Cymatics released Deja Vu, a freeware time-warping effect plugin for digital audio workstation software on Windows and macOS.
Deja Vu is a time-warping plugin that completely changes the vibe of any loop, and it’s available to download for free now.
It is the latest plugin from Cymatics, the developer behind Diablo (drum enhancer), Space (reverb), and the free Origin vintage plugin.
The plugin has three time-stretching modes: 1.5X, 2X, and 4X. Stretching time is a common trick for breakdowns in Pop or Hip Hop, and it can sound fantastic if the content remains musical.
Deja Vu provides an easy way to get that slow, dream-like effect musically.
Once you select a mode, you have some additional controls to play with, starting with Loop settings. The Loop section offers nine unique time divisions that determine how the effect is looped. The time divisions range from 1/16 all the way up to eight bars.
Below the Loop section, you have Fade In/Out knobs on either side of the main display. Each Fade knob offers a duration of up to 16 bars.
You can also adjust how the transformed sound sits in your mix using the Smooth and Mix controls and the Low Pass/ High Pass Band selector.
Of course, you might want to use Deja Vu on everything for a short breakdown, but it’s nice to pick out particular elements of a song or beat to process with the effect, leaving others crystal clear.
The good thing about Deja Vu is that you can slow down a single element but keep it in time with everything else easily using the Loop settings.
It’s a plugin that will be ideal for specific tasks or as an instant inspiration boost because it changes the mood so dramatically that it might send you in an entirely different direction.
You don’t have to be a Hip Hop beatmaker to utilize Deja Vu – it is great for many genres!
As the name suggests, the plugin creates that cinematic distant memory effect, which is a powerful tool when paired with the right visuals. Slowing or stretching time is often used in cinema during action or realization scenes when a protagonist appears to see everything clearly amid chaos or when the penny drops and they realize all is not what it seems.
While it might be overplayed for some, I still love it. It’s a great way to score the protagonist’s state of mind rather than the action itself.
I genuinely think many producers, especially Hip Hop beatmakers, would happily pay for Deja Vu (keep it free, though, Cymatics!) – it’s a great freebie.
If you haven’t grabbed the free Mixing Bundle from Plugin Boutique yet, get it before it’s gone.
You can also pick up some samples to use with Deja Vu from the free Pheonix Beta Pack.
Download: Deja Vu (FREE)
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14 Comments
yzcoruhT
onWow! Thank you!
kidsonic
onI swear this is just a ripoff of Cableguys Halftime hahaha. Nice UI tho
1and1
onwhich in itself is a ripoff of FLs gross beat
Céline
onI’ve been needing a plugin like this! Thank you, James! :D
alex
onI really like this one. Also, I’ve been using the Origin a lot. Cymatics makes some really nice plugs.
Ike
onI think original Halftime has more “lofi grit”.
piet
onWho actually put into the world that baseball caps worn back to front would look cool?
Bthelick
onis this for daw users that don’t have quick access to pitch??? Because that sounds no different from -12 un-stretched. half pitch and therefore half time.
I don’t understand it’s purpose? its like 1 click in ableton and I thought it was quick in FL too no?
Please inform me if I”m missing something.
TenguDown
onhttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/tIYWTtSrjyg
Bthelick
onI already know about halftime. like i said its just like what ableton has built in. set a clip to -12 with warp off and that’s all it is. It’s simple facts of sound. half the pitch (-12 semi tones or half the vibration rate) is half the spreed. you could even do this 60 years ago on tape! if you want any of the buffer effects you can put ableton in beats or grain mode etc.
SO I’ll ask again, is there anything special about it? or is it just for people who don’t know how sound works?
FilFil
onTake any Japanese City Pop song from the ’80s and slow it down = Instant Vaporwave :D
Davis
onBetter than halftime???
I’m pleased with it and will be using it instead most likely
Bthelick
onwhy even use eiither though? its exactly the same as setting any clip in your daw to -12 (half pitch) without time stretching turned on. Same as working on real tape in fact, just slow it down!!!!. its just how sound works!!!! I don’t get why either exist!!!!
DAVE
onUP STREAM