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Prism III VST3/AU plugin

PRISM III
VST3/AU plugin

The Prism III VST/AU plugin is a software counterpart of the Shift Line Prism III pedal which can produce mind-boggling sound effects.

The plugin includes 22 complex algorithms involving additive synthesis, reverb and various modulation types (frequency, amplitude, time). The Prism III is too deep to properly classify, which is why its name reflects three of its key aspects: modulation, filtering and pad creation.

The Prism III plugin has all the same functions as the pedal, and the presets you create in the plugin can be transferred into the pedal. The key difference is that the Prism III pedal operates at a 48 kHz sample rate, while the plugin offers more flexibility in bit depth and sample rate.

The Prism III is also available as a standalone app which doesn’t require using a DAW.
Internal Signal Chain
The Prism III plugin has a fixed internal signal chain, but its algorithms can bypass certain sections.

The full signal chain is organized as follows:
  1. The input mixer with three pitch shifter channels (octave down, fifth up, octave up). The transposed signal has its own LFO for detuning.
  2. Three resonant multimode filters (LPF, HPF, BPF, All-pass) in series. Each filter has its own mixer and a tremolo mode switch.
  3. The first delay modulation section.
  4. The first non-linear distortion mix section.
  5. The reverb section.
  6. The sample rate reduction section.
  7. Three more resonant multimode filters (LPF, HPF, BPF, All-pass) in series. Each filter has its own mixer and a tremolo mode switch.
  8. The second non-linear distortion mix section.
  9. The second delay modulation section.
  10. The output HPF (low shelf).
  11. The output wet/dry signal mixer.
Overall, the signal chain includes 3 transposing sections, 6 filters/tremolo units, 2 non-linear distortion stages, 2 delay modulation sections, a sample rate reduction section, a reverb section, and an output mixer.

The plugin’s 22 algorithms are based on those elements, but not every algorithm utilizes the entire processing chain.

Presets

We recommend getting started with the Prism III plugin by exploring the factory presets.
The Preset Save/Load Section
The Previous/Next buttons
These buttons allow you to go through the preset list one by one.

The dropdown menu
This menu is the main control element for saving and loading presets. It includes the following sections:
  • Actions: Utilities for saving presets (Save As…) and rescanning preset folders (Rescan Presets).
  • Predefined Presets: This section contains the Factory folder (standard presets from the Prism III pedal), artist preset folders, and any user-created folders.
  • User: Presets from the User folder (empty by default). This is a shortcut for accessing user-defined presets.
NB!
After you’ve installed the plugin, the following folders will appear in the system folder ("C:\Users\%username%\Application Data\Prism" or "С:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Prism” for various Windows versions, “~/Library/Prism/” for MacOS): Factory, Nikita Demchenko, Project [19], User.

For quicker scanning, the plugin imposes limits on folder nesting depth. You can use any of the folders to save your presets, and you can also create new folders in the root. However, you can’t create nested folders in any of those.

If you have deleted some of the presets in the default folder, you can get them back by deleting the whole folder. The plugin will restore all the presets except for the User folder and the custom presets you have saved.
The SAVE button
The button duplicates the Save as… function from the dropdown menu. This allows saving presets quickly. If a preset has been modified but not saved yet, an asterisk will appear on the panel, while the plugin will be using the current control values from the UI.

The MONO IN button
This function is only available in the standalone app.

This button switches the app to Mono mode where the input signal from the first active channel is sent to both inputs.

The SHIFT LINE logo button
This button opens the purchase page (in the demo) or checks for updates (in the full version).

Controls

The plugin’s controls are split into sections with the Algorithm section being the most important one.
The Algorithm section
This section contains a dropdown list of 22 algorithms which define the resulting sound. Each algorithm has its own control value ranges for the FILTER, LFO and REVERB sections.

The easiest way to start is to select an algorithm and turn the knobs until it sounds right. After that, feel free to refer to the algorithm’s description for more details.
The Filter section
The Prism III’s sound is primarily based on filtering, so this section is the next in order of importance.

  • The FREQ knob always sets the minimum filter cutoff value. In any algorithm, the value of this control sets the minimum value to which the filters might go. Setting this knob to the minimum can fully silence the output in certain algorithms.

    The RESO knob controls filter resonance or (in some algorithms) the selected algorithm’s character.

NB!
The Prism III uses a positive LFO which goes from the minimum (set by the FREQ knob) to the maximum (set by the DEPTH knob).
The LFO section
  • LFO
    Parameter modulation is another crucial element of the Prism III. The DEPTH knob sets modulation depth, while the rate is set by the RATE knob, the TAP button or by syncing to the DAW. The plugin features 5 LFOs with different settings for each algorithm. This opens up a variety of effects: simple modulation, turning a mono signal into stereo, adding movement in the stereo field, or phase distortion.
The DEPTH knob controls parameter modulation depth via the LFO and also sets the maximum cutoff value for the filters. Depending on the algorithm, it can also control the depth of effects (tremolo, flanger, phaser, chorus). Turn the knob clockwise to increase modulation depth. To completely remove parameter modulation, turn this knob fully CCW.

The CLOCK dropdown list offers three ways to control LFO rate:
  1. Manual: via the RATE knob.
  2. Tap: via the TAP button.
  3. Sync: by syncing to the plugin host’s clock.

The BEAT dropdown list selects a subdivision for the clock rate: quarter notes, dotted 8ths or quarter note triplets. The subdivision applies to all clocking methods (Manual/Tap/Sync).

The RESET button resets LFO phase to the default value for the chosen algorithm.

The TAP/SYNC SCALE dropdown list allows scaling the LFO rate set by the TAP or SYNC methods (but doesn’t affect the rate set by the RATE knob). The scaling range is 2x to 32x.

The TAP button sets LFO rate after two presses.

The RATE knob sets LFO rate in Hz. The range depends on the selected algorithm.

The STEREO knob affects LFO phase in the right channel. In some algorithms, there is no difference in LFO phase between the two channels when the STEREO knob is fully CCW, a 180-degree difference with the knob set to 12 o’clock, and a 360-degree difference with the knob fully CCW. This way, you can control signal movement in the stereo field. However, other algorithms may have different settings. Depending on the algorithm, the STEREO knob may either widen the stereo image or pan the sound across the stereo field.
The REVERB section
  • The REVERB knob controls reverb decay. Turn this knob fully CCW to disengage the reverb completely. The reverb mix is fixed for each particular algorithm, but you can modify reverb decay to go from barely noticeable reflections to long, pad-like reverb tails.

    The FILTER knob controls the brightness of the reverb signal. The higher the setting, the brighter the reflections.
The DETUNE section
With this section, you can achieve various effects with nice-sounding quirks (e.g. guitar whammy bar simulation, tape speed up / slow down, or old-sampler-like pitch shifting). The effect’s attack rate is 8 times slower than its release rate, which results in a more organic sound.
  • The DETUNE knob controls the rate at which the transposed signal is gradually detuned when the DETUNE button is pressed. Turn this knob CCW from 12 o’clock to detune the signal downwards or CW from 12 o’clock to detune it upwards. Detune rate is minimal when this knob is set to 12 o’clock. Turn it fully CW or CCW for maximum rate.

    If you want to hear the detuning effect, avoid setting the DETUNE knob to 50.00 (the gradual detuning is disengaged in that position).

    The DETUNE button engages gradual detuning of the signal. If you hold down the button long enough, the detuning will reach the end of its range and start moving back, creating extra digital artifacts in the process. The difference in sound at various sample rates (44, 48, 96 or 192 kHz) comes from the way the algorithms operate.
The MASTER section
  • The X-MIX knob controls the dry/wet signal cross mix. Set this knob fully CCW for a 100% dry signal.

    The X-MIX knob also has a LOCK button which allows you to retain the X-MIX value while browsing presets.

    The BOOST knob boosts the output signal up to +12 dB (this affects both the dry and the wet signals).
Additional controls
  • The BYPASS button turns the effect on or off.
The RANDOM button allows you to quickly randomize all control values affecting the sound.
This doesn’t affect dropdown menu values.

The CONFIG button allows configuring and exporting a list of presets into the Shift Line Prism III pedal.
The Preset Export Window
This window allows you to choose 33 presets which will be exported into the Prism III pedal. This way, you can create presets in your DAW and later use them on stage or in a DAWless setup.

The Prism III pedal’s file system includes 22 algorithms and 33 presets which are split into 3 banks. Each bank has 11 presets. The algorithms are saved in the PM and FX banks. The UD bank can be filled with presets based on the algorithms from the other two banks.

Visit the Prism III product page for more info on its preset storing system.
  • After you’ve configured the preset list in the left panel, you can use the Save Export Settings button to save the current config to disk.

    To transfer the saved preset list to the pedal, you need to do the following:
    1. Connect the Prism III pedal to the USB port on your computer.
    2. Click the Set Path To Prism III button and select the root folder of the pedal’s flash drive.
    3. Click the Export Settings To Prism III button.
    4. Wait till the Export Settings To Prism III button becomes active again. This means that the transfer process has been completed.
    5. Safely eject the Prism III flash drive and disconnect the USB cable from the pedal.
    6. Unplug the power from the Prism III, then plug it back in.
    The presets will be transferred to the pedal when powering it back on.
Additionally, the export window has a Factory Defaults button which allows reverting the preset list to factory settings.

If you’ve modified the presets in the Factory folder without changing their names, the modified versions will be used when pressing the Factory Defaults button.
System Requirements
  • Microsoft Windows
    OS Version:
    7 — 11 (64-bit)
    CPU:
    Intel Core i3-i9, AMD
    RAM:
    8 GB (recommended)
    Minimum Screen Resolution:
    1152 × 864

    For proper operation of the plugin, make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft C++ redist library installed.
  • Apple macOS
    OS Version:
    12 or newer
    CPU:
    Intel Core i5 / Apple M1 or better
    RAM:
    8 GB (recommended)
    Minimum Screen Resolution:
    1152 × 864
  • Linux
    OS Version:
    Ubuntu 20.04 or newer
    CPU:
    x86_64
    RAM:
    8 GB (recommended)
    Minimum Screen Resolution:
    1152 × 864
The latest Shift Line Prism III version is v.1.0
The currently installed version is displayed in the upper right corner of the plugin’s UI.

NB: the Prism III plugin is being continuously developed. Please check for new versions regularly. If you have found a bug or have a feature request, please use our bug tracker.

Prism III | Full Version

After you have pressed the “BUY PRISM III” button, you will be redirected to a page where you can complete your purchase. Please follow the instructions on the page in order to get access to your account.

Thank you for your support!

Prism III | Demo Version

This is a fully functional demo version of the plugin.
The only difference is that the processed signal occasionally cuts out for a few moments.

Prism III VST3/AU plugin

Prism III
VST3/AU plugin