N2O Review - Reviews - Music Tech Magazine

With its semi-modular architecture, is N2O a sound designer’s dream come true? Mark Cousins breathes it in...

Price: £149.00
Manufacturer: PSP
Website: http://www.pspaudioware.com

N2O Review

N2O
Manufacturer PSP
Price $149
Contact PSP +48 601 96 31 73
Web www.pspaudioware.com
Minimum system requirements
PC Windows XP
Mac OSX 10.5

As a descendant of the original Nitro plug-in, PSP’s N2O is a new and innovative look at semi-modular effects processing – arguably blurring the line between synthesis and effects processing. The Nitro plug-in was best described as a multi-mode filter on steroids, complete with a variety of LFOs, envelope detectors and so on that let you modulate the cut-off position in a dynamic way. N2O is the logical development of the Nitro concept, bringing more effects, more modulators and more routing options, making it a fully fledged, semi-modular sound-design powerhouse.

Nitrous oxide
Although the plug-in has been coded from the ground up, existing Nitro users should be familiar with the basic look and feel. Three virtual LCDs dominate the plug-in’s interface, covering the modulators, global routing and the individual effects (‘operators’) used in the current preset. You can use up to four separate modulators, routed through to four separate operators as part of the same patch, and the semi-modular nature of the PSP N2O means that (within reason) you can freely route signals around the architecture – whether it’s a single modulator controlling four different effects, for example, or the output of one operator being fed into another.
In total, the PSP N2O includes 19 different effects as part of the operators section, covering morphing resonant and formant filters, EQ, delay, reverb, pitch-shifting, compression, expansion, bit-crushing and distortion. Although some of the operators are understandably rather basic (like Gain, for example), they all play a role in providing a palette of signal-processing options. It’s also good to see a number of different filtering types (illustrating the lineage of the PSP N2O), including an authentic Moog-like filter and the aforementioned formant filtering.

Mods and rockers
The real power of the PSP N2O is only unlocked once the modulators start taking control of the various operators – whether you’re mapping a step sequencer to control filter cut-off or using an LFO to modulate the bit depth of a lo-fi operator. Once you’ve chosen your modulator, routing is easy, using the Mtrx (matrix) tab as part of the global LCD, with possible destinations highlighted in red. There’s also a pleasing range of modulation sources to play with – from step sequencers to envelope detectors – and you can even use MIDI messages and a collection of assignable knobs to add further hands-on control.
The routing options are slightly trickier at first, although PSP has included a number of predefined paths to get you started. The routing screen allows you to change whether the operators are routed in series (with each operator applied to the output of the last) or in parallel. There’s also the option of creating feedback paths and even M/S encoding/decoding if you’re feeling particularly ambitious!

Modular heaven
If you’re a fan of synth-like signal processing and want your effects to have more movement and interest, then PSP N2O is well worth a look. Although the interface feels overly technical at points – especially by comparison to other ‘modular’ signal processing environments such as Guitar Rig or even Reason – there’s no denying that it can produce some interesting and unusual effects.
If we have to find fault, then it might also have been interesting to hear the possibilities offered by ‘audio spectrum’ modulation, pushing the LFOs beyond their 30Hz limit and allowing you to explore treatments like ring modulation. But overall, N2O from PSP is a pleasing development of the Nitro philosophy –and also serves as proof that plug-in effects processors don’t always have to be polite and unobtrusive! MTM

WHY BUY
Design your own custom effects
Easy modulation mapping
Flexible routing
Good range of presets

WALK ON BY
Routing takes time to understand
Could be overwhelming for some
No ‘audio spectrum’ modulation

Verdict
A great development of the Nitro concept: flexible modulation routings and lots of effect types make PSP N2O an ideal tool for creative sound design.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)

Score: 8

This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 97
Filed under Home, Reviews, Software Effects

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