Introducing Sand 4 Ultra, the latest Acqua plugin suite (VST/VST3/AAX/AU) based on the third-generation Hyper technology and the new Aria engine.
It reproduces the sonic behavior of a series of high-end British consoles that dominated the pop and rock scenes from the 1980s onward. Sound engineers from all over the world swear by their forward, slightly aggressive sound, and their logical layout.
The Sand 4 Ultra suite is the natural choice for all those who “mix in the box” and musicians in need of authentic emulations of classic devices, improved with Acustica technology and equipped with new parameters. It is a powerful bundle consisting of 3 different plugins: a Channel strip, an EQ and a Compressor.
This suite boasts a modern visual design and sets a new benchmark for sound quality, particularly with the introduction of new features, enhanced flexibility, and user interaction made even more immediate and intuitive.
Our goal is to meet and exceed our latest standards in quality and performance, a commitment encapsulated in the term 'Ultra.'
It incorporates an improved] engine supporting our new EQ, interactive EQ display with adjustable parameters, dynamic and real-time metering displays, and our powerful Anti-Aliasing algorithm with reduced CPU consumption.
Key Features:
• Third-generation Hyper technology.
• Enhanced Anti-Aliasing algorithm to minimize aliasing issues.
• Aria engine with dynamic, real-time metering displays.
• Flexible high-definition spectrum analyzer with adjustable parameters.
• Option to display ideal IIR equalization frequency response curves.
• Interactive EQ display with adjustable parameters.
• New totally re-sampled EQ, Filters, Comps and Preamps.
• Listening modes (Δ, LR, M, S).
• New resizing feature and responsive GUI.I.
• Several presets for quick setup.
From Sweden to Italy: The Remarkable Journey of a Mint-Condition Console
The emulations included in the Sand 4 Ultra suite are the result of a resampling of a console in near-mint condition, a real gem located at Digital Lake Studio S.r.l. in Italy. This console has an interesting origin, having been commissioned from Sweden. Swedish Radio Television ordered 12 nearly identical consoles between 1994 and 1997. The sampled console, dated 1997, was installed in a mobile broadcast van (OB Van) based in Instad, in southern Sweden. It was used approximately three days a week for two years before being decommissioned. Prior to its transfer to our studio in Italy, it was finely calibrated to a tolerance of 1/10 of a dB between channels using a sophisticated and highly professional system, and it has always been meticulously maintained to keep the mixer in perfect technical and functional condition. As it was commissioned by a broadcaster, it features several customizations tailored to its use, including a master section that is more compact to fit within the 200 cm width requirement of an OB Van.
What you get:
Sand 4 Ultra is a Acqua plugin suite that includes:
Sand 4 EQ Ultra
A re-designed 4-band Parametric EQ, with wide-ranging High Pass - Low Pass filters, several preamp options and a powerful interactive EQ display with adjustable parameters improved with our Hyper tech. The Sand 4 EQ Ultra draws inspiration from a legendary parametric equalizer, the core of one of the finest British mixing consoles ever developed in the Pro Audio industry. This iconic equalizer has been utilized on numerous hit records and remains a preferred choice among elite engineers and globally acclaimed artists.
Sand 4 EQ Ultra GUI
Sand 4 Comp Ultra
2 switchable comprehensive Compressors improved with our Hyper tech, including new powerful controls adding new contemporary features lacking in the original hardware counterparts. The Sand 4 Comp Ultra combines inspiration from two high-end British compressor modules, enhanced with our Hyper technology for optimal sound quality and unmatched versatility:
Comp A (CA) mode meticulously replicates a line channel compressor from one of the most celebrated British consoles first introduced in 1987.
Comp B (CB) mode emulates a VCA unit known as the quintessential bus compressor. It captures the distinctive British sound characteristic of one of the premier mixing consoles from the 1980s. This bus compressor is unparalleled in its ability to cohesively blend your tracks, making it a standout choice for your mix bus and likely to become your new go-to compressor.
Sand 4 Comp Ultra GUI
Sand 4 Hyper Channelstrip
Full channel strip with EQ, High Pass - Low Pass filters, Compressors and preamp options, re-designed with our Hyper EQ tech to deliver sonic excellence with very low CPU usage. The Sand 4 Hyper Channelstrip is a must-have plugin thanks to its precise and powerful tone, embodying a legendary console that has earned its reputation as the gold standard in rock music production over the years. Its versatility also makes it ideal for genres like electronic, R&B, and dance, which require dynamic control, clarity, and definition.
Sand 4 Hyper Channelstrip GUI
Each plug-in included in the Sand 4 Ultra suite comes in a “Standard version” or an alternative “ZL*” version, which operates at *zero latency and is thus suitable for use when tracking, at the cost of extra
processing resources.
Presets:
Discover meticulously crafted presets for Sand 4 Ultra designed for precision in mixing purposes. Achieve professional-level results effortlessly and instantly.
Sand 4 Ultra | Demo.
https://youtu.be/A2Gc9gmM230
Technical information & compatibility.
• Supported formats: VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU.
• Available sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz.
• Windows 10 and 11 compatible.
• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) to macOS Sonoma (versione 14.x) compatible.
• Intel, AMD, and ARM compatible.
• Apple Silicon native (Rosetta not supported).
Price and availability.
Sand 4 Ultra - introductory price: €79* | 64% OFF until May 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM CET (reg. price €219)-
Get it here!
*This new plugin suite is FREE for current Sand 3 owners.
User’s manual:
Sand 4 Ultra user's manual
The product is at an introductory period for the first four weeks after release or until the first official version is released; this implies that the product may receive improvements, changes, or fixes available through Aquarius Desktop updates.
Try our FREE 30-Day Trial
Note: Sand 4 Ultra trial version includes 44.1 - 48 - 88.2 - 96 kHz sample rates.
Please remember that trials expire 30 days after authorization, and we strongly recommend not using trial products in commercial sessions or any important project.
