Freebie Fri. Extremely Late Edition: The TDR VOS SlickEQ plugin.

Ilpo Karkkainen of resoundsound.com sent me an email announcing a free new VST/AU   EQ plugin called the TDR VOS SlickEQ.

 From his review:

" The TDR VOS SlickEQ is a mixing/mastering equalizer designed for ease of use, musical flexibility and impeccable sound. The plugin is a collaboration of three very talented people: Herbert Goldberg (of Variety of Sound), Fabien Schivre (Tokyo Dawn) and  VladislavGoncharov (Tokyo Dawn/Vldag Sound). You might know these guys previously from plugins like TDR Feedback Compressor, VOS Thrillseeker and Vldag Molot just to mention a few. There’s no need to say this but I’m going to say it anyway: these guys know what they’re doing. Hearing they are putting their great minds together to work on a free plugin was just fantastic news for me, and the results didn’t disappoint ".

I tried the plugin and found it has good sonics and ease of use. I especially like the fact that it has different EQ models, different saturation types and a M/S mode. It's hard to believe that the TDR VOS SlickEQ is a free plugin.

From the manual:

"In order to “warm up” the material with additional harmonic content, SlickEQ offers a switchable EQ non- linearity and an output stage with 3 different saturation models. These options are meant to offer subtle and interesting textures, rather than obvious distortion. The effect is made to add the typical “mojo” often associated with high quality analogue audio gear"

FEATURES:

• A clever auto gain function that automatically compensates for changes of perceived loudness during EQ operation.
• Mid/Side operating mode.
• Four distinct EQ models: “American”, “British”, “German” and “Soviet” with optional non-linearity.
• Four output saturation stages: “Linear”, “Silky”, “Mellow” and “Deep”.
• Easy to use A/B comparison feature.
• Support for mouse wheel adjustments (doesn’t sound like much but it’s always a big one for me)
• Advanced 64bit multirate processing scheme that eliminates typical problems of digital EQ implementations such as frequency-warping, quantization distortion and aliasing.
• Clean, user-friendly interface.

Here's a short preview of the presets and EQ modes of the TDR VOS SlickEQ:

The TDR VOS SlickEQ plugin is available for Windows as VST and VST/AU for Mac. You can get it on the TDR VOS SlickEQ download page.

For Protools users who would like to try this plugin or any other VST plugin take a look at this post on Protools Expert where they list 7 ways to host VST Plugins in Protools:

http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-page/2013/7/10/7-ways-to-host-vst-or-au-plug-ins-in-pro-tools-11-and-earlie.html

NuMuBu Live! ONLINE GEAR EXPO webcast at 4pm EDT

I'm doing a live webcast on numubu.com today at 4pm as part of their ONLINE GEAR EXPO. I'll discuss UAD software and other plugins plus some hardware. I will also do a Q&A session on engineering and gear.

To see the webcast just go to my numubu profile and click on the Live Now! link.

My webcast was cancelled due to technical issues.

My apologies due to technical issues we had to postpone my webcast today. I will re-broadcast tomorrow. Time to be determined. Please tune in for the other broadcasts scheduled for today.

NuMuBu Live! ONLINE GEAR EXPO!

NuMuBu Live! ONLINE GEAR EXPO starts now!

TODAY & TOMORROW, MAR. 27 & 28. Free to watch and participate via chat, enjoy live product demos with great brands and artists.


Numubu.com (which is an online community of musicians, artists, producers etc.) is having a Gear Expo via webcast today and tomorrow (Mar. 27 & 28). I'll be on at 1pm DST featuring Universal Audio's UAD plugins plus some other gear. You can watch and ask questions via a live text feed.

Here's the schedule:

TO WATCH, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE LINKS THROUGHOUT TODAY'S SCHEDULE:

9:00am - HIWATT
www.numubu.com/hiwatt

11am - SONUUS w/James Clark
www.numubu.com/sonuus

11am - TREM KING w/Rusty Bickford
www.numubu.com/tremking

1pm - UNIVERSAL AUDIO w/Gary Noble
www.numubu.com/garynoble

2pm - GHS STRINGS w/John Moody
www.numubu.com/ghs

2pm - DIAMOND BASS COMP w/Bernie Landry
www.numubu.com/bernielandry

2pm - CHAPMAN GUITARS w/Rob Chapman
www.numubu.com/chapmanguitars

4pm - NO SWEAT w/Joe Watson
www.numubu.com/nosweatamerica

5pm - GIBSON & PRS w/Ant Glynne
www.numubu.com/antglynne

6:30pm - TREM KING w/Rusty Bickford
www.numubu.com/stevecooke

8pm - STETSBAR w/Eric Stets
www.numubu.com/stetsbar
________________________

FRIDAY, MARCH 28:

10:30am - PEERLESS GUITARS w/Richard Okkerse
www.numubu.com/peerlessguitars

3pm - VINTAGE 47 AMPS & DIVA PICKS w/Scott Goldberg

www.numubu.com/scottgoldberg

_______________________________________________________________________

AND ON MONDAY, MARCH. 31: NO FOOLS ARTISTS FESTIVAL - Live performances by artists from NuMuBu and the Second Life virtual world.

Click this schedule for times.

For questions and info, contact us!: live@numubu.com.

Warm regards,

The NuMuBu Team
www.numubu.com

Tech Tues: Logic Pro Masterclass with DJ/Producer MAKJ

Popular UK online Music School Point Blank recently posted a video of  DJ/Producer MAKJ  showing how he produced one of his biggest EDM hits "Encore" in Logic Pro:

"MAKJ explains how he makes his kick drums, how to make a track sound big in the club, how to EQ basslines, how he makes his drops and how he designs his own sound effects."

Point Blank offers online courses in Electronic Music production and mixing using popular DAWs such as Logic, Ableton Live and Cubase. Take a look at some of their free sample courses here.

Here's the video:

The Auganizer.

I use Protools and Logic Pro daily and always wished that Logic had the 3rd party plugin organization that Protools provides. Well it seems I'm not alone because someone has developed an AudioUnits plugin manager called the Auganizer.

The Auganizer allows you to rename and arrange your AU plugins any way you like.

It's compatible with most Mac OSX DAWs that utilize AU plugins such as Logic Pro, Garageband and Ableton Live. It also works with 32 and 64bit plugins.

I downloaded the Auganizer demo and 99% of the plugins were successfully scanned, identified and the proper GUI displayed.(The ones that gave some issues were expired demos that I had forgotten to remove from my system.)

Take a look at the Getting Started Guide to learn how to implement the Auganizer's features.

FEATURES:

• Allows you to rename and organize AU plugins.
• View plugins in Coverflow mode (see 1st. pic)
• Familiar Mac interface, so it's easy to use.
• Non-destructive; won't alter plugins in any way.
• Multi app support and supports MacOS X 10.6 to 10.9
• Ability to backup, export and import settings with single button reverse
• Inexpensive, Price: $34.99

Freebie Fri.: PrismSound's Free Professional Audio Workshop and webcast.

PrismSound is a leading manufacturer of high end converters and interfaces for over two decades. (I used their ADA 8XR converters on all the mixes for "Back To Black" at Circle House Studios). 

They're having a free Audio Workshop event and webcast today at 1pm EDT featuring Edward J 'UK' Nixon.... "who will demonstrate his approach to the workflow, mixing style and processes which earned him his title as Chief Engineer of the Grammy Nominated production super-group, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (Sir Paul McCartney, Nas, Mary J. Blige, Rick Ross & Drake)."

The main topics that will be covered are:

• How do the pros do it?
• What makes great gear great?
• How is that hit sound achieved?
• What does it take to become a successful and in demand engineer?

You can register for the workshop at Mic to Monitor USA Tour 2014 WEBCAST.

If you can't attend/watch the workshop at 1pm a recording of the event will be provided by PrismSound for later viewing.


If you happen to be in Miami for the Winter Music Conference (WMC) PrismSound is doing another workshop at the Miami Convention Center on March 24 and 25th at 4pm. There's
also a workshop at The University Of Miami on March 26 at 6pm.

The workshop will feature good friend and Grammy winning Producer Dwayne ‘Supa Dups’ Chin-Quee who will "share his production experience and knowledge which has resulted in over 25 million record sales to date for his work with Eminem, Drake, Bruno Mars, John Legend, Mary J Blige, Estelle, Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion), Akon, Rihanna and many more."

Register for the Miami workshops at:

• 24th March, 4pm Winter Music Conference, Miami Convention Center

• 25th March, 4pm Winter Music Conference, Miami Convention Center

• 26th March, Miami, University of Miami

Kush Audio's UBK Pusher is not your ordinary plugin.

The UBK Pusher from Kush Audio looks like it came from another planet. An alien manifestation of what a sound mangling plugin should look like. Kush Audio's Gregory Scott has a reputation for making hardware and software that has very unique qualities with exceptional sound. If the Pusher sounds as otherworldly as it looks we're all in for a treat.

So I downloaded the demo and tried it on some stock drums in a Logic Pro X session. I quickly made 4 presets and then proceeded to go through some of the built-in presets.

Here's a short video of the UBK Pusher plugin. (My apologies for the audio quality. It was done spur of the moment on my laptop speakers):



FEATURES:

• Unique “Transient Enhancing” distortions

• Magnetic Saturation behaviors not possible with Analog

• 4 Chaotically Interactive Magnetic Cores

• Punchy Diode Limiter with variable Attack & Release

• Colorations ranging from subtly sweet to downright alien

• Multi-point Serial & Parallel Blend signal flow

• Cheat Mode labels & explains everything clearly

• iLok 1 or 2 required

Here'a video of Greg showing his products at NAMM 2014 (The UBK Pusher is featured at 1:55):

The UBK Pusher costs $149. Download the demo and give it a try.

Leave me a comment. Let me know what you think of the UBK Pusher.

Tech Tues.: How To Widen Guitars and other stereo imaging tips.

In his latest ITL (#99) Dave Pensado gives some tips on widening guitars when mixing.




Take a look at my earlier post on Dave's ITL #86 which gives more tips on mixing rock guitars:

and also my extended post on stereo imaging tips which features both hardware and software stereo enhancers:

Go Primal.

SoundToys has released another free plugin called the little PrimalTap which is based on the
classic Lexicon PrimeTime Delay. 

The PrimalTap is being offered as part of a contest which ends March 28th. The Grand Prize winner will get free SoundToys plugins for life. Go here for full details.

From the website:

 "The little PrimalTap captures the highly distinctive sonic imprint of this quirky, and well-loved (by those in the know) vintage digital delay. Don't be fooled by it's simple interface, Little PrimalTap lets you unleash your creative urges to echo, loop, warp, distort, mangle, or create cacophonous cascades of otherworldly sounds."

The plugin supports Mac/Win and runs in 32 or 64bit as AAX/RTAS/AU/VST.

It's completely free but you need to sign up for a Soundtoys account if you don't already have one and use this redemption code: 386-7932-032

Take a look at the Soundtoys video of the little PrimalTap:




Have fun!

Freebie Fri.: NeuroHop Forum's Free 2.3 GB Sample Pack.

Neurohopforum.com is offering a massive sample Pack for free to their online community.

"NHF Sample Pack 001 is available for free download via Neurohop Forum’s Facebook page (1.56 GB download size, ZIP archive, 2.32 GB size on disk, contains 655 audio samples & loops in 24-bit WAV format, additional files for NI Massive, FL Studio, NI Reaktor)."

If you're not on Facebook you can also download it directly from the forum website.

via bedroomproducersblog.com

A Wolf With Rhythm?

Akai is showing new products at Musikmesse 2014 including their new Rhythm Wolf module. The Rhythm Wolf is a combined Analog Drum Machine and Bass Synth.

From the press release:

"The drum machine consists of five highly-tweakable drum sounds and includes a kick, snare, open & closed hi-hat, and metallic percussion. Onboard controls allow users to customize the tuning, amplitude envelopes, and volume of each drum voice separately for precise real-time adjustment. The bass synthesizer features a selectable oscillator (sawtooth or square wave), classic filter design, a filter envelope with variable decay, and is capable of creating powerful bass sounds and squelchy leads."

FEATURES:

• 5-voice analog drum machine and synth
• Thick analog drum sounds—kick, snare, open & closed hi-hat and metallic percussion
• Onboard 32-step sequencer with classic drum machine workflow
• Gate trigger In/Out for triggering your sequences via modular synths, vintage sequencers, or external sound sources
• "Howl" knob with custom distortion signal path lets you crush and mangle sounds
• Six custom-calibrated MPC pads for sequencing and finger drumming
• Dedicated audio outputs for percussion sounds and bass synth

FutureMusic's video of Akai's Rhythm Wolf at Musikmesse 2014:

)

The Rhythm Wolf will be available Summer 2014 for $199.95.

Great layout, features and price but I want to hear what it sounds like. I will do another post once they have audio demos of the unit.

Harrison 832c 8-Channel Filter Unit and the Harrison 32C Console.

Harrison Consoles new 832C Filter Unit extends the rich lineage of Harrison's consoles and offers the same sonic textures as their legendary Harrison 32C console. It's a perfect  companion for their Lineage Mic Pre-Amp.

Harrison 32C Console

"The 832c Filter Unit includes 8 channels of high-pass / low-pass filters from Harrison’s world-renowned 32-series console - providing classic Harrison sound for recording and mixing in a convenient 1U space."

832C features:

• 8 Channels
• in / out buttons (marked “HP” and “LP”)
• A “Bump” button 
• 2 sweepable filter knobs
• 7-segment LED input meter
• Tascam DB-25 (AES59) Audio Connectors

Price $2395

Harrison's introductory video of the 832C:

)

and here's a video of engineering icon Bruce Swedien giving insight into his career and the Harrison 32C. The video was done by Universal Audio to showcase their Harrison 32C Channel EQ plugin that was based on Bruce's Harrison 32C console:

Bruce Swedien's Harrison 32C

)

Tech Tues.: Hardware EQs and Compressors compared.

Here are two videos by Torsten Matthiessen comparing different hardware equalizers and compressors. It's not the same as hearing the units in person but you should still be able to discern the differences between the units.

The 1st video features 8 high end Equalizers:

1. BAE 1073

2. Chandler Limited Curve Bender 

3. Tube Tech PE 1A (currently in production as the PE 1C. Read about the differences here).

4. Great River EQ2-NV

5. Kush Audio Clariphonic

6. Summit Audio EQP200B

7. Manley Massive Passive

8. The Eq section of the Sony Oxford DMX-R100 console.( no longer in production, but the algorithm for the Sonnox Oxford EQ Plugin is the same).

)



The 2nd video features 8 high end compressors:

1. BAE 10DC 

2. Chandler LTD-2

3. Chandler Zener Limiter 

4. Tube Tech CL1b 

5. Purple Audio MC76 

6. GSSL Sonic Squeezer

7. Empirical Labs FATSOjr

8. Manley Labs ELOP

)

I've used quite a few of the pieces shown in these two videos and I'm curious as to which are your favorites. 

Please leave me a comment.

Collie Buddz_"LIGHT IT UP" and the UAD Ampex ATR-102

When I was approached to mix Collie Buddz "Light It Up", Salaam told me he wanted to keep the "vibe" of the rough mix but to give it a more organic, punchy yet "Pop" sound. I immediately thought of using the UAD Ampex ATR-102 plugin from Universal Audio.

The above pic is the actual setting I used on the mix buss of the Protools session.

Ampex ATR 102 Features:

• Ampex®-authenticated plug-in emulation of the ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder — the most popular professional 2-track machine ever made
• Provides rich, cohesive tape sound, without the hassles of calibration, maintenance, tape degradation, etc.
• Models entire ATR-102 electronic path, including transformers, amplifiers, Repro, Sync, and Input paths
• Features multiple tape formulas, head configurations, and calibration levels
• Adjustable Wow, Flutter, Hiss, Hum, Crosstalk, and (L/R) Tape Delay
• Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface available from authorized dealers worldwide
• Independent L/R Input Gain (Record) and Output (Reproduce) Level
• IPS Speed/Emphasis Curve chooses between 3.75 NAB, 7.5 NAB, 7.5 CCIR, 15 NAB, 15 CCIR, 30 AES
• Independent L/R record Bias, Record EQ, and Playback EQs, with Auto and Manual Cal capabilities

Instead of mixing the record and then placing the UAD ATR-102 on the mix buss after I was done, I did the opposite.

I first made some adjustments to the song so it started sounding more like what they requested and what I felt I need to hear from the song. Then I placed the ATR-102 on the master buss and tweaked the settings so that the song had a certain sonic footprint. After a short break I began the final mix.

Whenever I use any processing on the master I find I get better results if I do it at the beginning of the mix instead of at the end. I'm not saying this is the correct or only way to do it I just find this method works best for me.

In the past when I worked completely analog I would monitor through the 2 track master whether it was the actual Ampex ATR-102,

Ampex ATR-102

a Studer A820

Studer A820

or Panasonic SV3700 DAT machine (remember those?!).

Panasonic SV3700

Now I usually record the mix back into Protools and monitor the output of the Protools interface. While mixing I A/B the console output and PT interface at regular intervals to make sure that there are no major differences in sound between the two. When printing the final mix I always monitor the PT interface and pay close attention to any digital glitches, dropouts, distortion etc.

Take a look at this "Tips and Tricks" article from UA for further insight into using the ATR-102.

Price $299

Freebie Fri.: THE 25 BEST FREE VST/AU PLUGINS FOR PC AND MAC.

Resound is a DJ/Producer from Finland who was kind enough to post on his site a list of 25 excellent plugins that are totally free. (Some may require registration on the developer's website). 

The above pic is of Audio Damage's Rough Rider compressor which despite being free is actually a good sounding compressor.(Btw that's an actual setting I'm using on the drum buss for a current project).

"Rough Rider can be tweaked for really mild compression or serious hardcore pumping action equally. Rough Rider is not exactly a transparent compressor – it adds a bit of vintage style coloring to the sound. Great plugin."

I already have some that I use on a regular basis such as Camel Audio's  CamelCrusher.

CamelCrusher "is a free 'colouring' multi-effect plugin. It offers two characteristically different distortion sounds which can be blended together to create a wide variety of tones and textures. Great for guitars, drums and plenty more!"

I use it often on drums, bass and to "fatten" synth/pad sounds.

 The list also includes Virtual Instruments such as TAL Audio's NoizeM4k3r in addition to audio processing plugins:

"The NoiseMaker is a very versataile, phat sounding and traditional analogue-modeling synth. It’s fun and easy to tweak but also comes with whopping 256 presets. This synth can do some serious bass – great for layering under reese or stab sounds for example. Sound quality wise it easily beats many commercial synths out there. I especially like how the pulse wave oscillator sounds."

See the entire list at Resoundsound.com. Download links are included with each plugin on the list.

The Lowender and DBX 500 featuring Spragga Benz and Mack Wilds.

In my recent post on low end enhancement I neglected to mention 2 things that I use to enhance the low end on some of my mixes; The Lowender software and the dbx 500 hardware.

Refuse Software's Lowender Bass Synthesizer was used on Spragga Benz (@SPRAGGABENZ3) "Shotta Culture" album produced by Salaam Remi (@SaLaAMReMi) and recorded by Frank Socorro (@Alphabeatmusic). I used it on the mix of "Duppy No Frighten Vampire".

The Lowender Subharmonic Synthesizer ($69) by Refuse software @refusesoftware is a plugin that "creates new bass content from your existing audio material." It's very similiar to the dbx 500 which I covered in an earlier review (posted below) and which was also used on Spragga's album.

Here's the video single "Shotta Culture" from the album of the same name:

The Lowender has various controls to help you get good results easily but be warned make sure your monitors can reproduce the frequencies it generates. If they don't a good pair of headphones will work. Going from left to right the first control is a blender which allows you to mix the direct signal with the sub "effect". You can use the slider to vary the amount or click on the 0, 50, 100 buttons. Right below that is the master output which comes in handy especially when feeding the lowender's output into other plugins such as a compressor/limiter. The bass synthesis section allows you to select between three types of subharmonics by choosing classic, guitar or bass. Classic is more like the dbx "boom box" type of synthesis while the guitar and bass are more geared towards enhancing the "lowest octave" of those instruments. The knobs above the two frequency bands (24-36hz and 36-56hz) are for adjusting the amount of "subs" that will be generated. Next we have a bass gate which comes in handy when using this plugin on live material so that the leakage doesn't get turned into unwanted rumble. It also works great for kicks that have been sampled off vinyl. Last but not least we have the Bass output section which has a Drive knob that adds saturation to the signal and a Lowpass knob that selects the cutoff frequency (lower gives a smoother sound).

The Lowender Subharmonic Synthesizer can be found at http://www.refusesoftware.com/products/feature/2 

"Shotta Culture" can be purchased on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shotta-culture/id389713642

dbx 500 Subharmonic Synthesizer

I also used the dbx 500 Subharmonic Synthesizer on the bass for Ini Kamoze's "Here Comes the Hotstepper" and "Nappy Heads" remix for The Fugees, both of which was produced by Salaam Remi @SaLaAMReMi. More recently I used the dbx 500 on the Mack Wilds "NY A Love Story" album.

Here's @MACKWILDS video single "Own It":




The dbx 500 Subharmonic Synthesizer or "Boom Box" as it was sometimes called is an effects box that does only one thing but does it extremely well. It synthesizes bass frequencies an octave lower than what's fed into it. The dbx 500 was originally designed to be used on large PA systems in clubs and live performances. It not only extends the low end but gives it a big beefy sound that's unmatched by other units. I originally started using this unit on my PA system with Cerwin Vega "Earthquake" speakers and continued using it in the studio for mixing. The dbx 500 has stereo unbalanced 1/4 inch inputs and outputs. There are two sets of outputs which can be selected with a switch. The main outs carry the direct signal plus the effect and the sub outs carry only the effect. 

In the studio I ran the unit mono using one sub out and the unit receives signal from a send or buss. It is then returned to the console on a channel where it is further EQ'd and compressed. The unit only has two controls. First there is a Frequency Boost knob which boosts the level of the fundamental frequency and then there's the Subharmonic Level which determines how much subs is being synthesized by the unit. There's a green LED which lights up when subharmonic synthesis occurs. When using this unit be very careful of the level of the synthesized subs as it can easily blow your speakers. I usually put a limiter on the output of the dbx 500. Dbx also made other "Boom Boxes" such as the dbx 100, 110 and the 120a/120x/xp/x-ds series which has more controls. The dbx 500 was released in 1978 and was produced for only 2 years and is very difficult to find nowadays. The dbx 120A can be purchased at http://www.zzounds.com/item--DBX120A

Here's a link to a site that has information on all the different boxes dbx used to make: http://vintagedbx.free.fr/index_en.html