The Cue by Polarity Audio is an audio cue sequencer that can be yours for free!
We’ve looked at tons of creative plugins lately, such as the new SSL X-Orcism II and Soundtoys PhaseMistress.
However, not all plugins are created equal. Some transform your tracks into something entirely new, while others are more of a utility for specific applications.
And today, we’ll look at The Cue. It’s a sequencer plugin made by Polarity Audio, an Indonesian developer who “aims to expand into global markets” as well.
I have to say, at first glance, I was a bit confused by what this plugin actually does. But let’s look at a user demo.
So essentially, The Cue isn’t an effect plugin, or instrument, really, even though it functions as a VSTi.
The Cue is simply a tool for adding audio cues to assist you in live shows, rehearsing, or even recording. You can program the cues in MIDI, which makes it very easy to use.
Say you’ve got a show coming up and haven’t had much time to rehearse. This plugin can help you sync up with your fellow bandmates more efficiently and get through those shows with a little more peace of mind.
It can even come in handy for studio recording, especially if you’re working with a musician remotely and have a non-standard song structure.
I imagine that you’d want to render the cue track separate from the other stems and/or mixdown. Just so your collaborator has control over its volume.
There are 4 cue categories in this plugin, each with a dedicated volume control.
First, you’ve got the transport section which includes cues for “start”, “stop”, “pause”, “be ready” and “in”. The next module is for song sections such as “chorus”, “verse” and “interlude”.
The Instrument section includes “vocal”, “drum”, “guitar”, “bass”, “keyboard”, and “full band”. And finally, there’s a count section with “one”, “two”, “three”, and so on.
The Cue is a kind of plugin I haven’t really seen before but I’m sure it’ll come in handy for a lot of musicians.
One thing that would be a nice addition to The Cue would be the ability to replace the cues with your own. This would be great if prefer to use your own cues but still have the functionality of this plugin.
Either way, for a free plugin, The Cue is a nice utility to have.
The Cue is available as a VST3 or AU plugin for Windows and macOS. Note that there is no AAX version, so it won’t work in Pro Tools.
Download: The Cue (FREE download at KVR Audio)
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