Filters are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of a sound designer and musician. They allow you to shape timbre, cut out unwanted frequencies, create dynamic effects, and add movement to static sounds. But what if you want to take filtering to a whole new level? What if you need a tool that doesn’t just apply a static filter, but allows you to create complex, living, and evolving soundscapes using incredibly flexible modulation?
Discover new dimensions of sound with IO Filter
Introducing IO Filter – a unique paraphonic multi-filter from B Serrano, which turns ordinary filtering into an art form. This plugin doesn’t just apply a filter to your sound; it gives you control over the dynamic change of its parameters using one of the most powerful and detailed graphic envelopes you’ve ever encountered in a VST effect.
Intuitive control through an advanced graphic envelope
The heart of IO Filter is its extremely advanced graphic envelope. Forget about simple ADSR; this envelope allows you to create up to 32 independent segments, each of which can have an individual curve type. This gives unprecedented precision and flexibility in shaping how filter parameters will change over time. You can set the duration of each segment with incredible accuracy – from nanoseconds to minutes or even hours! This detail opens up endless possibilities for creating both subtle, barely noticeable movements and radical, dramatic sound transformations.
The envelope can work in “one-shot” mode for one-time effects or in loopable mode, which is ideal for creating rhythmic patterns, constantly changing textures, or atmospheric backgrounds. In addition, the envelope can be synchronized with the tempo of your host application (Host-Bpm syncable), which makes it an ideal tool for electronic music and any genres where precise synchronization with the rhythm is important.
Multi-mode filtering and cascading
IO Filter offers a full set of classic filtering modes:
- LP (Low Pass) – passes low frequencies, attenuating high ones.
- HP (High Pass) – passes high frequencies, attenuating low ones.
- BP (Band Pass) – passes frequencies in a certain range.
- Peak – allows you to amplify or weaken frequencies around a central point, acting as a parametric equalizer.
But that’s not all! IO Filter allows you to cascade up to 4 filters (Stack), applying them sequentially. This opens the door to creating extremely complex and unique filtering characteristics that cannot be obtained with a single filter. Combine different filter types and cascading modes to sculpt sound with surgical precision or create completely new, previously unseen timbres.
High-precision editing
Thanks to an intuitive graphical interface and a high-precision editing function, adjusting the envelope and filter parameters becomes a pleasant and efficient process. You can scale the envelope, precisely move inflection points, and adjust curves, seeing the result of your actions in real time.
Technical details
- Format: VST
- Operating system: Windows (Win32)
- Developer: B Serrano
Conclusion
IO Filter is not just another filter plugin. It is a tool for true experimenters and sound designers who are looking for a way to add movement, life, and uniqueness to their sounds. Its powerful graphic envelope combined with flexible filtering and cascading capabilities makes it an indispensable tool for creating evolving textures, complex rhythmic effects, unusual transformations, and dynamic frequency correction. If you work in Windows and use a VST host, be sure to try IO Filter and discover new horizons of sound design!
