NFuse
by Kiive Audio · Channel Strip · Dual-path hybrid bus processor
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NFuse is a bus processor with two sides, each holding saturation, EQ, compression and stereo width modules.
Every module can be swapped between the two sides and reordered, so you build your own chain. It costs $99.99.
Best for: Mix Bus, Drum Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: bus processing, mix bus, wide, drum bus, full mix, glue, mid/side, undo/redo, A/B compare, aggressive, bright, dark, dual-mono, harsh, mastering, metering, mixing, oversampling, parallel processing, sidechain input, smooth.
What it does
NFuse is a mix bus processor built from two different bus processors, an N side and an F side, in one window. The developer's idea is that you "combine modules from both" to get more tonal range than either one alone.
- Saturation: the F side has Drive and Density and adds even-order harmonics; the N side has Drive with darker or brighter colour and an aggressive mode.
- EQ: the N side's low band runs 30–240 Hz and high band 3–24 kHz; the F side's low band runs 30–90 Hz and high band 8–20 kHz.
- N compressor: 2:1 and 5:1 ratios, release from 100 ms to 1.5 s, a 20–350 Hz sidechain high-pass, makeup gain and a parallel blend.
- F compressor: ratios from 2:1 to 10:1, adjustable attack, release and makeup, gain reduction metering and a high-frequency compression mode.
- Stereo stage: the N side has width with a 50–800 Hz high-pass; the F side has Width and Space with mid/side processing.
- Routing: reorder saturation, EQ and compression (the stereo stage stays last), run in stereo, dual mono or mid/side, and link all modules to N or F or set each one separately.
- Workflow: oversampling from off to 16x, A/B, undo/redo, presets and GUI scaling from 75% to 150%.
It has free updates for life. A 14-day, fully working trial needs no card.
Source: Kiive Audio product page
When to use it
NFuse is the pick when you want one bus plugin with two characters to mix and match, rather than one console's fixed sound. Compared with The Glue, it does far more (saturation, EQ, width and two compressor styles) but takes longer to set up. Against the bx_console SSL 4000 E it is a bus finishing tool rather than a full channel strip for every track. Unlike Scheps Omni Channel, it has no de-esser or gate, so it fits the mix bus better than individual tracks.
- Best for: mix bus and drum bus finishing in a single plugin, especially if you normally stack saturation, EQ and a bus compressor.
- Genres: all styles.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a single, simple bus compressor, where The Glue is quicker, or you need a limiter at the end of the chain, which NFuse doesn't include.
- Tip: the reviewer kept NFuse for final mix bus polish and used other strips on track groups.
What producers say
The review we read praised the sound and flexibility, with a few reservations about harshness and documentation.
- Oliver Peters (digitalfilms) liked the "smooth sound" and the character and glue it added, and identified the N side as Neve MBT-inspired and the F side as SSL Fusion-inspired.
- Flexibility: he valued switching N or F per module, changing the order, and using it on many buses, which the hardware can't do.
- Criticisms: no built-in limiter, a thin PDF manual that didn't explain the HF compression mode, and an F side that can sound a bit harsh.
Where to buy
- Kiive Audio: $99
- Plugin Boutique: $199.99
Tutorials and reviews
- Kiive Audio NFuse Demo & Review - How Does It Sound?
- Kiive Audio - NFUSE
- Kiive Audio NFuse deep dive and review
- Kiive Audio Nfuse Vs The Neve MBT and SSL Fusion
- 3 Tips To Take Your Mix to the Next Level with NFuse
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