Re: HD Online Player (softube Saturation Knob Aax Plugin C)
Bubba Lual
The age of digital audio workstations allowed millions of aspiring artists to record and produce music at home. But these digital recording studios lack some of the mojo and character of vintage analog gear.
Tube preamps and tape machines would naturally saturate every recording in vintage recording studios. The result was a distinct sonic character that consists of gentle distortion, dynamic range compression, and a mild low-frequency boost. Nowadays, we describe this type of sound as warm and analog.
IVGI works both as a subtle analog-style saturation effect on the master bus and an aggressive distortion effect for sound design. It sounds excellent in both scenarios, delivering analog-style warmth and character in the comfort of your digital audio workstation.
SGA1566 is a freeware tube preamp simulation by Shattered Glass Audio. It uses high-performance circuit simulation to deliver the saturation characteristics of a single-channel vintage tube microphone preamp.
BPB Saturator is a free saturation plugin by Bedroom Producers Blog. It uses waveshaping to simulate tape and tube saturation. The result is a lightweight saturation tool that will add warmth and character to your audio without a massive CPU hit.
You can use BPB Saturator as a subtle coloration effect or a more aggressive distortion plugin. Experiment with adding modest amounts of tape and tube saturation while fine-tuning the input and output gain for best results.
BPB Saturator also features a pair of filters. Use the high-pass filter to remove excess bass frequencies and the low-pass filter to remove hiss and noise. You can also use the filters in tandem with tape saturation to simulate vintage tape recorders.
Although the plugin initially utilized a physical model of the Sony TC-260 tape recorder, the current algorithm can simulate various analog tape machines. It addresses the saturation behavior of tape recorders, as well as their lo-fi properties.
You can use CHOW Tape solely as a saturation plugin that adds harmonic distortion changes the dynamics. However, the plugin also excels at emulating the wow and flutter, noise, and other side-effects of vintage tape decks.
The included Baxandall EQ is useful for setting taming the high frequencies and boosting the low end. Tube Saturator Vintage excels as a drum processing tool, adding grit and character to acoustic drum recordings.
Voxengo Tube Amp works better as a tube overdrive and distortion effect than a gentle saturation tool. That said, you can still use it as a tube-style saturation plugin with the Drive parameter set to a lower value.
The user interface consists of three control parameters only. The Drive knob sets the amount of saturation, the Mix knob controls the relative levels of the dry and processed audio, and the Output knob sets the master volume.
It can deliver various saturation types, ranging from gentle tube-style warmth to overdrive and distortion. You can use it on individual channels like drums or virtual synths, as well as the master bus.
You can use Tape Cassette 2 as a lo-fi effect, but it also works quite well as a free saturation VST plugin. The latest version of the software features an improved saturation algorithm with oversampling and hysteresis.
XPressor is a free saturation plugin with dynamics processing and oversampling features. It features three processing modes (soft clipping, hard clipping, and a wavefolder algorithm), a pair of filters, and up to 8X oversampling.
The Drive knob sets the amount of saturation that is applied to the signal and the Dynamics knob controls the compression. The plugin also features a Dry/Wet knob for quick and easy parallel processing.
Audio Assault Head Crusher Free has one saturation mode. The $7 version has 5 modes and looks/functions almost exactly like Decapitator. I assume Decapitator sounds better, but Head Crusher is a useful budget alternative.
I've been going from my Golden Age Pre 73 which colors my sound a bit when I crank it into the Brainworx Ampeg VR and Ownhammer Ampeg IRs. It's pretty rad, but I like the idea too of a bass chain that consists of some compression, saturation and eq and I'm gonna make some of those too. Bass is so much less fussy than guitar when getting a recording sound. As a guitar player who plays bass I've spent a lot of time what some might consider overthinking/tweaking my bass tone the way guitar players do, and I was a bit surprised to go on YouTube and hear the bass sounds a lot of the pros are mixing with.. Like w/ Joe Barresi e.g. a lot of his bass tones aren't much more than the DI tone.
I run a dual bass amp sim rig almost every time to essentially parallel process live as I have one amp for fuzz and one for the clean foundation. The only time I don't do that is when I'm running the Way Huge Pork & Pickle fuzz pedal into the Pre 73 and into the Brainworx Ampeg, as the P&P has a clean blend knob on it.
The other thing is the EQ - I had almost forgotten I owned PuigTec - haven't used it for years, but at the back of my mind I remembered something about the way it tightens up bass in particular. When I was experimenting the chain described above, I had a stock EQ in there first, then replaced it with the PuigTec, and wow, what a positive difference that made. Your ears can be fooled by the PuigTec as it can add a dB or 2 so be careful to level match to get the true picture. Not trying to encourage folks to spend money, but it's on sale at Everyplugin for $26.98 right now.
Check out Bass Professor and Bass Professor mk II by Sonic Anomaly - they're very good and free! I've had success more than once to bring life to DI bass sound with these. The original site seems to be down, but these float around on various plugin sites for download.
All of this is good stuff, but the best thing I have done recently in mixes is to have a DI (or just clean) track along side the fancy FX chain/amp version. I cut most of the low end out of the DI, add some dirt, then blend that in with the girthy amp sound. Being able to blend a "HI" bass with a "LOW" bass is incredibly helpful in a mix. Trying to get all of what you want in a bass part in one track seems unnecessarily difficult, especially given the ease we all have now with cloning tracks and things like that.
The MFreeFXBundle is a remarkable collection of 37 high quality free audio plugins. The bundle encompasses a diverse range of effects, including EQs, compressors, filters, autotuners, stereo wideners, waveshapers, and analyzers, providing a wealth of creative possibilities. Particularly noteworthy are Melda's modulation effects, featuring a ring modulator, flanger, tremolo and vibrato, each offering incredibly in-depth parameters.
KOMPLETE START is a bundle that includes six virtual synthesizers, nine sample-based instruments, two effects, over 1,500 audio loops, and freeware Player editions of Kontakt and Reaktor. The included Band and World sound packs for Kontakt Player provide classic guitar, bass, ethnic percussion, and drum tones. The updated Komplete Start now introduces the Ozone 11 EQ, a brand-new plugin from iZotope's renowned mastering suite, allowing you to shape the finest details of your sound with intuitive features in a user-friendly interface.
- A Roland-inspired synth from the makers of Diva.The Roland Jupiter series was incredibly influential, with its prices currently reaching tens of thousands of dollars. Luckily, you're able to get very close to its sound completely for free! The developers of Diva (u-He) made a free plugin called Tyrell N6, which is inspired by the design of classic Roland synths like the Jupiter and Juno. It sounds incredibly realistic - it's like a free version of Diva! Definitely a must-have.
- Juno-style free synth with modern features.The Juno-60, just like the Jupiter, is one of the absolute most sought-after vintage synths of all. The developers TAL, famous for their emulation of the Juno-60, offer also a free Juno-inspired synth called the Noisemaker. It's very similar in design to the Juno, and offers everything from huge bass sounds to soothing analog pads. It includes the signature Juno two-mode Chorus for the maximum lush effect.
- Most likely the best free vintage synth emulator.The Oberheim OB-X became one of the most iconic synthesizers of all time. Its new, completely free emulator captures all of its magic in a VST form. It's really well designed from the very detailed, ultra-realistic, fat sound, up to the visual details. It comes with a huge selection of presets, so it's a must have!
This plugin is a free emulation of the Realistic Concertmate MG-1 synth - which in fact was a Moog! It features ultra-accurate analog modeling, a dual oscillator monophonic plus polyphonic oscillator bank, and a super fat 24db "ladder" filter. With over 140 presets, "bell tone" ring modulation, tempo-syncable LFO, expanded octave ranges, and MIDI-assignable controls, it delivers fat analog tones and expands the capabiliites of the hardware model.
Momentum is a great free sampler VST with slicing, stretching, key changes, rearranging, and composition tools. Users can apply 18 slice-specific effects, employ smart BPM and key stretching features, and access Big Fish Audio's extensive loop libraries - all within this subscription-free plugin.
Ample Guitar M Lite II and Ample Bass P Lite II are virtual instrument designed by Ample Sound, focusing on delivering the sound of the Martin D-41 Acoustic Guitar and Fender Precision Bass. On top of sounding great, the guitar plugin includes features like "Capo Logic", a strummer function with real strum samples, and a Tab Player for loading and playing guitar tab files. Bass P Lite II, on the other hand, features function like Poly Legato, smooth sliding, and similarly to the guitar, a tab player. Both plugins offer a range of articulations, making them great choices for adding guitars to any track.
CamelCrusher by Camel Audio is a completely free, legendary distortion VST. It features four modules: Distortion, Filter, Compressor, and Master, each with very simple controls. Its two distortion algorithms, Tube and Mech, offer a range from smooth analog-like textures to grittier, dirtier tones. The plugin also includes an analog-style low-pass filter and a one-knob compressor with a Phat Mode for a fatter sound.
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