VISAGE

INTRODUCTION:

Visage is a stereo fattener and panning tool. It is based around four Gooey graphs, and features two panners, a macro control, and a stereo enhancer. The interface works primarily through the use of drag and drop, and the Shaper Graph comes with a number of preset graphs, as well as an easy-to-use point and click build your own graphing tool.

OVERVIEW

Bypass / Version Number:

(0) The Gooey Icon: When hovering the mouse over the icon, a tooltip will appear, which will provide the version number of the product.

 

Presets:

(1) Preset Save Icon: Click to save a preset. Presets will be stored in a local user file folder.

(2) Preset Menu: click to see the full list of saved presets. Note: Press Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y to redo.

(3) Preset Scroll Buttons: click to scroll through the list of presets.

 

Main Controls:

(4) Level controls: for pre-processing, the input control can add up to +24 db or lower the levels by -60 db. For post-processing, the output control can add up to +24 db or lower the levels by -60 db.

(5) Soft-Clipper: The soft-clipper must be toggled on to use. When in use, the soft-clipper will apply a subtle distortion to the signal, and allows another 24 db pre-amp gauge staging, so you can really drive the signal into the effect.

(6) Master Mix: will blend the input signal with the visage signal. This is a useful tool when interested in blending in and out the effects of Visage.

 

The Macro:

The macro control binds to other controls and is a convenient way to have one control control many controls. (see 0 for more information on connecting macro controls)

(7a) The macro envelope: Click and hold to drag and drop the macro control onto any of the dropbox containers.

(7b) The macro label: Double-click to update the name that signifies what the macro control does.

 

The Graph:

(8) Graph envelopes: Click and drag to attach a graph envelope to a controller’s dropbox.

To change graph views, so you can edit and modify a graph, single- or double-click a graph envelope. A light underneath the graph envelope will appear to indicate the graph that is currently selected (see G1)

Note, all controllers, including the macro and other graph rate sliders, can be attached. 

(9) Graph Nodes:

  • Double-click on any open space in the graph add a node.
  • Single-click on a line segment to add a node.
  • Single-click on a node to remove the node.
  • Click and drag on a node to move the node.
  • Shift + click to fine-tune the position of a node.

Note that when two graphs are vertical with each other, there will be a touch of resistance to drag nodes past each other.

  • Ctrl + Shift + R and double click to generate a random graph.
  • Ctrl + Alt + Shift and double click to reset the graph.

(9b) The Graph Line Segments:

  • Alt-click and drag on a line to shape the bend of the line segment.
  • Alt double-click to reset the bend to a string line.
  • Ctrl-Alt click to drag a line segment.

(9c) The Graph cursor: provides a visual indication of where the DAW playhead is relative to the currently selected graph.

(9d) The Graph: the grid view can be modified and nodes can be added.

Note, the Waveform display has been removed from Visage.

 

PLAYBACK CONTROLS:

The graph playback controls provide flexibility when creating different sounds.
 
(10a) The bullseye: is the manual retrigger button. When a user clicks the bullseye, the graph cursor will automatically reset. Note, the manual retrigger button can also be automated by a user’s DAW.
 
(10b) The loop: is a control to determine if the graph is to play continuously or as a one-shot.
 
(10c) The unidirectional: control determines how the envelope of the graph will bind to controllers. When set as unidirectional, the graph will modulate in a single direction, but when set to bidirectional, the zero point is in the middle of the graph, and modulation will span across the left and right axis of the controls.
 
(10d) The lock control determines the rate slider playback. When locked, the rate slider is synced to the tempo of the DAW.
 
(10e) Midi retrigger control allows users to route in midi notes to the plugin, and will retrigger the corresponding graph to a corresponding midi note (C-2 triggers graph G1)
 

PLAYBACK RATE:

(11) GRAPH RATE: In addition to the rate control being able to tempo sync, if you press Shift and right-click on the rate slider, then you can select a single, dotted, or triple playback rate.
 
Note, the rate control can also be daisy-chained with other rate controls.
 

BEATGRID VIEW:

(12) EYEGLASS: Shaping a graph to create a hook can be a daunting task at times, so we’ve tried to make the graph-shaping process as intuitive as possible.

Click the magnifying glass to change the grid viewer layout, and toggle on the magnet to quickly snap the nodes to the grid.

 

GRAPH PRESETS:

(13) PRESETS: The graph also comes loaded with a number of presets. To scroll through the presets, click the up and down arrows, or select a preset from the list. Additionally, to save a preset, click the save icon.

(13b) GRAPH OFFSET: at times, an offset may be desired on the graph. If so, then first unlock the phase offset slider by pressing ctrl + p.

Note the slider will become black instead of greyed out, then click and drag to offset the start of the graph.

If the command Ctrl + P is not unlocking the phase offset slider, then try to click on the are first to grab the attention of the keyboard to that component.

By default, the offset is set to zero, and the control is disabled.

 

FOOTER:

(14) Tooltips: when hovering over controls, tool tips will appear to provide insight on how to use the plug-in to it’s fullest ability.

 

THE CONTROLS:

(15) Panning Rule: The pan rule determines how the panning control reacts to different dial positions. A linear response is typical of most panning tools, but Visage provides a more natural 3db panning expression, as well as the option to use the linear response.

(16) Color Filter: turn the filter to the right to add-in frequency content at 2,500 hz, or to dull the signal, turn the filter to the left. This shelving filter will add a bit of presence to the panned channels. Note, this additive shelving filter will not introduce new harmonic content like a clipper will.

(17) Dropbox: A text indicator will appear to show which envelope has been dropped into the dropbox.

Note: each controller contains two dropboxes to connect with. Additionally, dropboxes can bloom into minimaps to customize the path on the dropbox.

(18) Mix Controller: each control has a mix control, which can also be modulated. This can be somewhat useful if mixing between two different panning expressions, or periodically wanting to mix a wider stereofield. It is suggested to use the master mix when blending the entire mix.

(19a) Pan Controller:  the pan controller has a 3db sine rule to provide a more authentic auditory panning experience. As one could predict, it completely pans the plug-in to the left channel, and vice versa to the right.

(19b) Stereo controller: At the center, the stereo controller has no effect to the right, the stereo is expanded, and to the left, the stereo field becomes mono.

(20) Stereo Bright: The brightener will add a touch of clear high-frequency content to the signal, which can help offset a subtle dullness from a widened sound.

(21) Stereo Mod: The stereo mod control adds two low-frequency oscillators modulating at a very low rate and a very low amount, which adds just a touch of depth to the stereo field without introducing any chorusing. 

Inlet Visualizer: The inlet visualizer(s) provide an additional real-time display of which the control is active upon the signal.

Envelope Followers:

(22) Rise: smooths the voltage changes on the envelope follower. As more rise is applied, the slew between voltage changes will take longer.

(23) Sidechain: the envelope follower normally tracks the input of the current track, but the envelope follower can easily track a neighboring track’s voltage by enabling sidechain mode. In order to use the sidechain mode, make sure to route the track you want to sidechain from into Visage.

(24) Sensitivity: The sensitivity control determines how much the envelope follower will react to the incoming voltage changes. When dialed to the right, smaller impulse responses will have more influence on the modulation. The sensitivity control will need tobe dialed in compared to the variance of the incoming voltage.

(25) Directional: like with the graphs, the direction of the envelop follower can be uni-directional or bi-directional. This control will determine how the modulation will occur around the modulation source.

(26) Fall: like the rise control, the fall slider smooths the voltage changes on the envelope follower. As the voltage declines, and the fall control is engaged, the slew between voltages will take longer.

Instruction Manual – V1.0.0 – last updated 2/15/2026