Arturia launch Efx REFRACT

Published 21/12/23

Free to download until 4 January 2024

Arturia have announced the launch of Efx REFRACT, a stereo multi-effects plug-in that combines unison-based processing with a variety of secondary effects and modulation options. In celebration of the holiday season, the company are offering the new addition as a free download until 4 January 2024.

Efx REFRACT is based around Arturia’s Super Unison architecture, and promises to deliver instantaneous size and character to any sound source. Incoming sounds are multiplied and layered with slight phase differences to produce a wide, chorus-like effect, with a Refraction parameter allowing users to define how many voices are produced — a maximum of eight voices can be produced. The signal can then be processed further using a set of five additional effects.

A Bandpass Filter section houses a filter that can be used to create sweeping effects or muted atmospheres, and is followed by a Comb Filter module that offers metallic-sounding reverbs that range from subtle to extreme. Bitcrusher then does exactly what it says on the tin, and there’s a Distortion module for adding some additional drive and aggression to the signal. Finally, Harmonizer mixes pitched feedback with the unison voices, promising a variety of surreal shimmers and atonal showers.

A high-pass filter placed at the input stage makes it possible to remove some low-frequency content from in the incoming signal — Arturia say this is particularly helpful for keeping the Distortion and Bitcrusher sections under control — whilst a low-pass filter at the plug-in’s output allows users to tame any harshness caused by the processing chain. There’s also a sync’able LFO section equipped with Wave and Rate controls, and each effects section gets its own dedicated Mod parameter.

Compatibility

Efx REFRACT is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or higher, and Macs running macOS 10.13 and above. It is available in VST, AU and AAX plug-in formats.