RiverFlux Audio Relic is a collection of vintage-inspired audio plugins for music production, featuring compressors, equalizers, tape processors, and now a channel strip plugin called RF-E. The collection originally included 12 individual plugins, and RF-E expands the lineup to 13.
The plugins are designed for mixing and sound shaping, with tools for dynamics processing, tonal control, tape-style processing, and everyday channel-strip duties. Relic has been available as a name-your-price download with a $0 minimum, making it possible to explore the collection without an upfront payment.
Video 1: RiverFlux Audio Relic — 12 Mixing Plugins
The first video looks at the original 12-plugin Relic collection, including five compressors, five EQs, and two tape processors. It covers the available processing types, features, compatibility, and download options without using sound demonstrations.
Video 2: RiverFlux Audio RF-E — The 13th Relic Plugin
The second video focuses on RF-E, a free channel strip plugin that brings filtering, EQ, compression, gating, and level controls together in one interface. It is the 13th plugin in the Relic lineup and adds a different kind of tool to the collection.
What’s Included in the RiverFlux Audio Relic Collection?
The original Relic collection contains 12 separate plugins organized into three categories: compressors, EQs, and tape processors. Rather than combining everything into a single channel strip, RiverFlux Audio offers individual processors that can be loaded independently in a DAW.
Five Compressor Plugins
Relic includes five compressor types:
- Optical Compressor: An optical-style approach to dynamics control.
- Tube Optical Compressor: Combines an optical compression concept with a tube-inspired design.
- VCA Compressor: A compressor based on the VCA approach to dynamics processing.
- FET Compressor: A FET-style compressor for another approach to controlling dynamics.
- Stereo Vari-Mu Compressor: A stereo compressor based on the variable-mu design concept.
These different compressor types give users several approaches to controlling dynamics across individual tracks, buses, and mixes.
Five EQ Plugins
The EQ section includes five different equalizers:
- Preamp-style EQ
- Three-band proportional-Q EQ
- 10-band graphic EQ
- Program EQ
- Mid-range EQ
Each provides a different approach to frequency shaping, from broad tonal adjustments to more focused work in specific frequency ranges.
Two Tape Processors
Relic also includes two tape processors, one designed around multitrack tape and the other focused on mastering-style tape processing.
The tape section features four tape stocks and three tape speeds: 7.5, 15, and 30 IPS. These options provide different configurations for working with tape-inspired processing on tracks, buses, and mixes.
RF-E: A Channel Strip in One Plugin
RF-E expands the collection with a channel strip that combines several common mixing tools in one interface.
Its features include:
- High-pass and low-pass filters for controlling unwanted low and high frequencies.
- Four-band EQ with two curve types called Brown and Black.
- Compressor with ratio, threshold, release, and fast attack.
- Gate and expander with three operating modes.
- Line input drive for input-level and saturation-related control.
- Phase flip for reversing signal polarity.
- Output trim and fader for managing the output level.
The Brown and Black EQ options bring to mind the classic SSL 4000 E Series EQ designs. However, the specific relationship between RF-E and SSL hardware should not be assumed to extend to the entire plugin unless RiverFlux Audio confirms it.
The main distinction is that RF-E combines multiple channel-processing tools in one plugin, whereas the original Relic processors can be loaded individually.
Additional Features and Compatibility
The original Relic plugins include workflow features such as A/B comparison, copy and paste, Delta listening, and external sidechain support on the compressors. The collection also supports up to 8x oversampling, with 2x and 4x options, and includes factory presets for applications such as vocals, drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, and mix buses.
The original lineup supports VST3, AU, and CLAP plugin formats, with compatibility for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, Windows, and Linux.
Where to Get RiverFlux Audio Relic and RF-E
RiverFlux Audio has offered Relic through its Gumroad page as a name-your-price download with a $0 minimum and an optional donation. Check the current product page for the latest pricing, download availability, supported formats, and installation information.
Get Relic and check the current download options
RF-E brings the lineup to 13 plugins, adding an all-in-one channel strip to a collection that already covers compression, EQ, and tape processing. If you’re looking for individual mixing processors or a single plugin that handles several everyday channel-processing tasks, the RiverFlux Audio collection is worth exploring.
The two videos above provide an overview of the original 12 plugins and a separate look at RF-E, without sound demonstrations.
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