Arturia FX Collection 6: New Effects & Affordable Intro Version
▼ Summary
– Arturia launched FX Collection 6, which includes two new plugins: EFX Ambient and the vintage-modeled Pitch Shifter-910.
– The new Pitch Shifter-910 plugin recreates the glitchy, characterful sound of the 1974 Eventide H910 and is not designed for transparent pitch-shifting.
– EFX Ambient is an unpredictable ambient effects plugin featuring six distinct modes, including reverbs, resonators, and glitch processing, with an X/Y pad for sound movement.
– A new $99 Intro version offers six versatile core effects, but excludes the two new plugins and many specialty mixing and saturation tools found in the $499 Pro version.
– The full FX Collection 6 Pro now contains 39 effects, representing significant growth since 2020 and building a reputation for high-quality, albeit not yet top-tier, software.
Arturia’s FX Collection 6 has arrived, bringing two innovative new plugins and a more accessible entry point for producers. The latest update to this comprehensive effects suite introduces EFX Ambient and Pitch Shifter-910, while also launching a budget-friendly Intro version priced at $99. This scaled-down package includes six core effects, offering a solid foundation for those not ready to invest in the full 39-plugin Pro collection, which carries a $499 price tag.
Pitch Shifter-910 meticulously recreates the legendary Eventide H910 Harmonizer. This isn’t a clean, modern pitch-shifting tool. Instead, it faithfully captures the original unit’s distinctive, sometimes chaotic, digital character from 1974. Users can expect the iconic glitchy artifacts and that famous “chipmunk” effect at higher pitch settings. Arturia has included a modernized mode that smooths out some of the rougher edges, though purists might argue this also reduces the plugin’s unpredictable charm and playful spirit.
The other newcomer, EFX Ambient, lives up to its name but in creatively unexpected ways. It provides vast, ethereal reverbs and shimmer effects, yet also incorporates more experimental elements like resonators, glitch processors, and reverse delays. The plugin features six unique modes, each with its own sonic signature, all routed through a lush, washable reverb tail. A central X/Y pad allows for real-time manipulation, adding dynamic movement and evolution to any sound source.
These two flagship effects are exclusive to the Pro collection. The new FX Collection 6 Intro version focuses on versatile, bread-and-butter processing. It includes Efx Motions, Efx Fragments, Mix Drums, Tape Mello-Fi, Rev Plate-140, and Delay Tape-201. This selection capably handles essential tasks like delay, reverb, lo-fi tape emulation, modulation, and granular synthesis. The primary trade-off is the absence of dedicated saturation tools, bus processing effects, compressors, and more niche reverbs and delays, such as the Lexicon 224-inspired Rev LX-24.
While the $499 ask for the complete Pro suite is significant, its value has grown substantially. The library has expanded from 15 effects in 2020 to the current 39, making it a more compelling package. Although the FX Collection may not yet command the same universal acclaim as Arturia’s renowned V Collection of synthesizers, it is steadily building a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, character-rich audio effects for modern music production.
(Source: The Verge)