As an electronic music producer, I know firsthand how essential filters and movement are to crafting captivating sounds. That’s why I was excited to try out Denise Audio’s new Motion Filter plugin, a major upgrade on the company’s The Sweeper plugin.
As you might remember, the plugin brand Baby Audio (among our favorite “new generation” software companies, see our Spaced Out review, among many) acquired Denise Audio six months ago. They are currently working on a full revamp of the Denise catalog and Motion Filter is the second of this new course.
This state-of-the-art digital filter is designed to breathe life into static sounds, and after putting it through its paces in my studio, I can confidently say it delivers on that promise.
A Modern Take on a Classic Tool
Filters have been a staple of electronic music production since the early days of synthesis. From the iconic sweeps of acid house to the intricate modulations of modern bass music, the creative use of filters has defined entire genres. Motion Filter builds on this rich history with a streamlined, high-performance design that feels right at home in contemporary production workflows.
The plugin’s pristine resonant filter can operate in low-pass, high-pass, bandpass, and notch modes with slopes ranging from a gentle 12 dB/octave to a razor-sharp 96 dB/octave. This flexibility allows Motion Filter to excel on a wide range of sources, from adding subtle timbral shifts to vocals to transforming rigid loops into ear-catching mix elements.
Flexible Motion Options
What really sets Motion Filter apart is its two configurable motion modes. The classic Sweeper mode, carried over from Denise Audio’s original The Sweeper plugin, uses an envelope follower to create dynamic filter movements that respond to the input signal. This is perfect for adding punch and excitement to drums, basslines, and other percussive sounds.
The new LFO mode, on the other hand, uses a configurable waveform to create rhythmic filter modulations. With detailed parameters for shaping the LFO and the ability to sync to the host tempo, this mode opens up a world of creative possibilities for building evolving tonal shifts and pulsating textures.
Here you can watch a quick tutorial on Motion Filter:
Intuitive Interface
One of my favorite things about Motion Filter is its simple, modern interface. The plugin’s clean layout and clear visualizations make it easy to dial in the perfect sound quickly. I especially appreciate the ability to see the filter’s response curve change in real-time as I adjust the parameters – it gives me a clear sense of how my tweaks are affecting the sound.
The only thing I would improve is the preset browser’s implementation. There are no arrows on the main GUI to move among presets, so clicking on a preset is the only way to view the browser.
The problem is that you can’t visualize what the filter is doing at this point. To speed up the workflow, I would suggest adding the classic left and right arrows on the sides of the preset name, and maybe making the preset browser partially transparent. In any case, it’s not a dealbreaker, file under small niggles! Hopefully, we’ll see a fix in the next updates.
A Versatile Tool
In my early tests, I found Motion Filter to be a highly versatile tool. It’s great for adding interest and movement to static samples, breathing life into repeating loops, and even serving as a more surgical alternative to traditional sidechain compression. The plugin’s CPU efficiency and clean sound also make it a joy to use across a wide range of sources without worrying about muddying up my mix.
Pricing and Availability
Motion Filter is available now from Denise Audio’s website and other major retailers
Regular MSRP: $69 / €69 / £ 54
Intro price: $39 / €39 / £ 29
Owners of The Sweeper will be eligible for upgrade pricing at $25 / € 25 / £19.
Denise Audio Motion Filter – Final Thoughts
As an electronic music producer, I’m always on the lookout for tools that inspire me to create fresh, exciting sounds. Denise Audio’s Motion Filter delivers on that front with its flexible filter options, intuitive modulation system, and sleek interface. I’m happy to have it in my filter plugin collection. You can never have too many filters, right?
