The BBE Stomp Ware Sonic Stomp is a plug-in version of a pedal that is made by BBE. It's the same effect that has made BBE famous - a sonic maximizer, but in a much more compact form. The plug-in is a part of the Stomp Ware bundle of plug-ins that is co-designed by BBE and Nomad Factory and put out under the BBE name. You can only buy it within this bundle, which is cheap enough anyway that this doesn't really matter. It's not hard to install this plug-in as long as you've got the right compatibility happening. It should be fully compatible with most systems anyway, so just make sure you're installing the right software for your system. Like all of the plug-ins in this bundle, the interface is literally that of a virtual stomp box, this one looking just like the hardware version of itself. It's super easy to use because it's only got parameters two parameters. One for 'process' which is setting the amount of the effect you'd like. Essentially the sonic maximizer effect adds brightness and brilliance in sound and really just a specified EQ. The other parameter that it has is for lo contour, which is used to balance out the sound once you've given it a bit more color. I haven't seen the manual for this plug-in as it's so easy you won't need one.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I running the BBE Stomp Ware bundle with the Sonic Stomp plug-in on my system at home. This is a Pro Tools LE system that I run with a Mac Book Pro lap top. The computer has 4 GB of RAM and a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, while I'm running Pro Tools LE 8 with a Digi 002R audio interface. Regardless of the system you're running it on, I'd be really surprised if this caused anyone's system to slow down, even in high uses, as it just doesn't take up much processing power. I would think that as long as you currently have a system that you feel comfortably running plug-ins on, you'd be all set with this and the rest of the plug-ins the Stomp Ware bundle.

OVERALL OPINION

While not my favorite version of the sonic maximizer, the BBE Stomp Ware Sonic Stomp will get the job done in times that you want to add a bit of brilliance to your sound. The Stomp Ware bundle that this plug-in comes with is cheap enough that all DAW owners should be able to scoop it up if desired. However, while a few of the plug-ins in this bundle can be helpful at times, I really don't find myself using these all that much. If you're looking to get a sonic maximzer plug-in from BBE, I'd suggest checking out the ones that are more specified like those in the BBE Sonic Suite...