Neural Network Saturation
Cryptone 2
Instant vintage, rebuilt. Three neural models of classic analog circuits, a new compressor, a new face — and AUTO, so you can drive it as hard as you like and judge the tone, not the volume.
Full-version trial for 15 days · Free updates · Online activation
New in version 2
Same crypt.
Everything else is new.
A new panel, a new sound and a new way of keeping the level honest.
AUTO — level matched, envelope untouched
Louder always sounds better, which makes saturation hard to judge. AUTO measures how loud the sound is going in and coming out, sets one gain to match them, and then leaves it alone. The key pulses while it settles and holds steady when it is done. It does not ride the level and it does not touch your transients.
More drive, and valves that show it
The last third of the DRIVE knob is new: it goes from heavy to broken. The valves in the window burn with the signal, so you can see how hard you are pushing. SPATIAL goes much wider too.
A rebuilt Thrust compressor
One knob, and a compressor that reads the material. Sharp hits keep their shape without jumping out ahead of the body; sustained sound is held; long loud passages are let go slowly, so nothing pumps. A lamp shows the gain reduction.
Every section in and out, cleanly
A small lamp beside SPATIAL, DRIVE, TONE and THRUST switches that section out and back in with a short crossfade. No clicks, while the music plays — so you always know what each stage is adding.
150 new presets
Seven banks sorted by what you are working on: Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keys and Synths, Vocals, Mix Bus and Master, Lo-Fi and FX. Search across all of them, mark favorites, and roll the dice for a fresh start.
A sweeter Silk, and a lighter load
The SILK tone curve has been reworked: more air, clearer low-mids, less bite. And the neural engine has been tuned so the same models cost less of your processor.
See it in action
The film, and the demos
Cryptone 2 on a drum break, bass, guitars, piano, drums and a full mix — bypassed first, then switched in.
Cryptone 2 — the film and the audio demos
What they say
“I’m loving the new Cryptone plug-in. It’s moving things forward in the mix and giving tracks a presence without being abrasive. It’s very smooth.
“Anytime I see Tone Empire show up with a new plug-in, I know we’re in for something unique and worth the time. Sounds amazing.”
“I just bought Cryptone and it sounds amazing.”
“Very interesting to easily get quality sound on the mix bus.”
Tones from the crypt
The sound of classic records — instantly. No hunting through plugins, no memorizing EQ curves.
Cryptone is built on 96kHz neural network models of legendary analog gear — three distinct saturation circuits from three eras, each captured at the moment of perfect harmonic bloom.
Version 2 adds AUTO: the loudness going in and coming out is measured, matched once, and then held. Drive it hard, switch models, crank it — you hear the tone change, not the volume.
Hear the difference
Before and after, on real material
Toggle between dry and processed audio while it plays. Recorded with Cryptone 2.
What's inside
Three eras of saturation.
One honest workflow.
BASS — Op-Amp
Discrete op-amp saturation with deep, controlled weight. Complex asymmetrical clipping and bass harmonics — the sound of classic op-amp consoles on kicks, bass and low-heavy material.
FULL — Tube Pentode
Full-range pentode distortion with balanced harmonic enhancement. Cohesive analog glue for mix bus, vocals, guitars and synths — warmth and presence without shifting tonal balance.
HIGH — Marinair
Authentic Marinair transformer captures with silky high-frequency character. Shimmer, air and presence that smooths harsh digital transients — the top-end of vintage British consoles.
Complete control
Thrust compression before or after the drive, three tone curves, stereo width that leaves the bass alone, input and output trims, wet/dry mix, clean-up filters, and AUTO level matching. The models always run at 96 kHz, whatever your session's rate.
In session
Stop hunting for vintage tone
Pick a circuit, set the Drive, and mix. AUTO keeps your levels honest while you push the saturation — so what you hear is tone, not volume.
If you own Cryptone 1
Version 2 is yours, free — and it sounds different. Better.
It is a free update. If you own Cryptone 1 there is nothing to buy: download version 2 below, install it, and sign in with your Tone Empire account. Your existing license activates it.
Cryptone 2 installs over Cryptone 1. To your DAW it is the same plugin, so your sessions open with it. But it is not the same sound:
- The drive range, the Thrust compressor, the Silk curve and the level matching have all been rebuilt, so a mix made with version 1 will need its Cryptone settings checked by ear.
- The factory presets are all new — 150 of them. Presets you saved yourself stay where they are and still load.
- If a project has to stay exactly as it was, bounce those tracks before you install.
Specifications
The fine print
| Type | Neural network saturation — 96kHz captures |
| Models | 3 — Op-Amp (BASS), Tube Pentode (FULL), Marinair (HIGH) |
| Formats | macOS: VST3, AU, AAX · Windows: VST3, AAX (64-bit) |
| macOS | 10.13 or later · Apple Silicon native & Intel |
| Windows | Windows 10 or later · Intel i5+ / AMD Athlon 64 |
| Compressor | Thrust — programme-dependent attack and release, pre or post drive |
| Tone curves | Silk, Presence, Dark |
| AUTO | Loudness match that settles, then holds |
| Presets | 150 in 7 banks · search, favorites, A/B, undo |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM · 600 MB disk · online activation |
| Trial | 15-day full version, no feature limits |
Try before you buy
The demo is the full plugin for 15 days — track with it, mix with it, decide with your ears.
Free for version 1 owners
Own Cryptone 1 and version 2 is yours: install it and your existing license activates it.
Instant delivery
License and installers arrive by email the moment checkout completes.
Complete your chain
