I love dynamics!

I love them to the point of obsession. The reason being is that you can always use sound manipulating tools and not be limited by fads or constrained by specified design architectures.

For these reasons alone, I am always scanning the net and magazines for new product releases, and when Camel sent me their latest products for review, well………joy was to be had.

Let’s not babble on and come straight to it.

First off, we have a new and potent gem called:
 

CamelSpace

For some reason I have always liked Camel’s approach to GUI presentation and layout. It always reminds me that I have a 3 dimensional product that is a little akin to a hardware equivalent. Sensible shading can always make a huge difference to the aesthetics of a product.

Camel describe this plug-in, which is currently at version 1.10 and works on both Windows and Mac OSX, as a ‘rhythmic multi-effect’.

If I had to conclude this review right now, that is exactly how I would describe it.

To me anything that is rhythmic in nature and can be synced is a winner.

However, this dynamic goes way beyond that.

It is the level of manipulation and control that puts this plug-in up there with the best of them.

As a sound designer I particularly like products that have detailed parameter control and offer me numerous ways of manipulating those parameters, and in this department Camel have thoughtfully given us a 128 step sequencer with control over panning, filter cut-off and volume, a Trance Gate, an X-Y pad which can be routed for numerous X axis and Y axis morphing setups, and a healthy array of simultaneous effects, both standardized and manic , some of which are: reverb, stereo delay, enhancer, flanger, auto-panner and multi-mode filter. Add to that, a randomize function that generates musical settings which can then be stored as your own presets, adding to the 3 banks of 64 presets (making a total of 192 presets) that Camel offer. And let’s not forget 2 LFOs to give further sound shaping control. Used subtly, these LFOs can provide fluid movement to any sound, or used manically, can provide off the wall effects and sounds. Use with care.

Keeping in line with Camel’s standards, this plug-in behaves extremely well and is not limited to just what it says on the tin, but can be used as a musical tool.

The results are always as you would want, and the added bonus of some real surprises is harboured in the architecture of this dynamic.

Do not let the word ‘trance’ force this product into that genre.

This is a very useful plug-in, and for me personally, a keeper for all genres.

In use

As you can see from the image above, the Space is extremely easy to use and very hands on.

I think it is this simplicity that is so attractive.

All the functions are laid out in a sensible and simple order, with controls being defined as simply as possible, usually using no more than 2 – 4 knobs per function.

You can switch a function on or off, apply the necessary processing, and in some cases, use drop down menus for preset or controller selections, or for shape definitions as in the filter, filter mod, auto-pan etc.

You can also use ‘midi learn’ by clicking on any knob, selecting ‘Midi Learn’ and assigning a controller to it by transmitting controller data.

The beauty of this plug-in is the amount of link facilities it has available, and the quality and performance of some of it’s functionality is extremely good.

Everything can be synced to tempo, but the real strength of this gem is the step sequencer and what can be done with it

Step Sequencer

You have 16 steps in a basic sequence. You can also have up to 8
of these basic sequences, called patterns that can be chained together. This can make for some detailed and exquisite effects manipulation, building exotic and extreme sequences, all in one run.

Patterns are played as repeating loops and the pattern length can be adjusted using the Length knob.

You can edit each sequence and chain any number together, or you can copy and paste sequences to other pattern destinations and have these triggered in serial. What does all this mean?

Well, psychosis is one answer, or seductive articulations over time are another.

The sequencer can be assigned to control Pan, T-Gate (trance gate), Filter, and Filter Modulation through the filter mod section using Seq as source.

You have control over each step of each sequence, and you can sequence all or any combination of the above by simply switching them on and assigning the necessary values. You can even drag the bars up or down to control the volume of each step in the step editor.

You can ‘link’ steps together to form a sort of ‘legato’ effect or leave them on as individual steps.

It is actually that simple. You can create a preset or load a preset of pre-defined sequencing information, or use the drop down menu and make changes from there.

Even the step sequencer has it’s own dynamic controls in the form of envelope editing.

Finish that off with the ‘shuffle’ knob, that introduces a swing element to the pattern, and you have a serious little weapon there.

If you thought the step sequencer was funky, well you haven’t even begun to eat up what the mod matrix throws out.

Mod Matrix

The drop down menu above clearly shows the amount of X and Y axis parameters you have at your fingertips. In the above image, the X axis menu is showing, and the pinhead of the matrix editor is at the top left of the X-Y matrix screen, where I put it as my start point for some manic sound bending…he..he.

The X axis pane is immediately below the X-Y grid editor and below that lays the Y axis pane. This makes for some simple and quick editing, another clever ergonomic design from Camel. By using the left and right cursors any number of parameters can be selected for some manic sound mangling madness.

I actually don’t even know why I am explaining all this. The ergonomics and architecture of Space is so easy and intuitive, that all I am doing is wasting space here (no pun). Ok, maybe a little

The Effects

Space offers 8 different effects modules and the flow diagram below shows their order

Is basically an on and off volume switch, controlling the amplitude of the incoming signal. Once linked to the sequencer, the Trance Gate becomes a stuttering monster. Trance heads will be happy bunnies.

Enhancer

The enhancer has 2 simple effects, each with a single parameter.

Xcita

Xcita concentrates on providing presence by introducing bright harmonic distortion in the higher frequencies. We are not talking about a detailed Exciter dynamic with oodles of editing functions, but about a single on/off and knob turn effect that actually works surprisingly well. This is a testament of Camel’s coding and engineering architecture, building on simplicity but providing functions that do what they say on the tin

SoftSat

Is used to add warmth and punch and emulates an overdriven hardware analogue dynamic. This is pretty much how Camel describes it. This feature is a simple one and used in conjunction with the enhancer, it can sound very good indeed.

You have to remember that these features have their functionality based on simplicity and are not branded as particular emulators, but developed with their own colour. This is why I like the way Camel produce their plug-ins. They do not purport to emulate a particular branded product, but to emulate the function.

AutoPan

This has slightly more detailed control over it’s parameters.

All the parameters are self explanatory but the one I want to mention in more details is Shape. This allows for selecting the way the Autopan pans. Sine will give it a fluid and even sweep from one side of the stereo field to the other whereas Random Square will jump the sound around all over the stereo field, and the speed of this movement is governed by the Rate knob. There are 7 envelopes, or Shapes as Camel like to call them, to choose from.

MM Filter (Multimode)

The MM Filter allows for selecting a number of different types of filters.

These include: Band Pass and Band Pass Fat, High Pass, Low Pass and Low Pass Fat, Notch, Comb, Ring Mod and Peaking. Loads there to get your teeth stuck into.

As Camel Audio have experience in filter coding, it was no surprise to find that the Low Pass and Fats all behaved nice and ‘thickly’, particularly for low frequency sounds.

This is not to say that the other filters were not good, on the contrary, I found them all to be pleasantly coloured.

But for me it is the Filter Mod section that I got more excited by.

Filter Mod

Filter Mod is a separate function that allows control over the cut-off of the selected filter.

The Shape selection is the same as for the Autopan. The Lfo is directly linked to the shape chosen, but is switched off when Seq is selected. In this instance the step sequencer defines the Shape’s behavior.

Flanger

Does what it’s supposed to. However, I found the effect to be pleasantly warm as opposed to harsh and metallic. Again, a testament to Camel’s coding.

Used with the Delay and Filter, this effect really starts to sound fat.

Stereo Delay and Reverb both behaved suitable well. The Reverb offered is not the most transparent, and is not meant to be, but is nicely coloured. It does afford good spatial qualities. It has 2 simple control; Size and Mix. Size determines the room size etc. and Mix determines the mix of wet and dry signals. You do not have any further control over diffusion, feedback, HF damp etc., so it is limited in control.

The Stereo Delay offers decent long delay times and also allows independent control over the L and R channels and is, of course, syncable.

That leaves us with the Master section.

This has 3 simple parameters; ‘On’ which acts as a bypass when depressed to Off. ‘Volume’ which controls the output gain of Space, and ‘Mix’ which controls the wet/dry mix of the output.

Conclusion

I find CamelSPace to be a great little plug-in that carries an armoury of delights. It can be used for sublime and ethereal effects, or for manic off the wall effects.

Each function and parameter is clearly labeled and incredibly easy to use. The plug-in behaves very well and each function performs admirably, to the point where they can be used in isolation.

Packed with presets, both supplied by Camel Audio and by third parties, you are never left for templates. In fact, the plug-in could live completely on it’s own just by using the Randomize function and saving each setting as a preset.

You really can’t ask for more from a product, and at the price that Camel Audio are asking for this baby, well it’s a given.

Eddie Bazil (Zukan)

www.samplecraze.com

Read on for part 2 in which we review the CamelPhat 3!