Future kill-offs
I will continue to get rid of more and more plug-ins. Here’s what I’ve been thinking.
Limiters and more uncommon dynamic processors will probably make up one elimination bout. Fortunately, I’ve been fairly quick to get rid of these after I’ve tried them, but there are still a bunch hogging up space.
After discovering a different approach to recording, I use saturators much less than before. I pretty much have the whole gang in the folder and have at times found them all useful. Here’s where my minimalism is challenged, I honestly feel all tape saturators – for instance – are good! Maybe not at tape saturation, but at some sort of saturation and/or dynamic processing. I might do a kill-off, but I’m not sure I want to!
I’m working on a piece, or perhaps we should call it an experiment, which I expect will require great filters. I will take my time and test the various filters available to find which is best suited, and will of course share my findings in a kill-off. Hopefully I’ll find a digital filter that will suffice. I say “hopefully” because no digital filter has ever impressed me the way an old synthesizer filter has. I find this slightly disturbing, because a) new synthesizers, save the Moog, also lack and b) I don’t want to be the vintage geek, I’d much rather be cutting edge and ITB.
Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a modular synthesizer, mainly for processing. At first I was dead-determined to get a hardware monster, packed with as many esoteric modules I could find in the Eurorack format, but being a child of the digital age I overcame the snobbery and decided that I at least should check out the software options. Among the contenders will be NI Reaktor, AAS Tassman, Arturia Moog Modular, Plogue Bidule and maybe even a Nord Modular (I know, it’s only semi-software, but what the hell…) if I can get my hands on one. I would be very interested in hearing about other options because all of these are to my knowledge fairly old (save Bidule) and one would imagine some progress could have been made since they were released. It’s important it’s compatible with Pro Tools in some way, if not as a plug-in it should be connectable via ReWire.
If you’re interested in other kill-offs, have suggestions or just want to talk dirty, feel free to leave a comment.
how about an ms20 in combination with a waves Q-Clone?
By nando ~ June 20, 2009 kl 5:06 am
You should get a hand on a maxed out (old) Nord Modular – very cheap these days – 1000’s of sounds and a great machine. Fun too.
By Gert ~ June 20, 2009 kl 6:03 am
i think it’s interesting that you think that liking the undoubtedly superior sound qualities of analog over digital is “snobbery.”
one could make a decent case that *some* plug-ins(UAD, McDSP,etc.) out there sound almost as good as hardware BUT soft synths vs. hardware analog is not even close as of now. yes, i own both…
By kassin ~ June 20, 2009 kl 12:46 pm
I would say Reaktor is probably my all time favorite piece of software. So I recommend checking that one.
By ronnie ~ June 20, 2009 kl 12:49 pm
definately a saturation plug kill off. Im constantly wonerding which plugs are best for this, antares tube/warm, duy valve/tape, urs saturation etc. PLEASE Do this comparison. What would also be welcome is to add the TC CL1B and the Waves Puigchild to the compressor comparisons and try it against the softube FET compressor as I think these are the best compressor emulations out there. The quality of compressor plugs is improving all the time and an update would be great as I value your opinions a lot and have made purchases on your recomendations.
cheers
Paul
By paul ~ June 20, 2009 kl 2:54 pm
Reaktor is an excellent choice. Capable of many different tasks. Has some very interesting filters. The Grobian LP comes to mind.
Also, You might want to consider the Access Virus C for filtering. Stereo ins/outs and the Moog modeled filter along with their digital filters are absolutely outstanding. You can pick one up used for about $700-ish.
I keep an old G4 on-hand (networked to my Mac Pro HD rig) for various apps which sadly never got ported to UB. Sounddiver Virus happens to be one.
Here’s what it looks like:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug04/images/accesseditor.l.jpg
By phase90 ~ June 21, 2009 kl 2:48 am
+1 for the kill-offs!
By mr.nice ~ June 21, 2009 kl 9:13 am
kassin,
If one decides not to even take digital and software into consideration then it IS snobbery in my book. At first I wasn’t even intending to try the software stuff, and by my own definition that would’ve made me a snob. So I overcame MY OWN snobbery.
Picking one over the other based on TASTE is of course not snobbery. I want to give both sides an equal chance.
And yes, overall I think analog synths sound better than plug-ins. At least comparing the top against the top in each field.
By stiff ~ June 21, 2009 kl 2:25 pm
paul,
Noted!
BTW, it’s interesting to note that Softube was involved in the TC compressor as well.
By stiff ~ June 21, 2009 kl 2:28 pm
Gert,
I’ve been thinking about a Nord Modular, but was looking at the second keyboard version. Any particular reason for the older one, save the money?
nando,
I’ve been close to picking up both MS-20 and MS-10 lately, but they’re going for so much right now so the competition is pretty stiff!
By stiff ~ June 21, 2009 kl 2:31 pm
ronnie, phase90,
I’ve actually started checking out Reaktor. I was surprised by the sound from some modules (or whatever it’s called in NI language), as it was a lot better than I would expect from such old software.
By stiff ~ June 21, 2009 kl 2:33 pm
Everytime someone starts ranting about the clear superiority of analog synthesis to computer, ask to hear their music. Guaranteed, it will sound like some variation on 1982.
True artists use the tools that are available to them and make magic, regardless.
Don’t listen to the synth nerds.
It’s amazing what you can do with Reaktor, FAW Circle, Fabfilter Twin2, etc.
And, for one thing, you can use them while sitting outside or at a cafe. Just unfold the macbook, and you’re off.
- c
By chad ~ June 21, 2009 kl 5:16 pm
stiff,
Yes, Reaktor’s sonic quality is wonderful. I think ver 5 has held up for so long b/c it has taken computers some time to catch up to the processing which Reaktor demands. It’s coded to sound good. Some of the ensembles are total beasts.
Effects-wise, there’s some cool software that can do what it does now, e.g. Sugar Bytes Effectrix, Illformed Glitch.
I’ve noticed growing discontent within the Reaktor community about progress, and my guess is NI will focus resources on R5 after Kontakt 3.5 is tightened up. They’re looking to hire a new core programmer for Reaktor 6. Hope to see Reaktor 6 soon!!!
Good luck with it! If you have probs with seqs syncing up in PT, I’ve posted some some info on which song position fixes worked for me over on the NI forum.
By phase90 ~ June 22, 2009 kl 2:42 am
+1 Reaktor– I’m often impressed with the variety, power and strangeness of sounds that can come from it. For electronic sound effects design, it’s my favorite tool.
By meatshake ~ June 24, 2009 kl 3:05 am
phase90,
New core programmer? Could mean a whole new set of bugs and issues. Hopefully 6.0.1 comes out fast
By stiff ~ June 24, 2009 kl 3:18 am