PSYCHEDELIC MODULATION
Vintage swirl. Modern freedom.
From shimmering chorus to deep, pulsing vibrato, explore the swirling spirit of late-sixties psychedelic guitar. Inspired by the legendary modulation effects of the 1960s.
THE EFFECT
Ocean Bay Nova-Vibe draws inspiration from a modulation sound that became a hallmark of the late 1960s: a pulsing movement, swirling color and a sense of depth. From chorus to vibrato, the Depth, Rate, Vibe and Mix controls let you dial in that character, from subtle animation to more expressive modulation.
THE ORIGINS OF THE SOUND
Developed in Japan by Fumio Mieda, the original vintage effect grew out of the search for a compact effect evoking Leslie rotating-speaker cabinets. Its photocell-controlled phase-shifting circuit nevertheless established a signature of its own: a pulsing, enveloping modulation that became a distinctive color in psychedelic rock.
Mieda recalled being struck by Radio Moscow broadcasts he received in Japan at night: their sound changed slowly and irregularly as reception varied. That sonic impression helped inspire his musical experiments. After the Psychedelic Machine, which combined modulation and fuzz, the dedicated modulation pedal continued that exploration with a focus on modulation.
The Ocean Bay plugin brings that spirit of exploration into a digital setting, with direct controls for the intensity, speed and blend of the effect.
Explore the history: Fumio Mieda’s account at Korg · interview with Attack Magazine
Shape the intensity of the modulation.
Set the speed of the swirl.
Switch between chorus and vibrato.
Blend the effect with your signal.
Adjust the output volume.
GET THE PLUGIN
Free download. No account and no donation required.
Version 1.0.0 · AU + VST3 Universal (Apple Silicon & Intel). macOS 12 or later. PKG installer.
DOWNLOAD FOR MAC ↓64-bit VST3 and standalone application. ZIP archive.
DOWNLOAD FOR WINDOWS ↓macOS: Close your DAW, open the downloaded PKG installer and follow its instructions. Existing UniVibeAU plugins are backed up automatically before replacement. Reopen your DAW and rescan AU/VST3 plugins; look for UniVibeAU under Ocean Bay Plugins (the binary name is unchanged).
Windows: Extract the ZIP, then copy the UniVibeAU.vst3 folder into C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3. Restart your DAW and rescan plugins. The included EXE is a standalone version.
Install only files from sources you trust. The macOS installer is not signed or notarized by Apple, and the Windows package is not digitally signed; review your system's security warnings carefully. Host compatibility has not been independently verified.
INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT
If Nova-Vibe inspires your next track, you can support future Ocean Bay Plugins releases. Donations are entirely optional.