Relic by Nolvra
Key Features
- Single AGE macro controls tape, vinyl, VHS, and radio-style degradation from one interface
- Four character buttons switch between saturation and wow, crackle and dust, transport wobble, or narrowed bandwidth
- Per-character internal curves make the same AGE value behave differently across each mode
- MIX control supports subtle parallel texture as well as fully committed lo-fi treatments
- AGE at zero is designed to behave like bypass, making automation and always-inserted bus use practical
- Nolvra Hub delivery manages claiming, installation, activation, and updates from one account
- Small installer footprint with macOS AU/VST3 support and Windows VST3 support
Description
Relic is a vintage character effect that puts tape, vinyl, VHS, and radio coloration behind a single AGE macro. Instead of loading separate plugins for each medium, you choose one character button, turn AGE up, and use MIX to blend the degraded layer with the clean signal.
The four modes are not simple presets on one shared process. Nolvra says each character moves six internal parameters on its own curve, so tape saturation, vinyl crackle, VHS wobble, and narrowed radio bandwidth react differently even at the same AGE value.
The workflow is built for fast arrangement and texture decisions. AGE starts at zero as a bypass-like state, which makes the plugin easy to leave on a bus, automate into a build, or tuck under a clean source in parallel.
Relic is strongest when one part needs a clear aged-device identity: drums that need dusty movement, a vocal that needs radio focus, or a sample that should feel resampled through old media. It is less suited to whole-mix processing at heavy settings, where the developer warns that the low end can disappear faster than intended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Relic require a Nolvra account?
Yes. Nolvra delivers Relic through Nolvra Hub, so users create a Hub account, claim the plugin, and install it from the manager.
What does the AGE control do?
AGE is a macro that increases the selected character's degradation. Nolvra says each character moves six internal parameters on its own curve, so the same value produces different behavior in tape, vinyl, VHS, and radio modes.
Is AGE 0 the same as bypass?
Nolvra describes AGE 0 as bypass by design. That makes it practical to leave Relic inserted and automate AGE upward only where the aged character is needed.
Can Relic process a full mix?
It can, but the developer recommends treating full-mix use carefully. Nolvra notes that high AGE settings across an entire mix can remove low end that may be worth preserving.
