SSL Module8

Multi-effects are getting more powerful at the expense of ease of use, but Module8 manages both and is therefore pretty gr8, says Andy Jones

- Andy Jones

£80

PC MAC

The multi-effect has become something of the star of music production in recent years, thanks largely to the leaps and bounds made by computer processing. What were once humble effects, that just focused on single areas, are now multi-headed beasts capable of all sorts. Indeed these fully-featured multi-effects are arguably now equally as important as the shiny new softsynths in terms of their status in your sonic arsenal. However, the more features multi-effects cram in, the more complex they have become. SSL’s Module8 manages to walks the fine line between power and ease of use, though, packing in features, but not at the expense of practical use. The plugin offers some of the best hands-on sound design options, then, and all in a very easy to use package.

How many modules?

As you might have guessed from the name, SSL’s latest multi-effect comprises eight modules. You get six of them lined up as interchangeable main units in the centre of the UI – just drag and drop them in any order you like – and a further two, ‘Lo-Fi’ and ‘Space’, available as effects returns beneath these.

The main modules are Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Tremolo, Vibrato, and Pan modulation effects, with each one controlled by an LFO with LFO Rate, Depth, and Shape parameters. The Rate can be set in Hz or sync’d to your DAW (via different note divisions), or a third option lets you sync it to a handy Global LFO. This is useful because you can control all six LFO parameters with just this one, should you wish. Other Global controls include setting both Input and Output level and Mix plus ‘Stereoise’ which gives you a pseudo stereo version of a mono input signal, and Width which lets you widen that stereo.