reFX Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 VST (NEXUS4) is the previous major version of reFX’s hybrid synthesizer plugin. It combines virtual analog waveforms with sample playback of recorded synths and acoustic instruments, and it is for producers who work from presets and shape them with layers, effects and an arpeggiator. reFX’s product page now covers Nexus 5 only, so for the newest version see reFX Nexus 5.

What is the Nexus 4 VST?

Nexus 4 first came out in November 2021, and its latest release is 4.5.19 from July 2024. It runs as a VST2, VST3, AU or AAX plugin and is backwards compatible with NEXUS2 and NEXUS3 libraries.

Compared with NEXUS3, it brought a resizable vector interface, drag-and-drop effect order, arpeggiators on every layer plus the main one with over 250 steps, four macro controls, a new librarian and cloud sync of favourites and user presets.

Key features

• Flexible routing through generators, layers, effects groups and a routing page
• Wavetable generator with over 500 wavetables, and 64 oscillators
• Five insert effect slots with over 15 effect types, plus main effects such as Boost, Glitch and an OTT-style compressor
• Reverb with a shimmer option on the front panel
• Arpeggiator and step sequencer
• Modulation matrix with over 20 slots and four macro controls
• Preset librarian with previews, tags, favourites, bookmark folders and folder search

What’s included

• At launch, the base edition came with over 2,700 presets and nearly 20 GB of samples
• Rom Extension 3 adds over 250 presets and Rom Extension 4 adds over 60

Nexus 4 vs Nexus 5

Nexus 5 adds more than 1,100 factory presets, a retro skin modelled on NEXUS2 and new effects (Bucket Brigade Delay, Particle Reverb, Vowel Filter, Rotary and Pusher). It also opens existing Nexus projects and libraries. Pick Nexus 4 if you want this previous version; pick Nexus 5 for the current one.

System requirements

reFX no longer lists Nexus 4 requirements on its own site. The figures reported at launch were:

• Windows: Windows 8 or later
• macOS: macOS 10.11 or later, with Apple Silicon (M1) support
• Host: one that loads VST2, VST3, AU or AAX plugins

See more synth plugins or everything from reFX.