The Grammy-winning mix engineer Jaycen Joshua co-developed Orion, Cradle’s specialized drum-bus processor. Orion combines harmonic excitement, compression, and efficient parallel routing into a single, low-latency plug-in that is designed to help kicks hit tougher, snares pop, and cymbals sit perfectly without harshness. Its objective is straightforward: without requiring you to stack ten different processors or deal with intricate routings, it will enable your drums to cut through thick, contemporary compositions with equal assurance on phone speakers and stadium PAs.
Feature Highlights:
- Harmonic Saturation & Excitement: Incorporate color and weight to make transients feel vibrant rather than fragile. In order to maintain presence in the middle and definition in the lows, the saturation stage is said to increase punch.
- Smart Compression for the Drum Bus: Orion provides forward motion, stabilizes dynamics, and glues several drum parts together, all of which are adjusted for modern punch.
- Simplified Parallel Processing: Orion’s internal parallel routes, as opposed to complicated DAW sends, allow you to swiftly combine brightness and heaviness, which is ideal for quick A/B decisions and memorable mixes.
- Extremely Low Latency: Adaptable enough to allow for real-time adjustments during tracking or programming.
- A single, user-friendly interface that encapsulates the kind of multi-processor chain top mixers used on drum buses was created using Jaycen Joshua’s workflow.
What’s New 2025:
Through 2025, Cradle has kept increasing Orion with fulfillment and quality-of-life amelioration. Among the substantial contributions are:
- A/B Compare Switch: Compare two settings instantly to make judgments more quickly.
- Enhancements to Performance and Bug Repairs: On contemporary Macs, under-the-hood upgrades increase stability and lower overhead.
- Continuous Point Releases: Current release notes and upcoming upgrades are available on Cradle Hub, which distributes the most recent macOS build (v1.2.x series). To obtain the most recent features and fixes, always install from the Hub.
Quick Guide:
- Before pressing the plug-in’s green input target, set your input volume by looping the loudest part of your drums and adjusting your track level or Orion’s input knob. This adjusts the response of Orion’s stages, which depend on accurate input for character, saturation, and compression.
- Punch & Glue: To secure the kit together, increase the compression. Pay attention to the snare body and kick consistency; if the cymbals begin to smear, back off.
- Enhance Harmonics for Presence: To enhance excitement and deepen the body, increase the harmonics and saturation. Try to get a “greater size” without any noticeable fuzz.
- Blend Parallels: To add weight and snap, use the parallel routes that are already there. Blend the processed tone till the kit stands out in the mix while maintaining your dry foundations.
- A/B and Match Level: To swiftly audition two techniques, use the A/B comparison. Align output levels to prevent loudness from influencing your choice.
- Set It Up Early: In order to get quicker, more unified results, many mixers “mix into” Orion by dropping it on the drum bus early.
💻 Mac system needs:
- OS: 10.14 or later version of macOS Mojave
- CPU: Apple Silicon M1 or mentioned, or Intel Core i5 (AVX2)
- 8 GB of RAM
- Disk: around 600 MB installed (about 2 GB during installation)
- Formats: VST3, AAX, AU
- Logic Pro 10, Cubase 11, Pro Tools 2021, FL Studio 20, and Ableton Live 11 (VST3) are the DAWs that were tested. v10.1+ is required for Live 10 to enable VST3.
- Authorization: Cradle Hub internet access for updates and installations.
Download Steps:
- Visit the official website to create or log in to your Cradle Account.
- Position the Cradle Hub (macOS) after unloading it. Trials, purchases, upgrades, and machine activations are all managed here.
- Hub Open, Locate Orion, install the complete license if you have paid for it, or begin a 14-day trial.
- Install the indispensable plug-in formats (AAX for Pro Tools, VST3 for most DAWs, and AU for natural). If unavoidable, re-engage your DAW.
- Start your DAW after granting permission inside the Hub. For optimal results, install Orion on your drum bus and adhere to the previously mentioned “How to Use” instructions.
Your rhythms will remain bold, consistent, and mix-ready with Orion on your Mac since it comes with a specially designed drum bus chain that is quick to set up, simple to remember, and voiced for contemporary impact.
