Overview
Modalics is the brainchild of Eyal Amir & Or Lubianiker. Since launching their first plugin, Beat Scholar, they have consistently released brilliant and versatile audio plug-ins, quickly establishing a reputation for excellence in the industry.
Modalics’ Time Oddity Chorus is a modulation plugin that promises to enhance any track with its ability to blend classic and modern chorus effects. From gentle stereo widening to complex, layered soundscapes, this plugin offers a versatile range of modulation capabilities.
What Modalics Say
When we asked Or Lubianiker his thoughts about the plugin, he told us that Time Oddity Chorus “is a modulation plugin that’s meant to enhance just about any track you add it to, and get fairly easily from gentle stereo enhancement to full-blown detuned phaser-like craziness. We felt like we wanted to make an instantly gratifying plugin that once you add It to a track, you just don’t want to turn it off…
We felt most products of this sort out there fall either in exact models of well-known hardware or complex modulation suites. We tried splitting the difference by creating something that sounds distinct as a pedal/hardware device and operates as easily while benefiting from the flexibility offered by software…without going feature-crazy and making things over complicated.”
The proof is always in the sound, and this delivers in spades
Key Features
Four Distinct LFO Types
Time Oddity Chorus features four unique LFO options, allowing users to sculpt the modulation movement to their liking. Each LFO selection introduces a distinct modulation character, ranging from subtle undulations to vibrant waves.
Dynamic Voices Control
The “Voices” control is a powerful tool for shaping the depth and dimension of your sound. By dictating the number of times the processed audio is duplicated and modulated, users can navigate between wildly detuned yet focused tones and lush, expansive three-dimensional soundscapes.
Versatile Sound Shaping
With its ability to blend classic and modern modulation, Time Oddity Chorus is adept at everything from gentle stereo widening to creating complex, layered soundscapes, making it suitable for a wide range of musical genres and production styles.
Visual Feedback
Time Oddity Chorus features an advanced visualizer that not only serves as eye candy but also provides invaluable insight into how the effect modulates the audio signal. This visual feedback helps users intuitively understand the depth and movement being applied, enabling more informed adjustments and creative decision-making.
My Hands-On Experience
As a recording gear head, I was certainly excited to give this plug-in a spin. I am already familiar with Modalic’s MINDst Drums plug-in (review coming soon) which is outstanding, so I was curious to see if they could pull off the chorus plug-in with similar results.
Control Panel
Time Oddity Chorus looks clutter-free as you would expect but there are various functions to choose from which I found very useful. In particular, at the bottom right there are two master dials. The mix dial is crucial as you can fine tune how much of the chorus effect you want by adjusting from 100% down to the bare minimum. The Width slider allows how much chorus width you want whilst there are also welcome additions such as damp and high pass filters.
A chorus effect is essentially multiple delay lines running simultaneously together. In the middle section of Time Oddity Chorus, this is visually illustrated as you can see the delay lines running with each other. Changing settings will noticeably change these patterns, not that you would ultimately use this as a gauge instead of your ears, but it’s still a cool touch.
As you would expect there is rate and depth controls as well as being able to change the range of voices from 1, 2, 4 and 8. There is a warp button which will increase the depth even more. Finally a sync button is there to sync the chorus to the speed of a track, if required.
The middle section also has 4 different wave patterns to choose from as well as a Color slider. This Color slider is a combination of how the internal delay works in each of the voices and manipulates the delay time and feedback in an interesting way. Sliding the Color dial to the left makes the chorus sound more cold and dark. Sliding the dial all the way to the right creates a warmer sound and this works in combination with all the other controls.
Time Oddity Chorus In Action
The general layout of Time Oddity Chorus is nice and straightforward with no clutter going on at all. Presets range from acoustic guitar to synth.
I started with my vocal track as I am a fan of adding a chorus effect to a lead vocal. The vocal presets are all very nice and I found myself playing around with each control section to create very different sounding chorus effects on my voice.
Next, I used Time Oddity Chorus on a clean electric guitar track and managed to easily dial in lush, delay style effects. How about on drums? I am always a fan of a chorus effect on snare so putting Time Oddity Chorus on this certainly managed to instantly achieve a bigger sounding snare sound with added mojo.
Pushing the voices up to 8 really created depth to the snare sound. I also found that turning the mix and volume dials up on the master setting accentuated the depth of the sound.
I mentioned earlier about the master control being key with adding the amount of chorus effect on to the source, but another key setting is the Filters control.
There are two dials, damp and High pass filter. The high pass filter is always welcome to take control of Low end rumble. But the Damp effect I found extremely useful for making the source more or less analogue. Turning this dial up, seemed to accentuate an analogue signal, which is great if you are going for more vintage inspired vibes.
Pricing and Availability
Price:
- MSRP – $39, £30.5
- Intro Sale Price – $29, £23
Available in Modalics Bundle and Processing Bundle.
Compatibility: PC/MAC – VST | AU | AAX Formats Available
You can purchase Time Oddity Chorus directly from Modalics.
Time Oddity Chorus – Final Thoughts
There’s certainly no shortage of chorus and modulation plug-ins on the market (on the subject, see my recent Safari Pedals review). Yet, with Time Oddity Chorus, Modalics has managed to create a very versatile plug-in.
Turning dials will give seemingly endless different chorus effects, all in a very user-friendly control panel. The proof is always in the sound, and this delivers in spades.
Personally, my favorite thing about the Time Oddity Chorus is the ability to shape a vintage vibe into the sound with the magic dial being the Damp effect. It also doesn’t break the bank, coming in at an introductory price of $29.
