Baby Audio launches new studio plugin Crystalline

BABY Audio has unveiled Crystalline, a new algorithmic studio reverb packed with innovative features for the modern mixer.

Following on from TAIP, BABY Audio's AI-powered tape emulation plugin which Headliner reviewed in September, Crystalline lets users hard-sync the reverb attack and decay time to their DAW’s tempo, generally resulting in cleaner mixes where the reflections are naturally in sync with the music.

For the classic experience, there is a “Sync/MS” switch whereby Crystalline lets users set pre-delay and decay times in milliseconds instead.

Crystalline includes a number of controls that can be used to shape your sound:

In the Reflections section, “Size” lets you set the room size from tiny to large. This control is detached from the “Length” control, meaning you can get any size/length combination you want, including esoteric settings like huge spaces with very short tails or tiny spaces with very long tails.

“Sparkle” emphasises high frequencies inside the reverb algorithm. This generates reflections that are naturally brighter, helping to achieve that extra shine on vocals or snares. “Width” meanwhile lets you set the stereo image of the reverb from mono to wide – and even further to extra wide.

In the Depth section, “Resolution” sets the complexity of the algorithm from ‘basic’ to ‘pristine’. More complex settings will give you an ultra-clean reverb response, free of metallic artifacts – while the ‘Basic’ setting will give you an efficient CPU performance at a normal fidelity.

“Modulation” creates pitch variations inside the reverb algorithm, resulting in a richer sound that works especially well to fatten up synths, guitars and vocals.

“Shimmer” makes the high frequencies of the reverb tail decay slower than the rest of the spectrum, giving the reflections an ‘angelic halo’ effect. You can set the frequency cutoff point as well as the multiplier effect, which controls how much longer it takes for the higher frequencies to decay. Please note that if Shimmer is active, the high frequencies will decay later than your specified reverb “End Time” (either at 2x, 4x or 6x the length).

Crystalline also features a Clean-Up section, with Damping, Sides, and Gate controls; a Shape section with Tone, Smoothing, and Transients controls; an Output section with Ducker, Ducker Gentle, Reverse, Freeze, and Dry/Wet modes, along with a top panel featuring GUI settings.

Crystalline also comes loaded with more than 300 presets created by BABY Audio and friends of the house - including:

* Damian Taylor (Bjork, The Prodigy, The Killers, Arcade Fire)

* Michele Canova (John Legend, Alicia Keys, Olly Murs)

* Eric J Dubowsky (Flume, St. Vincent, Chet Faker, Kygo)

* Matt Sim (Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Gucci Mane)

* M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Demi Lovato)

Crystalline is available now at an introductory offer of $49 (usually $99). The plugin is compatible with VST, VST3, AU and AAX formats as well as with the Mac M1.

Baby Audio has since released the new IHNY-2 compressor plugin, which it promises is the 'hardest hitting compressor plugin in the industry'.