iZotope and Native Instruments have announced the arrival of the latest plug-in in the Catalyst Series of intelligent audio plug-ins. Combining adaptive unmasking technology with the sought-after sound of tape delay, Cascadia has been designed to provide engineers and producers with a wealth of echo and slapback effects without compromising the clarity of their mixes.
The plug-in features the same layout as the existing Catalyst Series offerings (Aurora and Plasma), with the centre of its GUI dedicated to a large analyser display. A module to the left houses the delay parameters, and iZotope say that despite its minimal set of controls, Cascadia is capable of creating a huge range of effects that range from subtle echoes to tempo-sync’ed ping-pong delays and vintage-style pitch drifts. A selection of note lengths and a main Delay parameter are joined by Feedback and Width controls, and some additional movement can be dialled in using a pair of Mod Depth and Rate knobs.
Cascadia’s main selling point, though, is its ability to react to the incoming audio signal in an attempt to avoid the delay effect causing unwanted frequency masking. A dedicated Unmask module occupies the right-hand side of the GUI, allowing users to apply processing to the delay signal that ‘carves out’ frequencies likely to cause issues when mixed with the dry signal. Along with the main Unmask slider, the section is equipped with Attack, Release and Sensitivity parameters that make it possible to fine-tune the process, offering comprehensive control over the sound of the processed signal without relying on additional plug-in chains.
Compatibility
Cascadia is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or above, and Macs running macOS 13.6 and higher. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
Cascadia is available now, priced at $49. Until 5 January 2025, the company are offering a limited-time crossgrade from any paid iZotope product for $39, along with the Catalyst Holiday Series Bundle, which also includes Aurora and Plasma and costs $129.
