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From Acustica Audio:
Magenta is the best mastering equalizer that we have ever designed. It is inspired by a famous equalizer used on a daily basis in countless audio applications. We were so smitten with this hardware that we tried to turn it into a software that would do it justice, trying to improve it as much as we could. The beauty of the sound processed in the analog domain combined with the new digital precision resulted in an amazing product that tops anything we have done so far.

Acustica Audio has been working in the software modelling of high-quality analog hardware devices for over seven years. Its audio rendering engine, Acqua, embodies the state of the art of sample-based products and has set a new quality standard in the audio plug-in market.

We used what we consider to be the best cables and converters on the market, we measured a mastering unit in excellent conditions, and employed skilled experts in our sampling process.
The result is a two-channel, four-band parametric equalizer with a stepped frequency selector, complete with a preamp section and whose sound is complete and flawless.


Further information:

We are not known for our CPU efficiency or low latency;
We are known for our incredible sound.

We use a brute-force method and our motto is to model even what cannot be perceived. Just keep in mind that what today is called indistinguishable by other producers is later proven wrong, when an ever more demanding market calls certainties into question in search of new standards and walls to be demolished. Our philosophy is to ask a few questions and model even what seems to be useless today, in order to be better competitors in the long run.

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Further technical details:

• This device uses design strengths from choice console, parametric, graphic, and Pultec Eqs, delivering a fundamentally different sounding Eq that is beyond compare;
• Two bands are switchable from shelf to bell, and from boost to cut; the other two bands are only switchable from boost to cut;
• It features filter curves, distortion and hysteretic behaviour;
• The specially tuned fixed frequencies overlap and interleave between all adjoining Eq bands;
• The tone shaping elements of the original equalizer it was inspired by use only resistors, inductors, and capacitors to create all frequency changes.

Available for WIN/MAC 10/01/2014

MORE INFO HERE: Acustica Audio Magenta Mastering EQ

 

Am I colorblind or it should be named PurpleEQ ?
Looking forward to try it, I can only imagine what Nebula technology + Manley sampling can be. Awesome I wonder.
I use their free RedEQ and like it a lot. *yes*

 

i agree

 

This looks sweet. Thanks a lot for the info.

 

Nebula main trouble (and i use it since the beginning) is complexity.
Complexity to set options, to install, to tweak generic faders...a real geek plugin

But since they make plugins with ACQUA engine, with specific GUI, specific tweakings already set and more...Nebula gain more public.
Even Nebula compressors sound nice, since 2 years. And reverbs are the best, especially mechanical ones (spring, plate, tank...) because of dynamic capture.

I'm still eager against Steven Slate, who stole shamelessly the Volterra Kernel idea from Acustica Audio...and even stole AlexB consoles by "converting" them into their VCC. They didn't even captured their own consoles. And not a dime to AlexB, of course...

Now things are going to change, and i'm happy Acustica made the right choice moving to ACQUA engine, from Nebula "generic" concept

 

Damn right, I also prefer these plugs instead of the main program...
And I bought it and haven't used it since- way too clumsy.

 

Yeah, Steve is an @ssh0le, can't stand him.
Nebula guys (Italians like me), are really humble people, Alex is a maniac for perfection, he find a way to mod a vintage pultec and make it sound even better. And really fair priced too.
He just can't keep something like it is. Always improving stuff.
And indeed, these aqua plugs will hopefully bring them more audience, they deserve and the sound is just wow.
Nothing comparable till now.

My only concern is that this, being called mastering EQ, will require an i7 quad machine to run one instance.
But that's the price for that sound, I will happily live with it.

 

For the record, they made really big improvements in _fast_ compressors in the last few weeks, and they have posted samples of the upcoming project to release a standalone plugin version of a 1176 sampling, that can go even faster than the real thing.

With the whole focus on those standalone plugins they really adressed the workflow / usability of Nebula, while making sure that the sampling of the device comes through perfectly without having to mess with settings and the likes. Even latency and CPU has improved a lot (although CPU still can be a big hit compared to other stuff). I like the direction it's going with them. If this Manley works the way they say it works I'm guessing it's going to be huge .

And yes, there are still a lot of people who don't like it or don't find it worth the hit, which is perfectly understandable and fine

 

Wow, i didn't know that. And beside that, they even use an Ilok2 protection for "borrowed" quality.
And they praise so much "Fabriel Gabrice" algorithm. I guess the artist "Will I Am" do kickass algorithms too. (If you know what i mean)

 

It's just a business model.
Making meh stuff and selling it as the new shit reaching masses thanks to overhyping and vip endorsers
VS
making awesome stuff, stay humble and with feet on the ground but reach a little niche of enthusiasts.

The first pay more, but it also create lot of unsatisfied customers. I say cause I know many people who regret to have bought Slate stuff.
Many are happy too, cause something is also good, but all-around their business model is a crap.
The second let you sleep better at night, at least if it was me.

 

Damn copylefter me and you are eye to eye on so much. Steven Slate is a douche, man I hate that guy.

 

To make it short, Slate dev bought Nebula and Alexb consoles (at first, but probably more since) to "study" them. Using his name, without cheating.
It is not a problem. They all do that.

But Alex caught them in the act on GearSlutz : he made a spectrum comparison between HIS libraries and corresponding VCC consoles...and they was a perfect match, even on bad ones (like the famous "BBE not bypassed error")
Every console is different, every channel is different, every moment you capture is different...especially when Alex change components and tweak them.Like fingertips, spectrum perfect match is a proof.

Thread was, of course with KVR or GS, removed to avoid commercial conflicts.

There is the only leftover :
GS

Alex was not so upset about VCC being a concurrent product, or they bought their product...until they digitally captured HIS own programs made on HIS own consoles channels
They put the original Nebula channel first, and used their own capture tools to capture an (almost) perfect copy of the original programs. Like recording from digital to digital, even if a different engine based on similar behavior.

It is not like capturing a real console, but more like capturing a sample or an IR : stealing using an almost perfect digital copy.
Alex can't sue them, because program "recapture" is not 100% code copy. And Slate is a big company, too. May be Alex is not the kind of man to do that, too. But he was upset for a good reason.

They want ppl to forget, but we are not on KVR or GS here

 

@ Cat
@ Pipotron3000
I was just going to tell the same story you explained about VCC

Even better, back in the day when VCC was about to be released, Nebula announced a free
plug-in, the iDesk VC4K, saying they were going to release it at the same time with VCC.
(it was never released, I still don't know if it was just a joke to set Slate's ass on fire or what )

It was meant to emulate a VCC Console (the 4K, SSL 4000 library stolen from AlexB), with the target to make
the emulation of Slate sofware sound better than Slate software itself
Anyway, it never got released, and every trace of the KVR forum thread explaining in detail the affair suddenly disappeared (in KVR style ).
The only trace left is this GS Thread

Hare how it was going to look like.


Even if it was just a joke it was just great, and planned very well

 

No no, wait matt
He bought it in the literal sense. Like me and you can go and buy Nebula for our own use,
then he somehow reverse engineered it
Actually he just sampled it with his own technology. Buying an AlexB library cost few bucks,


Luckily the VVKT is patented and its Acustica Audio own technology, renting a real SSL 4000
for maybe a couple weeks to do the sampling costs several hundreds, and you have to find someone
that let you open his 100K$ SSL and tear it apart, if you want to do a thorough job emulating circuits.

A whole new concept in emulation and audio processing. Slate don't know even how it works, he's too stupid.
AFAIK Slate still use something that may be compared to nebula sampling, that's why they were able to sample AlexB SSL console library.
If they were working 100% with algos like i.e. Softube, that wouldn't have been possible cause they measure and create digital models of the circuits.

(actually I think he just put his name on it, I doubt he ever touched a line of code, all algos are from Fabrice Gabriel and for then the coding is done by Fabrice and other coders)

 

Keep them coming and I'll keep buying.
Also a Nebula owner, I'm giddy about the major upgrades coming to Nebula 4.
Only one instance needed for a full library setup! Let's go already.

The impressive Aqua plugin line are roughly 3% of their doppleganger hardware cost.
So, you can get some of THE best sounding plugins for a ridiculously great price.
Listen, I don't have stock in them but man, these guys are my heroes.

The game changer has to be Magenta (Manley). That demo sounds AMAZING! Seriously, I LOVE that CoDee dude and the Magenta demo song! LOL
The hardware - software comparison sold me right off the bat. I could hear the "mastering eq" in context. Great idea to use it with a cool "modern" demo song style.
A full, deep, crisp and polished sound. Just like the original hardware. Cha-Ching!
Other manufactures have to be on high notice with this release.

With faster CPU's, SSD's, cheaper storage and a high demand for vintage gear,
Acustica Audio (7 yrs. old) is maturing nicely into what could be considered the most pivotal plugin manufacture since Waves.

 

Slate's plugs are 100% algo and anyway they don't sound near as good as AlexB's consoles.

 

Have an hour? Here's a review of the purple nurple. Or maybe that should be the Magenta Placenta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwW9Jz2c8k8

 

Is this guy in the video impersonating Steven Slate? Good job.