u-he – ColourCopy v1.0.2.16742 for Win/MAC

ColourCopy is a virtual analog effect inspired by classic BBD (bucket-brigade delays) but expanded with modern features. We called our new brainchild “Colour Copy” because it can provide the type of coloration that people still love in classic BBD devices, but with a wider range of colors. Colour Copy started its life as a small delay device called “Lyrebird” that we built into the Repro-1, but the sound was too good not to develop it further and turn it into an FX plugin.

Possibilities

Colors

During development, we soon realized that we could capture the essence of the entire range of classic Bucket Brigade delays, from low-frequency rumbling, slowly evolving delays to high-resonance, screaming characters. One knob allows you to continuously mix five finely tuned “color” macros. The differences may be subtle, but each one is rich in detail. 

In addition to the obvious differences in frequency bandwidth, each has its own noise and dynamic characteristics, frequency loss over time, and a few other qualities. The Saturation knob controls how noticeable or subtle these characteristics should be, in case you want to tone down the coloration to better fit into the mix. Finally, the Brightness knob allows you to adjust the bandwidth.

Flexibility

Colour Copy is capable of a huge variety of delay-based effects. With delays ranging from sub-millisecond to several seconds, you can create anything from comb filter and flanger/chorus effects to regular ping-pong delays and longer ‘looper’ effects. Routing options allow you to mix or swap the input and feedback signals independently, or even invert the feedback phase for various phase-cancelling effects when the delay time is set very short.

Also, unlike hardware BBD units, Colour Copy’s left and right output ‘taps’ can be placed anywhere along the delay lines. This feature allows you to independently move echoes ‘forward in time’ for ping-pong or ‘rush’ delays, for example, as well as various stereo chorus or flanger effects. You never thought you’d need three different ways to create a ping-pong effect!

Animation

Colour Copy comes with a stereo LFO that can be used to modulate the delay speed, tap positions or delay amplitude. With a range of 0.05Hz to 20Hz (as time: 20s to 50ms), the LFO can create chorus, vibrato and tremolo effects. Increase the modulation depth for deep pitch shifting. The envelope signal derived from the input signal can be used to modulate the LFO frequency and depth, adding real-time dynamics to the effects.

Colour Copy comes with the obligatory ducking compressor, but with a unique twist: you can choose whether to duck the entire delay output or just the feedback signal. This latter option leaves the very first delay untouched, preserving the overall stereo “space” while preventing the sonic chaos that high regeneration often causes.

Performance control

Some people like to play their BBD rig by raising and lowering the regeneration by turning the speed knob. We’ve taken Colour Copy a step further in this direction by adding a couple of creative features: first, a freeze button that loops the contents of the delay buffer for as long as you like. Second, MIDI key control so you can play Colour Copy like a mono synth – every octave up doubles the delay speed.

Key Features

• BBD-style analog delay for the smoothest pitch changes
  
• Unique saturation chromaticity for non-linear effects like distortion/resonance
  
• 1ms to 1s or host-synced timebase, scalable with 25% to 400% rate control
  
• Dynamic ducking with envelope
  
• LFO (with dynamic frequency and depth) can modulate rate, tap position or amplitude.
  
• MIDI note tracking and Freeze button (infinite loop) for the most daring experimental effects
  
• Powerful preset browser with tag and/or text search functions
  
• Independent input and feedback routing parameters allow all possible stereo and mono combinations
  
• 100 factory presets, compatible with NKS
  
• Instant UI resizing from 50% to 200%
  
• Individual remote control via MIDI CC, 14-bit resolution option
  
• Oddsound MTS-ESP support