The challenge Acustica set for itself with Sunglow was to find a worthy companion to one of our user base's most appreciated plugins of 2023, known as Mystic. This time, instead of capturing the authentic color of the tube, we decided to focus on an all-in-one tool that could harness the authentic sonic quality provided by transformers while also offering completeness—a channel strip with exceptional timbral characteristics that is also extremely easy to use, light on the CPU, and incorporates the latest technological advancements we have achieved, which we've simplified and termed the 'Analog Plus' algorithm.
A new leap forward in Acustica’s technology, revisiting its roots and embracing the concept of preamplification with an emphasis on dynamic range. This implies an approach closer to hardware, definitively bypassing the artifacts introduced by the traditional dynamic approach to preamplifier reproduction, as initially experimented by Acustica. This allows for the capture of some of the dynamic behaviors characteristic of preamplifiers, offering a superior analog listening experience compared to the past without any artifacts.
The ideal and inspiring candidates for creating an "all-in-one" tool that could embody the concept of "genuine addition of harmonic distortion by transformers" had to be high-profile consoles that have helped shape music history. It is important to clarify that Sunglow is not, and will never be, a 1:1 digital copy of these hardware devices; that is not the goal of this project. Instead, it seeks to pay a sincere homage and tribute to the brands in the UK that sparked a true revolution in the audio market, contributing to the creation of equipment still considered among the best in the world today, revered for their quality and unique sound.
Sunglow is therefore a 'hybrid' plugin that embodies and merges the essence of multiple hardware devices into one tool, carefully selected to offer the best in sound quality and the vintage sound so sought after today. The ambition of the era was to match and exceed the sound quality of American studios. To avoid the overly dampened sound typical of many British studios at the time, instead seeking a more vibrant sound. This mix of determination, technical skill, and inspired vision laid the groundwork for creating the legend...
From the 1960s to the 1980s, discrete transformer-based consoles with a unique sound were created that quickly became a benchmark internationally, achieving legendary status in the recording industry and becoming the preferred choice for many artists seeking distinctive sound quality.
Sunglow consists of three incredibly streamlined yet impactful sections.
A Class A transformer-based Pre/saturator Module, an hybrid 4-band EQ section with High Pass filter, and finally, a VCA Bus compressor/limiter section greatly improved by adding extra controls to provide greater versatility.
This product stands out for its modern features, making it a true analog emulation of the best elements contained in rare British consoles, wisely fused and particularly capturing the essence and sound of transformers. Although the term has been widely overused, our introduction of advanced techniques for harmonic enrichment and coloring has set a new standard. We're confident that Acustica's preamplification will make you feel like you're mixing on an actual analog console, an innovation we've named the "Analog Plus" algorithm.
We want the plugin to speak for itself, so try our six different preamp emulations, each leveraging different signal paths: Mono Line, Mono Mic, Mono DI, Stereo Comp, Stereo Bus Group, and Stereo Mix.
The ULTRA control boosts your TRIM, providing optimal saturation, and the ALIVE control adjusts the preamp's dynamic response to bring your mix to life.
The 4-band equalizer blends emulations of active and passive EQ circuits taken from different hardware. The mids are from a renowned British console used in major recording studios, combined with a passive RLC (resistor, inductor, capacitor) EQ circuit, and the highs and lows from a passive circuit of a legendary classic solid-state console known for their distinctive sound shaping capabilities.
To achieve the highest sound quality, our Sunglow EQ with digital transposition also adopts a hybrid approach, integrating Acustica's advanced technologies: Hyper EQ and the Aria engine for the mid bands, and the high-fidelity CORE 16 engine for the low and high bands. This method ensures an accurate replication of the behavior, curve shape, and timbre of the analog counterpart of the equalizer.
Lastly, but no less important, this section is equipped with three high-pass filter buttons located at the bottom of the EQ module. These allow filtering at 45, 83, 118 Hz.
The Sunglow dual-mono Hybrid Bus compressor/limiter is a solid-state VCA-based
dynamic processor, offering a versatile ratio range from a gentle 1.5:1
to full limiting. Its soft-knee turnover characteristic ensures smooth
and unobtrusive compression, making it ideal for mix bus and vocal
applications.
The unit is equipped with a standard set of five variable controls for shaping signal dynamics: threshold, attack, release, makeup, and ratio. Additionally, it includes some extra control to enhance the compressor’s capabilities, adhering to Acustica's high-quality standards.
The Sunglow Limiter (LIM) feature is inspired by the rich heritage of one of Britain's legendary manufacturers. It embodies an unmistakably old-school character from a classic circuit, delivering the 'vintage' and 'warm' sound that enthusiasts often seek. This limiter proves extremely versatile across a wide range of applications, from subtle micro-limiting to aggressive, full-scale sound shaping.
• All-in-one powerful channel-strip.
• Iconic Hybrid 4-band equalizer with active/passive circuits and HP filters.
• An Hybrid soft-knee VCA Bus Compressor.
• Transformer-like harmonic saturation in six different Preamp emulations.
• New 'Analog Plus' algorithm for dynamic preamp enhancement.
• Hyper 3 technology.
• New Aria engine supporting dynamic/real-time metering displays.
• New Anti-Aliasing algorithm significantly reducing plugin aliasing issues.
• High-quality oversampling, up to 8x.
• Listening modes (Δ, LR, M, S).
• Resizable and responsive GUI.
• Factory Presets available.
Disclaimer: Please be informed that the product Sunglow is in no way associated or affiliated with Sound Techniques, Ltd. Additionally, Sound Techniques, Ltd. has no participation in the development, production, or distribution of the Sunglow product and explicitly does not endorse it. There are no audio elements whatsoever, related to Sound Techniques, in the Sunglow product.