Product Reviews

As the name suggests, MixPack 2 is the second iteration of Polish developer PSP Audioware's popular bundle of mix enhancement tools. The collection - only available en masse, not as individual plug-ins - features the kind of character-adding sweeteners that transform a mix from ugly duckling to elegant swan.

MixPack 2 includes MixBass2, MixTreble2, MixSaturator2, MixPressor2 and, the new boy in the Pack, MixGate2. All five share a common GUI that's in keeping with PSP's vintage-themed aesthetic, and it's a good look that helps to unify this suite: clear panel layouts, easy-to-use knobs, illuminated push buttons and excellent VU meters (where appropriate) lend the plug-ins a crisp, efficient, professional air.

Some of the windows are pretty large, though, which goes some way towards explaining why PSP hasn't introduced a ganged 'channel strip' version - it would simply require too much on-screen real estate. Besides, it's better to be able to set up processing chains of your own devising.

MixBass2 and MixTreble 2 both work on similar principles, albeit at opposite ends of the spectrum: one controls the low end, contributing a solid analogue punch, while the other aims to extend the clarity and spatiality of the top end (that expensive 'air' that causes sound engineers to sigh happily). You can also use MixTreble2 to lower the noise floor of a recording, such as suppressing line or tape hiss.

MixPressor2 emulates the

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behaviour of classic opto-electronic circuits. Being a single-band compressor, it complements PSP's renowned multi-band Vintage Warmer limiter. MixPressor2's soft wide-knee Shape control is very useful, as is the side-chain filter. The output also has a switchable soft saturation algorithm to smooth out any overs, and it can respond to either peak or RMS detection for different compression flavours.

MixGate2 is a welcome addition and is as fine a gate as we've heard, with both high- and low-pass filters to fine-tune its behaviour. Ultimately, if a gate works well, reducing extraneous noise to a minimum, it should almost be invisible. MixGate2 will do both. A side-chain input such as MixPressor would be nice, and PSP has hinted that this may be added in the future.

Following the other MixPack plug-ins, MixSaturator2's natural home is at the end of the chain. Designed to simulate the saturation and bloom of analogue tape and valve circuits, it adds harmonics, filtering and a touch of dynamic processing, courtesy of its low-end Warmth and top-end Softness controls. It produces excellent results and will doubtless be one of the most frequently used plug-ins in MixPack2, helping to curb the harsh digital excesses of any recording.

All five plug-ins benefit from 64-bit, double-precision, floating-point algorithms throughout their signal paths - with an inevitable appetite for CPU cycles as a consequence - and support sample rates up to 192kHz, which makes them future-proof for some time to come. We also applaud the presets supplied, which help you familiarise yourself with the controls.

These plug-ins won't replace your favourite surgical or character EQs and compressors; rather, they're the glue that transforms disparate tracks into a cohesive whole. While they're as capable of heavy-handed audio mangling as any processing plug-in, they excel at the subtle sheen, giving music a lift. Acquiring all five plug-ins costs a little over £100 and at this price, MixPack 2 is an attractive proposition.