From UK developer ModeAudio comes Airspace, a new hybrid Reverb Stereo Delay module workstation for creating texture in your tracks. ModeAudio has specialized in creating ambient sample packs and loops since 2013, and Airspace marks their debut plugin.
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What is Airspace and Who is it For?
Airspace is a complete sonic space processing toolkit designed for producers across multiple genres who need to add depth, character, and atmosphere to their productions. Whether you’re a sound designer looking to create expansive textures, an electronic music producer seeking to add movement to static sounds, or a mix engineer wanting to breathe life into dry recordings, Airspace offers a versatile solution in a single plugin.
With over 450 Impulse Responses to inspire your creativity, Airspace focuses on adapting to different environments infused into these IR recordings. The plugin features two identical convolution reverb modules, a stereo delay module, and a special Delay modulation section, effectively functioning as four plugins in one. This design allows producers who typically stack multiple reverb and delay plugins to achieve unique effects within a single plugin, saving CPU resources.
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ModeAudio has created an informative tutorial series covering all controls and features of Airspace. You can watch their detailed walkthrough of the Delay Mod section on YouTube, where they explain every dial, display, and slider available in this powerful section of the plugin.
Understanding Convolution Reverbs
Convolution Reverbs rely on Impulse Response files (IRs) to drive their reverbs. An IR essentially “captures” a space to recreate how sound travels within that environment. Examples include auditoriums, churches, underground bunkers, or even cabinet and amp simulations.
When you enter a church and clap your hands, you hear both the impulse (your hands clapping) and the “response” of the surrounding area. This follows ADSR logic: the Impulse is an attack, followed by sustain, decay, and release (response). Your source sound fuses with the two convolution reverb engines, creating a unique soundscape you can customize.
Any module can be bypassed by pressing the Power icon above it, and an input knob allows output control while indicating clipping with a red meter.
Module Functions
Convolution Reverb 1 (Colour)
The IR presets can be explored by clicking the horizontal bar next to the waveform. The bottom five folders (excluding “loops”) are organized by time, ranging from 0.4 to 16 seconds.
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Colour is the first convolution reverb module, identical to Space with the same controls. An underlying four-band EQ can be accessed by clicking “IR/EQ” beneath the waveform, featuring high/low pass filters and two notch filters in the middle.
The eight dials below each convolution module include three knobs for IR size, Gain, and Mix, plus controls for attenuating the AHR (Attack/Hold/Release) of the IR.
Delay
The Delay module features a tempo sync switch and L+R mono link at the top. The Mix knob blends the signal from the Colour section with the delayed signal.
You can set different delay times and feedback amounts for left and right channels, with options for dotted or triplet divisions. The Crossfeed section feeds signal delay between channels, creating complex countereffects.
High and low pass filters allow precise frequency control.
User Interface and Workflow Experience
Airspace features a clean, intuitive interface that packs considerable functionality into a minimalist, one-page layout. The visual design allows for quick adjustments and experimentation without menu-diving, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced producers.
The plugin offers a resizable GUI (up to 200%) and provides convenient features like module bypassing, independent mix controls, and volume dials with meters to monitor clipping. This puts control firmly in the user’s hands for applications ranging from subtle to extreme.
For workflow efficiency, you can hold the “Shift” key before clicking parameters for fine-tuning, and double-click any knob to restore its default position. The preset browser is well-organized, making it easy to find starting points for different applications.
Convolution Reverb 2 (Space)
Space is the second convolution reverb module in the chain, with identical controls to Colour. The IR size control can dramatically alter your spaces, ranging from 20% to 500% of the original size.
Delay Mod
The Delay Mod sits below the main Delay module. Time Mod and Pan Mod controls add LFOs to your sound, each with a mod rate dial and shape selector that can sync to your DAW tempo or run freely.
Available LFO shapes include sine, triangle, square, random, and “smooth” random. The central Pitch Shifter adds another layer, with settings in semitones for vocal distortions or glissando effects. The “Recursive Modulator” switch moves the pitch shifter inside the delay loop when activated.
Creative Applications
Ambient Texture Creation
Airspace excels at transforming simple input sources into rich, evolving textures. By routing a simple piano part through the plugin and using presets from the “Ambient” or “Cosmos” folders, you can create shimmering backgrounds that fill out your mix. This is particularly effective when using Airspace on a bus track, allowing you to blend multiple sources through the same effect.
Sound Design and Transformation
The combination of dual convolution engines with the delay module creates opportunities for extreme sound transformation. The pitch shifter in the Delay Mod section is particularly useful for creating arpeggiated patterns or adding subtle pitch variations that create tension and ambiguity in cinematic contexts. This makes Airspace valuable not just for traditional mixing but as a creative sound design tool.
Rhythmic and Spatial Enhancement
For producers working with beats and rhythmic elements, Airspace’s delay section with its crossfeed functionality can create intricate, woven patterns that add movement and depth to static sounds. The ability to independently control left and right feedback amounts, combined with the modulation options, opens up possibilities from subtle chorusing to complex, evolving rhythmic textures.
Additional Controls
- Hold the “Shift” key before clicking parameters to fine-tune results
- Double-click any knob to restore default position
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 240 presets divided into Ambient, Blur, Cosmos, Reflect, Transform and Warp Categories
- Extremely versatile three-module plugin with no menu diving
- Designed by experts in the niche
- Highly intuitive and easy to use
- Excellent factory content with high-quality presets and impulse responses
- Very flexible Delay module covering various time-based and pitch effects
Cons:
- Cannot control width/routing of effects
- Inability to import your own IRs
- Requires careful monitoring of meters and settings to avoid harmful resonance
- Limited number of delay modes (no Ping-Pong mode)
- No internal modulators provided outside of the Delay module
- No MIDI mapping
Technical Specifications
- Formats: VST (.vst3) and Audio Unit (.component)
- Compatibility: Mac OS 10.13+ (Intel and M1+ chips) and Windows 11+
- DAW Compatibility: Works with all major DAWs including Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Reason, and more
- Installation Requirements: 443MB (Mac) or 362.6MB (Windows)
Pricing and availability
Airspace is currently available on the ModeAudio website for $77, with a 15-day free trial available. If you’re interested in ModeAudio’s other products, check out our previous coverage of ModeAudio sample packs.
Written by C_Quin
C_Quin is a producer, playlist curator, and 1/2 of 3rdPersonProductions – a music collective from WA, US. Please visit @3rdPersonProd on Instagram for more info!
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