Prism

Multiband Neural Distortion

Ardan Dal Rì, Domenico Stefani, Luca Turchet & Nicola Conci

Prism Plugin Interface

Multiband Neural Distortion

Prism is a multiband distortion audio effect that uses a single neural network to apply separate distortion effects (overdrive, fuzz, distortion) to different frequency bands of your audio signal.

Unlike traditional multiband processors, Prism's neural network learns a single complex transfer function with sophisticated band behaviors, receiving per-band conditioning on effect type, gain, and tone settings.

Key Features

Multiband Processing

Prism offers control over 8 frequency bands, and users can select separate effect types, gain and tone settings for each

Available effects are overdrive, fuzz, and distortion.

Neural Network Core

At the core of Prism is a modeling temporal convolution neural network. The three effects are modeled after analog boutique pedals. The overdrive is modeled after a certain royalty member of the overdrive world. The fuzz models a red pedal which in turn was inspired by the famous muff. The distortion effect models a rebel purple IC distortion pedal.

Graphical User Interface

Prism comes with a GUI inspired by multiband eq pedals. At the moment, the GUI is a simple interface that sends OSC messages to an underlying Python runtime that performs the modeling, but we plan on integrating inference into the gui and compile it as a plugin.


Demos

Below are some audio demos

All the rows first show the settings for the 8 frequency bands, which comprise per-band effect type (Fuzz, Overdrive, Distortion), Gain (0-5) and Tone (0-5)

Below are Dry and Wet signals. Note: both Dry and Wet signals here are processed through virtual amplifier with cabinet simulation (Swanky Amp plugin, clean setting)
In the Dry signal it's just the DI instrument recording through the amp, while in the Wet signal the DI recording is first processed with Prism and then sent through the amp.
This is because non-linear distortion effects interact with the amplifier and are almost never used in isolation.

Full demos including those without the amp are found here.

Frequency Bands:B1
(~40-500Hz)
B2
(~0.5 - 1kHz)
B3
(~1 - 1.6kHz)
B4
(~1.6 - 2.7kHz)
B5
(~2.7 - 4.5kHz)
B6
(~4.5 - 7.4kHz)
B7
(~7.4 - 12kHz)
B8
(~12 - 20kHz)
Effect
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Fuzz
Gain
G5/5
G4/5
G4/5
G3/5
G3/5
G2/5
G2/5
G1/5
Tone
T5/5
T4/5
T4/5
T3/5
T3/5
T2/5
T2/5
T1/5
Dry (DI>Amp): amp_bass.mp3
Wet (DI>Prism>Amp): amp_bass_wet
B1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8
Effect
Dist
OD
Fuzz
OD
Dist
OD
Fuzz
OD
Gain
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
Tone
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
Dry (DI>Amp): amp_epiano.mp3

Wet (DI>Prism>Amp): amp_epiano_wet
B1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8
Effect
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Gain
G0/5
G0/5
G1/5
G2/5
G3/5
G4/5
G4/5
G5/5
Tone
T0/5
T0/5
T1/5
T2/5
T3/5
T4/5
T4/5
T5/5
Dry (DI>Amp): amp_guitar-chords.mp3
Wet (DI>Prism>Amp): amp_guitar-chords_wet
B1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8
Effect
Fuzz
OD
Fuzz
OD
Dist
Dist
Dist
Dist
Gain
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
G2/5
G4/5
G3/5
G1/5
G5/5
Tone
T5/5
T1/5
T5/5
T2/5
T4/5
T3/5
T5/5
T2/5
Dry (DI>Amp): amp_guitar-funk2.mp3

Wet (DI>Prism>Amp): amp_guitar-funk2_wet
B1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8
Effect
OD
Dist
OD
Fuzz
OD
Dist
OD
Fuzz
Gain
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
G0/5
G5/5
Tone
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
T0/5
T5/5
Dry (DI>Amp): amp_guitar-funk.mp3

Wet (DI>Prism>Amp): amp_guitar-funk_wet

Get Prism

Prism is currently in development. Check out the GitHub repositories for the latest updates.

Neural Net Repository

www.github.com/return-nihil/Prism

GUI Repository

www.github.com/domenicostefani/prism-distortion