And I read somewhere it is based on the normal price of the plugin, not the discounted price, right? And is BF the biggest sale they have each year? These 70% off on lots of plugins are really tempting, but I first want to get to know the plugins recently got

 

Not sure, no according to Von_Steyr, who's probably right. BF is indeed the biggest sale, although they also have one at xmas. This year was spectacular, they never discounted as much on their entire range.

 

Last edited: Dec 6, 2019

No, the calculation is based on the discounted price. Meaning if you buy three plugins on a sale for 50 eur, he would qualify in the 1-200 eur discount category for 15%.

 

You're sure ? I checked but the first voucher I kept isn't the first I got.
Jee, I spent that much there.

 

The system could have changed recently with bigger discounts, would have been too easy now with the constant discounts on new or updated products.

 

Possibly. I've reached the maximum voucher a while back, also bought most of them I think I completed my collection a year ago. I just get the ones they release now and then since, and they release much less lately since they are updating, possibly in the perspective of Modula.
I was always looking at the limit of each voucher stage before that, and monitoring the amount spent. They purged all the old transactions when they changed their website a few months back, so who knows.
Feel shitty to have misguided people though, will edit my post.

 

By the way they really changed their models in term of sales. Used to be buying bundles, acquas at launch, to get bigger voucher, etc. They sold them much more expansive. I got the Comp Mastering Pack that they sold at 45% of the value of the separated plugs (so Acquamarine, Ultramarine and back then Pink was sold in two different packages, they weren't as generous, the strip was separated from the comp and multi comp unit which were the ones in the bundle) for 450€. Today the three products all include additional units (pink strip has been fused with the comps, the strip was worth like 150 then), both Acquamarine and Ultra have eqs in addition, ultra has also a strip and a verb ! The total during BF for those unit is 200 euros, before any voucher apply ! It would have taken the voucher I have now on the bundle I bought then to have a similar price.
They want to get in every studio, everywhere, also brought big names in (Wells, Pensado) to make some noise, be among the popular kids.

 

Yes that seems like their strategy, but after using their plugins for a while, I think these are really good and add something that was missing from almost all the other comparable plugins I used before.
About mastering, what would you recommend for modern dance and pop? Looking to get something for the mastering as the next plugin

 

I've read in another forum that some coupons are still being sent. So Acustica Audio decided to hold the sale on for a couple more days.
But it's also mentioned that any moment, potentially, could be the end of it..

Edit: That was really quick: I already got the loyalty program coupon (15%, coz I've spent EUR 1-200). Thanks AA!
Too bad I can't use it for Pensado EQ.
Maybe I go for DIAMOND - COLOR EQ 3, DIAMOND - LIFT 2 or SCARLET4 (but probably not, since it's mostly for mastering and think I better focus on mixing) and Ebony or another Channel Strip.

 

Last edited: Dec 7, 2019

What did you get so far?

 

Lift 2 and scarlett 4 are indeed more aimed toward mastering. Diamon EQ 3 is awesome, Ebony too. Hard to pick, . Vastly different though, so pick according to what you need the most. Diamond EQ is just an eq (dope pre included in the unit), more precise than ebony and less colorfull, probably better for genre like EDM if you want to make slight adjustement and not really change the coloring of your source, specially since you already have Gold3, very colorfull like Ebony. Much more usable in term of CPU too, diamond behaves almost like any non AA plugins, you can load as much as you want (well if you have a relatively modern computer). But it's just an EQ. Ebony is an incredible bundle, the compressors (check the "D82" ) - it even has an expander - and the reverb are incredible. 8 different pre, in a separated unit if need be. So really up to your needs.

There are three really orientated mastering bundles at AA (at least sold as such) : Coral 2 (didn't really add anything with the update, just latest core implemented), Ivory 4 and Scarlett 4. Also very different packages. For your genre needs (mordern dance mostly), and just for that right now, Ivory seems to fit the bill. The dynamic eq and multiband compressor seem like must haves. It's also probably the most precise, for the eq, for mastering duties in modern genres it's probably better.
The three have Mid/side mode, in coral only in the strip.
In term of color, to me it goes from the most colorfull to the most precise : from Coral to Ivory, Scarlett being in the middle.
Scarlett is the smaller package, no compressor, separate pre, just two eq units, so I don't know if it qualifies. They are wonderfull eq units. It adds color but in a very gentle way. It can be precise too.
Coral 2 is dope but I don't really know if it qualifies for mastering duties despite the fact that they sell it as such. Great for the mix stage. The EQ is colorfull, baxandall filters, I love it, but it might be a bit much. The compressor is the most versatile (the response curve can be 100% coral curve or a mix of its curve with the ones of ultramarine (fairchild), acquamarine (shadow hill) or sand (ssl), very special comp, unique in what it does. Three pre, that go from slightly colorfull to drasticaly colorfull, really not something for mastering, not that it can't be used else where. Something that's cool for mastering, and only present in Coral is the advanced elliptical filter (which you get also in an individual unit, not just in the strip), it allows you to adjust the width of your source (from mono to wide) up to 360 Hz. Very cool.
If you need just a mastering compressor than you should also check Lift 2. Well it's a bit more than that, but it qualifies.

 

Last edited: Dec 7, 2019

@Ceja I got Gold, Taupe and Lemon
@Talmi what else can I say as what I've said before?? Very helpful! Thank you very much!

 

@au38wzh: Awesome have fun with them!
@Talmi: Thanks so much for your help! I was actually really looking at Coral2 and would love to get that.
I also checked out El Rey and I really really like it. So smooth and warm. I actually think it could be a great addition, also for electronic/dance music, because it can "clean" up a bit and add something organic and real to it. Do you have experience with it and can recommend it? I actually did not spend anymore but I can get it for around 100€ with that coupon.

 

@Ceja what did you get so far?
I'll probably go for two more: Ebony and Crimson. Probably no EQ's at the moment. I'll look at the EQ's again if I'll get a lower price. The same for El Rey.

 

I have to agree with you regarding Coral 2. Played with it for several days and its better for boosting than deducting but even with boosting its kind of hazy, also i dont know how to put it but its one of those plugins where its not clean and its not colorful clean, its sort of too dirty colorful for mastering on what ive tried.
I dont like the Q ratios, the curves affect the neighboring frequencies too much and you cant go surgical with it, its very choosy of the material.
The many tools included are great, especially the epilyptical and baxandall.

In both cases i chose SPL Iron from PA over Coral because its fatter gives you more body and that rounded pro sound.

Also compression is not a strong point of Acquas, Peterick still makes better compressors for Nebula that react more realistically, not jerky. AA compressors can be very picky of the source you are putting trough, some have a very, very narrow sweet spot.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 8, 2019

Yeah El Rey is litteraly their king compressor. It is unique and incredible, gotta hand it to them and Wells (well and mostly the original unit the RCA-BA-6A limiting amplifier). Smooth and warm perfectly nails it, it adds a nice bottom end (probably the included pre imo) and does its thing in a very natural elegant way. Old school compression style, very efficient almost with anything (Violet included in Nebula 4, and the Pearl Compressor are like that too I find).
No way to go wrong with this one, I simply don't quote it because even on sale it's still pretty expensive. Probably won't go any lower at any future sale, it created a big buzz so they probably sell it well, and it's an endorsed product so Acustica has less margin regarding its pricing policy for it.

 

I hope they change a few stuffs in coral future versions too. Was disappointed by V2 which was more kind of a fix (the echo bug, better cpu use, etc) than anything.
Getting there with the comps and the latest updates make them almost on par with some of the Pethering offering.
And not just Pethering shines on comp. Have you tested Brighton, a new N4 library ? That thing is just pure gold.
I'm not sure the jerky thing is related to the acquas itself which are just some kind of host for a bunch of nebula snapshot, or how they sample, etc. It's really the default settings they choose - that you can edit if you install your acquas in the form of N4 lib (well if you have N4 pro) - to meet the needs of the most consumers, in cpu use, the reactions of the plugs, the meters, etc. They all have the same tools to do the work (sampling, rendering, etc) albeit in different versions, but there is margin in the result for the final product.
Well I think anyway.

 

Thanks for your feedback guys. I definitely need to demo Coral2 in detail.
About El Rey. I am actually really tempted to get it and read up on a lot of experiences. I feel for electronic music and that little boost in the lows it might not be the best choice for the mixbus, more on vocals/synths and maybe on bass if the bass needs a bit of boosting. On the other side it really gives some depth and warmth, that is not really evident, but when you switch it off it just feels like something is missing. And I don`t know many compressors that do that to be honest. On a pop track it just sounded really amazing without much tweaking, just making it sound really "expensive" sounding. For these electronic tracks, especially when everything is made ITB, I feel it could add something warm and some space to bring them more to life. Do you have experience with that? If it would be like 50-60€ I would definitely get it. But over 100 € is even with that heavy discount, still a lot!
And Diamond Color EQ3 is also still on my list, pretty much different than El Rey. So many great plugins, so little money left :D How would you compare Diamond Color EQ3 and the Pensado EQ? Would the Pensado EQ also cover what the Diamond EQ does? The Diamond EQ I could get for 80€.

@au38wzh Have Sand, Magenta, Taupe and Navy.

 

Last edited: Dec 7, 2019

Havent tested Brighton, hear very good things about it.
They could do a lot better with Coral if you look at some of the winners like Gold, Pink, Cream......Quickly tested tested magenta the other day, yeah, thats more like it.
I didnt know you could edit them in N4.

 

It's the included pre that does that, the depth (it changes the stereo image), the warmth (it filters a bit the high freq, adds a bass boost). You don't even have to compress, it just does that as soon as you insert. All the pre do that in the acquas, albeit more or less drastically and each with its own flavor. I say that, but all together it's actually quite subtil what pres do (as long as you don't stack many in your projects), but compare the individual units of the acquas you already have (sand and navy have awesome ones) your ears will end up catching more details of wat it does.
Diamond EQ 3 pre is cool too. Pensado EQ has some elements that are like diamond, in the spirit it's the same type of eq (more for modern stuffs), but some bands are actually different sampled hw units owned and tweaked by Pensado. So some bands are unique. The two pres present are very, very heardable. I really love the high pass on this thing, also I think I prefer the high mid band in pensado's (also offers more fequencies), more musical.I like them both very much. The high band is really awesome in Diamond EQ, think I prefer it to Pensado's. Use to use PA maag eq 4 for that area, for vocals, accoustic instruments, to bright things up and add sparkles. But diamond does this much more naturaly, it's impressive.