applying saturation through the sidechain

This short article gives a brief introduction on applying waveshaping algorithms not directly in the audio path but via a transformed equation through the sidechain and a VCA instead.

Typical saturation curves

Density mkII – reworking the audio engine

While working on the Density overall re-design I was working extensively on the audio engine as well but just for one single reason: The one thing I was missing in the original design was to have some more “responsive” gain riding possibilities but without the usual tradeoff of introducing more distortion or compromising the transparency. And (unsurprisingly) that turned out to be not that easy.

Developers friend: the oscilloscope

the compressors sidechain: filtering

There were already an excursion here about the design of compressor transfer curves over here and now this article turns on to the design of the sidechain path of a compressor in general. One major part of the sidechain design of a compressor is the filtering and thats the topic here for now.

introducing ‘NastyXTC’

NaxtyXTC: the Xciting Transient Controller

I’m going to introduce NastyXTC here for you, the ‘Xciting Transient Controller’ which is currently in beta.

‘BootEQ mkII’ released

As of now the “BootEQ mkII” musical EQ and pre-amp simulator is released under freeware license and a copy is ready to download for you. Release info and download locations are maintained in the sticky “latest versions / downloads” post. Please read and accept the enduser license agreement before downloading and installing.

Requirements: SSE compatible PC, VST host running at 44,1 or 48kHz samplerate.

Download here.

‘BootEQ mkII’ – LF shaping

BootEQ mkII - new LF controls

If you were a user of the very first BootEQ equalizer VST plug-in then you know about it’s limitations in the low frequency department: LF adjustment is limited to a +/-12dB gain control plus a HP switch at 40/60Hz. This is now reworked in BootEQ mkII which offers some new and probably surprisingly versatile (but still easy to use) control over the entire lower frequency region.

‘BootEQ mkII’ – preview and release info

BootEQ mkII

The release of the successor of the BootEQ equalizer plug-in is not that far away anymore and you will find the final spec and release info here (as well as a screenshot).

modelling pre-amp goodness

I’m just thinking loud here about pre-amps and all their different sounds and how they contribute to todays recordings and overall production aesthetics.

There are actually two types of such devices in general which are coming to my mind. On the one side there are the more unobtrusive ones which are adding almost nothing to the sound but just tighten and focusing the lowend a little bit or enhancing slightly the mid range in a good way. The other ones (mostly tube/valve types) are tending to saturate and distort the incoming signal if driven with higher input gain which may contribute to the desired sound in some cases while in others not.