XLN Audio has given RC-20 Retro Color v2 a major overhaul, with fresh effects and far more ways to shape sound. The multi-effects plugin keeps its old sound tools but adds new tricks across all six parts of its setup.
Echo is the big new feature here. It sends each delay repeat back through the effects, which lets pitch drift, grit, and wear build up with each pass. Grains can also break those echoes into small bits of audio for lush, wide soundscapes.
And beat sync gets more love. Users can lock delay speed, mod effects, and Magnetic tape flutter to a track's BPM, which helps keep the sound changes in time with the music.
The digital side gets quite a bit more harsh. Codec brings in the rough sound of low-quality audio streams, lost data packets, warped vocals, and blurred signals. Fresh tape, old-school preamp, and 4-track cassette modes add more dirt, while 32 reverb types give users more space to play with.
Routing has changed as well. Wobble, Distort, Digital, Space, and Loss can move to new spots in the signal path. Noise, Wobble, Distortion, and Loss also gain Focus/Cut filters, which let users pick which parts of the sound each effect can touch.
Elsewhere, Warp modulation, Digital Sputter, Drive, and Space ducking join the mix. There's a pre/post Noise blend, along with oversampling and a master compressor for extra control.
One neat change is auto loudness matching. It keeps wet and dry levels in line, making it easier to judge an effect without a volume jump. Undo history, snapshots, module locks, and modifier keys give users more room to test ideas.
Preset hunting should be less of a chore, as the browser can sort sounds by tags, filter searches, and save custom groups. Sharing and exporting are in there as well.
For past users, the old plugin stays put. Both builds can live on the same system, and past projects will still work. Factory and artist sounds remain part of the pack, while custom presets from the first release can move across.
At $129, the full license drops to $99 for the launch deal. Current RC-20 users pay $19 rather than $39, while buyers with other XLN Audio gear qualify for a $49 offer. These deals run for a limited period.
VST3, AU, and AAX support is on the list, with a free 10-day trial and a monthly Rent-to-Own plan for those who'd rather spread the cost.
Echo is the big new feature here. It sends each delay repeat back through the effects, which lets pitch drift, grit, and wear build up with each pass. Grains can also break those echoes into small bits of audio for lush, wide soundscapes.
And beat sync gets more love. Users can lock delay speed, mod effects, and Magnetic tape flutter to a track's BPM, which helps keep the sound changes in time with the music.
The digital side gets quite a bit more harsh. Codec brings in the rough sound of low-quality audio streams, lost data packets, warped vocals, and blurred signals. Fresh tape, old-school preamp, and 4-track cassette modes add more dirt, while 32 reverb types give users more space to play with.
Routing has changed as well. Wobble, Distort, Digital, Space, and Loss can move to new spots in the signal path. Noise, Wobble, Distortion, and Loss also gain Focus/Cut filters, which let users pick which parts of the sound each effect can touch.
Elsewhere, Warp modulation, Digital Sputter, Drive, and Space ducking join the mix. There's a pre/post Noise blend, along with oversampling and a master compressor for extra control.
One neat change is auto loudness matching. It keeps wet and dry levels in line, making it easier to judge an effect without a volume jump. Undo history, snapshots, module locks, and modifier keys give users more room to test ideas.
Preset hunting should be less of a chore, as the browser can sort sounds by tags, filter searches, and save custom groups. Sharing and exporting are in there as well.
For past users, the old plugin stays put. Both builds can live on the same system, and past projects will still work. Factory and artist sounds remain part of the pack, while custom presets from the first release can move across.
At $129, the full license drops to $99 for the launch deal. Current RC-20 users pay $19 rather than $39, while buyers with other XLN Audio gear qualify for a $49 offer. These deals run for a limited period.
VST3, AU, and AAX support is on the list, with a free 10-day trial and a monthly Rent-to-Own plan for those who'd rather spread the cost.
