XEN FX LAB adds a spring reverb and a dub button to Zen Delay
The Zen Delay sequel adds a modeled spring tank, a STRIKE control and a dub mode, and it runs lighter on the CPU.
The sequel to the Zen Delay plug-in is out, and the name now starts with an X. XEN FX LAB adds a modeled spring reverb, a STRIKE control and a dub mode, and it runs lighter on the CPU than its predecessor, CDM reported.
The original Zen Delay plug-in was itself a software version of earlier hardware. XEN FX LAB runs on macOS and Windows as VST3, AU and standalone.
The core is unchanged: a delay with six modes, now labeled more clearly, including tape, tape ping-pong, digital ping-pong, digital and vintage; a virtual analog filter with resonance; and tube drive. The editing panel still offers modulation of cutoff and time, plus X AM and X FM.
The new spring reverb has controls for both decay and spring tension. Like a real tank, it sits at the end of the signal and affects both wet and dry. You can still set wet/dry and spring mix separately, which lets you layer the processing further.
REGEN routes input back through the tank for spring feedback. It produces ringing drones, including ones you didn’t ask for. In the demo, the plug-in started droning with no input signal at all, presumably from a trace of noise out of the Audio Damage AD-202 synth.
STRIKE knocks the virtual tank, the way slapping an amp would. The author found it of limited use. Both STRIKE and DUB are MIDI-assignable, so they can be played live.
With dub mode selected, the signal stays dry until you press or hold DUB. Then the input runs through the delay, and through the spring if it is switched on. Release the button and the echoes keep ringing while new input plays over the top.
XEN FX LAB is available now on desktop. The iOS version is waiting on Apple approval.
