Rave Generation’s latest audio plugin aims to bring the warmth and character of legendary analog hardware within a precision-engineered digital environment. Aphelion’s Orbit checks out the Filterbank in our latest review.
What is it?
If you’re after a plugin that seamlessly fuses the rich warmth of analog with modern precision, Rave Generation: Filterbank is the perfect choice. Designed for sound designers and producers, this powerhouse delivers high-quality analog filter modeling, dynamic modulation, and authentic distortion, all within a streamlined digital environment.
With Filterbank, you have the freedom to switch effortlessly between digital clarity and analog character, giving your productions a unique edge—whether you’re enhancing existing textures or crafting something entirely new.
First Impressions
Being a fan and having had the opportunity to review their catalog of products right here on Rekkerd, I was more than willing to review this new filterbank and see what it would bring to my sound creation process.
There are a ton of tools like this one on the market. Some of the best exist within the Rave Generation catalog.
—so naturally, I was eager to see how Filterbank would measure up.
From the moment I loaded it into my session, it was clear that Rave Generation had poured serious effort into ensuring this plugin captured the essence of true analog filtering. The interface is intuitive yet offers deep control, allowing me to sculpt sound in ways that feel both organic and precise.
Interface & Controls
The interface of Rave Generation: Filterbank provides intuitive access to its powerful features, ensuring seamless workflow integration. The clean, structured layout follows the natural signal flow, from input through filters to output, allowing users to easily visualize and adjust their processing chain.
With clearly labeled modulation sources, Filterbank makes it simple to experiment creatively while maintaining fine-tuned precision. The real-time visual feedback enhances the user experience, offering immediate responsiveness for adjustments. Whether tweaking parameters on-the-fly during live performances or dialing in delicate sound design details in the studio, the interface provides a smooth and intuitive interaction that helps users get the most out of the plugin’s deep functionality.
Additionally, customizable control mappings allow full MIDI integration, making it easy to pair Filterbank with external hardware or controllers for dynamic, hands-on modulation. The result? A powerful yet user-friendly interface designed to enhance both creativity and efficiency.
Sound Shaping
One standout feature is the modulation system, which offers incredible flexibility—perfect for adding movement and dimension to otherwise static sounds. Whether you’re dialing in subtle harmonic warmth or pushing the distortion into aggressive territory, the plugin responds beautifully, giving you the kind of depth and character that often requires dedicated hardware.
Another big win is its ability to retain clarity even in extreme settings. Many digital filters struggle with artifacts when pushed hard, but Filterbank manages to stay musical and dynamic, making it an excellent choice for both experimental textures and polished production elements alike.
Overall, Rave Generation: Filterbank proves that digital tools can rival their hardware counterparts when designed with care and expertise. If you’re serious about sound design and want a filter that goes beyond the basics, this is absolutely one to check out.
Analog modeling
Rave Generation employs advanced modeling techniques that set Filterbank apart in an increasingly crowded effects market, ensuring rich harmonic character and true analog behavior. Some standout features include:
- Diode Pair Simulation – The feedback path integrates non-linear diode modeling, generating asymmetric distortion that enhances harmonic complexity and delivers signature analog warmth.
- Moog-Style Resonance Feedback – A recursive resonance system faithfully mirrors Moog ladder filter behavior, providing deep, organic resonance that intensifies when driven to self-oscillation.
- Non-Linearity Control – A dedicated non-linearity factor allows for smooth transitions between clean digital precision and analog-like saturation, particularly impactful at high resonance levels.
- Resonance Delay Modeling – Subtle component-level interactions introduce slight delays in filter response, creating a more fluid, natural evolution during parameter adjustments.
Pros
- Editing & sound manipulation.
- Scalable UI.
- Gorgeous interface.
- Distinct sound.
Cons
- CPU spike (Oversampling).
Final Thoughts
Another fine FX tool from Rave Generation. Whether you are carving out frequencies, adding distortion or creating your next great soundscape, it’s all here in one FX unit for you to experiment with.
This unit stacks up well with the plethora of choices out there on the market. It manages to carve out a sonic character of its own that will keep you inspired for a very long time.
The Filterbank plugin is available in VST3 and AU plugin formats for Windows and Mac. It is currently on offer at a discounted price of €99.95 EUR (regular €129.95 EUR). Check the Rave Generation website for more information.
