Review: Nexus 3 from reFX | Audio Plugin Guy (2024)

We have another treat for you guys! I have been a fan of Nexus by reFX for over a decade now. I’ve used it on countless productions, some of which that even landed placements in television shows. Nexus is an invaluable tool for me. When I caught wind of Nexus 3, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. Is it worth the upgrade? Are you still on the fence about purchasing Nexus for the first time? Let’s look to see what the guys a reFX has prepared for us!

This is the new Nexus.

Faster, bigger, better in every way.

reFX

A Legend Reborn

Nexus 3 is a complete overhaul of the Nexus 2 engine and features several new additions that the modern producer needs to produce a hit. Some of the new features that excite me the most are the scalable vector-based UI, a brand-new sequencer that is vastly superior to the one in Nexus 2, and NO MORE eLICENSER! That’s right, activating Nexus 3 is a breeze with the new reFX Cloud. There, you’ll be able to easily update Nexus and install newly purchased expansion packs with no hassle at all. Overall, you’ll find that installing and using Nexus 3 is an enjoyable experience.

The new factory sounds are fresh and ready to dominate the world EDM once again. Check out the official demo from reFX:

What’s It Like?

Nexus 3 allows users to easily craft unique sounds with their latest additions to the Nexus engine. Editing presets is easier than ever with the addition of four quick-access macro controls and a total of 20 modulation slots. Even if you’re like me and mainly rely on presets rather than designing your own sounds (I’m not ashamed to admit it), the macros are conveniently placed below the FILTER controls and easy to use. The MOD-MATRIX parameters are easy to understand, especially for beginners who want to start exploring the more advanced features of Nexus. I spent way too much time controlling various parameters and creating some funky sounds. It really is a playground for aspiring sound designers.

The effects engine has significantly improved as well. It’s easy to find and create sounds that are ready to be implemented in a full mix. The effects menu is slick and easy to follow. I really wish reFX would release their effects engine as a separate plugin because I love the sound of their reverbs.

Review: Nexus 3 from reFX | Audio Plugin Guy (1)

As for the sound quality of the presets, I had a blast noodling around with the new ROM Extension 2 and factory presets. From what I’ve gathered, you’ll find all the factory content from Nexus 2 in addition to the new presets included with Nexus 3. While the older factory sounds are very much dated (I’m talking about Basshunter & Cascada era here), I’m glad that they’re included. Here’s what’s under the hood when you purchase Nexus 3 for without any expansions:

  • 2,799 sound-presets divided into 22 categories
  • 2,238 multi-samples (~18 GB uncompressed)
  • 211 impulse responses
  • 119 arpeggiator-presets
  • 95 effect-presets
  • 52 trance gate-presets

Is It For Me?

There’s a reason why Nexus is used by artists like David Guetta, Tiesto, and Kygo. However, the starter pack is a hefty $250, which might be a lot of money for someone who just started producing music.

If you’re purchasing Nexus 3 for the first time, you might find that the factory presets are a bit lacking for the modern producer. You’ll want to consider purchasing expansion packs as well. I purchased Nexus 2 because I wanted to recreate my favorite dance songs from the 90s and 2000s. Nexus 2 had all of the premium sounds of those eras and more. While the cheesy and outdated presets of Nexus 2 were satisfying in their own right, I also wanted to dive into other genres of electronic music like Dubstep and Electro House. The starter pack didn’t have any of the presets that you’d typically hear in those genres, so I had to purchase the Dubstep-Electro expansion pack.

It’s also important to remember that Nexus 3 includes new features that enable users to tweak older presets in greater detail than in previous versions of Nexus. It’s a very versatile plugin that works in multiple genres of music.

Is It Worth the Upgrade?

Let’s be honest here, a typical Nexus user relies on presets being ready to go for a song. While there are users out there who will benefit from the overhaul and advanced features, if you’re already making bangers with the presets found in Nexus 2, I would hold off on upgrading until there’s a new expansion pack that you know will take your productions to the next level. If you’ve been waiting for advanced features like the macro controls since the release of Nexus 2, then I believe that it’s worth the upgrade price of $99 (as of 11/30/2019). I really enjoyed using the expansion packs I purchased for Nexus 2 in the new engine. I feel like I can even breathe life into the older presets now that I can control pretty much any parameter that I want.

Check this out: Review: Invigorate by Newfangled Audio

In other words, I wasn’t expecting to upgrade to Nexus 3 until I decided to take a leap of faith to see how I’d like it. I think it’s fair to say that I’m going to use Nexus a lot more than I previously was.

Find out more about Nexus 3

APG Score
  • Sound quality
  • Ease of use
  • Interface
  • Presets
  • Value for money
  • Macros

4.4

Summary

Nexus 3 is the Swiss Army Knife of plugins. You’ll always have access to the latest sounds from your favorite artists with expansion packs. The new advanced features are a much-needed addition that breathes life into the older presets that made Nexus famous over a decade ago. Overall, it’s a great addition to any producer’s arsenal because of how versatile and easy it is to use.

Pros

  • Simple to use
  • Plenty of presets available

Cons

  • You need to purchase the expansion packs to get the most out of it.

Sending

User Review

2.97 (116 votes)

Review: Nexus 3 from reFX | Audio Plugin Guy (2024)

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