Recording - September 2013 - 60

PLUG-IN OUTLET

FXpansion Bloom
By Mike Metlay

1

Bloom is a new effects plug-in from FXpansion, makers of the Geist
loop/rhythm processor (reviewed April 2011), the DCAM: Synth
Squad modeling synthesizers (reviewed September 2010), and the
BFD drum library and groove sequencer (most recently reviewed
August 2009 for version 2). We could call Bloom a delay... much in
the same way one could call the Eiffel Tower a “building”. It’s technically accurate, but something of the charm is lost!
Bloom contains a delay line with a feedback loop and three types
of delay emulation; a reverb called the Diffusion Network; a pair of
3-band equalizers; highpass and lowpass filters; and an Effect Chain
that contains four separate sub-effects. These combine for a powerful
combination of modulated delay effects, and their power is multiplied
by easy and intuitive systems for automation and realtime control.
The commonly used delay and effects controls appear on the
bottom half of the screen at all times; a set of three tabbed
upper screens offer control of Modulators, Sequencers, and
EQ/Routing, which we’ll discuss below.

The Effects Chain and Diffusion Network
It can be a little confusing at first, when the FXpansion folks talk
about the “Effects Chain”. This term includes not only the four
individual effects grouped into the “FX” block, but also the paired
Filters (lowpass and highpass, 12 dB/octave slope, with individual on/off) and one of the two equalizers. These modules are
moved around as a unit when you change signal routings (see
below), with the FX, then the eq, then the two filters in that order.
The four FX are, in order, an envelope shaper (that lets you
accentuate or suppress attack transients vs. decays), a frequency
shifter with ±12 semitone range, a chorus, and an overdrive. Each
module has a single parameter control that you can tweak, and an
individual on/off switch. They’re set up to provide everything from
subtle shimmer to all-out insanity. This is especially true of the frequency shifter, which (unlike a pitch shifter) doesn’t preserve harmonic structure and produces clangorous metallic sounds.
The Diffusion Network is a simple reverb with the usual controls
for room size, decay time, and reverb amount. It adds a spaciousness to the delay signal that can be very effective, even though you
wouldn’t use it as a reverb on its own (it’s not as smooth and
detailed as dedicated reverb plug-ins). Finally, the Master section
has controls for Input and Output Gain, Pan, and wet/dry Mix.
The eq and routing options
Located on a separate EQ/Routing page, the eq offers global
control over Low, Mid, and High frequencies, plus Mid Q. There
are two different eq blocks, one that’s part of the Effects Chain and
one that appears at or near the end of the signal path. What’s odd
is that each eq can have its own gain controls for the three bands,
but the frequencies and Q settings are shared between them.

2

The delay
The delay is the heart of Bloom; it offers three emulations—
Digital, BBD, and Tape—each with a knob that controls its basic
tonal character. The Digital emulation’s Digital Era knob lets you
vary resolution and sample rate; BBD (Bucket Brigade Device) is
There are nine possible routings for audio through Bloom, each
an analogue circuit model where you can dial in the number of
with a different ordering of effects blocks and resultant tonal charBBD Stages and thus control the character of the echo; and the
acter. Bloom is designed to make maximum use of the fact that
Tape model’s Tape Age knob lets you throw in wow, flutter, and
“reverb into delay” doesn’t sound anything like “delay into
tape rolloff. (FXpansion says there’s tape hiss in there as well,
reverb”, and where you place eq or filters has a dramatic effect
but I don’t hear it much; the rolloff eats it all up.)
on your overall sound, especially when there’s a feedback loop
The Slew knob is one of several that appear throughout the Bloom
involved.
interface; they all have roughly the same function, although it has a
There are two sets of 3-way switches to set up these routings.
different effect depending on where it’s applied. Basically, adding
One places the Diffusion Network either at the very start of the
Slew smooths out sudden parameter changes; the Slew knob on the
path, at the very end of the path, or just before the output eq (so
delay removes glitchiness when you suddenly change the delay time.
the reverb tail can have its tone filtered before output). The other
The big Delay Time and Feedback knobs surround the input and
switch places the Effects Chain either before the delay’s feedback
output meters and dropdown menus for beat or time value (in milloop, inside it, or after it. You could spend hours just calling up a
liseconds; maximum delay is 2500 ms). You can choose to
keep the delay in true stereo, or sum the signal to mono and
Delivery Format: Web download only
ping-pong the repeats; invert the polarity of the feedback loop;
Format: 32- or 64-bit Windows 7/8 VST/RTAS; 32- or 64-bit Mac OS
“freeze” (capture) the audio in the delay line and repeat it
X 10.6.2+ VST/RTAS/AU
indefinitely; and reverse the echoes. The last two switches can
Copy Protection: Serial number challenge/response
be automated easily using sequencers, as described below.
License: Single user/multiple computers not used simultaneously
The Modifiers control the delay’s behavior in the stereo
Documentation: PDF manual
soundstage; you can use Offset to subtly change the delay
Price: $99
time between left and right, narrow the stereo width down
More from: FXpansion, www.fxpansion.com
to mono, and/or add cross-feedback between left and right.
60

RECORDING September 2013


http://www.fxpansion.com

Recording - September 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - September 2013

Recording - September 2013
Fade In
Contents
Talkback
Fast Forward
The History And Mystery Of Monitoring: A Chat With JBL’s Peter Chaikin
Better Sounds From Tight Spots
Do It Yourself: Fix Your Cables—Save Your Money!
Emotiva Pro Stealth 8 Monitors
MOTU Track16
Ashman Acoustics SOM50 Microphone
Sontronics Sonora 2
Stop Sound Leakage!
Drawmer MC2.1 Monitor Controller
Do It Yourself: Build Acoustic Treatment Right Into Your Walls!
From Shed To Studio
Sneak Previews: Apple Logic Pro X and Avid Pro Tools 11
Readers’ Tapes
Plug-In Outlet: FXpansion Bloom
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 21: Equalization—Part 2
Advertiser Index
Fade Out
Recording - September 2013 - Intro
Recording - September 2013 - Recording - September 2013
Recording - September 2013 - Cover2
Recording - September 2013 - 1
Recording - September 2013 - 2
Recording - September 2013 - 3
Recording - September 2013 - Fade In
Recording - September 2013 - 5
Recording - September 2013 - Contents
Recording - September 2013 - 7
Recording - September 2013 - Talkback
Recording - September 2013 - 9
Recording - September 2013 - Fast Forward
Recording - September 2013 - 11
Recording - September 2013 - 12
Recording - September 2013 - 13
Recording - September 2013 - The History And Mystery Of Monitoring: A Chat With JBL’s Peter Chaikin
Recording - September 2013 - 15
Recording - September 2013 - 16
Recording - September 2013 - 17
Recording - September 2013 - 18
Recording - September 2013 - 19
Recording - September 2013 - 20
Recording - September 2013 - 21
Recording - September 2013 - Better Sounds From Tight Spots
Recording - September 2013 - 23
Recording - September 2013 - 24
Recording - September 2013 - 25
Recording - September 2013 - Do It Yourself: Fix Your Cables—Save Your Money!
Recording - September 2013 - 27
Recording - September 2013 - 28
Recording - September 2013 - 29
Recording - September 2013 - Emotiva Pro Stealth 8 Monitors
Recording - September 2013 - 31
Recording - September 2013 - 32
Recording - September 2013 - 33
Recording - September 2013 - MOTU Track16
Recording - September 2013 - 35
Recording - September 2013 - Ashman Acoustics SOM50 Microphone
Recording - September 2013 - 37
Recording - September 2013 - Sontronics Sonora 2
Recording - September 2013 - 39
Recording - September 2013 - Stop Sound Leakage!
Recording - September 2013 - 41
Recording - September 2013 - 42
Recording - September 2013 - 43
Recording - September 2013 - 44
Recording - September 2013 - 45
Recording - September 2013 - Drawmer MC2.1 Monitor Controller
Recording - September 2013 - 47
Recording - September 2013 - Do It Yourself: Build Acoustic Treatment Right Into Your Walls!
Recording - September 2013 - 49
Recording - September 2013 - From Shed To Studio
Recording - September 2013 - 51
Recording - September 2013 - Sneak Previews: Apple Logic Pro X and Avid Pro Tools 11
Recording - September 2013 - 53
Recording - September 2013 - Readers’ Tapes
Recording - September 2013 - 55
Recording - September 2013 - 56
Recording - September 2013 - 57
Recording - September 2013 - 58
Recording - September 2013 - 59
Recording - September 2013 - Plug-In Outlet: FXpansion Bloom
Recording - September 2013 - 61
Recording - September 2013 - Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 21: Equalization—Part 2
Recording - September 2013 - 63
Recording - September 2013 - 64
Recording - September 2013 - Advertiser Index
Recording - September 2013 - 66
Recording - September 2013 - 67
Recording - September 2013 - 68
Recording - September 2013 - 69
Recording - September 2013 - 70
Recording - September 2013 - 71
Recording - September 2013 - Cover3
Recording - September 2013 - Cover4
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