Newfangled Audio’s Articulate Review
Unleashing Creative Control
As a music producer, there’s nothing more satisfying than finding a tool that feels like an extension of your creative brain—one that lets you sculpt sound with precision, ease, and a touch of magic. Enter Newfangled Audio’s Articulate, a groundbreaking dynamics envelope shaper that’s redefining how we approach transient and envelope control in modern music production. Whether you’re crafting punchy drums, taming harsh guitar attacks, or adding air to a vocal, Articulate delivers intuitive control that’s as approachable as a 4-band EQ but with the surgical precision of a synth’s ADSR envelope. In this post, I’ll dive deep into what makes Articulate a must-have plugin, explore its features, share practical applications, and explain why it’s earning praise from industry heavyweights like Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, NIN, St. Vincent). Let’s unpack this sonic gem and see how it can elevate your mixes to new heights.
What Is Articulate?
At its core, Articulate is a dynamics processor plugin developed by Newfangled Audio, a company founded by former Eventide engineer Dan Gillespie, known for pushing the boundaries of audio signal processing. Unlike traditional transient shapers that focus solely on boosting or cutting the attack and sustain of a sound, Articulate takes a more holistic approach. It uses advanced envelope detection to split incoming audio into four distinct components: Attack (Smack), Decay (Punch), Sustain (Body), and Release (Air). Each of these stages can be independently adjusted using simple faders, giving you unprecedented control over the shape of a sound’s envelope.
Think of Articulate as a dynamic EQ for the envelope of your audio. Just as you’d tweak frequency bands to shape tone, Articulate lets you dial in the exact amount of “Smack” for a kick drum’s initial hit, “Punch” for its body, “Body” for its sustain, or “Air” for its reverb tail. The result? A plugin that’s as versatile as it is intuitive, capable of enhancing everything from individual tracks to full mixes.
Key Features That Set Articulate Apart
Articulate isn’t just another transient shaper—it’s a next-generation tool designed to simplify complex dynamics tasks while offering unparalleled flexibility. Here are the standout features that make it a game-changer:
Four-Band Envelope Shaping: Articulate breaks your audio into four core components—Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release—each with its own fader for precise level control. You can boost or cut each stage from +12 dB to -infinity, with solo and mute options to isolate specific parts of the envelope. This makes it easy to, say, emphasize the snap of a snare or tame the ringing decay of a tom.
Separation Control: A unique “Separation” slider lets you adjust how distinctly the four envelope stages are defined. Slide toward “Smooth” for natural, transparent shaping perfect for subtle enhancements, or toward “Focused” for aggressive, precise transient control ideal for punchy drums or sharp vocals. This flexibility ensures Articulate works across genres, from lush orchestral arrangements to hard-hitting electronic tracks.
Sidechain Detection: Articulate’s sidechain mode allows you to shape the envelope based on an external audio source. This is a game-changer for resolving mix clashes—think ducking a bassline to make room for a kick drum or tightening reverb tails to keep a vocal upfront. It’s like having a dynamic EQ and a compressor in one, but with more creative control.
Built-In Peak Limiter: Borrowing technology from Newfangled Audio’s acclaimed Elevate Mastering Limiter, Articulate includes a studio-grade peak limiter to prevent clipping while preserving dynamics. This makes it a go-to for both mixing and mastering applications, ensuring your tracks hit hard without unwanted distortion.
Intuitive UI and Workflow: With a resizable GUI, three color themes, and 50 factory presets, Articulate is designed for ease of use. The solo/mute controls for each envelope stage let you audition changes in real-time, while input and output meters with gain controls keep your levels in check. It’s a plugin that feels as good to use as it sounds.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available for Mac and Windows in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats, Articulate integrates seamlessly into any DAW. It requires an iLok account for authorization (computer or physical iLok key), ensuring flexibility for studio and mobile producers alike.
Why Articulate Stands Out in a Crowded Market
Transient shapers and envelope processors aren’t new—tools like Waves’ Trans-X, Sonnox’s Oxford Envolution, and XLN Audio’s DS-10 Drum Shaper have been staples for years. So what makes Articulate different? It’s the combination of simplicity and depth. While many transient shapers offer basic attack and sustain controls, Articulate’s four-band approach draws inspiration from synthesizer ADSR envelopes, giving you finer control over the entire sound.
Unlike compressors, which are primarily about controlling dynamics, Articulate is about creating them. It’s not just for drums or percussion—it shines on guitars, pianos, synths, vocals, and even full mixes. For example, you can soften an overly aggressive guitar pick attack, extend the sustain of a piano note, or add air to a vocal without relying on heavy EQ or reverb. The sidechain functionality also sets it apart, offering creative possibilities like envelope-specific ducking that traditional transient shapers can’t match.
Producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen sums it up perfectly: “I’ve found my favorite tool for designing transients and envelopes. It gives you more control, a great sonic character, and an intuitive interface.” His endorsement, backed by his work with artists like Beck and St. Vincent, speaks to Articulate’s real-world utility.
Practical Applications in the Studio
Let’s get hands-on and explore how Articulate can transform your productions. Here are some practical ways to use it across different elements of a mix:
1. Drums: Locking in the Groove
Drums are where Articulate truly shines. Use the Attack (Smack) fader to emphasize the initial hit of a kick or snare, making them cut through a dense mix. Dial back the Decay (Punch) to tighten up a sloppy tom or reduce ringing. The Sustain (Body) control lets you adjust the weight of the drum, while Release (Air) can enhance or tame reverb tails. For example, on a kick drum, you might boost Smack for impact, reduce Punch to avoid muddiness, and add a touch of Air for space. The sidechain feature is a lifesaver for making a bassline duck in response to the kick, creating a cleaner low end.
2. Guitars: Taming Harsh Attacks
Electric guitars with aggressive pick attacks can be tricky to sit in a mix. Articulate makes it easy to soften the Attack while preserving the Body and Air, resulting in a smoother, more polished sound. I’ve found it particularly useful for cleaning up distorted rhythm guitars, where a touch of Smack can add clarity without making them sound brittle.
3. Vocals: Adding Clarity and Presence
Vocals often need to sit upfront in a mix without overpowering other elements. Boosting the Sustain (Body) can enhance presence, while tweaking Release (Air) adds a natural sheen without relying on reverb. The sidechain mode can also duck background elements like pads or reverbs when the vocal hits, ensuring every word cuts through.
4. Synths: Crafting Rhythmic Precision
For synth plucks or arpeggios, Articulate can tighten Decay and Release to create rhythmic clarity, preventing notes from bleeding into each other. The Focused mode is perfect for electronic music, where precise transient control is key to a tight, driving groove.
5. Full Mixes: Polishing the Big Picture
Articulate isn’t just for individual tracks—it’s a fantastic mixbus processor. Subtle boosts to Smack and Body can add energy and cohesion to a mix, while the built-in limiter ensures you don’t push too hard. I’ve used it to glue together busy pop or rock mixes, giving them a punchy, professional sheen.
The Science Behind the Magic
Newfangled Audio’s decade-long research into envelope detection is what powers Articulate’s precision. Measuring the amplitude envelope of an audio signal accurately and quickly is no small feat, but Articulate’s algorithm nails it, delivering stable and responsive results. By combining this with psychoacoustic principles, Newfangled Audio ensures the plugin enhances how we perceive sound, not just how it’s processed. This makes Articulate feel musical and intuitive, even when you’re making drastic changes.
Compared to Newfangled’s earlier plugin, Punctuate, Articulate uses different technology, focusing on a simpler, more streamlined workflow. While Punctuate is a multiband transient shaper, Articulate’s single-band, four-stage approach feels more like a synth envelope, making it faster to dial in results without sacrificing depth.
Real-World Feedback and Limitations
The response to Articulate has been overwhelmingly positive. On forums like Gearspace and KVR Audio, users praise its ease of use and versatility, with some calling it a “missing link” for shaping kicks and basses. One user noted, “Shaping kicks with it gives very nice textures which is not that easy to achieve with other tools. It works almost like a compressor in series.” Another highlighted its value, saying, “Wanted to buy it after 2 minutes. Then I saw the price while ordering: a steal!”
However, no tool is perfect. Some users have pointed out a missing variable stereo link control, which can make Articulate tricky to use on very wide sources with panned transients. While the sidechain feature offers a workaround, a dedicated stereo link option would be a welcome addition in future updates.
Pricing and Availability
Articulate is available for Mac and PC in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats through Eventide’s website and authorized resellers. The MSRP is $69, but an introductory offer of $29 was available until June 6, 2025. Existing Newfangled Audio or Eventide plugin owners can snag it for a loyalty price of $19, making it an incredible value for the power it offers. A 14-day demo is also available, so you can try it risk-free.
Why Articulate Belongs in Your Toolkit
Articulate isn’t just another plugin—it’s a creative powerhouse that bridges the gap between technical precision and musical intuition. Its ability to replace compressors, gates, and expanders in many scenarios makes it a time-saver, while its sidechain and separation controls open up endless creative possibilities. Whether you’re a bedroom producer or a seasoned mix engineer, Articulate’s intuitive workflow and sonic flexibility make it a tool you’ll reach for on every project.
As someone who’s spent countless hours tweaking transients and envelopes, I can say Articulate feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s like having a surgical scalpel for dynamics, but with the ease of a butter knife. From tightening drum grooves to polishing full mixes, it delivers results that sound professional and feel effortless. If you’re looking to take your mixes to the next level, Articulate is a no-brainer.