Ujam Finisher Boost is a transition effect plugin designed to create risers, swells, impacts, and downlifters in music production. This versatile tool offers 60 multi-effect modes with over 200 presets, making it easy for producers to add dynamic transitions and special effects to their tracks. The plugin features a user-friendly interface with macro-style controls, allowing for quick adjustments and customization of effects. Finisher Boost is particularly notable for its ability to generate tempo-synced effects derived from the audio source, resulting in transitions that blend naturally with the overall mix. The plugin’s design philosophy prioritizes high-quality sound with minimal complexity, making it accessible to both novice and experienced producers. Finisher Boost supports various plugin formats, including VST, AU, and AAX, ensuring compatibility with most digital audio workstations (DAWs) on both Windows and Mac platforms.
Pros:
• Intuitive interface with macro-style controls for quick adjustments
• Tempo-synced effects that blend seamlessly with the mix
• Wide variety of presets and effect modes for diverse production needs
• Automatic synchronization with DAW tempo
• Flip function for easy reversal of effect direction
Cons:
• Limited deep customization options for advanced users
• Requires at least 8GB of RAM, which may be demanding for some systems
Finisher Boost boasts an array of features designed to streamline the creation of transition effects in music production. At its core are 60 multi-effect modes, each offering a unique combination of processing techniques. These modes are categorized into four main groups: Track, Drums, Instrument, and Vocals, providing tailored effects for different audio sources. The plugin’s preset library contains over 200 ready-to-use settings, offering a quick starting point for producers seeking inspiration or efficiency.
The plugin’s interface is built around a set of macro-style controls that simplify complex effect chains into intuitive parameters. The central Finisher knob acts as the primary control, adjusting the overall intensity of the effect by blending the processed and unprocessed signals. This allows for subtle to dramatic transitions with a single control.
Finisher Boost’s Loop Controller is a key feature that enables users to set the effect length to 2, 4, or 8 bars, or switch to manual mode for more precise control. This flexibility ensures that transitions can be tailored to fit various musical phrases and structures. The Beat Slider complements this by allowing users to adjust the start point of the effect within the first bar, providing fine-tuned control over the timing of transitions.
The plugin incorporates two Vari controls that offer individual adjustments to specific aspects of each effect. These controls adapt their function based on the selected effect mode, providing parameters such as Sweep, Stutter, Filter, and more esoteric options like Absurdity or Shock. This adaptability allows for significant customization without overwhelming the user with excessive parameters.
A unique feature of Finisher Boost is its Flip function, which enables users to reverse the direction of the effect easily. This is particularly useful for creating both rising and falling transitions from a single preset, doubling the creative possibilities of each effect.
The plugin’s ability to automatically synchronize with the host DAW’s tempo is a standout feature, ensuring that all transitions and effects remain perfectly in time with the project. This synchronization extends to the plugin’s automation capabilities, allowing users to create dynamic and evolving effects throughout their tracks.
Finisher Boost also includes MIDI learn functionality, enabling users to map the plugin’s parameters to hardware controllers for hands-on manipulation during live performances or recording sessions. This feature enhances the plugin’s versatility, making it suitable for both studio production and live electronic music setups.
The plugin’s engine is designed to generate effects based on the input audio, rather than relying on pre-recorded samples. This approach results in transitions that inherently match the tonal characteristics of the source material, leading to more cohesive and natural-sounding results in the final mix.
In the realm of transition and effect plugins, Finisher Boost competes with several established tools. Output’s Movement offers similar macro-based control over complex effect chains but focuses more on rhythmic modulation than specific transition effects. iZotope’s Stutter Edit 2 provides granular control over glitch and stutter effects, offering more detailed editing capabilities but potentially requiring a steeper learning curve. Waves’ OneKnob Series, while simpler, shares Finisher Boost’s philosophy of streamlined control but lacks the specific focus on transitions. Native Instruments’ Molekular offers modular effect routing for creating complex transitions but demands more user involvement in effect design. Lastly, XLN Audio’s XO, while primarily a drum sampler, includes transition effects that can be applied to various sources, albeit with less specialization than Finisher Boost. Compared to these alternatives, Finisher Boost strikes a balance between ease of use and specialized transition-focused effects, setting it apart in the market.
This plugin is best for:
• Electronic music producers seeking quick, high-quality transition effects
• Film and game composers needing to create dynamic sound design elements
• Live performers looking for real-time effect manipulation
• Producers with limited time who need efficient workflow solutions
• Novice users who want professional-sounding effects without complex setup
Ujam Finisher Boost presents a compelling option for music producers and sound designers seeking an efficient way to create dynamic transitions and effects. Its strength lies in its ability to generate complex, tempo-synced effects with minimal user input, making it an excellent tool for both rapid production workflows and live performance scenarios. The plugin’s focus on deriving effects from the source audio ensures that transitions blend naturally with the mix, addressing a common challenge in electronic music production. While it may not offer the granular control that some advanced users might desire, its intuitive interface and wide range of presets make it accessible to users of all skill levels. The automatic tempo synchronization and easy-to-use macro controls streamline the process of adding professional-quality transitions to tracks, potentially saving producers significant time in their workflow. Despite its relatively high system requirements, Finisher Boost’s unique approach to transition effects and its balance of simplicity and versatility make it a valuable addition to any producer’s toolkit, particularly those working in electronic, pop, and film scoring genres where dynamic transitions play a crucial role in the overall sound design.