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Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa
4.6 4.6 out of 5, based on 3 Reviews

An heirloom of Bob Moog in the hands of Pulsar Modular (PM), what can go wrong?


6th November 2023

Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa by nichttuntun

  • Sound Quality 5.0 out of 5
  • Ease of use 5.0 out of 5
  • Features 5.0 out of 5
  • Bang for buck 5.0 out of 5
  • Overall: 5
Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa

Bob Moog's legacy in the hands of Pulsar Modular, what can go wrong? When I demoed the plugin (914 FFB) 2 years ago, I compared it to another software emulation and heard the quality difference immediately. PM craft masterful filters and they tune them musically – a vital requirement for making a software Fixed Filter Bank. They did everything right.

The 12 bandpass filters create wacky effects for synthesizers or add resonant sounds to all types of instruments. They feel analogue, transport weight and depth. It´s a piece of cake to use the LOW SHELF and its resonance controller to enrich bass instruments and kickdrums with punch that makes the walls shake; and all in the usual PM quality, that is, not smearing the low end but to improve it while respecting the original sound source. The tilt-shift filter topples the frequency spectrum towards its bright or dark sounding content, without changing the previously set bandpass filter positions. The DRIVE enriches the overall sound by adding harmonics and further dimension - it's a sonical joy combined with NOISE. Feature wise my highlight is the MORPH-circuit, with which I can smoothly transition between two fundamentally different plugin-settings. Automated by DAW = cream topping!

Eventually the free update, P915 Medusa, has been released. It enhances the plugin with great new features and a gorgeous GUI. New on board is the SUM circuit, which optionally allows me to add the wet signal on top of the full dry signal, what is perfect for mixing. The 2 rows of bandpass filters can be routed to the L+R channels and P915 enables to additionally delay both channels via independent DELAY-settings, what results in wide and unusual stereo effects including cool ghost notes rythms. The P915 Medusa is more than merely an effects processor. It's also perfectly suitable for mixing, especially if a sound needs more texture, depth, breadth and that special vibe which is not possible with other filters. I don’t want to miss the plugin anymore – its outstanding sound and its diversity have grown to my heart.

Despite the high price, I rated 5 stars for "bang for the bucks", as this plugin is a definite keeper. Enjoy!

27th December 2024

Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa by Jerome Fernandez

  • Sound Quality 5.0 out of 5
  • Ease of use 4.0 out of 5
  • Features 4.0 out of 5
  • Bang for buck 4.0 out of 5
  • Overall: 4.25
Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa

As a singer-songwriter guitarist who enjoys experimenting with sound, I've found the Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa to be a fascinating and inspiring plugin. I’ve only acquired it a few days ago as a Christmas Gift for being a VIP User. Here's my take on it from a hobbyist perspective:

What is it?
The P915 Medusa is a fixed filter bank, meaning it divides the audio spectrum into 14 fixed frequency bands. You can then boost or cut each band, creating unique tonal shaping and resonance effects. It's not your typical EQ; it's more about adding character and texture.

What I like:
* Unique tonal character: The Medusa has a distinct sound that's hard to replicate with other tools. It can add subtle warmth and presence or create dramatic, resonant sweeps. It's great for adding "vibe" to tracks.
* Simple and intuitive: Despite its power, the Medusa is easy to use. The interface is straightforward, with clear visual feedback. The Performance Bank simply stores snapshots or variations of settings. The Morph is basically for transitions.
* CPU friendly: It doesn't hog resources, so you can use it on multiple tracks without worrying about performance issues.

How I use it:
* Guitar: I started using the Medusa to add body and warmth to acoustic guitar tracks or to create interesting textures with electric guitars. It can help bring out the natural resonances of the instrument.
* Vocals: It can be used subtly to enhance vocal presence or more drastically to create unique vocal effects. This is quite cool.
* Mixing: I've found it useful for carving out space in a mix by subtly filtering certain frequency ranges. I was messing about with Medusa on the Mix Bus and was pleasantly surprised.

2nd January 2025

Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa by Yukinocomic

  • Sound Quality 5.0 out of 5
  • Ease of use 5.0 out of 5
  • Features 4.0 out of 5
  • Bang for buck 4.0 out of 5
  • Overall: 4.5
Pulsar Modular P915 Medusa

This is a useful filter for sound shaping that can be used like a track EQ.
It is an alternative to P422 when you want to bring out the original sound without coloration.
The output of the filter can be switched from the general Wet/Dry method to Dry+Wet/Dry method with the SUM switch, which is good.
This filter does not have an LFO like the P565, but it does have a delay, and it has some unusual features such as the ability to set separate delay times for the upper and lower frequencies as well as L/R, and the ability to move the filter between two points.
At first glance, it may seem like an unassuming filter, but it is my favorite plug-in from Pulsarmodular because it is easy to use and allows you to create your favorite sound without coloration.

 

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