Introducing Secret by Acustica Audio: The sound of history, reimagined for today

Introducing Secret, the sixth Acqua plugin in our Boutique Collection series*, available in VST, VST3, AAX, and AU formats. Inspired by an ultra-rare, hand-built American console that became iconic in one of Hollywood's most legendary studios during the 1970s, Secret recreates the unparalleled warmth and character of analog production while offering modern features designed for today’s digital workflows.

We meticulously selected not just the original console, but the entire range of gear used in the studio that inspired Secret, ensuring every element is faithfully reproduced. Our goal was simple: to provide an authentic, unique sound that guarantees professional results. From the carefully crafted EQ to the fully reimagined compression and preamp sections, each component is tuned to perfection, giving you the same confidence and quality that characterized the classic recordings of the past.

*For those unfamiliar with the Boutique Series, it's our collection dedicated to capturing the essence of rare, elusive gear—pieces of history. These devices shaped generations of sound, and we've brought them back to life.

Overview

We set out with a singular goal: to deliver the Sound that defined generations of hit records. In the process, we revived a legendary, ultra-rare console, meticulously bringing it back to life. The result isn’t just the unmistakable, timeless sound that has shaped hundreds of Top 10 hits, but also the gear itself—now reimagined and available to you. Secret offers both: the extraordinary sonic result and access to a unique piece of audio history.

It’s not just about the sound but the experience of using a piece of gear that shaped musical legends. Now, this fusion of heritage and innovation is yours to explore.

Key Features:

• Vintage-Style Channel Strip: Combines multiple compression, EQ, and saturation options to offer a range of tonal flavors, providing the secret sauce behind countless legendary productions.

• Hybrid Technology: Blends Acustica’s renowned analog approach for EQ with our Hyper 3 technology, ensuring superior sound quality while minimizing CPU usage.

• New Anti-Aliasing Algorithm: Reduces aliasing for cleaner, more accurate sound reproduction.

• Alive Mode: Modifies the preamp’s behavior, transforming it into a truly analog emulation with realistic ‘imperfections’, bringing warmth and authenticity to your sound.

• Multiple Listening Modes: Offers Δ (Delta), LR (Left/Right), M (Mid), and S (Side) monitoring modes for precise control over your audio.

• Resizable GUI: A responsive, user-friendly interface that adapts to any screen size, streamlining your workflow.

• Factory Presets: A handpicked selection of professional presets to enhance your mixing process.

Legends Who Shaped History with This Iconic Console

The console that inspired Secret is not just any piece of equipment—it’s a historical artifact that played a pivotal role in shaping the music industry. It was famously used on Stevie Wonder’s "Talking Book" (1972), "Innervisions" (1973), and "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976), three albums that redefined the sound of soul, funk, and pop music.

Other legendary artists who recorded with this console include Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, The Jackson 5, War, The Doors, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, The Byrds, and Supertramp. These iconic musicians used the console to craft some of the most influential albums of their time, making the studio synonymous with rich analog warmth, depth, and clarity. With Secret, you can now access this same authentic sound and bring its iconic qualities into your productions.

What you get

Secret is an all-in-one channel strip, featuring three highly refined yet powerful sections. First, a versatile preamp/saturation module that includes six distinct preamps, each offering unique tonal flavors, with the standout being the Tape mode for rich, warm saturation. This module also integrates high and low-pass filters for precise tone shaping.

Next is the intuitive 3-band EQ, inspired by a classic design, providing seamless tonal control with the ability to boost and cut across all bands—ideal for crafting both vintage and modern sounds.

Finally, the dynamic compressor section features a trio of switchable compression styles (PWM, FET, VCA), offering unparalleled versatility and precision—an enhanced modern take on classic compression techniques.

The Alive control adds another dimension, transforming the preamp into a truly analog emulation, introducing subtle imperfections that recreate the warmth and character of classic analog gear.



Secret GUI

Secret, at a glance

EQ Section: Vintage Warmth, Advanced Control

At the core of Secret is a meticulously recreated version of the original console's iconic 3-band EQ, with high-pass and low-pass filters, while staying true to its unmistakable tonal signature. The original EQ was known for its broad frequency selection, fixed Q, and its unique ability to boost and cut both the high and low bands at the same time, giving engineers remarkable tonal flexibility.

We've also faithfully replicated the high-pass (50 Hz) and low-pass (10 kHz) filters, ensuring the same smooth, musical response that made this EQ a legend in its class. However, we’ve taken the EQ further by enhancing its functionality. In Secret, we’ve extended the same simultaneous boost and cut capability to the mid-band—a feature not available in the original hardware. This gives you even greater control over your sound, allowing for precise shaping, whether you're adding warmth to a vocal, tightening drums, or adding clarity to your mix.

Tape Preamp and Revived Tape Saturation

One of Secret’s most groundbreaking features is the inclusion of six distinct preamp emulations, each based on a different iconic piece of hardware. Among these is the newly developed tape preamp, featuring the powerful Ultra tape saturation—marking a first in the Acqua plugin series. Modeled after an iconic tape machine that shaped countless legendary recordings, this preamp captures the essence of the analog warmth, depth, and harmonic richness that defined the golden age of sound. It's the signature sound of many productions from the legendary studio we honor with this suite.

With Secret, we've painstakingly modeled the tape saturation, allowing you to introduce lush, organic textures into your modern productions. The tape preamp section offers fine control over the saturation level, enabling everything from gentle harmonic enhancement to full-blown tape distortion. Whether you're adding richness to vocals, deepening basslines, or infusing your tracks with that unmistakable analog vibe, this section delivers unparalleled character and depth.It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for recreating retro, funky, and soulful tones.

Compressor Section: Three Unique Compressors, One Ultimate Tool

The compressor section in Secret is where modern innovation truly meets classic sound. We’ve included three switchable compressor types—PWM, FET, and VCA—each offering a distinct sonic flavor.

• PWM Compressor: Known for its smooth, natural sound, this compressor is ideal for gentle dynamic control without compromising musicality.

• FET Compressor: Offering more aggressive compression, the FET is perfect for adding punch to drums or creating a more forward vocal presence.

• VCA Compressor: A versatile workhorse, the VCA provides precision and clarity, making it suitable for a wide range of applications from subtle dynamic shaping to heavy compression.

With these three compressors, Secret gives you the flexibility to adapt to any musical context, offering the full range of dynamic control from subtle smoothing to hard-hitting punch.

Secret | Demo.

Technical information & compatibility.

• Supported formats: VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU.

• Available sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz.

• Windows 10 and 11 compatible.

• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) to macOS 13 (Ventura) compatible.

• Intel, AMD, and ARM compatible.

• Apple Silicon native (Rosetta not supported).

Price and availability.

Secret introductory price: €79 | 58% OFF until October 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM (CET) (reg. price €189) Get it here!

The product is in an introductory period for the first four weeks after release or until the first official version is released; this implies that it may receive improvements, changes, or fixes available through Aquarius Desktop updates.

Try our FREE 30-Day Trial

Note: Secret trial version includes 44.1 - 48 - 88.2 - 96 kHz sample rates.

Please remember that trials expire 30 days after authorization, and we strongly recommend not using trial products in commercial sessions or any important project.

User’s manual:

Secret user's manual

Secret webpage: https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/SECRET