Cryptid Audio Nessie is a $29 Windows lo-fi plugin that builds vinyl and tape character in parallel so the clean core stays intact. VST3, 14-day trial.
Plugin comparison
Cryptid Audio Nessie vs RC-20 Retro Color
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.6Great
RC-20 Retro Color v2 adds an Echo module, Varispeed and moveable modules to XLN Audio's vintage texture effect. $99 intro price at Plugin Boutique.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Cryptid Audio Nessie | RC-20 Retro Color |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 | $99 intro to 12 Jan 2027 (list $129) |
| Dubspot Score | — | 8.6 |
| Formats | VST3, standalone | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | Parallel lo-fi / vinyl character | Creative effect / character processing plugin |
| Modules | Character, Tone, Aura, Motion, Vinyl, Space, Crush, Mix | — |
| Default color | Tape | — |
| Formats | VST3, standalone | — |
| OS | Windows 10/11, 64-bit | — |
| Mac / AU | Roadmap, no date | — |
| License | Keyfile, no iLok | — |
| Trial | 14 days, full-featured | 10 days, full version |
| Effect modules | — | Noise, Wobble, Distort, Digital, Space, Loss, plus the new Echo module |
| Plugin formats | — | VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) |
| Mac requirements | — | macOS 10.13 or later (64-bit) |
| Windows requirements | — | Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) |
| Upgrade from v1 | — | $19 at Plugin Boutique until 12 Jan 2027 (list $39) |
| Magnitude control | — | Single slider to scale the intensity of all active effects at once |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.