THE SOUND GUY SFX Machine RT (MAC/WIN)

Nov 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Len Sasso

Overall EM Rating (1 through 5): 4

SFX Machine RT ($150) carries on the tradition of Earl Vickers's extremely versatile SFX Machine plug-in (formerly in Adobe Premiere format). RT stands for real time, which is the big change in this new version that now comes in VST (OS 8 and 9, OS X, Win) and Audio Units (OS X) plug-in formats. The upgrade was programmed jointly by Vickers and Destroy FX developer Marc Poirier, and it's solid as a rock. Some of the effects are a bit CPU hungry, but any modern G4 or Pentium III machine can easily handle them.

The SFX Machine RT control panel has a browser for effects preets that is organized into categories. A bank of sliders controls each preset's parameter values. Descriptions of the sliders and the preset appear at the bottom.

The one feature of the original SFX Machine that didn't make it through the upgrade is the effects editor, which let you build your own effects. However, you can still design your own effects in the Premiere version of the program (free with the RT version). There appears to be significant demand for the editor, so it may be added to the RT version in the future.

Preset Playground

SFX Machine RT comes with close to 300 effects in 21 categories. Because of the nature of the underlying engine, the effects emphasize delay, filter, and modulation processes, but the variety covers everything from utility effects, such as compression, EQ, and reverb, to off-the-wall effects with names like 16mmProjector and Boings. It should be emphasized that these are individual effects and not merely presets of a multi-effects plug-in. Under the hood, SFX Machine is a modular effects-construction kit, and the included effects are individually constructed from that kit. As mentioned earlier, you can build your own effects in the Premiere version of the program, and you can also import new effects from the company's Web site.

Each effect has up to six parameters (the number varies depending on the effect) that are adjustable using onscreen sliders. The sliders can be assigned to MIDI controllers for remote control and automation. The parameter ranges can also be adjusted; setting extreme ranges often transforms an effect into something completely different. For example, changing the maximum vibrato or tremolo rate from a few hertz to a few thousand produces audio-rate FM- and AM-style effects. Because of the small number of controls and the uniform setup, using the effects is extremely easy: just select an effect and start moving the sliders. Labels for each slider and a brief description of the effect (at the bottom of the plug-in window) are all you really need, which is a good thing because there is no manual to speak of.

SFX Machine RT includes a large number of effects that don't require any audio input, but instead produce sound effects of their own. Examples include Chopper (helicopter), Water Drips, UFO Descending, and Surf Noise. Although you've heard most of these before, they make great source material for a second instance of the plug-in. For example, you can spend hours (and I have) making all kinds of self-playing tuned percussion instruments by passing Water Drips through various filter, tap-delay, and resonator effects in a second SFX Machine RT plug-in. The file EauNo.mp3 shows some of the results.

Flexible Effects

The broad assortment of effects programmed into SFX Machine RT makes it usable on any kind of audio material. Effects that emphasize delay and resonance can completely transform a percussion loop; for example, you can impose rhythm on pads and ambiences using gating, fragmenting, and multitap effects. Widely varying chorus, flange, and phase effects produce actions ranging from subtle to in-your-face. Reverbs range from natural-sounding to other-worldly; one of my favorites, Train Station, falls somewhere in between. In general, the sound quality is very good, although it won't likely replace your favorite dedicated reverb, EQ, or compressor.

A large selection of motion effects — pitch shift, panning, vibrato, and tremolo — are also provided, with many incarnations of each. In short, you can mangle any sound beyond recognition, create your own sounds from scratch (using two SFX Machine RTs), and do a good bit of classic sonic adjustment with this one plug-in. SFX Machine RT is one of those plug-ins that you will think you understand in minutes but won't fully grasp for years. It's well worth downloading the demo from The Sound Guy Web site, and at $150, it's a lot of plug for the buck.

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The Sound Guy, Inc.;
tel. (831) 425-0448
e-mail sfx@sfxmachine.com
Web www.sfxmachine.com