released: SlickEQ

TDR VOS SlickEQ is a mixing/mastering equalizer designed for ease of use, musical flexibility and impeccable sound.

Three (and a half) filter-bands arranged in a classic Low/Mid/High semi parametric layout offer fast and intuitive access to four distinct EQ modes, each representing a set of distinct EQ curves and behaviors. An elaborate auto gain option automatically compensates for changes of perceived loudness during EQ operation. Optionally, SlickEQ allows to exclusively process either the stereo sum or stereo difference (i.e. “stereo width”) without additional sum/difference encoding.

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 classy audio gear.
An advanced 64bit multirate processing scheme practically eliminates typical problems of digital EQ implementations such as frequency-warping, quantization distortion and aliasing.

Beside the primary controls, the plug-in comes with an array of additional helpers: Advanced preset management, undo/redo, quick A/B comparison, copy & paste, an online help, editable labels, mouse-wheel support and much more.

SlickEQ is a collaborative project by Variety Of Sound (Herbert Goldberg) and Tokyo Dawn Labs (Vladislav Goncharov and Fabien Schivre).

Key specs and features

• Intuitive, yet flexible semi parametric EQ layout
• Full featured, modern user interface with outstanding usability and ergonomics
• Carefully designed 64bit “delta” multi-rate structure
• Three EQ bands with additional 18dB/Oct high-pass filter
• Four distinct EQ models: “American”, “British”, “German” and “Soviet” with optional non-linearity
• Four output stages: “Linear”, “Silky”, “Mellow” and “Deep”
• Advanced saturation algorithms by VoS (“stateful saturation”)
• Highly effective and musically pleasing loudness compensated auto gain control
• Oversampled signal path including stateful saturation algorithms
• Stereo and sum/difference processing options
• Tool-bar with undo/redo, A/B, advanced preset management and more

Availability

TDR VOS SlickEQ is a freeware audio plug-in available for Windows and Mac in VST and Audio Units format (both 64-bit and 32-bit). VST3 and AAX formats will follow later.

All downloads are available via the Tokyo Dawn Labs website.

Related Links

• vladg/sound
• KVR page
• forum talk
• SlickHDR – final teaser & release info
• what I’m currently working on – Vol. 12
• sharing the same vision …

RescueMK2 2.1 update available

released: Rescue MK2 – analog style modelled signal designer

Rescue MK2 is the major overhaul of the analog style modelled signal designer already introduced back in 2007. It is a sophisticated mid/side based transient processing device which not only allows detailed ‘3D’ imaging control but also fancy transient compression and distortion with dynamics that remains vibrant and alive.

Changes at a glance:

• Some internal routing changes are streamlining the workflow per channel.
• Based on true stateful signal saturation algorithms, it provides way smoother transient management and distortion.
• Better support for different gain-staging levels is introduced.
• The analog style signal path emulation is a complete rework.
• The manual is completely rewritten.

More and detailed information is included in the manual.

Rescue MK2  is a Windows x32 freeware release for VST compatible applications and you can grab your copy via the download page.

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

Density mkII – release date

Houston, we have a release date! The release of the Density mkII VST plug-in is now scheduled to end of this month. More specs and details will appear here during the next days or so – stay tuned. If you tend to react allergic concerning teasers better stay away a while from here 😉

compressor gain control principles

A short compendium on digital audio compression techniques.

Basic compressor configurations

Compression vs. limiting

Technically speaking the same principles are used in audio signal limiting and compression processors but just the transfer curves and envelope follower settings are different. Ultra fast attack rates and high ratio amounts are used for limiting purposes which causes just very few peaks to pass on a certain threshold.

In digital implementations limiting processors can be more strict due to look-ahead and clever gain prediction functions which guarantees that no peak information passes the threshold. That is called brickwall limiting then.

Density mkII – reworking the usage concept

Density mkII