The Best Multi-Effects VST on Plugin Boutique

These creative effects each pack a host of options within a single plugin – which is the right one for your production style?

Some effects plugins are shamelessly singular in their focus: the EQ, the distortion, the analogue character compressor, and so on. Others take a different approach, questioning why, in an age of computer-based production and almost limitless DSP audio power, can’t we arm every plugin with a whole arsenal of effects firepower from granular reverbs to trance gates? And all “for the price of one”.

So in praise of the latter category, it’s time for us to salute some of the most notable multi-effects you can get on Plugin Boutique. Welcome to the party, Pal!
 

Excite Audio Motion: Harmonic

With its unique hexagonal control surface, Motion: Harmonic commands its main effects: a range of distortion, bitcrushing and filtering processes. 

That hexagon truly has to be used to be understood – controlling multiple parameters from each of the onboard effects from its six slider. Then, the cursor between those sliders can be set to attract or repel the sliders. And the cursor’s path can be programmed or performed into the plugin. OK, do you understand why you need to see it in action to understand it? Stop reading and watch this…

//embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_RSXMuoM1Y

Motion: Harmonic packs a serious punch in terms of playability. Even though there are ‘just’ three effects in there, the modulation and control potential that can combine them makes it a useful and creative plugin that will have you inspired.

Motion: Harmonic is available from Plugin Boutique.

Cableguys ShaperBox

The time-honoured draw-your-own-LFO plugin is widely trusted by many of today’s top dance music producers (and David Guetta) for good reason: ShaperBox lets you take one of nine effects (Time, Drive, Noise, Filter, Crush, Liquid, Volume, Pan and Width) and modulate them rhythmically in your DAW.

//embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAi3okccRY8

With huge control over each onboard effect, the ability to stack them in combination, and an expandable range of presets to bring them all together, ShaperBox is capable of huge effects feats – and all within perfect DAW-synchronized timing.

ShaperBox is available from Plugin Boutique.

Eventide Physion MkII

Physion is an innovative plugin from a heritage name in the audio world. It seems the inventors of the sidechain input and the first creators of a digital delay, Eventide, are still pushing the boundaries forward in the 21st century.

Physion takes your incoming signal and splits it into two parts: transient and tonal material. With this ‘structural split’ in place, as Eventide call it, you can add a selection of effects to either one, from a choice of delays, dynamics, modulation, gating, reverse delay, EQ and more.

//embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_QEXv6AHGU

Physion is a serious multi-effects plugin, and it’s made even more creative by its exact application of effects, giving you a fresh new dimension for sonic experimentation.

Physion MkII is available from Plugin Boutique.

Devious Machines Infiltrator 2

An unashamedly tasty sonic larder, full to bursting with all manner of effects, Infiltrator takes everything we knew about the multi-effect and turns up the heat even more. 

There are 54 effects inside, including a huge choice of filters, plus modulation, reverb, distortion, FFT and more, each running in one of ten effect slots. Those effects slots are controlled by custom-drawn envelopes, or modulated by the audio input signal, among other options. And your ten effects slots are activated or deactivated rhythmically in Infiltrator’s sequencer.

//image: Infiltrator 2 

If it sounds excessive, that’s because it is – but it’s also incredibly powerful, and there are plenty of presets that’ll help you wield that power, responsibly or otherwise.

Infiltrator 2 is available from Plugin Boutique.

Excite Audio Lifeline: Expanse

This multi-effect plugin is all about getting a sense of space in your tunes. simulating reamping techniques to add reverb, space and air to whatever it’s processing. That leads to a modules list of Width, Dirt, Re-Amp, Space and Format, each with a choice of operational modes. There’s a Lite version available as well, but we’re talking about the big boy here.

//embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgfVatr-5bw

The result is a plugin that can add grit and fuzz, detune for chorusy stereo width, push and warm up a signal, and simulate that hard-to-find reality within your project.

What’s more, each of Lifeline: Expanse’s modules lets you switch it to Advanced mode, which gives you multiband control over the effect it’s applying, meaning you can take things deeper or stay on the surfaces browsing the 350 presets.

Lifeline: Expanse is available on Plugin Boutique.

Sugar Bytes Effectrix

Acting like a hyper powered MIDI roll for 14 different effects, Effectrix allows you to apply sounds and changes to your individual tracks to add moments of impact, complete reworking of tone, or mad glitches and stutters. Synced continually with your master tempo, these effects can be added to your tracks without the need to individually set the tempo for each part.

//embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLMRiUtyxIk

With vinyl stops, bitcrushing, reverse and loops, the plugin allows you to draw on where you want the effects to occur, drag the period it’s active for and to tweak each of the parameters per effect, including the wet/dry mix for it. Want to mix up your standard 8th-note hi-hats? Add some stutter or distortion on particular strikes to add some variety. Need to have that last note ring out with glorious reverb and swells? Just draw a dot at the end of the grid!

Effectrix is available on Plugin Boutique.

Aberrant DSP Digitalis

A glitch convertor designed to create utter carnage and a ‘wasteland’ of sounds. Looking like an old-school Windows app, Digitalis tries to recreate the effects of degrading CDs, corrupted files and dial-up internet connections to mangle your sounds.

//Embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVj4Q17a-OQ

By dragging and dropping the various components, you can manipulate the signal flow to stack the various distortions and filter elements including: a spectral imager with its own paint area and presets; a 16-step effect sequencer; a pitch shifter with a telecommunications manipulator to represent the cutting in and out of signals or effects; and finally a truly gnarly decimator module to reduce your sounds to pure noise. The time tool allows flexible delays and repeats at particular points with a glitch control to introduce randomness to your signal flow.

The help tool is also Jon, a cat, who tells you what each parameter and tool does. This may or may not be a dealbreaker.

Digitalis is available on Plugin Boutique.

Output Movement

Allowing you to create interesting modulation and shapes to a static sound, Output’s Movement can do in moments what you’d spend several hours doing while automating panning, pitch, levels and filtering.

//image: Output Movement

With over 200 presets and 76 parameters, including effects such as delay, distortion and EQ, the X/Y control interface allows users to glide between several templates at once, allowing a range of interesting effects for DJs to potentially use on entire mixes, with its own dedicated Dry/Wet mix at the very top. 

Each of the four rhythms comes with its own step-sequencer, LFO and sidechain settings, which are all easily accessible and customizable. With a dark stone aesthetic, the interface looks clean and intuitive, with the impact of the two mixes demonstrated with a visual representation of the shape and level of modulation being applied.

Movement is available on Plugin Boutique.