lostcheshirecat
Shane O'Connor
As many of you know, I recently started mixing most of my projects In The Box. By in the box, I mean that there is no physical mixer involved. All summing is done digitally with a DAW such as Protools Logic(my new DAW of choice). This option is convenient, in that all mixes are 100% recallable, but there has always been a loss of "that special thing" with mixing entirely in a virtual environment.
That special thing often came from the chaotic, non linear characteristics of how an analog console, and analog compressors/ EQ's/ reverbs worked. The digital world has come a long way, and there are some amazing new plugins out there that can create something very similar, if not better in some ways, as the old analog desks. I put together some reviews of plugins that I have been tinkering with recently.
NOTE! although I love all of these plugins, they are not a cure all method of making your mix shine. It is not so much the tools, as the user.
EQ:
Stillwell Audio is a new plugin company with a vision far beyond many plugins I have used costing 10 times at much. They focus largely on how the plugin will be used in a real world setting. Their controls are obvious and inspiring. The metering makes sense, and is similar to what you would find in the analog domain. Stillwell Audio also takes care to emulate the distortion charactaristics found in similar analog devices. For example, their Vibe EQ has compression/ distortion qualities when it is pushed harder, similar to a pultec design. I highly suggest checking out all of their plugins. They are amazing.
Vibe Eq : FREE to try, suggest that you pay up....
The low end can get very chunchy and distorted for kick drum. The mid range can do the same thing, yet when cutting, the midrange, the outer sides of the frequency being cut have a certain distortion that is very pleasing and familiar. This will also do a great high end boost for vocals.
COMPRESSION:
My favorite tool to geek out about!
Rough Rider
I was using the rough rider Fuzz pedal emulation for years before I decided to check out what else they have cooking. The Rough Rider is a seriously smacky and agressive compressor. I found much use for it on kick,snare, and bass. The makeup gain is intentionally very distorted, so if you are looking for that kind of thing, it fits perfectly. If you are looking for clean yet interesting, I would keep the makeup gain down and use another plugin to compesate for the compression. Comparatively, this compressor is very similar to a DBX 160.
Camel Crusher : FREE
I have been a huge fan of the camel crusher for years. Similar to the Stillwell Audio aesthetic, this compressor includes tube distortion emulation that can be dialed in. Although this is cool, and sound amazing on a guitar bus, I often end up using this plugin as a clean compressor with an opto/ LA-2A feel. Its a great compressor for glueing things together, without smashing up the transients.
DELAY:
WatKat : FREE
I downloaded the Wat Kat three days ago and was blown away. It is such a simple tape delay that sounded so close to the real thing that I felt a little sick! This unit is based off of the Copicat tape delay/ echo box. It has strange hisses and low frequency modulation built in, just like the real box. I had never heard of this company until I found this free plugin. I am going to try their free REVERB as soon as I get a chance.
That special thing often came from the chaotic, non linear characteristics of how an analog console, and analog compressors/ EQ's/ reverbs worked. The digital world has come a long way, and there are some amazing new plugins out there that can create something very similar, if not better in some ways, as the old analog desks. I put together some reviews of plugins that I have been tinkering with recently.
NOTE! although I love all of these plugins, they are not a cure all method of making your mix shine. It is not so much the tools, as the user.
EQ:
Stillwell Audio is a new plugin company with a vision far beyond many plugins I have used costing 10 times at much. They focus largely on how the plugin will be used in a real world setting. Their controls are obvious and inspiring. The metering makes sense, and is similar to what you would find in the analog domain. Stillwell Audio also takes care to emulate the distortion charactaristics found in similar analog devices. For example, their Vibe EQ has compression/ distortion qualities when it is pushed harder, similar to a pultec design. I highly suggest checking out all of their plugins. They are amazing.
Vibe Eq : FREE to try, suggest that you pay up....
The low end can get very chunchy and distorted for kick drum. The mid range can do the same thing, yet when cutting, the midrange, the outer sides of the frequency being cut have a certain distortion that is very pleasing and familiar. This will also do a great high end boost for vocals.
COMPRESSION:
My favorite tool to geek out about!
Rough Rider
I was using the rough rider Fuzz pedal emulation for years before I decided to check out what else they have cooking. The Rough Rider is a seriously smacky and agressive compressor. I found much use for it on kick,snare, and bass. The makeup gain is intentionally very distorted, so if you are looking for that kind of thing, it fits perfectly. If you are looking for clean yet interesting, I would keep the makeup gain down and use another plugin to compesate for the compression. Comparatively, this compressor is very similar to a DBX 160.
Camel Crusher : FREE
I have been a huge fan of the camel crusher for years. Similar to the Stillwell Audio aesthetic, this compressor includes tube distortion emulation that can be dialed in. Although this is cool, and sound amazing on a guitar bus, I often end up using this plugin as a clean compressor with an opto/ LA-2A feel. Its a great compressor for glueing things together, without smashing up the transients.
DELAY:
WatKat : FREE
I downloaded the Wat Kat three days ago and was blown away. It is such a simple tape delay that sounded so close to the real thing that I felt a little sick! This unit is based off of the Copicat tape delay/ echo box. It has strange hisses and low frequency modulation built in, just like the real box. I had never heard of this company until I found this free plugin. I am going to try their free REVERB as soon as I get a chance.
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