AudioThing has launched Echo Cube, a dual acoustic delay plugin for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and iPadOS. The new plugin draws inspiration from the Cooper Time Cube, a 1971 hardware unit that generated delay through acoustic means rather than tape or electronic circuits.
The original Cooper Time Cube, developed by Duane H. Cooper and Bill Putnam, produced delay by sending audio through long coiled tubes, using the physical propagation of sound through air to determine delay time. This mechanical approach resulted in very short delays of approximately 14 ms on one line and 16 ms on the other, or around 30 ms when cascaded. These timings were suited to doubling and Haas-style spatial effects rather than extended echo repeats, with an acoustic filtering and phase response shaped by the physical design.
Echo Cube recreates this concept in software and expands on it with two independent delay lines, labeled A and B. Each delay line provides dedicated controls for time, feedback, and level, allowing users to shape the interaction between the two paths.
Three delay models are included:
- Time Cube, designed to faithfully recreate the behaviour of the original hardware unit.
- Garden Hose, an experimental variation inspired by DIY approaches to acoustic delay.
- Corrugated, another experimental model expanding on the physical principles of tube-based delay.
The plugin offers multiple routing modes to determine how the two delay lines interact and how they are presented in the stereo field. Available routing options include:
- Serial
- Parallel
- Ping Pong
- Mono Sum
- Mid/Side
These configurations allow for a range of spatial and phase relationships between the delay lines, from summed mono effects to stereo and mid/side processing approaches.
Additional features include brightness and contrast controls for tonal shaping, a resizable interface, and a preset system with a built-in randomizer. The plugin is delivered as version 1.0.0 and was released on March 2, 2026.
Echo Cube is available in the following formats:
- Windows: VST2, VST3, AAX, CLAP (64-bit)
- macOS: VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP (64-bit), Universal 2 Binary
- Linux: VST2, VST3, CLAP (64-bit)
- iOS and iPadOS: AUv3 and Standalone (IAA)
System requirements include Windows 7 to Windows 11, macOS 10.13 to macOS 26, and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. A 2 GHz CPU and 4 GB RAM are required across supported platforms.
Authorization supports both online and offline activation. A single license can be used on up to three computers. No iLok is required, and an internet connection is not necessary for activation.
Echo Cube is currently available with a 51% introductory discount until April 30th.
Click here to find out more about Echo Cube, a dual acoustic delay plugin developed by AudioThing.
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