Unfiltered Audio Byome
Unfiltered Audio’s Byome promises unparalleled multi-effects creation.
Jono Buchanan gets himself patched in
Unfiltered Audio’s Byome is a modular effects suite whose title is an acronym of ‘Build Your Own Multi Effect’. Presenting itself as a kind of Swiss Army knife of effects options, Byome’s most immediate rivals are effects suites like NI’s Molekular and Eventide’s H3000, whereby multiple individual effects can be chained and modulated in almost infinitely variable ways.
At the top of the interface, you’ll find a Master section, where ‘global’ parameters can be changed easily. Some of these you’d expect, such as Input and Output level controls and an overall Mix dial. But there is also an Automatic Gain Compensation control, to keep levels in check and a Sample Rate Reduction dial, which applies global bitcrushing.
The upper right section of the display shows an eye-catching graphical waveform of the audio being processed but the fun really starts within two horizontal rows of processing below. The upper of these offers you the chance to chain together the effects modules you want, with the ‘+’ button providing a menu from which you can take your pick. Effects are organised into categories: Delays, Distortions, Dynamics, Filter, Granular, Mixing, Modulation and Reverbs, and from the module options which lie within, there is a total of 40 individual
Each module is carefully designed with a flavour all of its own
effects to chain together. Some of these will be familiar to existing Unfiltered Audio devotees, including the Frequency Shifter from Sandman Pro, but there’s plenty here which is brand new too. Sound designers will love the granular options, but there are also useful ‘utility’ tools for mix checking and referencing, including the Stereo Width module’s one-click mono summing button.
The lower row deals with Modulation routings and, excellently, Byome takes Modulation routing much deeper than standard LFO and envelope-shaping tools to offer a full lane of ‘CV’ modules, whose outputs can be chained into the effect parameters of your choice. Options include Gate Sequencers, X-Y pad routings, and the ingenious Input Follower, which uses input level as a control source. Imagine routing its Output to Grain Size in the Granulator plugin and you’ll get a sense of just how powerful Byome can be. Don’t worry, there are LFO and envelope options aplenty too.
Byome is a wonderful combination of creative and intuitive but, most importantly, it’s capable of fantastic sounds. The key to its success is its flexibility and its unique take on tried-and-tested effects modules. Each module is carefully designed with a flavour all of its own. The reverbs, for instance, offer unexpected approaches to spatial treatments with the LoFi and Deep Reverbs particular favourites. Get yourself a Plugin Alliance account and give Byome a spin. You’ll soon be bathing in inspiration.