Orion Plugin Review: Jaycen Joshua’s Complete Drum Bus Solution
As a professional mixing and mastering engineer with 20 years in the industry, I was thrilled when Jaycen Joshua and Cradle Audio released their second collaboration – the Orion plugin. After using this for two weeks in my own mixing sessions, I can confidently say this is a game-changer for anyone looking to achieve that signature Jaycen Joshua drum sound.
What Is Orion?
Orion is the follow-up to the popular God Particle plugin, designed to emulate everything Jaycen Joshua uses on his drum bus. If you’ve ever watched the “Mix with the Masters” videos and felt overwhelmed by the complex chain of processors he uses, Orion solves that problem by consolidating all those techniques into one comprehensive plugin.
Having attended the first Mix with the Masters session that Jaycen and Dave hosted, I’ve implemented many of these techniques in my professional work over the years. What makes Orion special is how it streamlines this entire workflow into a single, intuitive interface.
Breaking Down Orion’s Features
Drive Section: The Foundation
The first thing you’ll notice is the drive section on the left. According to Jaycen’s notes, this is what gives your drums depth and weight, essentially emulating the NLS bus section from his original chain.
What I love about this section is the three different color options (A, B, and C), each with its own character. Jaycen mentioned his favorites are A and C, though I personally enjoy all three depending on the material. The built-in highpass filter is crucial – it helps tame the low-end when things get overwhelming, just like the filter on the actual NLS buses.
The Core: Harmonics, Compression, and Lift
This middle section is truly the heart of the plugin:
Harmonics (50Hz and 80Hz): This emulates what the rBass does in Jaycen’s original chain. Everything here runs in parallel, giving you control from 31% to 100%. It’s incredible how much this section alone can transform your low-end.
Compression: The A/B switch here isn’t for different compressors – it’s actually changing the fundamental note the compressor reacts to, similar to how the Shadow Hills compressor works when switching between iron and steel modes. Jaycen’s sweet spot recommendation is around -1dB to -2dB, and I’ve found anything over that starts to get too aggressive.
Lift: This is what I consider the “black box” element, but it’s evolved beyond the original. With just one knob, it brings drums forward in the mix in a really musical way.
Harmonic EQ: The Secret Weapon
After two weeks of use, this has become one of my favorite sections. Sometimes after processing through the earlier stages, things can get too bass-heavy. The harmonic EQ lets you bring back some 3K and 10K frequencies, which really livens up the drums and helps the snare cut through the mix.
Four Parallel Buses: Complete Control
The final section gives you four different parallel processing options:
- Sub: Focused sub-bass enhancement
- Low: Additional low-end presence
- Loud: Parallel compression for impact
- Grit: This one’s special – it emulates that classic “Fruity Loops” sound that many producers know and love
That grit setting is particularly valuable. If you’ve ever received a beat made in FL Studio that didn’t go through their limiter, you know how hard it can be to get the drums to hit the same way. This feature brings back that characteristic sound that makes drums punch through a mix.
My Real-World Experience
In my typical workflow, I usually start with the harmonics around 30%, adjust compression based on the material, and vary the lift setting. After two weeks of regular use, I find myself reaching for those parallel buses more often than I expected – especially the grit and loud settings when drums need to compete in a busy mix.
One thing to be mindful of: this plugin dramatically changes your drum sound right out of the gate. In my early years using Jaycen’s techniques, I’d sometimes send mixes to clients who’d ask what I did to completely transform their drums. It sounds amazing, but it’s a significant departure from the original sound, which some clients may not expect.
Beyond Drums: Unexpected Uses
I’ve been experimenting with Orion on other sources too. It works surprisingly well on bass and 808s – in fact, I suspect Jaycen uses similar processing on his bass bus. I even tried it on some thin keyboard strings recently, and it brought them to life in a way I didn’t expect.
The Verdict
Orion successfully captures the essence of Jaycen Joshua’s drum processing chain while making it accessible to anyone. The plugin maintains the same visual design language as God Particle, showing it’s part of a cohesive series.
For professional engineers who’ve been trying to recreate Jaycen’s drum sound manually, this plugin is invaluable. It takes what could be a complex chain of multiple processors and makes it intuitive and musical.
The parallel processing approach means you’re always blending enhanced elements with your original signal, which keeps things musical rather than over-processed. And at around $100 (pricing may vary), it’s a solid investment for the workflow improvement alone.
Who Should Get This Plugin?
- Professional engineers familiar with Jaycen Joshua’s techniques who want a streamlined workflow
- Producers and engineers looking to add high-end polish to their drum sounds
- Anyone who’s struggled to get drums to punch through dense mixes
- Engineers working with hip-hop, R&B, or pop productions where drum impact is crucial
- Mixing professionals seeking to reduce plugin count while maintaining sonic quality
Remember, there are no rules in music – don’t be afraid to try Orion on sources beyond drums. Sometimes the best discoveries come from experimenting outside the intended use case.
This review is based on two weeks of hands-on experience with the Orion plugin in professional mixing sessions across various genres. As a professional mixing and mastering engineer with 20 years of industry experience, individual results may vary based on source material and mixing context.
Thanks for reading and reach out if your interested in my professional mixing and mastering services.
