They are giving away a great little plugin called Little Radiator, which is an emulation of an Altec 1566A tube mic preamp. You can use this link to get your unique code and then spread the word however you like:

https://www.soundtoys.com/sxsw2012/&rc=397-4308-815

–Damon
The Studio FIles

…Sometimes it’s just better for the PC users. If anyone wants to try some of these (Antress Modern Plugins) out and give us some feedback, I’ve heard really great things.

Oh, and did I mention that they are FREE!?!

I am in the process of re-deploying my dual core PC to run some sample libraries and Vienna Ensemble Pro, so I could install them with that outboard rig. Check it out and let’s see.

Happy New Year everybody. We’ve got some cool stuff in store for the new decade, so stay tuned!

Damon
The Studio Files

Check it out here:

http://www.pspaudioware.com/

And have a great holiday.

—Damon

We all have our favorite plug-ins (the ones that inevitably end up on a LOT of tracks in most mixes).  Even if you are just using the stock Pro Tools plug-ins, changing this preference will make inserting these plug-ins a little faster.

Typically, when inserting (let’s say) a dynamics plug-in onto a track, you’d have to click the insert, scroll through a few menus and pick the one you want.

Plug-in selection menu in Pro Tools LE

Pro Tools will let you pre-select a favorite EQ and compressor, putting these two plug-ins in the top menu of of the insert selection.  Here’s how you do it.

Go to Pro Tools > Preferences

Pro Tools > Preferences

Now go to the “Mixing” tab. In the Setup section, you will see two drop-down menus for “Default EQ” and “Default Dynamics”.  Choose your favorite (or most used) plug-ins for these two categories.

Choose your favorite plug-ins here

Now, if you go back into the mixer window and insert a plug-in, those two plug-ins will be available on the first menu.

Convenience!

Yes, this is a minor tweak, but over the course of a mix, it can save you a lot of time.  Fishing through menus full of plug-ins can be a killer in the middle of a critical section of the song, so having your most-used plug-ins conveniently placed in their own place can help out.  (Also, if you are using a control surface with the capability of inserting default EQ and Compression, this is how you set that up as well)

I would highly recommend everyone do this – time=money!

C

The Studio Files

For a small $30 upgrade fee, you get the following plug-ins for your MBox or MBox 2 (pro) Factory:

• Bomb Factory Moogerfooger 12-Stage Phaser
• Bomb Factory Moogerfooger Lowpass Filter
• Bomb Factory Moogerfooger Ring Modulator

If you own the 002 or 003 Factory Bundles, you get those plug-ins, plus the following:

• Bomb Factory BF-2A
• Bomb Factory BF-3A
• Bomb Factory Purple Audio MC77 (as well as the 1176 if you don’t have it)
• Bomb Factory Fairchild 660
• Bomb Factory Fairchild 670
• Digidesign SoundReplacer
• Trillium Lane Labs TL EveryPhase

This is a REALLY good deal.  The Bomb Factory Classic Compressors bundle (all of which are included here) retails for around $600 by itself…  I would highly recommend everyone do this.

You will get a link in your email if you have registered your Factory bundle on Digidesign.com

C

The Studio Files

One plug-in and the quick turn of a knob, and you have that world-famous T-Pain/Cher/computer voice effect.

(I am using a Mac Pro, Leopard 10.5.2, Pro Tools LE 7.4.2)

I installed the version that came with the included CD (version 3.0) and ran Line 6′s “Monkey” registering/activation program. The program didn’t see my connected interface (even though I could run the standalone version of the GearBox). Without seeing my interface, I was unable to register/activate the product.

On top of this, I kept reading (both on the website and in the user’s manual) that I needed to pay another $100 to get the “Plug-in version” of the software… I was slightly irritated, as the only reason I bought the software was to use it as a plug-in (This issue was resolved without problem or spending any money, don’t worry!)

I went through the help forums at Line6 and found out that I should download the new version of the GearBox software (3.60) and install that instead. It was a rather large download (I think over 150 MB), but it installed without problem. Now the Monkey software worked, seeing my interface and registering/activating successfully online.

At 32 samples in Pro Tools (or even 64), it feels like you are playing an amp, without noticeable latency. The sounds are great for both guitar and bass, and the number of amps, effects, and options is awesome. If you need a good amp simulator, or are moving into a small space where hauling all of your amps isn’t practical (i.e. a college dorm room, etc.), this is a great great plug-in. I achieved awesome sounds right away by bringing my guitar in on two mono tracks (panned hard) with a different amp model on each.

As of my initial impressions, I would highly recommend this product (especially at this price)

(As a final plug here, I ordered this from Sweetwater at 3:00pm, and it was at my house by 9:00am the next day. I used the “Free Shipping” option…)

C

The Studio Files

If you’ve ever found yourself humming the overworld theme from The Legend of Zelda or have the title track from Battletoads on your iPod, then you should definitely check out the “Magical 8-bit Plug” for GarageBand (or any app that supports AU plugins).

Magical 8bit Plug is a plug-in style software-synthesizer for producing primitive electronic sounds like the old 8bit game consoles. In Macintosh environment, it runs with AU (Audio Units)-supporting applications: ex. Logic, Digital Performer, GarageBand. In Windows environment it runs with VSTi supporting applications: ex. Cubase. Most of the software/hardware synthesizers include the most primitive waveform: square wave and pulse wave. But almost none of them include the pseudo-triangle or the low-resolution noise that will most characterize the 8bit sound’s unique taste. Magical 8bit Plug will help you producing the old 8bit sounds by providing those unique waveforms.

You can download the plugin here. For install information check out this article.

PJ

This video is just like the recently posted Logic Pro video, but now in Pro Tools.  I show you how to create aux input tracks, and use them with bus sends to apply effects.  First, a reverb, then a delay.

Transcript:

In this video form the studio files .com, I am going to show you how to setup aux effects sends in Pro Tools LE.  Its very similar to our Logic video, except now we are obviously in Pro Tools LE.  I have the same voice sample I was using in the Logic video, so let’s listen to the dry, unprocessed signal.  Now we need to figure out how to get effects on that track.  Go into the mixer window with command+equals sign.  Pro Tools, unlike Logic Studio Pro, will not automatically create aux tracks from your bus assignments, so we need to make aux tracks.  Track>New, and create one new stereo aux input.  Let’s rename it “Reverb”.  For its input, lets choose the first available bus, so bus 1-2.  Now go into the voice track, and using a send, choose bus 1-2.  This is the fader that you are going to use to send more signal to bus 1-2, so let’s leave it open for now.  Finally, go onto our reverb aux track and insert a reverb plug-in.  Let’s choose D-Verb.  Pick the Plate algorithm.  Plate’s usually sound best between 1-1.5 seconds, or at the most 2 seconds, so let’s set the decay at 1.5 seconds for now.  Leave all the other setting default for now.  Let’s play the voice sample again with reverb on (the fader up).  Now crank it up so you can really hear it.  Great.  Now, the delay send is basically the same process.  Close out of those two windows.  I’ll hit Shift+Apple+N to create a new stereo aux input.  Label that “Delay”.  For its input, use the next available bus, so bus 3-4.  Pro Tools has a few different delay plug-ins based on time (long, medium, short, etc…)  let’s choose Medium Delay II.  Pro Tools doesn’t give you presets, but that is ok, because it is an easy-to-use plug-in.  You can choose different delay values for the right and left channels, so let’s put the left channel at around 150ms, and the right at around 300 ms.  The best way to learn these delay plug-ins is to experiment.  I’ll just choose settings at random really quickly here.  Back on the voice track, we need to create a new send to send signal to bus 3-4.  Let’s dial the fader up and hear that.  Now I’ll turn it way up so you can really hear it.  Finally, I will crank both busses so you can really hear them both.  So that’s a good intro on how to setup aux effect sends in Pro Tools.  You can use these for all sorts of effects, not just reverb and delay, but this video showed you how to set them up.

C

The Studio Files

This video will show you how to setup effects sends using aux tracks and buses. I use a sample of my voice and apply reverb and delay using two different busses and aux effects tracks.

Transcript:

In this video from The Studio Files .com, I am going to show you how to use busses and aux tracks to setup effects in Logic Studio Pro. Let’s listen to the dry version of my sampled voice (which means no effects). We want to put reverb on that track. Go to the mixer window with apple+2. Now you will notice I have two aux tracks here already. Those are two tracks that I have setup to route the audio to my recording program so you guys can hear what is going on. Up in the “sends” area, click and hold on a spot, and you will notice that there are 64 different sends available. Let’s pick bus 10 to be our reverb bus. Notice Logic automatically created an Aux track with the input of bus 10. Label that “Reverb” by double-clicking the name. Now just insert a reverb plug-in, so that any audio coming to this aux track will be processed with reverb. Space Designer>Mono to Stereo. Sometimes these programs can be confusing, so for starters, use the preset menu here. Let’s pick a medium space, a plate, and “Ice Plate”. Now by dialing up this knob, we will start to add more and more reverb to my voice sample. Here is the sample with a little bit of reverb, I will hit the space bar to play. Now, let’s dial it way up, so you can really hear it. Let’s turn that down for a bit here. I will show you how to do a delay effects send. Use the next bus (bus 11). Again, Logic automatically creates an aux track with that input. Rather than just putting a plug-in insert, let’s go to the channel strip setting menu. Logic has many premade effects that you can choose with a click. We will choose a 1/4 note tape delay. Logic automatically put in a compressor, EQ and tape delay. Let’s open that up. Finally, we will add a little of both the reverb and the delay, and see how that sounds. I would recommend experimenting a few ways: first, insert your own plug-ins, and then try out the channel strip settings. Its very useful and very fast.

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The Studio Files

Celemony’s Melodyne plug-in has helped define pitch correction in recent years, but only for monophonic sources.  The new Direct Note Access technology lets you manipulate audio from polyphonic sources.  Yes, you heard right.  Polyphonic audio.  Guitar tracks, piano tracks, string quartets, you name it.   Where Pro Tools made it possible to edit the timing of audio like MIDI (with the very powerful Elastic Audio), Celemony lets you dissect audio’s pitch like MIDI through Direct Note Access.

Once this technology gets released, you will be able to change the pitch, timing, and volume of any note in a polyphonic source.  In the video, you can see manipulation of keyboards, guitars, and other sources.  This technology was thought to be impossible, but now its a reality.

Celemony has said that the first product to integrate Direct Note Access will be the 2nd release of the Melodyne plugin, which is scheduled for sometime this fall.  Personally, I am going to put the money away now, I want that the day it comes out.  Check out the promotional video from Celemony.

Wow.

C

The Studio Files

McDSP plug-ins can now be updated via a download from their website.  As long as you have registered your plug-ins online, there will be no charge for the upgrades.

Massive Pack 3 and 4 owners will have to upgrade to HD to get full compatible and all the extras, but for anyone who owns other plug-ins, updates for each program will be coming periodically on the website.  McDSP has also announced that the new plug-ins are much more efficient, allowing for more complex automation and better CPU power usage in large sessions.

If you have questions about upgrading your McDSP plug-ins, email me or post in the comments here.

C

The Studio Files

Izotope Vinyl

This is the grand-daddy of lo-fi. Its a free plug-in that simulates your sound going through a record player. Its has LOTS of controls (including what year the record player was made). Everything from “subtle analog feel” to “smashed and distorted dusty old record” can be achieved with this plug-in. Available for RTAS/AudioSuite/HTDM, VST, MAS, Audio Unit, DirectX. Literally no DAW should be without this plug-in.

SSL Listen Mic Compressor

What?! “SSL” and “free” can be put into the same sentence? Yes, its true. SSL offers a free download (VST and AU) of its listen mic compressor plug-in. This is an aggressive compressor, but its great on a lot of things. Try it on the second track of your parallel drum compression, or really squish your guitars to make them huge. This is another plug-in everyone should have.

Roger Nichol’s Inspector

If you need more accurate metering or spectral analysis in your DAW, this FREE plug-in is awesome. It comes in VST, AU, or RTAS, so anyone should be able to get it working. If you don’t already have a plug-in that does analysis like this, I would highly recommend you download this and insert on the end of your mix busses. Its really nice to “see” your spectrum (and maybe give you insight into getting your mixes to translate well).

Massey Plug-ins

If you know who Steve Massey is, you know these plug-ins must sound good. These are available in RTAS format only (aka Pro Tools). You can download any of these plug-ins for free (they don’t beep or glitch the audio either!). However, they have some limitations on their functions until you buy the full versions (which, by the way, are very inexpensive). As far as the sound of the plug-ins go, you will be hard pressed to find any that sound better, at any price range. I’ve personally used the mastering limiter, the CT4 compressor (awesome!), and the vt3 EQ and I love all of them.

PSPAudioware Piano Verb

A unique free reverb plug-in from PSPaudioware. It has the ability to go from a more traditional reverb sound to a very bright “affected” reverb sound. Although not perfect for your “everyday” reverb, in the right situation, this can be the perfect effect for a track. Its great to have in your arsenal (and to try out on different sources)

If you have suggestions for more plug-ins that I should list in future posts, email me. Or, just post them in the comments here, and share the love with everyone.

C

The Studio Files

Jose writes:

A while ago I mentioned starting a thread of free plug ins and synths. There are so many that I can’t keep up so I thought it might be cool to have a sticky of such stuff that people can add to.

First:

VirtualdubMod: Not a synth or effect but a DVD ripper that kicks but. It’s worked where others have failed me in the past. http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=65889

Dynamics processing: I use these bad boys a lot. Some good stuff some not so good stuff but the compressor and limiters are great for rock and pop sounds:

http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php

Chimera synth: Kick ass synth that didn’t blow me a way at first. It’s not thick sounding but very spacious. At first I wasn’t impressed but then I found myself using it on every track of my current film. It layers well for that top froth or noise on top of a thick pad giving it extra dimension. http://www.majken.se/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=9

Abakos: Ok synth with some good uses. I don’t go for it often. http://www.hercsmusicsystems.com/vst.html

Fore more on this topic, visit VI-Control, one of our favorite composer forums.