Flame Sound, the new audio software brand founded by Tomislav Zlatić of Bedroom Producers Blog, has officially released its debut plugin, Vatra. This innovative mixing and mastering effect plugin is designed for macOS and Windows, available in VST3 and Audio Unit formats. Vatra’s primary goal is to increase perceived loudness and shape tone, but it achieves this through a unique approach: harmonic generation, saturation, and transient shaping, rather than conventional compression or limiting. Consequently, the internal processing avoids clamping peaks, which helps to keep the source material’s dynamics largely intact. This method offers a fresh perspective on achieving a professional, loud mix without sacrificing the natural movement and impact of your audio.

Innovative Loudness Processing

Vatra stands out by offering a distinct alternative to traditional loudness tools. Instead of relying on heavy compression or limiting, which can often flatten dynamics and introduce unwanted artifacts, Vatra employs a sophisticated system of harmonic enhancement and saturation. For instance, its core principle is to lift low-level material towards the peaks, thereby increasing density and perceived volume. This dual-stage density engine, known as IGNITE, plays a crucial role in enhancing the audio’s presence without squashing its dynamic range. Furthermore, the plugin runs at 4x oversampling, ensuring high-quality processing and minimizing aliasing, which is essential for professional audio applications.

Deep Dive into Vatra’s Controls

The plugin features a fixed signal path with five intuitive controls, each contributing significantly to the overall sound sculpting. Firstly, IGNITE acts as a dual-stage density engine, designed to bring up quieter elements and add perceived weight. Secondly, HEAT provides a versatile tape emulation, ranging from subtle coloration to open tape-style distortion, thereby adding warmth and character. Moreover, WEIGHT focuses on saturating low frequencies to enhance body and presence, offering an alternative to traditional EQ boosts. Similarly, AIR targets the upper frequencies, saturating and exciting them to add sparkle and clarity. Lastly, PUNCH serves as a dedicated transient shaper, allowing users to fine-tune the attack and sustain of their sounds. Additionally, separate IN and OUT controls are included for precise gain staging and level-matched bypass comparisons, ensuring accurate adjustments. The software also comes with ten presets to provide quick starting points for various applications, and the manual details recommended control positions for both full mixes and individual tracks.

Technical Details and Availability

Vatra is compatible with macOS 11 or later (supporting both Intel and Apple Silicon processors) and Windows 10 or later. It is available in VST3 and AU plugin formats. Notably, Flame Sound emphasizes that no AI was utilized during the approximately two-year development process. In terms of user convenience, Vatra features no copy protection; there are no dongles, license managers, or activation steps required. Furthermore, lifetime free updates are included with every purchase, ensuring long-term value. A 7-day trial of the full plugin, with all features unlocked, is available for download directly from the Flame Sound website, allowing users to experience its capabilities firsthand.

Features

• Increases perceived loudness and shapes tone without compression or limiting.
• Preserves dynamics by avoiding peak clamping.
• Five distinct controls: WEIGHT, IGNITE, HEAT, AIR, PUNCH.
• IGNITE: Dual-stage density engine for lifting low-level material.
• HEAT: Tape emulation for coloration and distortion.
• WEIGHT: Low-frequency saturation for added body.
• AIR: Upper-frequency saturation and excitation.
• PUNCH: Dedicated transient shaper.
• 4x oversampling for high-quality audio processing.
• Separate IN and OUT controls for gain staging and bypass comparisons.
• Includes 10 factory presets.
• No copy protection (no dongle, license manager, or activation).
• Lifetime free updates.
• Compatible with macOS 11+ (Intel & Apple Silicon) and Windows 10+.
• Available in VST3 and AU formats.

Price
Intro: $39.00
Regular: $69.00

More info: Flame Sound | Vatra