can inspire new ideas and spark your creativity.
However, Spektral Delay is also very complex and requires a steep learning curve to master. It can be CPU-intensive and cause latency issues if used excessively. It can be unpredictable and hard to control at times. It can produce unwanted artifacts and noise if not used carefully.
If you are looking for a unique and creative way of manipulating sound in the frequency domain, Spektral Delay might be the plugin for you. However, if you are looking for a simple and easy way of adding some delay effects to your sound, Spektral Delay might not be the best choice for you. You might want to check out some other spectral delay plugins that are available on the market, such as MeldaProduction MSpectralDelay, iZotope Spectron, or Unfiltered Audio SpecOps.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Spektral Delay:
What is the difference between Spektral Delay and a normal delay plugin?
A normal delay plugin applies the same delay time and feedback amount to the whole audio signal. Spektral Delay splits the audio signal into up to 160 frequency bands and applies different delay time and feedback amount to each band. This allows for more complex and creative effects.
What are the system requirements for Spektral Delay?
Spektral Delay requires a Windows XP or higher or a Mac OS X 10.2.6 or higher operating system. It also requires a Pentium III/Athlon 800 MHz or higher or a G3 800 MHz or higher processor. It also requires 256 MB of RAM and 100 MB of free disk space. It also requires a VST 2.0, Audio Units, RTAS, or DXi compatible host application.
How can I get Spektral Delay?
You can get Spektral Delay from Native Instruments website or from other sources (at your own risk). You need to download Spektral Delay v1.57 (h20) 64 bit version and install it on your computer. You also need to activate it with your serial number.
How much does Spektral Delay cost?
Spektral Delay costs $199 USD. However, you might be able to find it at a lower price from other sources (at your own risk).
Is Spektral Delay compatible with my DAW?
Spektral Delay is compatible with most DAWs that support VST 2.0, Audio Units, RTAS, or DXi plugins. However, you might need to check the compatibility of your specific DAW with Spektral Delay before using it.
dcd2dc6462