In the world of digital audio, where purity and transparency reign, it is sometimes the analog character, warmth, and saturation that add that elusive “live” feel to a recording. The PreBOX plugin from Analog Obsession is your path to achieving this goal. It is a multifunctional preamp simulator, which has collected 11 unique emulations, allowing you to easily breathe life and special character into your audio tracks.
PreBOX doesn’t just imitate one type of preamp, but provides a whole palette of tonalities, modeled from well-known and desirable analog devices. This makes it an incredibly versatile tool for any stage of music production – from recording to mixing.
What is PreBOX?
Essentially, PreBOX is a virtual studio rack containing 11 different preamps. Each of them has its own unique “footprint”, its reaction to the signal’s dynamics and its saturation character. You can switch between them, instantly changing the timbre of an instrument or voice, looking for the perfect combination. It’s like having access to a collection of vintage and modern equipment right in your DAW, but without having to spend thousands of dollars on physical devices.
Key Features
11 Different Preamplifier Emulations
- Discover the rich world of analog sound with 11 different simulations. This covers a wide range of shades – from barely noticeable warmth and “glue”, which works great on the full mix bus, to expressive saturation and harmonic saturation, ideal for giving individuality to individual instruments such as vocals, guitars or drums. Experiment to find exactly the character that your track needs.
Convenient Signal Control Functions
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Input Gain Compensation
Forget about constantly adjusting the volume when comparing different presets. The input gain compensation function automatically normalizes the output signal, allowing you to focus exclusively on the tonal differences between emulations. This significantly speeds up the workflow and helps you make the right sound decision.
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Clean Output Stage
PreBOX processes your signal with the selected preamp, but provides the option to have a clean output. This means you get the desired analog color and saturation from the preamp simulation, but the output level and dynamics remain under your control, without adding unwanted compression or distortion after the main effect.
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Selective Filters (HPF & LPF)
Built-in high and low-pass filters are an extremely useful tool for shaping the tone even before the signal passes through the preamp emulation. You can easily remove excess hum at the low end or harshness at the high end, clean the signal, or use filters creatively to change the overall perspective of the instrument’s sound in the mix. This adds flexibility and efficiency to your work.
PreBOX is Ideal For:
- Adding warmth and presence to vocals.
- Forming a unique tone for guitars (both electric and acoustic).
- Making the bass guitar more cohesive, rich and audible in the mix.
- Adding “punch”, body and saturation to percussion instruments.
- Breathing analog character into synthesizers and samples.
- Using on instrument buses or on the master bus for analog “glue” and the overall character of the mix.
Why Choose PreBOX From Analog Obsession?
Analog Obsession is known for its reputation as a developer of high-quality, free plugins that sound on par with commercial products. PreBOX is no exception. It combines flexibility, excellent sound, and an intuitive interface. It’s an affordable way to access a palette of analog sounds and significantly improve the quality and character of your recordings.
Compatibility
The PreBOX plugin is available for users of Windows (64-bit) and macOS operating systems in popular VST and AU formats, ensuring easy integration with most modern digital audio workstations (DAWs).
