I liked using Crystals in the foreground--a featured effect on synths, guitars, and percussion instruments and as a background treatment effect on vocals--it adds a mysterious 'ear candy' that is dynamic and never the same moment-to-moment. As a foreground percussion effect (maybe a loop?) you can sync it to tempo. It sounds awesome!

Pop music mixing and Crystals make perfect companions. Its sound design capability will trigger ideas and encourage ingenuity. Crystals comes within the familiar H9 framework with a Flex button that momentarily pops both pitch-shifters up the octave and the Ribbon controller is for programming any of the parameters for live performances or automation. I also thought the Mix Lock function, which keeps the wet-dry mix constant while stepping through presets, is a great idea.

I liked the A and B delay feedback controls for setting the exact length of the 'aftermath' of the reverse delays' ring out. In stereo, the A is panned left and the B delays are right and with longer delay times (up to four seconds each!), it becomes a good stereo balancing act. Adding musicality to this magic would be to shift the pitch of the delays by a 4th (500 cents), 5th (700 cents), or up to an octave (1200 cents) interval.

Eventide Crystals runs on Mac and PC and supports VST, AAX, and AU. It sells for $99 and there is sale at $39 through July 5, 2020.