Lifeline Console

With Console, Excite Audio sends their second multi-effect into the race for a top spot in your plug-in folder. Like its brother, Expanse, this multi-effect also allows the free serial arrangement of five modules. With a Preamp section, as well as Equalizer and Compressor, classic components of a channel strip are on board. With Modulation and Wear, however, there are also modules that can be found in only a few virtual channel strips. You can make quick sound adjustments on the Main pages of the modules, while you can adjust the effects on the Advanced page in detail, if necessary.

The Preamp module is not only used for amplification, but also allows for hearty sound coloring thanks to a Drive circuit. The Bright mode provides more high-frequency shine and Warmth for more fullness and presence in the mids, while Dark can give more punch to basses and drums. The Saturation can be finely dosed and customized. In combination with the compressor, a biting and dirty distortion is also possible - perfect for drums, synth basses and electric guitars. You can also choose between three modes for the parametric 4-band EQ. In addition to a mode for precise EQ tasks, there are two modes that color the sound more strongly. The compressor is similarly flexible, capable of transparent compression, as well as drastic effect compression for banging drums and pumping basslines. Wear is an effect that simulates the sound of old tape recorders, audio cassettes or records, including the typical noises, artifacts and audio dropouts. The Mod effect, on the other hand, which uses the same algorithms, contributes distinctive pitch modulations, whereby the simulation of synchronous fluctuations is possible alongside chorus and flanger effects. All modules allow individual processing of the two stereo channels or of the mid and side signals. This allows you to use Lifeline Console for stereo effects as well. In the global section on the far right, you can not only adjust the input and output gain, but also crossfade between the Dry, Clean and Vintage sound characteristics with a triangular pad. The Warm control can be used to emphasize the low frequencies of the audio material, while Shine makes the highs shine.

Although you can achieve comparable results with the included plug-ins of popular DAWs, there are, of course, many advantages to having access to the five effect modules on one control surface: You can change the signal flow with just one click and the possibility of saving the effect chain as a preset is also very convenient. Other advantages are the M/S functions and the fact that the gain and the effect amounts can be adjusted for each module. And, since the individual effects are perfectly matched, the plug-in always delivers very musical results. If you can do without the extended setting options, the separate processing of the two stereo and mid/side channels, as well as some presets, you get a cheaper alternative with Console Lite; however, the bigger version offers the better price-performance ratio.

Verdict

Lifeline Console is a versatile tool for adding a charming analog sound character to instruments, synthesizer sounds, drums and vocals, or even entire mixes. Whether you want to give synthesizer sounds the lo-fi sound of old audio cassettes, guitar chords a livelier sound with some modulation effects, or vocals the warm and dense sound of an analog signal chain: The 350 presets are a great starting point for modifying different signals. This plug-in also performs well on track groups such as the drum bus or even on the stereo master bus. This plug-in inspires with a great sound. The global macro controls for fast and effective sound adjustments, as well as the very user-friendly operation with scalable interface and interactive displays also deserve a positive mention.

Developer: Excite Audio

Web: excite-audio.com | pluginboutique.com Price: 59 Euro, Lite Version: 39 Euro Format: VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone

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