Developer: Acustica Audio
Price (MSRP): €199.00
Plug-in Format(s): VST2, AU, AAX
System Requirements (Windows): Windows 7 - Windows 10
System Requirements (OSX): OSX 10.8 - OSX 10.13
CREAM Commercial web-page: Cream (Pre-order) - Acustica Audio
CREAM Trial web-page: Cream (Trial) - Acustica Audio
CREAM is a VST/AAX/AU bundle composed of several modules based on an iconic series of hand-built British vacuum tube and transistor-based solid-state hardware made between the late '50s to the early '70s.
Cream was born from a specific necessity: we wanted to offer to our customers a product that contains what we believe is a number of legendary devices, with a strong vintage character that should not be missing in the equipment list of any recording studio worth its name and fame. Due to the rare historic topology and components used in the original hardware, Cream offers a unique tone that stands out from any other designs.
Specifically, it includes emulations of the following consoles and units:
1) A Vintage British transistor-based solid-state recording and mixing console – version MK2 (1970)
2) A Vintage British transistor-based solid-state recording and mixing console – version MK4 (1970)
3) A Vintage British tube compressor (1960)
4) A 'Homebrew' analog EQ section built by SOUNDROPS (SteDal) based on a original 60s valve desk circuit)
5) A Vintage British Tape Recorder (1960 – also known as the "Green Machine")
6) A Vintage valve Tape Recorder made in the UK (1967)
Cream is the first of a three plug-in series, each embodying a volume of Dante's Divine Comedy according to the vision of Acustica.
Welcome to the first Cantica .. the 'Cream Inferno'.
Try not to lose sight of the right path on your way, and be careful not to burn yourself.
What's new?
1) For the first time ever, Acustica is proud to introduce a next-generation plugin which recreates ALL the channels of an ultra-rare vintage console in its entirety, painstakingly reproducing their sonic imprint and subtle differences, giving you the utmost control and sonic versatility, like never before. Cream is a major work that allowed us to create the most advanced and complete Acqua Effect to date, that transcends mere modeling and pushes the boundaries of authentic analog in the box once more.
2) We worked very hard to deliver you a tool that is able to recreate the authentic sound of some of the most legendary studio units ever made in the history of music. We can proudly say: this day has finally arrived!
But there is more good news. By purchasing Cream you qualify for a special secret discount too!
And would you want to know more about Modula and some of our future projects? Want to be one of the first to discover how audio industry will be changed forever?
Then meet us May 24-26 at the AES Convention 2018 in Milan - Italy
DETAILS
CREAM channel strip equipped with 39 preamp emulations divided in three different categories (Line, Mic and Tube), a four-stage multi-model EQ featuring Bass, Treble, Presence and 'Magic' bands, and a compressor section switchable between a solid-state processor (included in the 1970 console) and a vacuum tube outboard model. As with other similar releases, we offer to our customers a versatile and complete bundle consisting of a powerful channel-strip plus 3 separate plug-ins for each of its pre-amp, EQ and compressor sections. Each stand-alone plug-in contains the same features included in the strip, and in many cases it also offers some useful extras. The four plug-ins are named:
• CREAM Channel-strip
• CREAM PRE (Preamps standalone module)
• CREAM EQ (Equalizer standalone module)
• CREAM COMP (Compressor standalone module)
For each plug-in included in Cream suite there is a "Standard" version and an alternative "ZL*" version which operates at * zero latency, at the cost of extra processing resources, it is therefore most suitable to use when tracking.
Cream is using the latest Acustica Core 12 engine. Core 12 represents a new technological advancement by Acustica:
• Upgraded SASM (Symmetric & Asymmetric Saturation Modeling) high performance saturation algorithm;
• Introduction of a new post-production sample de-noising tech for cleaner deconvolved impulses called STT (Super transient technology);
• Full compatibility with Client/Server architecture integrated by default in Acqua plugins;
• Engine optimization introducing a new highly efficient algorithm. This innovative technique is applied to all the deconvolved impulses for further de-noise processing and subsequent elimination of any incorrect low-level behavior (including the so-called "echo bug").
Core 12 allows performance improvements for each plug-in of the Acqua Effects series, while at the same time preserving all the features already supported in previous CORE upgrades.
CREAM CHANNEL-STRIP: full channel strip with 4 bands of EQ, 2 compressors and a preamp section.
Preamp section:
• 24 x line input to group bus out transistor-based solid-state '70s channel paths (LINE).
• 12 x mic input to group bus out transistor-based solid-state '70s channel paths (MIC).
• 3 x vintage tape recorder emulations (TUBE).
• Bypass button (OFF).
EQs section:
• Magic band: Bass Lift with fixed gain of +10dB at 20Hz (B-A), continuous loudness control with ±10dB of gain and centre frequency at 1kHz (L-A), High-shelf models 1, 2 & 3 (1-A, 2-A & 3-A), High-Pass filter with selectable cut-off frequencies of 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 Hz (H-B).
• Bass band: low-shelf EQ with with ±10dB of gain and selectable cut-off frequency of 50, 100 and 200 Hz (L-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain at 100 Hz (L-B), High-Pass filter with selectable cut-off frequencies of 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 Hz (H-B).
• Presence band: bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.7, 3.5, 5, 8, 10, 12 kHz (P-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 0.5, 0.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.8, 4.2, 6.5, 10 kHz (P-B).
• Treble band: Presence band: bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.7, 3.5, 5, 8, 10, 12 kHz (P-A), high-shelf EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10 kHz (S-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 0.5, 0.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.8, 4.2, 6.5, 10 kHz (P-B).
• Bypass button (OFF).
Compressors section:
• Compression Types: solid-stage Zener type (model B), vacuum tube veri-mu (model C).
• Threshold (Hold): from -20dB to 0dB.
• Release (Recovery): Slow to Fast.
• Compressor Model Switch: off, model B, model C.
• Makeup Gain: from 0dB to 24dB.
• Adjustable Attack Shape (SHMOD): from 0 to 4 (2 as in hardware). SHMod, an adjustable attack behavior shape control that allows to fine-tune and 'scew' the attack shape.
• Input Trim: from -10dB to 10dB. This function allows for a "one knob" internal gain staging control by automatically linking input and output gain stages with an inverse law.
• Gain reduction meter: compressor gain reduction meter with up to 30dB of range.
Other controls:
• Input Trim: from -10dB to 10dB. This function allows for a "one knob" internal gain staging control by automatically linking input and output gain stages with an inverse law.
• Output Gain: from -10dB to 10dB.
• Meters: input and output meters.
CREAM PRE: Preamp module with 40 different circuit color models
• 24 x line input to group bus out transistor-based solid-state '70s channel paths (LINE).
• 12 x mic input to group bus out transistor-based solid-state '70s channel paths (MIC).
• 2 x vintage tape recorder emulations - with and without emphasis (TUBE).
• 1 x vintage tape recorder emulation (TUBE2).
• 1 x vintage vacuum tube compressor emulation (C).
• Input Trim: from -10dB to 10dB. This function allows for a "one knob" internal gain staging control by automatically linking input and output gain stages with an inverse law.
• Output Gain: from -10dB to 10dB.
• Bypass button (OFF).
CREAM EQ: a four-stage multi-model EQ featuring Bass, Treble, Presence and 'Magic' bands.
• Magic band: Bass Lift with fixed gain of +10dB at 20Hz (B-A), continuous loudness control with ±10dB of gain and centre frequency at 1kHz (L-A), High-shelf models 1, 2, 3 (1-A, 2-A, 3-A), High-Pass filter with selectable cut-off frequencies of 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 Hz (H-B).
• Bass band: low-shelf EQ with with ±10dB of gain and selectable cut-off frequency of 50, 100 and 200 Hz (L-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain at 100 Hz (L-B), High-Pass filter with selectable cut-off frequencies of 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 Hz (H-B).
• Presence band: bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.7, 3.5, 5, 8, 10, 12 kHz (P-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 0.5, 0.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.8, 4.2, 6.5, 10 kHz (P-B).
• Treble band: Presence band: bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.7, 3.5, 5, 8, 10, 12 kHz (P-A), high-shelf EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10 kHz (S-A), bell curve EQ with ±10dB of gain and selectable frequencies of 0.5, 0.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.8, 4.2, 6.5, 10 kHz (P-B).
• EQ band bypass (OFF).
• Input Gain: from -10dB to 10dB.
• Output Gain: from -10dB to 10dB.
CREAM COMP: Single band compressor with two models
• Compression Types: solid-stage Zener type (model B), vacuum tube vari-mu (model C).
• Threshold (Hold): from -20dB to 0dB.
• Release (Recovery): Slow to Fast.
• Compressor Model Switch: off, model B, model C.
• Makeup Gain: from 0dB to 24dB.
• Adjustable Attack Shape (SHMOD): from 0 to 4 (2 as in hardware). SHMod, an adjustable attack behavior shape control that allows to fine-tune and 'scew' the attack shape.
• Input Trim: from -10dB to 10dB. This function allows for a "one knob" internal gain staging control by automatically linking input and output gain stages with an inverse law.
• Gain reduction meter: compressor gain reduction meter with up to 30dB of range.
• Side-chain HPF (FILTER): variable IIR high-pass filter varying from OFF to 250 Hz.
• Vintage vacuum tube compressor circuit distortion emulation (PREAMPLIFIER).
• External side-chain signal enable (EXTERNAL INPUT).
• Dry/Wet Mix for parallel compression (MIX): from 0 to 100%.
Licensing:
• Challenge-response authorization system allowing activation for two computers per license.
• The trial version is fully functional for a duration of four weeks. Trial license allows the activation of two computers per license.
Formats supported:
• Support operation systems: macOS and Windows.
• Supported plug-in formats: VST2, AAX, and AU.
• Supported architectures: 32 and 64-bits.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY:
• CREAM commercial version: €199.00. Available as a digital download immediately after payment. Special pre-sale price at €169.15 (15%OFF) for the first four weeks after release.
Cream commercial page: http://www.acustica-audio.com/store/products/cream
• CREAM Trial version: free 4 week test license. Available as a digital download immediately after €0.00 payment.
Cream trial page: http://www.acustica-audio.com/store/pro ... ream-trial
Awesome release, as always... 
