MULTIPASS vs TRIAD vs ENRAGE
In this shootout I wanted to compare Modular Multiband Multi-effects units, these are some of the most powerful effects for shaping audio, they allow you to create not only modular chains of effects, but also apply them to different frequency regions and modulate controls in a variety of ways. They can almost be described as plugin racks unto themselves with a full library of included effects to chose from. These three were the most similar in my collection, but they are a bit strange to compare. There’s some very noticeable differences even before you put these plugins in your cart. For one they are all packaged differently, with Enrage being the only “all in one”, and the others being broken down into various separate formats. I’ll discuss these differences per plugin when we get to them. The similarities between these plugins are pretty obvious and most differences aren’t particularly “quantifiable”, so I’ll be focussing more attention on the written portion of this shootout compared to the raw specs.
*note: I have been paid to make presets or content for all three of these companies, so it is important for me to disclose any potential bias.
ACROSS ALL 3
-multiband processing
-all standard effects and modulation types
-long effects chains
-multiple modulation sources
-wide variety of effects to chose from
MULTIPASS
Band splits: up to 5
Effects: The majority of the included are fairly “stock” sounding, very close to what you’d find with factory ableton/bitwig effects. There are some higher end ones as well that very powerful, for example the convolution reverb has many features and the slice EQ is a full on parametric eq. The nonlinear filter also makes up for some of the “lacking” character. You load snapheap or multipass as an effect as well, allowing you to nest effects chains and create your own sub-fx. Multipass lacks a looper type effect for example, but this can be created via a snapheap instance if you wanted.
Modulation Sources: Some of the more advanced modulation of this collection, includes custom LFOs and even LFO tables. The ability to remap is there as well as some various utilities.
Purchasing Differences: Multipass alone is just the multiband environment, it does not come with any effects, but there is a free bundle to get you started. Many of the more advanced effects are paid for separately. There is a single band version called snapheap as well. While this system is the least “all in one” of the bunch, you do get the ability to use each “snap-in” as a standalone plugin if you’d like
Unique Features: As mentioned above, Multipass allows for nesting of Snapheap or even another Multipass, this gives you the abitly to create customized sub effects chains and build presets of preconfigured systems which you can re-use and rearrange later. The LFO Table and Curve modulators provide a system that allows you to morph or switch between modulation shapes and patterns, you can even use the LFO-table as a remap, which can be used to create dynamic remapping.
Unique Limitations: Really the only limitation here compared to the others is the absence of a mid side or stereo split mode, but this can be built using an instance and some clever usage of the “channel mixer” snap-in. It just wont be a click of the button like the others. There’s also no granular effects, but there is a neat “disperser” effect available.
Personal Use Cases: I tend to use multipass when I want to do dynamic processing of different frequency bands. Being able to see all bands at once, apply upwards compression, subtle distortion and other effects is very useful, the dry nature of the included effects also benefits in this regard. I also Like to use Multipass for interesting glitchy multiband delays, but for most other creative processing I tend to use either Snapheap or more often Triad/Enrage.
TRIAD
Band Splits: 3 or stereo/ms split
Effects: The included effects are a bit more flavorful in Triad, a wide variety of distortions, some glitching effects and granular, things feel a little less “dry” and a bit more characterful.
Modulation Sources: for the most part, fairly basic modulation sources, there is a neat spectral follower and some cool logic stuff to work with. Modulation rate is unfortunately capped fairly low, with 16th notes being as fast as you can go. The modulation routing system is very fun though, having colored cables cross the plugin UI gives your presets a sense of visual identity
Purchasing Differences: Triad has an alternate single band version called byome, each come with the same effects and everything included
Unique Features: Triad allows you to easily swap band signal paths, meaning you can hot swap the effects chain on the mid band to the low or high bands with minimal effort just to test out some various configurations. There is also a master sample rate control which creates some neat artifacts when modulating, as previous input buffer samples pitch down while the rate drops. You can also easily deactivate all modulation at once, but this can be done in Multipass with a group.
Unique Limitations: The limit on LFO rate is pretty heavy, even un-synced it only goes up to 20hz. This is the only one without a convolution reverb, but that’s not a huge deal in my opinion. There’s not much else to say here in terms of limited features.
Personal Use Cases: I like using Triad for wild multiband destruction, the effects are so characterful and thick that it becomes fun and easy to build wild processing chains that absolutely reimagine the input material. I’ve made a variety of presets for Triad that I enjoy clicking through just to see how they might effect whatever I’m working on. These come in handy when I’m resampling glitch material.
ENRAGE
Band Splits: up to 6 and/or stereo/ms split
Effects: The included effects tend to have the widest ranges and highest level of control resolution. For the most part they are on the simpler side, but there is some really neat spectral effects and a drawable waveshaper. Splitting takes up some effects slots, and Enrage is the most limited in terms of total simultaneous effects. But this is made up for with the quality of each effect. Though you will have to use up modulation slots to apply motion to things like chorus/phasers.
Modulation Sources: Again Enrage has the least simultaneous modulation sources, but the most precision in terms of modulation rate, being able to get down to incredibly sluggish speeds and up to 1khz. Options are interesting, there is a custom LFO, remapping, smoothing, a weird “spring” modulator, and even a formula parser.
Purchasing Differences: Enrage is all in one, band splitting is done with a module, so there is no “single band” version. You can even use Enrage as a rudimentary synthesizer, though it pails in comparison to the synth equivalents of Multipass and Triad
Unique Features: Enrage seems to be the most “professional” of the bunch with it’s ability to set oversampling and define latency compensation per preset. Effects modules even indicate their own latency amounts so you can easily calculate the correct latency if necessary. There’s a spectral compressor “soothe” type effect for taming frequencies, and many interesting spectral effects. Audio routing is pretty dynamic, especially when you factor in the ability to do feedback between lanes.
Unique Limitations: Enrage tends to limit the amount of effects and modulation sources you can use at any given time, this becomes more of an issue when you factor in routing modules taking up multiple slots and shortening the length of a single row. Setting things up can be a bit more tedious here as well, the UI isn’t terrible by any means, but not always quite as fun or inviting as the others.
Personal Use Cases: Enrage has some really nice tricks up its sleeve, I love using the spectral processing to make some weird obscure sound design, as well the tame effect comes in handy for cleaning up mixes. I do tend to use Enrage most often for the included effects I’ve created, many of them are chaotic and destructive, but high resolution has allowed me to create some really wild sonic warping presets that have some smooth control and blending
There are ofcourse some other plugins like these, the first that comes to mind is the rather pricey Melda Mxxx, Hy-Plugins also has a modular multiband multi-effects unit that is a fair bit more minimalistic both in terms of features and in terms of price. Ofcourse VCV Rack as an effect could sorta be thought of in a similar vein, as well as Bitwig’s multiband split effect. So there are alternatives.