Next up, we have the latest version (3.10) of:

CamelPhat 3

CamelPhat has come a long way, and now boasts a new look, new effects and new controls.

Building on the original classic, version 3 provides further multi-effects for colouring and shaping sounds.

It features four distortion modules offering tones from warm to crunchy hell with aptly named controls like Bit Crusher, Tube etc., ideal for any sound treatment, but geared more towards guitar, bass and drums.

These modules add drive and presence, or gentle and controlled warmth, to any sound and are appended with additional armoury, boasting: a multi-mode filter, two LFOs, an envelope follower, an X-Y mod matrix, and an intelligent randomize function that maintains musical settings on trigger.

All these in addition to the original and classic ‘Magic EQ’ section, which takes low-end enhancement to a new level, a compressor, flanger and band-pass filter.

And if all that is not enough, Camel throw in 192 presets to get you going. 

In use

As with Space, Phat 3 also offers preset selection and saves etc.

Boasting 192 presets on call, you can simply call up a preset and edit it to taste and then resave it under a new name. That is, of course, if you do not want to build up new presets from scratch.

Have a listen to the presets provided as they do provide a good insight into what Phat can achieve.

CamelPhat features 6 different effect modules, with the signal flow as follows:

As with Space, you select a module by switching it to ‘On’. By deselecting On to Off, you bypass the module entirely.

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

BP Filter - Band Pass Filter

The band-pass filter allows for selecting both the low-pass and hi-pass filters, offering a range between 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

This offers controls for both low and high cutoff points, which can be adjusted independently or linked together for 'swept' EQ sounds.

BR Mix knob adjusts the level of the band reject signal. All the way to the left filters frequencies out of the signal, all the way right emphasis the signal and allows it to be processed with the rest of the modules.

Distortion

You have 4 different types of distortion and all or any can be used together.

Mech and Tube have been carried forward from version 2 and two new modules have been added; called Bit Crusher and XCita.

All these provide varying colours of distortion, with Tube providing a subtle overdriven analogue sound, to Bit Crusher providing a degraded and dirty digital signal.

Flanger

The flanger is a nice effect and has ‘amount’ and ‘rate’ to control it.

MM Filter (Multimode)

Whereas version 2 offered a simple Low-Pass filter, Phat 3 offers a complete Multi Mode Filter, identical to the one offered in Space.

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.

This is pretty much the same as CamelSpace.

Mod Matrix

Another improvement over version 2 is the addition of the Mod Matrix, much the same as Space.

Here, you can assign X and Y axis parameter selections, and play with the X-Y controller for mind bending manipulation of sound.

As the image below shows, you have extensive choice over the X and Y control. You simply select what parameter you want the X and Y axis to control and by moving the pinhead in the Matrix editor, you can simultaneously control both parameters.

You have a choice of 2 independent LFOs that can be routed to provide 2 different parameters that can be modulated simultaneously.

You can, of course, deselect either or both LFOs if you do not want them to be active.

‘Target’ selects which parameter you want the LFO to affect and ‘Shape’ determines the waveform shape used by the LFO.

There are 7 ‘shapes’; 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.
 

Magic EQ

In version 2, the Magic EQ had a simple Mix knob, but in Phat 3 you have 3 parameter controls; ‘Amount’ which controls the intensity of the effect. ‘Tune’ which allows certain frequencies to be emphasized and ‘P’ (Phat) which emphasizes lower frequency boost.

Originally, the Magic EQ was used primarily for phattening up drum sounds, but with the addition of the new controls, a variety of subtle to more dramatic low frequency boosts can be achieved.

For drums, it is in a class of it’s own.
 

Compressor
 

The compressor has a simple ‘amount’ and ‘release’ knob and offers a ‘P’ function for more ‘serious’ compression a la drums.

Although simple in presentation and functionality, this does not deter from the sheer quality and usability of this particular module.

It works, and it works really well.

Randomize

A function that randomly, yet musically, generates new settings for presets.

This, as with the Space plug-in, is an excellent function.

I spent an hour just generating new settings and then saving the ones that I liked.

Priceless.

Master

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
 

Camel Audio have succeeded, yet again, in producing a product that is extremely user friendly, whilst providing astonishing results.

The use of Midi Learn on all knob functions allows the whole world of sound manipulation to open up.

The Compressor and Magic EQ alone are worth nabbing this product for, but when you throw in all the other functions, well; you cannot go wrong with this gem.
 

Having reviewed both products now, I can wholeheartedly recommend that you purchase the bundle package, because at the costs that Camel have thrown up, you will not lose by buying both, certainly not for the difference in price in buying one and not the other.

Eddie Bazil (Zukan)

www.samplecraze.com 
 

CamelSpace and CamelPhat 3 are compatible with Windows ME, 2000 and XP and Mac OS X.

They cost £45 each or £79 for the pair direct from the Camel Audio web site as downloads, where you can also find demos of the plug-ins in use and download demo versions to try before you buy.

Go there now!