Saturation, Analog Warmth, etc. plugins

[simon.a.billington]

I'm one of those guys that tend to split his processes up into many smaller moves as opposed to fewer big ones.

In saying that I use 2 eqs one for subtractive, the other for additive. One technique is quite like is removing any frequencies I don't want, add in the saturation, compress, then use any additive eq. However, since I have an eq before the saturation and compression I can alternatively push up key frequencies to drive the processes harder.

So there's some interesting creative options there. Especially if you have a harmonically rich compressor and even an eq like H-EQ, that can do both the digital clean subtractive thing and the harmonic vintage additive eq thing.

Plenty of room there for sound sculpting, but these are by no means hard and fast rules I stick to.

[adam79]

Originally Posted by YYR123

Yes sir.

Also we forgot to mention

sknote's disto plug...I use that more than decapitator and the price is right

I went over to sknote's site, but there's no demo version. I am correct, or did I miss something? I wrote the dev an email, but never heard back.

[adam79]

oh ya, anyone know what the nominal operating level is for AC1 and AC2? I couldn't find it in the manual.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by adam79

I went over to sknote's site, but there's no demo version. I am correct, or did I miss something? I wrote the dev an email, but never heard back.

There's no demo version and it's been my experience that the developer (just one guy) doesn't respond to unsolicited emails. I have disto and am really not a fan of the plugin - you have to really love the sound and because there is no demo - you have to buy it to try it out.

[Bob Olhsson]

The other one that needs to be mentioned is HEAT. I shoot out most plug-ins to hear what will work best. HEAT has won several recently.

[chrisdee]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

The other one that needs to be mentioned is HEAT. I shoot out most plug-ins to hear what will work best. HEAT has won several recently.

Unfortunately HEAT only works on audio tracks and not instrument tracks. Also there is no gain control with HEAT. Find it cumbersome to compare with and without signal since with is obviously louder. Have to insert a gain plugin on each HEAT track to match levels and then disable/enable the gain plugin and HEAT to switch between dry and "wet" signal. I need to be able to switch fast to hear the difference and make a decision.

[Bob Olhsson]

True but level matching is a problem with all saturation. I duplicate the track, offset the gain and disable HEAT on one and then switch between the tracks to compare.

[noah330]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

The other one that needs to be mentioned is HEAT. I shoot out most plug-ins to hear what will work best. HEAT has won several recently.

HEAT is probably the best that I have heard as well. I'm not one who uses tons of instrument tracks - and what I do use gets committed to audio before I mix.

I love it.

Dave Hill also has the other HEAT like plug (Phoenix?) that I demoed at one time and really liked.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

True but level matching is a problem with all saturation. I duplicate the track, offset the gain and disable HEAT on one and then switch between the tracks to compare.

Unless you can instantaneously switch between tracks it's easy to lose what you were listening to.

[Bob Olhsson]

Set solo to X-OR in the options menu.