FILTERVERSE Review
If you are familiar with Polyverse Supermodal and Filtron, you’ll recognize that they can make some pretty solid filter effects, this time they are releasing the third part of their “filter trilogy”: Filterverse. Filterverse is a three part multimode filter effect that goes beyond filtering and into full on multi effects processing. Each of the three filter slots can contain one of many different filter/effects modes. These include a variety of modeled and digital filters, unique multi-peak filters//phasers, combs, reverb, and even delay. Each of these effects hosts a variety of controls for shaping beyond simple resonance/ cutoff.
The quality of these effects is superb, the reverb rivals some standalone reverbs, and each filter provides a unique character and flavor. These filters not only respond to audio rate modulation, but can be keytracked, and with enough resonance can even become oscillator voices unto themselves. On top of the three filter slots, there are eight modulation slots as well, these allow you to manipulate the controls with LFOs, sequences, midi note information, and even midi tracked oscillators for some insanely squelchy tones.
Multimode Filters: Filterverse has a variety of multimode filters, these range from digital to analog emulation. Each one has lowpass and highpass filtering, and many have a few other options including cutoff slope. They also all have a unique drive algortihm giving different character and personality to each filter type.
Multi-peak Filters: Some of the filters have more than one peak frequency, these allow you to do interesting phaser type sounds as well as more intricate resonators. Spreading the various peaks can replicate different chords and materials.
Robo Comb: A very unique sounding comb filter, probably my favorite of the bunch, it just has a lot of character. There’s also controls that allow you to spread the comb resonance into different configurations, making it a great resonator effect.
Space: What a pleasant reverb, as with the others, it can be used to achieve resonant qualities, but with enough decay and diffusion it’s an incredibly lush reverb.
Delay: The current delay module is simple, it’s great to have in a multi effect, and can do some cool glitchy stutters, but I can’t wait to see if they add some other delay options.
Evil: An analog modeled filter with six different pole styles that all provide unique grit and texture. Drive adds distortion, but there’s also a “Damage” control that breaks and ruins the signal in beautiful ways.
Next Phase: A simple phaser with up to eight peaks which can be spread out quite wide.
Fractazer: This one is a nested all pass filter, very similar to dispersion type effects. The fractal nesting allows for up to 66 peaks for some serious phase displacement. The Pinch control affects each nested layer proportionately for a wide variety of configurations. When resonance is turned up, Fractazer works as an incredible resonator full of various frequencies.
Strings: A physically modeled string resonator, you can adjust the pickup position and a nice “Timbre” control shifts around the harmonic focus.
Coils: An emulation of a physical spring made by various comb filters summed together, Twist allows you to change the frequency relation of each comb Type allows you to switch between various arrangements of these relations.
Decimate: A nice sample rate reducer with a unique feedback twist. Decimate contains a variety of different algorithms to cover a wide range of SSR qualities.
Cabinator: A cabinet simulator with 10 different cab styles, you can change the cab size, mic position and EQ curve.
Tempitch: There’s quite a few delays in Filterverse, but this one has tape style pitch warping when adjusting the delay time. It also has a pitch control for pitch shifting each echo, great for creating strange warps and shimmer effects.
Seriously, these filters respond to modulation unlike most other digital filters, they just sound clean and correct. Audio rate oscillation of the main filter modes can enhance basses and leads to a staggering degree. I really apreciate having eight modulation sources as well, it’s almost over kill for three effects, but it gives quite a bit of room for experimentation. Though, if I had things my way, the modulation system would be based on gatekeepers MSEG system, could you imagine that?
You can even send the Osc signal out as audio, this is fed into the input of Filterverse, meaning you can process the oscillators with Filterverse its self. Seeing as the oscillators track midi, this turns Filterverse into a pretty damn solid mono-synth. Oscillators also have a modulatable phase control, meaning you can create FM synthesis by routing another Osc into phase. The new Factor control changes the oscillator ratio making FM synthesis easy. You can also set the wave shape to noise, which is great for adding gritty modulation.
You can pick up Filterverse from their site here: https://polyversemusic.com/?ref=Databroth (this is an affiliate link, thank you so much if you chose to use it)