Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Neural DSP, and nobody from the company asked me to write this post or shoot a video.
What is Archetype: Plini X?
Archetype: Plini X is an updated version of Plini’s signature plugin by Neural DSP, featuring an improved user interface, (allegedly) enhanced sounds, additional drive/distortion pedals, and new effects like tape echo, octaver, and chorus.
Specifications
- 3 amplifiers (Clean, Crunch, Lead)
- 4 pedals (Compressor, Octaver, Drive, Delay)
- Cabsim and IR loader
- 9-band graphic EQ (one per amplifier)
- Echo/reverb
- Transpose and doubler effects
- Tuner
- Metronome
- Usable within your DAW or as a standalone app
- Requires an iLok account and iLok License Manager
What Are the Amps in the Plini X Plugin?
The amps in Archetype: Plini X aren’t exact digital replicas of specific real-world amplifiers but are designed to capture the essence of the tones Plini is known for.
Here’s a breakdown of what these amps seem to be inspired by:
- Clean Amp: Likely inspired by boutique Fender-style clean amps, offering pristine, glassy sounds akin to the Fender Twin Reverb or other high-end boutique cleans.
- Crunch Amp: Probably modeled after classic British-style amps, like the Marshall Plexi or Vox AC30, delivering that mid-gain British crunch.
- Lead Amp: Designed for modern high-gain sounds, likely drawing inspiration from Mesa/Boogie Mark Series or Diezel VH4 amps, perfect for searing leads and modern progressive tones.
Sources: This information was gathered by reviewing Neural DSP’s website and considering user speculation from the Gearspace forum.
Plugin Overview
Like other Neural DSP plugins, the Plini X interface is sleek and modern. Everything essential is easily accessible, and it only takes a few seconds to familiarize yourself with the layout.
Though the design is minimalistic, the plugin offers plenty of tweaking options to help you dial in the exact tones you want.
I Played Every Preset of the Plugin – Here’s What I Learned
As a fan of Plini’s music over the past few years, I had an idea of what to expect: pristine ambient cleans, octave fuzzes, and massive stereo-panned rhythm tones.
Although I can’t play at Plini’s level, browsing through the presets was an inspiring experience. The lush ambient cleans encouraged me to write new clean passages, and playing around with groovy octave riffs was endless fun, even on my vintage-style JET JS-400 ‘superstrat.’
That said, after going through every preset, I did notice some repetition. Many artists who created the presets dialed in similar tones, making the plugin feel a bit less versatile than I initially thought.
Is Neural DSP Archetype: Plini X Good?
While Archetype: Plini X doesn’t dethrone my favorite Neural DSP plugin (Mateus Asato), it comes close. I love how this plugin inspires instant songwriting, which happened numerous times during my video shoot. In my opinion, the best gear pushes you to write, and Archetype: Plini X certainly does that.
And the best part: you can try the Plini X plugin for free for 14 days to see if it works for you.
https://neuraldsp.com/plugins/archetype-plini
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