Nigel Amp Modeling Plug-In Released

Nigel (Click for a close-up)

Mackie Designs Inc. and Universal Audio Inc. demonstrated two new software plug-ins for the popular UAD-1 Powered Plug-Ins Pro product; the Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer and the Nigel Guitar Processor.

Both of these plug-ins will be offered free of charge to registered UAD-1 users. "Nigel" will be available to Windows users at the end of February, with the Pultec following at the end of March. Both plug-ins will also be available for the Macintosh platform later in 2002.

"It's very exciting for us to be able to offer this dramatic new functionality to our customers," stated Jamie Engen, President and Chief Executive Officer at Mackie Designs Inc. "It really shows the level of commitment Mackie and Universal Audio have to support UAD-1 customers."

In designing the Pultec plug-in, Universal Audio performed detailed analyses of the signal path and equalization characteristics of selected well-maintained, in-spec Pultec EQP-1A program equalizers regularly used in the studio. A "golden unit" was selected, and the resulting model reproduces the measured equalization and signal path characteristics to within a fraction of a dB mean error for all knob settings.

All of the unique features of the original Pultec Program EQ are included in the plug-in, including the separate boost and attenuation controls, the smooth, sweet top end, and the ability to dial in seemingly dangerous amounts of boost without getting into trouble. All front panel controls are included, and all of the knob tapers are accurately modeled. The Pultec has long been a choice of recording and mastering engineers for its ability to bring out individual frequency ranges without significantly altering other frequencies. In addition, the Pultec is one of those magical pieces of gear that makes audio program sound better just by passing through it. The sophisticated modeling technology used in the Pultec EQP-1A plug-in captures both of these key attributes.

The "Nigel" Guitar Processor offers the next generation of guitar processing technology integrated into a complete multi-effects plug-in solution. Nigel delivers a complete pallet of guitar tones, along with most every effect a guitar player might need, from the "Clean & Warm" California tube sound to more metal soaked "British" tones. Nigel's Preflex* advanced 'guitar amp' modeling technology also offers variable morphing between any two amp presets, truly bringing creative guitar voicing to the next level.

Classic effects include: gate/compressor; phasor (modeled after the Mutron Bi-Phase, Small Stone and MXR series of phasors); mod filter, capable of wah, auto-wah, and envelope follower effects (modeled after the Mutron III and other popular filters); tremolo (with Classic, Shimmer and VariTrem modes); fade-in (for gorgeous swells, and reverse tape effects); modulated delays (capable of chorus, flange and vibrato); and an echo delay with up to 1200ms of delay time.

As with Universal Audio's CS-1 channel strip, Nigel can also be divided into individual Plug-Ins for unprecedented DSP and creative efficiency. Each Nigel module includes UA's proven 'smoothing' algorithm for zipper free automation of all parameters, and Ultra Dither for maximum signal quality.