Surreal Machines Modnetic and Diffuse (Mac / Windows / iOS): “Dub Machines” Spoken Walkthrough

Surreal Machines Modnetic and Diffuse (Mac / Windows / iOS): “Dub Machines” Spoken Walkthrough

Introduction

Hey everybody, welcome back. Today I want to look at Diffuse and Modnetic through a walkthrough and demo. These plugins are by developers called Surreal Machines. Initially, they were Max for Live devices. While Modnetic has evolved quite a bit since then, it was always called Modnetic. Now, both of these plugins are available on desktop and iOS, including iPad and iPhone.

Walkthrough Details

I aim to provide a detailed walkthrough. I’ve already done a comprehensive walkthrough of Diffuse on my Patreon, which can be checked out for more detail than I will cover here. Also, there’s a giveaway on YouTube for one of these iOS versions, and further giveaways on my Patreon, including a chance to win a desktop version.

Feel free to support my channel by using my Plugin Boutique affiliate link if you’re purchasing these for the desktop. Unfortunately, Apple abandoned the affiliate program for iOS years ago, which makes monetization challenging. So, using my Plugin Boutique link for desktop plugins would be much appreciated.

Both plugins are essentially delay plugins. Diffuse merges delay and reverb, while Modnetic is inspired by the Roland Space Echo and Chorus Echo, offering multiple forms of saturation, modulation, and routing options.

Diffuse Walkthrough

Controls Overview:

• Input Knob:

  • Attenuates the input being processed without affecting the dry signal.

• Repeat:

  • Sets the overall echo length, ranging from free to synced to beat. Goes up to one second.

• Regen:

  • Essentially feedback.

• Size:

  • Key control. It determines the echo composition—either a standard delay or a multi-tap delay with patterns selectable here.
  • Increasing the size blends both standard and multi-tap.

• Diffuse:

  • Smears the taps for a reverb-like sound.

• Rectify Button:

  • Applies wave-shaping for harmonic distortions.

• Stereo Width:

  • Controls the wet signal’s stereo width.

• Hold Button:

  • Acts as an infinite mode for tweaking.

Additional Controls:

• Modulation:

  • Amount and spread controls whether modulation offsets left and right.

• Damping:

  • Controls low and high-frequency damping.

• Pump:

  • Increases the wet signal when the input audio is quieter.

Presets:

• Well-organized into categories like diffusion and echo, offering significant versatility and beautiful sound.

Modnetic Walkthrough

Initial Overview:

• Works on multi-tap, echo with multiple heads, inspired by Space Echo and Chorus Echo.

Echo Section:

• Repeat and Intensity:

  • Various head positions can be set for different delay times.
  • Intensity controls feedback for more repeats.

• Character Section:

  • Choose from options like LoFi, 501, A, Coro, Old, and Dark to change internal filters and feedback nuances.

Modulation Section:

• Types include chorus, flanger, and phaser, each with analog, digital, or dub options.
• Character changes how modulation sounds.

Reverb Section:

• Multiple reverb types categorized for easy selection.
• Impulse response based or inspired by amp, preamps, and room responses.

Routing:

• Parallel, before, and after routing options.
• Ensures smooth switching without clicking, suitable for live tweaking.

Mix Section:

• Controls bass, treble, noise, and width.

Presets:

• Wide range, showcasing the plugin’s potential.

Let’s not forget the importance of using my Plugin Boutique link for desktop plugin purchases to support my work.

Keywords

• Diffuse
• Modnetic
• Surreal Machines
• Delay Plugin
• Reverb Plugin
• iOS
• Max for Live
• Presets
• Echo
• Modulation
• Reverb Types
• Routing
• Plugin Boutique

FAQ

What are the basic functions of the Diffuse plugin? Diffuse merges delay and reverb, featuring controls such as Repeat, Regen, Size, Diffuse, Rectify, and has modulation and damping features.

How does Modnetic differ from Diffuse? Modnetic is inspired by classic echo machines like the Roland Space Echo and focuses on multi-tap delay, modulation, and offers various reverb types with detailed routing options.

What platforms are these plugins available on? These plugins are available on Mac, Windows, and iOS (including iPad and iPhone).

How can I support the creator of this walkthrough? You can support by using the Plugin Boutique affiliate link for desktop plugin purchases. This helps support the channel since the iOS affiliate program no longer exists.

What is the unique feature of the "Rectify" button in Diffuse? The Rectify button in Diffuse uses wave-shaping to create harmonic distortions, adding a unique texture to the sound.

Thanks for reading! If you find this useful, please consider supporting the channel. See you in the next article!