Media

Overview

2nd Harmonic FET Crusher and 3rd harmonic Zener Blender
The Vertigo Sound VSM-3 is a powerful tone and color box, saturator, and distortion unit with two unique circuitry options. Add warmth and richness to your mixes using the 2nd Harmonic FET Crusher, or brightness and detail with the 3rd Harmonic Zener Blender. You also have the option of mixing the Crusher and Blender output together.

Modeled After the Vertigo VSM-2 Hardware Unit
The Vertigo VSM-2 hardware unit allows you to color, saturate, enhance, compress, limit, or distort sounds. Developed by Brainworx, the Vertigo VSM-3 plugin delivers the beloved characteristics of the VSM-2 within your DAW, capturing all of the coveted harmonic generation and unique settings of the original hardware.

Enhanced Monitoring
The “MS” solo switch lets you monitor either the mid or side signal; this is useful when evaluating the coloration added by the VSM-3. You can also use the “Distortion Solo” switch to monitor the generator signal being added to the dry input signal as it runs through the Crusher, Blender, or both.

Additional Plugin-Specific Features
Vertigo Sound’s VSM-3 includes features not found on the VSM-2, like the THD Mixer’s Dry/Wet control, and the ability to run the Crusher and Blender in parallel or serial. In a mastering context, the precision and power of the VSM-3 is hard to beat. It also lends itself well to vocal and instrumental buses.

 

Features

  • Independent virtual circuits for two different types of analog-sounding coloration, ranging from subtle saturation to hefty distortion.
  • Pure 2nd Harmonic FET Crusher for warm, rich, saturation or distortion.
  • Pure 3rd Harmonic Zener Blender for bright, clear, exciter-like saturation or distortion.
  • parallel or serial Crusher and Blender operation.
  • Stereo and M/S decoding/encoding allow you to process stereo signals as a whole, or process mid and side content separately.
  • Frequency specific saturation and distortion application.
  • Shape knob for gently filtering high-order harmonics.

Audio Examples

Industry Reviews

  • Craig Bauer

    Craig Bauer

    GRAMMY-winning mixing engineer (Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Public Enemy)

    This new Vertigo Sound VSM-3 native plugin from Plugin Alliance will change your life.... I use the hardware version on my stereo bus on practically every mix.

  • Soundprank/Colin E. Fisher

    Soundprank/Colin E. Fisher

    Anjunabeats, Armada, Enhanced Music

    This is probably one of the most interesting processors I have, because of how many colours it can create on program material. It excels at adding 3d space, warmth and harmonics to anything… Read More

  • Richard Devine

    Richard Devine

    Sound Designer and Artist (Hollywood Edge, Sound Delux, Sony Creative Software)

    This one took me by surprise. I was amazed at the different harmonic colors this plugin is capable of creating. Works great on processing drums or individual instruments. It really has a way of… Read More

  • Jody Wisternoff

    Jody Wisternoff

    DJ, Producer (Way Out West)

    Brilliant for adding character and bringing out those 2nd and 3rd harmonics. Especially useful on analog synth parts.

Customer Reviews

  • Piece of good magic

    ★★★★★
    by ks
    Get it, learn it. You will definitely use it - changed my output quite a bit :)
  • Rich sounding saturation

    ★★★★★
    by Ant
    The VSM-3 is a very rich and versatile saturation plugin with many smart features. I use it on the mix bus, and it definitely adds harmonics, depth and dynamics to the whole track.
    The ease of… Read More
  • Magnificent!!!!!!!

    ★★★★★
    by George G
    It may be a bit overwhelming to get used to how it works at first, but this is one amazing piece of saturation!! Definitely my favourite one, with the Oven being used interchangeably, but I find… Read More
  • A reserved slot in the master chain

    ★★★★★
    by DArt
    The VSM-3 is a nice saturator overall, but its strongest point to me is the M/S capability. In the master chain the harmonics on the side make the mix instantly more pleasant by adding a bit of… Read More
  • Great

    ★★★★★
    by Chest
    This is really a secret weapon. It gives the space and warmth. Bought it on sale and it’s well worth it. Using it especially on mix bus.

Specifications

Supported Plugin Formats
AAX DSP, AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, VST3

Supported Operating Systems
macOS 15 down to macOS 12
Windows 11 down to Windows 10

Mac
Intel, or Apple Silicon

PC
x64-compatible CPU

System Requirements
Display resolution: 1440 × 900px or 1280 × 960px or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM

Downloads

With the Installation Manager you can select, download & install all the Plugin Alliance products. Select any and all formats you need for your system! Mac & PC.

ChangeLog