In this article and video, Paul Maunder explores McDSP’s recent v7 updates to the plugins that he uses in his post production work including Futzbox, NF-575, NR-800, MC202 and SA-2, among others.
McDSP recently updated their suite of plug-ins to version 7. This update brings new, high definition user interfaces along with Apple Silicon support, over 1500 new presets and several new features in many of the plug-ins. As a long term user of McDSP plug-ins in my post-production work, I was pleased to find out that version 7 now includes two activations per licence or subscription so I can easily jump between my main computer and my laptop. Several of the plug-ins I use on a regular basis also have new features which I’ve detailed below.
Futzbox has a new Tuned Intensity mode which allows more low end to survive the distortion processing. It also gains a Chop control which eliminates inter-cycle signal level ranges to create a new kind of distortion. Another new control in Futzbox is Wobble. This allows for low frequency modulation of distortion characteristics and works particularly well when paired with the Tuned Intensity mode.
The SA-2 dialog processor has a new Frequency Shift control which allows you to move the processing up or down by up to one octave. This frequency shift control is also found in the DE555 de-esser. Also in SA-2 is the new Range control. This makes it easy to adjust the overall amount of processing being applied without having to adjust each band’s threshold. The new feature which I’ve found the most useful in the SA-2 is the Monitor button which allows you to audition the signal being removed. Finally, the SA-2 has new metering modes including input, output and gain reduction metering.
Several plug-ins have gained a new real time analyser in version 7 including AE400, AE600, ML4000, ML8000, Channel G, Channel G Compact and NF575.
All of these new features improve upon what was already an excellent set of plug-ins. Check out my video to see some of the McDSP plug-ins in action on a post-production session.