ModeAudio, renowned for their high-quality sample, preset, and MIDI packs (see our Sway and Sunset Electronic feature), has ventured into the plugin world with Airspace. Airspace is a hybrid convolution reverb and stereo delay effect plugin. Available in AU and VST formats for both Windows and Mac, Airspace offers a versatile sound design tool that combines the real-world character of convolution reverb with a dynamic stereo delay module and dedicated modulation section.
Key Features
- 3-Tier Processing Architecture: Airspace features a convolution reverb module, a stereo delay module, and a modulation section, providing extensive possibilities for sound manipulation.
- Convolution Reverb: The plugin includes 450+ impulse response samples, allowing users to mix and match different reverb flavors. These IRs are meticulously recorded in various environments, including a Grade I listed cathedral, a defunct nuclear reactor, and a submarine, as well as vintage digital, spring, and plate reverb hardware, analog drum machines, and experimental loops and SFX textures.
- Dual Convolution Reverb Engines: Users can combine two different IRs, offering endless combinations of reverb flavors. Each reverb module features full AHR envelop controls, predelay, envelope curve amount options, a 4-band EQ, and an IR Size dial to adjust the perceived size or length of the loaded IR.
- Stereo Delay Module: The delay module can be tempo-synched to the host DAW BPM and features crossfeed, separate high and low pass filtering options, and dedicated resonance dials. It also includes a ‘Link L + R’ button to convert the delay from stereo to mono.
- Modulation Section: The plugin allows for modulation of delay times and left and right channel panning using dedicated LFOs with 5 switchable shapes. A 4-octave pitch-shifter can be applied to and blended with the delayed signal, and placed either outside of or inside the delay loop for glissandi-like effects.
- 240+ Presets: Airspace comes with an extensive library of presets, organized into 6 folders: Ambient, Blur, Cosmos, Reflect, Transform, and Warp. Users can also save their own custom presets.
Creative Possibilities
Airspace is designed to cater to a wide range of sound design needs, from adding rich, natural reverbs to solo sound sources to creating all-out drone-fests from full mixes. The plugin’s versatility and extensive IR library make it an inriguing tool for producers looking to add depth and complexity to their productions.
Technical Specifications
- Formats: Available in VST (.vst3) and Audio Unit (.component) formats.
- Compatibility: Supported for use with Mac OS 10.13+ (both Intel and M1+ chips) and Windows 11+.
- DAW Compatibility: Compatible with all major Digital Audio Workstations, including Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Reason, and more.
- Installation Requirements: Requires 443MB (Mac) or 362.6MB (Windows) of hard drive space for installation.
Early Impressions
Airspace is indeed ModeAudio’s first plugin, but the company must have been working hard on it for quite a long time – I can’t think of other plugins that offer such a unique blend of convolution reverb and stereo delay effects, plus modulation capabilities!
Whether you’re looking to add subtle ambiance to your tracks or create complex, evolving soundscapes, Airspace looks like a valuable addition to any producer’s toolkit.
Best thing is, you can try Airspace with a 15-day free trial available on the ModeAudio website. What’s not to like?
