Whereas the DS1 offers a plethora of in-depth controls, the MM-1 distills much of the advanced functionality which made the DS1 a staple of high-end mastering houses for the past several decades into a radically simplified interface. The headline release in Softube Volume 2 is undoubtedly the Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer, which offers a simplified take on the legendary Weiss DS1-MK3 dynamics processor. Other standouts include two superb synthesis options-Modular, Softube's take on Eurorack modular synths, and Heartbeat, a stellar drum machine-as well as the TSAR-1 and TSAR1-R reverbs, and two of Softube's most recent standout releases, the Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer and Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor. For those after amps and tone, Volume 2 includes the superb Tube Delay, Vintage Amp Room, Bass Amp Room, as well as a range of modulation options including Fix Flanger, Fix Doubler, and Fix Phaser.
If you're after vintage processing, you'll find the Summit Audio plugins (including the Grand Channel, EQF-100 Full Range Equalizer, and TLA-100A Compressor), Tape (which we previously reviewed), FET Compressor, and Trident A-Range to be supremely useful.
Softube Volume 2 includes 19 plugins, including several of Softube's greatest hits and a number of promising new releases, spanning a wide range of sounds and mixing/production needs.
Softube Volume 2 requires iLok authorization (either dongle or machine based), so once you've deposited the iLok licenses you'll be up and running in no time. Once you get the plugins installed-either via Gobbler or manually-things get quite a bit smoother.