General Information

What is Bloom?

Bloom is a creative delay and diffusion effect with additional effects such as frequency-shifting, chorus, overdrive and more. It includes the TransMod modulation system seen in other FXpansion plugins and includes 3 built-in step-sequencers as well as LFOs, sample and hold and an envelope follower.

It is provided in VST, AU and RTAS formats.


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What is the delay in Bloom capable of?

Bloom has 3 delay emulations: digital, analogue BBD and tape with each model featuring adjustable degradation. Delay time changes feature an adjustable amount of slew (or smoothing) and the time itself can be set and modulated either with a rotary control or numerically: a drop-down menu of syncable delay times is available or you can simply type a number in milliseconds. The delay core also features reverse and freeze functions which are particularly nice to use with the built-in step-sequencers.


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Step-sequencers in a delay plugin?

Yes - Bloom features 3 of them, with 16 steps each. The length of each sequencer's steps can be between 64 bars and 1/64th notes (straight, triplet and dotted). Changing the delay time every half-bar or introducing the Reverse or Freeze function on certain steps can create some fascinating, surprising and musical effects.


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Tell me about the diffusion reverb.

The diffusion network offers spacious reverberation effects. It isn't a comprehensive reverb that is suitable for all types of sources but it has a very lush, dimensional character that is perfect for combining with spacious delays. It is very easy to use with its 3 simple controls and can be placed at 3 different positions in the signal path.


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What are the possible routing options?

The diffusion network and effects chain (containing frequency-shifter, chorus, envelope-shaper, overdrive, saturation, LPF/HPF filters and EQ) can each be placed in 1 of 3 positions in the signal path.

The effect chain can affect the output of the delay, the feedback path only, or the both the delay output and feedback path.

The diffusor can be placed at the input or output of the plugin, or after the effect chain.


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What is the TransMod modulation system?

The TransMod modulation system, also implemented in FXpansion's DCAM: Synth Squad, Tremor and effect products such as Etch and Maul, allows you to dial in complex modulation setups in an intuitive way. Modulation depths can be set from each modulation source to virtually any parameters in Bloom in a much more visual way than by using a traditional modulation matrix.

Bloom features several internal modulators: 3 step-sequencers, 2 LFOs, an envelope follower and a sample and hold. It can also respond to external MIDI note input, so you can 'play' delay times with MIDI note pitch or velocity, for example.


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Does Bloom come with a standalone version?

No - Bloom is an effect plugin designed to be used within a suitable VST/AU/RTAS-compatible host or DAW.


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What operating systems are compatible with Bloom?

Bloom is supported on Windows 7 and Mac OSX 10.6.2 or later (Mac support on Intel only). It is provided in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. It may work on older OS versions, but we cannot test or offer support for these platforms.


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Can Bloom be MIDI-controlled?

Yes, although this is fully dependent on your host's MIDI implementation for effect plugins. In many hosts, it is necessary to run Bloom as an instrument or as a 'MIDI-controlled effect' on an instrument channel in order to be able to route MIDI to the plugin. Bloom allows you to assign MIDI CCs to its parameters (and to parameter modulation depth amounts from individual TransMod modulation sources), and also features some extra MIDI note-triggered functions - for resetting LFO cycles and changing their rates, and also for generating various modulation sources, such as note pitch, velocity and a random number generator.


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Can Bloom be automated from my DAW?

Yes - all of Bloom's parameters are exposed as automation parameters to the host.


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Purchasing / Licensing

What are the restrictions in the Bloom demo?

The demo:

  • cannot save presets
  • cannot save or recall its state when used within host projects
  • has a 30-minute timeout after which it stops processing audio. You can re-insert the plugin to continue to evaluate it.

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Is Bloom a download or boxed product?

Bloom is a download-only product available from the FXpansion.com webshop.


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What kind of copy protection scheme is used?

This product features a challenge-response authorization system with three installs allowed on your own machines simultaneously.

  • You do NOT need to have an internet connection on the computers on which it is installed.
  • Until the product is authorized, it runs in demo mode.

We have tried very hard to make the authorization procedure as pain-free as possible. Please understand that it is necessary for safeguarding your investment in future development and user support.

Our products do not use iLok or any other unified protection scheme. We do not believe in such systems' security and would rather not pass on their costs to our customers.


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Can I use it on both my laptop and main machine?

Yes - you can install on up to 3 machines as long as only 1 is running it at any one time. Site / volume licensing is also available (POA - please contact us for details).


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Do I need to re-authorize when installing the OS again or upgrading the OS/hardware?

A new major operating system version is enough of a change that the authorization system will require re-authing the product; point releases should be fine. Likewise, a significant hardware change will also require re-authorization. We will be monitoring the situation closely and adjusting the flexibility of the authorization system to get the best balance of copy protection and annoyance levels.

If reinstalling an existing OS without changing any hardware, you will be able to save the auth file and simply re-import it when authorizing the product again.


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Do you allow license transfers?

Yes, however:

  • If you're the seller, you must contact us in advance of the sale. If you're the prospective second-hand buyer, you must check that the seller is cleared to sell. If in doubt, contact us.
  • There is a flat $50 fee per product for a license transfer, which can be purchased from our online shop.
  • Review copies, NFRs (Not For Resale copies, sometimes used for in-store demos), etc., cannot be transferred under any circumstances.
  • We reserve the right to refuse a license transfer request.

Once a transfer is authorised and the fee has been paid, the new owner is entitled to exactly the same upgrade paths and technical support resources as if they had bought the product new.


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Why is the License Transfer fee so high in relation to the cost of the product?

Our License Transfer fee is a set amount due to the very real costs of providing product support in the form of responsive technical support, bugfixes and new features, to the customers who buy our products. Product support is something we take extremely seriously, and is one of the reasons our products stand out amongst the competition.

We are happy to provide a transfer service for most of our products, but we cannot accept the liability of the costs of supporting a new user. If we were to provide free or very cheap license transfers, the prices of our products would have to be a lot higher, and it does not make sense to inflict this on the vast majority of customers who want to keep using the products and do not intend to resell them.


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