Hex FX from Serato is a virtual multi-effects rack that works as an AU or VST3 plug-in and is compatible with Serato Studio, Ableton Live [Tape Op #160], Apple Logic Pro [#74], Native Instruments Maschine, and FL Studio. It can also be used with Pro Tools via a conversion “wrapper” plug-in, such as PatchWork by Blue Cat Audio. To easily demo Hex FX, I downloaded Serato Studio, a straightforward beat-making and sample editing platform – a wonderful idea generator and loop-based music creation DAW.
Hex FX has over 45 individual plug-in effects and 100 useful presets. It also allows users to build their own effects chains of up to six plug-ins within the app and includes a fun feature that creates randomized processing chains. The presets are grouped into named categories with names like DJ, Color, Lo-Fi, Space, Vocals, Drums, and Artist. Each main category contains a collection of fully customizable preset FX chains that can be rearranged, and the parameters within each of the individual effects can be adjusted. Individual processors include compressors, saturators, bit crushers, panning, modulation, distortion, echoes, reverbs, filters, vinyl simulation, and some DJ-style effects.
Once you have selected a preset or created a custom chain of effects, there is a large knob at the top of the interface called the Hex Dial. Turning this up or down controls all of the effects in the chain simultaneously; not just the overall amount but also the individual parameters are also altered to various degrees. You can tweak effect modules individually and then reconnect them to the group, or gang only specific effects together for global control with the Hex Dial. The result is fun, interesting, and ultimately useful for sound design and customization of stock sounds and samples.
If you are already a Serato Studio user, you’ll be familiar with some of the available effects options. The difference with Hex FX is that you now have control over parameters for each effect, whereas previously built-in effects had only a “how much” control. Hex FX also has a much larger variety of effects to choose from. You can drag and drop effects from an existing chain or choose from a dropdown menu.
Overall, Hex FX sounds great, is very light on the CPU, and intuitive/easy to use. I found myself creating scene-based loops and beat ideas with samples while processing sounds with Hex FX, and then importing them into Pro Tools sessions for further production, song development, and mixing. Because Serato is geared towards DJs and beat-makers, everything is seamlessly beat-synched. It makes the drag and drop of effects processing very easy, and not only was I able to create and shape sounds using standard plug-in effects (such as compression and saturation), but I stumbled upon several interesting sonic spaces using the presets and Randomizer feature. Sound design, audio shaping, and soundscape creation shouldn’t be this easy!
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