Sage
by Puremagnetik · Delay · 1024-band spectral delay
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Sage is a spectral delay that splits audio into 1024 FFT bands and gives each band its own delay time, feedback, amplitude and modulation.
A visual band editor draws these settings across the spectrum, and it can process files from disk as well as in real time; it costs $49.
Best for: Sound Design, Keys & Synths, Guitars, Drums. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: spectral, drums, FFT-based, rhythmic, experimental, modern, synths, built-in analyzer, cinematic, discontinued, mixing, sound design.
What it does
Sage is Puremagnetik's flagship spectral delay. It splits the input into frequency bands and gives each band its own echo, so highs can scatter while lows hold. The developer says it draws on the approach of Native Instruments' long-discontinued Spektral Delay, rebuilt as a focused modern plugin.
- 1024-band FFT: up to 1024 independent frequency bands, each processed on its own.
- Per-band delay, feedback and amplitude: delay time, feedback and level can be set individually for every band, for echoes that differ across the spectrum.
- Per-band modulation: modulation applied band by band, for moving, shifting textures.
- Band editor: a visual editor over a graphical spectrum display, so you draw delay and feedback settings for specific frequency areas.
- File processing: processes audio files directly from disk as well as working in real time, with extra filtering options.
- Design intent: aimed at "spectral smearing, rhythmic filtering, complex echoing textures" rather than ordinary echo.
A PDF user guide can be downloaded from the product page. The page does not mention a demo.
Source: Puremagnetik product page
When to use it
Sage is the pick when you want the echoes themselves to change across the frequency range, which ordinary delays cannot do. Unlike EchoBoy or ValhallaDelay, it does not model tape, analog or vintage digital units; it has no character styles or groove controls, and its strength is splitting the signal into up to 1024 bands. Compared with FabFilter Timeless 3, which also offers filtering and modulation, Sage works per band across the whole spectrum instead of on a few delay lines. For owners who miss NI's Spektral Delay, it is the closest modern take, with a visual band editor and offline file processing added.
- Best for: frequency-dependent echoes, spectral smears, rhythmic filtering, and experimental drum, synth and texture processing.
- Genres: ambient, cinematic, IDM and experimental electronic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a straightforward tape or analog delay for a mix; EchoBoy or ValhallaDelay are quicker and more musical for that.
Where to buy
- Puremagnetik: $49
Tutorials and reviews
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