UVI Shade - Creative Filter and EQ

Overview

Shade is a next-gen Swiss Army knife filtering tool, designed to shatter the boundaries of conventional EQ, filtering, and modulation effects. More than a filter, Shade is a creative environment, combining an unparalleled selection of 35 filter shapes with 10 types of modulators. Drag-and-drop modulation onto any parameter in a fully-configurable semi-modular system, complete with one-to-many and many-to-one routing, cross-modulation, envelope followers with sidechain and filter inputs, featured MSEGs, triggerable envelopes that can sync to host, audio, or MIDI, comprehensive multichannel support, and more. Shade delivers the EQ and filtering features you already know and love, while opening a whole new world of creative effects to explore.

Trailer Overview UVI Focus | Shade Post-production Showcase

What's new?

Integrating community feedback and feature requests, version 1.2 adds pitch tracking, 20 factory presets, usability improvements, and more. Registered users can download the free update from the My Products page on uvi.net, or UVI Portal.

NEW! 20 new post-production presets from HAL Audio
NEW! 'Pitch Tracking’ modulation source, from MIDI or audio input
NEW! MIDI keyboard to main display, for quick filter frequency snapping
NEW! Display of selected filter’s note value on frequency axis
NEW! Display of modulation depth overload on knobs
NEW! Display of modulation depth value in target parameters units
NEW! Support for Protools automation modifier keys
NEW! Global UI refresh rate setting in Preferences panel
Improved automation parameter names
Under-the-hood enhancements

Version 1.1 added Band Solo for all EQ filter types, a Global Limiter, 25 new factory presets, and numerous under-the-hood enhancements.

Approach

With Shade, we've aimed to create something unique, that would both improve your process and simplify the toolset required to achieve it, something that helped open doors to new kinds of sounds and experimentation, but also really nailed the bread and butter tasks that you rely on to get the job done.

To do that, we started from the ground-up. From the filter engine, modeling shapes, and the modulation system, getting everything to sound right even at the extremes, while keeping the CPU cycles in check so you don't have to think twice about loading it, to usability, putting everything in reach, without it being in the way, allowing you to go as deep as your inspiration takes you without being visually overwhelming, or pulling your attention away from the sound.

It's been quite a process but we've done our best to tick those boxes, and we hope you find it as inspiring to work with as we do. While the building blocks in Shade are simple in appearance, they come together to do some really special things, quickly, and with very few limitations.

In-depth

DIGITAL, ANALOG AND BEYOND

With 35 unique filter types Shade excels at traditional and creative uses alike, easily completing tasks that would have required numerous plugins before (and many that were previously impossible.) Shade includes everything from digital to analog-modeled nonlinear filter shapes, and many mind-bending multi-resonant ones. With Shade you can make broadstroke adjustments transparently, surgically and dynamically balance and tame unwieldy resonances, and add hardware-modeled warmth, effortlessly, in a single plugin instance.

RADICAL SHADES

Filters in Shade were designed to offer extreme versatility. Resonant filters have discrete Q-Up and Q-Down controls, and all shelf and peak shapes provide fully-continuous slopes up to 2000dB/octave. Transition smoothly from subtle to insane, create soft-knee brickwall filters, and with the dynamic modulation system, radically mangle and destroy signals like never before.

FILTERS

LOW PASS: Resonant, Multi Resonant, Xpander, Sallen Key

HIGH PASS: Resonant, Multi Resonant, Xpander

LOW SHELF: Resonant, Eq-ing

HIGH SHELF: Resonant, Eq-ing

NOTCH: Resonant, Multi Resonant

BAND PASS: Resonant, Multi Resonant

PEAK: Resonant, Eq-ing

GAIN | TILT | MULTI-MODE EXPANDER

PHASER: Classic, Extended, Notch Resonant, Notch Multi Resonant, Band Pass Resonant, Band Pass Multi Resonant, Peak Resonant, Peak Eq-ing, Tilt Resonant, Tilt Eq-ing

COMB: Classic, Notch Resonant, Notch Multi Resonant, Band Pass Resonant, Band Pass Multi Resonant, Tilt Resonant, Tilt Eq-ing

MODULATE ALL THE THINGS

Shade's modulation system is a gateway to a world of new sound design possibilities. 9 modulators can be instanced, including: XY, Macro, Spread, Random, LFO, Envelope, Figure (an XY LFO), MSEG, and Follower. All filter and modulator parameters can be targeted, with one-to-many and many-to-one routing, cross-modulation, muting, and all are easy to keep track of thanks to double-click show/hide and click-drag rearrangement. It's difficult to overstate how powerful the modulation system is and how easy it is to use.

MODULATORS

LFO

A feature-complete LFO, including variable shape, phase, symmetry and pulse width. The Multiplier control supports advanced metrics (5, 7, 11, 13, 15 etc.), and Swing provides up to 200% of the conventional range.

Follower

A featured envelope follower, allows the creation of any sort of dynamic effect in Shade, from classic Dynamic EQ, to multiband compression effects and beyond. Can be driven by input, sidechain, or the spectral band of individual filters within Shade.

Figure

A two-dimensional LFO, Figure allows you to create continuous morphing between simple circular forms and complex, spirograph-like shapes with up to 8 vertices, and support for rotation. Additional features include Direction, Sync/Free toggle, variable Speed and Phase, and Trigger/Retrigger modes.

Envelope

A classic DAHD envelope with variable curve shapes. Triggering is set through the global trigger mode menu, and can be made by host sync interval, audio threshold, or MIDI note.

Spread (Multichannel)

The Spread modulator allows you to create channel-specific variation for any parameter (on filters or modulators), in L/R, M/S, or Surround. Simply expand the panel and adjust relative values for each channel as desired. Use it to create ultra-wide fx, or any type of creative multichannel filtering effect you can think of.

MSEG

For absolute control, the MSEG (multi-step envelope generator) provides a DAW-like automation lane with both stepped and linear drawing modes with easing. A customizable grid with grid-snap allows for precise point placement. Click-drag multiselection with bounding box transform allows for easy editing. Additional features include Loop toggle, Trigger/Retrigger modes, Sync/Free toggle, variable Speed and Phase, and Smooth interpolation.

Random

Add jitter to any parameter to impart variability, movement, and added interest. Can operate in Mono or Stereo, for added width.

Macro

The Macro modulator lets you easily control many things from one place. Map it to as many parameters as you like, and assign each their own depth as needed.

X / Y

A classic two-dimensional modulator. Perfect for morphing between parameter settings on filters or other modulators. Control it with an external joystick via Macros.

Pitch Tracking

A pitch tracker that can be used to control any parameter (typically used to drive filter frequency). Monitor pitch from the main or sidechain audio inputs, or from the MIDI input.

EXTREME PHASER / FLANGER

Shade is an extremely capable phaser and flanger. Combine any of the classic or more exotic phaser and flanger filter shapes with Shade's modulation system, LFO, MSEG, Figure, Spread, and animate to taste. Roll your own or check out the fantastic collection of phaser and flanger presets for instant gratification.

LIMITLESS DYNAMIC EFFECTS

Right-click the gain of any shelf or peak filter in Shade to add a Follower, and you've got instant dynamic EQ. Unlike most dynamic EQs, however, any parameter in Shade can be dynamic. Pair that with a capable cross-modulation system and ability to drive envelope followers based on individual filters' spectral content, and you’ve got massive creative potential.

HIGH QUALITY, ZERO LATENCY

Most of the filters within Shade have been digitized using advanced techniques to achieve extremely accurate analog magnitude matching across the high-frequency spectrum. This is done without any additional processing cost, and with zero latency, making Shade both extremely accurate and CPU efficient.

MULTISELECTION

Do more with less. Shade supports editing of multiselections in the graph area, allowing you to easily modify or add modulations to shared parameters of multiple filters with one click. Don't forget, multiselection works just as well in MSEG and Envelope modulators.

PRESETS

Shade's preset system, both globally and per module, are all written in plain-text. This allows you to store and share configurations with ease using copy/paste/load/save commands available in both main, and module menus.

REFINED WORKFLOW

Being a semi-modular system with nearly unlimited possible configurations it was important for us to make Shade as immediate and as easy to use as possible. To that end we made a concerted effort to mitigate complexity in the UI, displaying only what's pertinent to the task at hand so that you can stay focused and in the zone no matter how deep you dive.

A MODERN TAKE ON A CLASSIC
A go-to mix tool, versatile creative effect, and a no reservations audio mangler, Shade is a modern, efficient, and highly-capable processor limited only by your imagination. Throw Shade on your track and don't look back!

SPECS

LICENSING

3 activations per license on any combination of machines or iLok dongles

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

200 MB of disk space (Mac Installer: 134 MB ; Windows Installer: 187 MB)
4 GB RAM
Supported Operating Systems:
- MacOS 10.14 Mojave to macOS 14 Sonoma (64-bit, Intel or ARM)
- Windows 10 to Windows 11 (64-bit)
iLok account (free, dongle not required)
Internet connection for the license activation

COMPATIBILITY

Supported Formats:	Audio Unit, AAX, VST, VST3
Tested and Certified in:	Digital Performer 8+, Pro Tools 2019+, Logic Pro X+, Cubase 7+, Nuendo 6+, Ableton Live 8+, Studio One 2+, Garage Band 6+, Maschine 1+, Tracktion 4+, Vienna Ensemble Pro 5+, Reaper 4+, Sonar X3+, MainStage 3, MuLab 5.5+, FL Studio, Bitwig 1+, Reason 9.5+

MANUAL

>> Download Shade Manual >> Download Effect Installation Guide

Listen

Reviews

"The ultimate frequency modulator, incredibly creative effect that brings new life to any sound you run through it. I have been using it constantly in every session since I installed it."

Richard Devine

Atlanta-based Electronic Musician, Producer & Sound Designer

"Shade is black magic. It's incredibly deep and powerful, and it can make sound warp and change in both subtle and radical ways. It’s completely unique and a secret weapon for me on drums, beats, synths (especially!) and vocals. And I know I’m barely scratching the surface."

F. Reid Shippen

Multiple Grammy award-winning Mixer, Engineer & Producer
(Neil Young, The Jonas Brothers, Cage The Elephant, Dierks Bentley)

"Using Shade, I immediately started creating complex, morphing, interlocked grooves out of simple patterns. Really effective, really musical, really fun!"

David Kahne

Record Producer, Musician & Composer
(Paul McCartney, Lana Del Rey, Fishbone, Sublime, The Strokes, Tony Bennett, Sugar Ray)