MHorse – The Soul of Vintage Consoles in Your DAW
In the world of digital audio, there is sometimes a lack of that special warmth and character inherent in legendary analog devices. The MHorse plugin from Terry West is exactly such a bridge, connecting the convenience of a modern studio with the charm of vintage studio consoles. Created with inspiration from classic solutions, MHorse offers a comprehensive set of tools for the master channel, allowing you to give your tracks a professional sheen and unique sound.
MHorse is not just a set of individual effects, it’s a complete processing system designed for the final touch. It combines the functionality usually found on expensive hardware master processors, offering flexibility and power to shape the sound in the final stage of mixing or during mastering.
Key Processing Capabilities
The plugin is equipped with a wide range of tools that allow you to control every aspect of the sound on the master channel in detail. From fine-tuning the level to deep tonal correction and adding harmonic saturation – MHorse has everything you need.
- Separate input and output gain controls with a panning function for precise level and stereo balance control.
- Option to reduce the output level by -3 dB for easy further processing or preventing overload.
- 13 graphic equalizer bands provide exceptional control over the frequency spectrum, allowing you to shape the tonal balance with high detail.
- Four bandwidth (Q) settings for each equalizer band provide flexibility in choosing between surgical precision and broad musical correction.
- Equalizer operating modes: serial and parallel, which opens up additional possibilities for creative sound shaping and using equalization in different contexts.
- Specialized tonal correction modes: Decardboard, Punch, Body, and Shine (39K) – these unique settings are designed to quickly achieve the desired sound character, adding “punch”, “body”, or “shine” respectively.
- MS Clarity processor for working in the Mid/Side plane, which allows you to improve the clarity of the central image and the width of the stereo field.
- NY compressor (parallel compression) combined with the Motown equalizer – a classic combination for adding density, energy, and warmth to the mix.
- The Tape Saturator section simulates magnetic tape saturation, adding pleasant harmonics and soft compression, characteristic of analog recording.
- DC Remover – a useful tool for removing the DC component of the signal, which can occur during some processing.
- MS Stereo Widener to expand the stereo base and create a more spatial sound.
- Low and high-pass filters (Lopass/Hipass) to cut off unwanted frequencies and shape the overall sound contour.
- Equalizer gain level switches (12-10-8-6 dB) allow you to quickly adapt the correction range to different tasks.
- Output signal inversion switch (Invert output).
Visual Control and Convenience
In addition to powerful processing tools, MHorse offers an intuitive interface with detailed visual control:
- LED output level indicators with peak and peakhold functions for volume monitoring.
- Panorama and correlation meter for visual control of the stereo image and detection of phase problems.
- LED peak input and output signal indicators.
- Automatic Gain Control for effects, which helps maintain a stable level when activating different processing sections.
- Effect energy meters for visual display of processing activity.
- The ability to solo the left/right channel for detailed analysis of the stereo signal.
- Tooltips that appear when hovering over interface elements make learning the plugin quick and easy.
MHorse is a versatile tool for anyone who strives to achieve high-quality and expressive sound in their mixes. Its flexibility, unique processing modes, and inspiration from classic analog equipment make it a valuable addition to the arsenal of any sound engineer or musician working in the Windows VST environment.
