Sick of Pultec emulations.

terminal3 · #1 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 02:52 PM

I thought it would be interesting today to make a compendium of good plug-ins that are actually NOT based on hardware and that do something new & different - something that plug-ins maybe should be doing more of in the digital domain. Clearly, there is a great love & respect for the big heavy boxes of yore (and today!) but emulations aren't everything. I think that forward-thinking developers that are making new & useful products should be commended and encouraged. So here's my top 5, please add to it or comment on my choices as you see fit.

Criteria: NOT specifically based on hardware. Does something that NO hardware does, or does it differently enough because of the nature of it being software that it's worth including. There are compressors and effects on here - but not as we know them, Jim!

1) ProAudioDSP's DSM - http://www.proaudiodsp.com/products/dsm/

Designed and marketed by Paul Frindle, the genius behind much of the SSL E-series and many of Sonnox's terrific plug-ins, this is a dynamics processor unlike any other in that it can work on both dynamics *and* frequency. It can replicate the characteristics of existing material or it can be manually set to tweak the sound of your source. Capable of very interesting and incredible stuff - check out the demos. There's also an introductory video here: http://www.vimeo.com/2365432

2) RNDigital's Dynam-izer (soon to be renamed 'D4') and D1 - http://www.rndigital.org/dynamizer.html

Formerly an Elemental Audio plug-in (then known as 'Neodynium'), then adopted by Roger Nichols, now after some legal wrangling simply 'RNDigital' (Roger is no longer involved). This is another very unique dynamics processor, as it could be considered "multizone" instead of "multiband." It gives you the ability to affect compression amounts by program level, as opposed to frequency. So if you only want to squish the really loud bits, or the really quiet bits, this is completely achievable. D1 gives you one "zone," the full Dynam-izer gives you four, each of whose boundaries are freely adjustable. Very cool, a totally different and unique way of approaching dynamics processing.

3) Ohm Force - almost everything they make - http://www.ohmforce.com

I say "almost" because they did co-develop a Minimoog emulation with GForce. But even it's pretty souped-up. That said, they do all sorts of effects plug-ins and one custom synth. It's hard to single out any one, all of them are based on "classic" effects - filters, phasers, distortion - but none of them feel "classic" at all. The delay (OhmBoyz) is an exceptional example of forward-thinking in effects - from their own website, the best description:
"your journey starts with no fewer than four predelays. These cute little critters will really busy your sound up and get it primed to for its leap into the unknown. From here, we head for the two slickly geared delay channels, each of which is armed with its own filters, pan pot and overdrive."
Show me a hardware box that can do all of that! Their distortions are also exceptional, and their GUIs are some of the strangest, yet most modern-looking in the known universe.

4) Sonnox Oxford Inflator - http://www.sonnoxplugins.com/pub/plu...s/inflator.htm

Another masterpiece from Mr. Frindle, this beauty is the only plug-in that can make full-scale white noise sound louder than it is. Using psychoacoustic processing (harmonic 'enrichment,' probably!) it makes things fatter, warmer & louder and the side-effects are minimal. It's a good, different way to go about "loudening" in that it doesn't use any compression per se. Certainly not something that needs to be abused, it has uses on places other than the modern rock 2 buss, and best of all, it's one of Sonnox' cheapest plug-ins.

5) Wave Arts' Panorama - http://wavearts.com/products/plugins/panorama/

Another psychoacoustic processor that lets you relocate sounds in the "binaural" field even though you're only working in stereo. Although I don't reach for this one that often, when it's needed it can save my life. I recently mixed a short comedy shopping-channel parody where at one point the crew behind the camera were supposed to applaud the presenters. Of course, it was an effect to placed in after-the-fact, so after finding a suitable sound effect, I dropped it in, but no amount of EQ was working to make it sound like it wasn't canned clapping. Enter Panorama - quickly drag the "source" behind the "head" and the effect was flawless. The director of the episode was suitably impressed - in his own words - "I thought we didn't record any clapping on the day, I must have forgotten!" - seamless.

I will now shout some honourable mentions:

Audio Damage - many of their plug-ins are so unique and different, I almost don't understand them. Although they make a few "classics" as well (and even a Radio Shack reverb emulation) there are some modern music-making and sound design tools that are simply ingenious. Automaton comes to mind - artificial life? In my DAW? It's more likely than you think!

Pitch n' Time plug-ins - whether actually Pitch n' Time by Serato, or Digidesign's X-Form or iZotope's Radius (those last two are actually the same algorithm!) - these are terrific tools that we modern music makers have at our disposal. Algos are getting better all the time and the ability to change time or key with minimal side effects is a gift.

Digital Limiters - the ability for a digital limiter to "look ahead" to catch peaks is fantastic. When not abused a la Metallica that is...

There you have it - a selection of ITB plug-ins that can more or less only exist ITB. Discuss!

Monarch · #2 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 03:04 PM

Super list and super thread topic T3

I would add to that list Camel Audio.

Camel Space and Camel Phat are not emulations but a modern take on audio manipulation. Superb.

Totally agree about Audio damage and would single out Replicant as a brilliant plug that emulates nothing.

Replicant.

modz1 · #3 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 03:14 PM

+1 T3.. Great post.. valuable stuff and I feel a sticky coming almost immediately..
Loving the Sonnox Inflator.. it's currently breathing new life into a vinyl archive project for me.. Likewise, am liking Audio Damage and Ohm Force too..
Big fan of Camel Phat too there Monarch..have used that on just about every remix/production for a couple of years now I think..

Cheers for the reminder also.. been meaning to check out iZotope's Radius..

TrevCircleStudios · #4 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 03:29 PM

Of course another approach if you are sick of pultec emulations is to buy a rack of pultecs...

tyronehowe · #5 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 04:42 PM

Great idea for a thread!

I think for me two plug-ins really stand out:

Audio Damage Ricochet – it is very easy to use, very cheap, and just has a certain sound that is unique.

Celemony Melodyne plug-in. Just brilliant. Sounds fantastic. Once you’ve learnt how to use it (which only takes an hour), you can be super fast at correcting recordings. Love it.

Honourable mentions would be the L3-LL from Waves and (hopefully) the effects rack from Omnisphere being made available as effect plug-ins.

sureno · #6 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 04:50 PM

T3 and M you guys have pretty much mentioned what imediately sprang to mind for what i would bring to the table but iv managed to squeeze a couple more out

SUGARBYTES - in particular
Effectrix. The Effect Sequencer. Create grooving sound mutations and unheard breakbeats with this innovative tool!

Izotopes - Trash is the ultimate tool for selectively adding distortion to your tracks. You’ll find just as much use for the subtler tone enhancements to your other tracks—tape saturation for vocals, overdrive for keyboards or a pinch of fuzz on a lead guitar, for example. Chain pairs of distortions together or apply distortion independently to individual frequency bands.

Monarch · #7 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 05:35 PM

So many class act plugs on here! Ricochet, Effectirix and Trash are *ace*. They have been on my shopping list for ages LOL!

Fantastic plugs.

Man...I am totally diggin that Effectix video (I think I saw it on Sugabytes site some months back), it's totally...MAD sureno!

I needed that reminder. Love the beat as well! Thanks for posting that!

Trash is also x64 native so it's very near the top of my shopping list. Very creative plug. Audio Damage are clearly a very popular set up judging by the responses already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by modz1

Loving the Sonnox Inflator.. it's currently breathing new life into a vinyl archive project for me.. Likewise, am liking Audio Damage and Ohm Force too..
Big fan of Camel Phat too there Monarch..have used that on just about every remix/production for a couple of years now I think..

Cheers for the reminder also.. been meaning to check out iZotope's Radius..

Would like to use Sonnox Inflator in future (heard saw much about it). I currently use Vari Saturator, it handles smooth inflation very well

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyronehowe

Audio Damage Ricochet – it is very easy to use, very cheap, and just has a certain sound that is unique.

Thats interesing as Delay designer looks like one of Logics best plugs IMO. You have Logic what does Richochet bring to your table is it just the sound?

tyronehowe · #8 (**permalink**) 19th November 2008 , 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monarch

Thats interesing as Delay designer looks like one of Logics best plugs IMO. You have Logic what does Richochet bring to your table is it just the sound?

Good question! I always find that Delay Designer tends to be a bit over the top and the user interface doesn’t really entice you to dig in. Ricochet makes it very easy to take a preset and then play around. And yes there is something special about its sound.

Dave Boulden · #9 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008 , 12:42 AM

Damn, I wish ProAudioDSP's DSM was available in VST format... that is one seriously natural sounding compressor/limiter/doohickey!!!

terminal3 · #10 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008 , 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Boulden

Damn, I wish ProAudioDSP's DSM was available in VST format... that is one seriously natural sounding compressor/limiter/doohickey!!!

It's f*cking awesome, if I'm honest! I know the only reason Paul is being weird about doing a VST is copy protection... I'm pretty sure he's got the technical capability to make one! Write to him anyway and ask, it can't hurt!

Dave Boulden · #11 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008 , 11:00 AM

I think I might just do that... even at £200, that sound is, as you say, f*cking awesome!

Dave Boulden · #12 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008 , 11:10 AM

Double-damn! They are Mac only too!!

Oh well... I've sent a begging email asking them to port it to Win VST anyway

Monarch · #13 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008 , 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyronehowe

Good question! I always find that Delay Designer tends to be a bit over the top and the user interface doesn’t really entice you to dig in. Ricochet makes it very easy to take a preset and then play around. And yes there is something special about its sound.

Cheers.

Yeah I have a similar issue with Nitro...love it but it is not as easy to weak as Camel Space or Phat. So they get the nod.

cane creek · #14 (**permalink**) 24th November 2008 , 08:32 PM

Artificial Audio Obelisk

'Obelisk' what a superb plugin , ive been playing around with the Demo this morning.

Watch the 7 very short video's here , which basically explain the whole operation.

Yup im gonna buy this one , its the dogs bollox.

Mac/AU only at the present moment however a PC/VST version is in the works.

sureno · #15 (**permalink**) 24th November 2008 , 08:42 PM

yes i was looking at this today, bought the sylenth1 instead but looks cool

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#1 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 02:52 PM
terminal3 Sound Guru Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Posts: 1,122	Sick of Pultec emulations. I thought it would be interesting today to make a compendium of good plug-ins that are actually NOT based on hardware and that do something new & different - something that plug-ins maybe should be doing more of in the digital domain. Clearly, there is a great love & respect for the big heavy boxes of yore (and today!) but emulations aren't everything. I think that forward-thinking developers that are making new & useful products should be commended and encouraged. So here's my top 5, please add to it or comment on my choices as you see fit. Criteria: NOT specifically based on hardware. Does something that NO hardware does, or does it differently enough because of the nature of it being software that it's worth including. There are compressors and effects on here - but not as we know them, Jim! 1) ProAudioDSP's DSM - http://www.proaudiodsp.com/products/dsm/ Designed and marketed by Paul Frindle, the genius behind much of the SSL E-series and many of Sonnox's terrific plug-ins, this is a dynamics processor unlike any other in that it can work on both dynamics and frequency. It can replicate the characteristics of existing material or it can be manually set to tweak the sound of your source. Capable of very interesting and incredible stuff - check out the demos. There's also an introductory video here: http://www.vimeo.com/2365432 2) RNDigital's Dynam-izer (soon to be renamed 'D4') and D1 - http://www.rndigital.org/dynamizer.html Formerly an Elemental Audio plug-in (then known as 'Neodynium'), then adopted by Roger Nichols, now after some legal wrangling simply 'RNDigital' (Roger is no longer involved). This is another very unique dynamics processor, as it could be considered "multizone" instead of "multiband." It gives you the ability to affect compression amounts by program level, as opposed to frequency. So if you only want to squish the really loud bits, or the really quiet bits, this is completely achievable. D1 gives you one "zone," the full Dynam-izer gives you four, each of whose boundaries are freely adjustable. Very cool, a totally different and unique way of approaching dynamics processing. 3) Ohm Force - almost everything they make - http://www.ohmforce.com I say "almost" because they did co-develop a Minimoog emulation with GForce. But even it's pretty souped-up. That said, they do all sorts of effects plug-ins and one custom synth. It's hard to single out any one, all of them are based on "classic" effects - filters, phasers, distortion - but none of them feel "classic" at all. The delay (OhmBoyz) is an exceptional example of forward-thinking in effects - from their own website, the best description: "your journey starts with no fewer than four predelays. These cute little critters will really busy your sound up and get it primed to for its leap into the unknown. From here, we head for the two slickly geared delay channels, each of which is armed with its own filters, pan pot and overdrive." Show me a hardware box that can do all of that! Their distortions are also exceptional, and their GUIs are some of the strangest, yet most modern-looking in the known universe. 4) Sonnox Oxford Inflator - http://www.sonnoxplugins.com/pub/plu...s/inflator.htm Another masterpiece from Mr. Frindle, this beauty is the only plug-in that can make full-scale white noise sound louder than it is. Using psychoacoustic processing (harmonic 'enrichment,' probably!) it makes things fatter, warmer & louder and the side-effects are minimal. It's a good, different way to go about "loudening" in that it doesn't use any compression per se. Certainly not something that needs to be abused, it has uses on places other than the modern rock 2 buss, and best of all, it's one of Sonnox' cheapest plug-ins. 5) Wave Arts' Panorama - http://wavearts.com/products/plugins/panorama/ Another psychoacoustic processor that lets you relocate sounds in the "binaural" field even though you're only working in stereo. Although I don't reach for this one that often, when it's needed it can save my life. I recently mixed a short comedy shopping-channel parody where at one point the crew behind the camera were supposed to applaud the presenters. Of course, it was an effect to placed in after-the-fact, so after finding a suitable sound effect, I dropped it in, but no amount of EQ was working to make it sound like it wasn't canned clapping. Enter Panorama - quickly drag the "source" behind the "head" and the effect was flawless. The director of the episode was suitably impressed - in his own words - "I thought we didn't record any clapping on the day, I must have forgotten!" - seamless. I will now shout some honourable mentions: Audio Damage - many of their plug-ins are so unique and different, I almost don't understand them. Although they make a few "classics" as well (and even a Radio Shack reverb emulation) there are some modern music-making and sound design tools that are simply ingenious. Automaton comes to mind - artificial life? In my DAW? It's more likely than you think! Pitch n' Time plug-ins - whether actually Pitch n' Time by Serato, or Digidesign's X-Form or iZotope's Radius (those last two are actually the same algorithm!) - these are terrific tools that we modern music makers have at our disposal. Algos are getting better all the time and the ability to change time or key with minimal side effects is a gift. Digital Limiters - the ability for a digital limiter to "look ahead" to catch peaks is fantastic. When not abused a la Metallica that is... There you have it - a selection of ITB plug-ins that can more or less only exist ITB. Discuss!
Offline	Last edited by terminal3; 3rd December 2008 at 11:29 AM .

#2 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 03:04 PM
Monarch Forum Scribe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,359	Super list and super thread topic T3 I would add to that list Camel Audio. Camel Space and Camel Phat are not emulations but a modern take on audio manipulation. Superb. Totally agree about Audio damage and would single out Replicant as a brilliant plug that emulates nothing. Replicant. ______________________________ Need categorised help in a hurry? Try the DV Forum Start Page.
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#3 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 03:14 PM
modz1 Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: London Posts: 836	+1 T3.. Great post.. valuable stuff and I feel a sticky coming almost immediately.. Loving the Sonnox Inflator.. it's currently breathing new life into a vinyl archive project for me.. Likewise, am liking Audio Damage and Ohm Force too.. Big fan of Camel Phat too there Monarch..have used that on just about every remix/production for a couple of years now I think.. Cheers for the reminder also.. been meaning to check out iZotope's Radius.. ______________________________ *"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.."*
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#4 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 03:29 PM
TrevCircleStudios Mic Check 1! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England Posts: 830	Of course another approach if you are sick of pultec emulations is to buy a rack of pultecs... ______________________________ You can't polish a turd! (unless it's a jettsetty and urbane one!)
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#5 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 04:42 PM
tyronehowe Super Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cirencester, UK Posts: 222	Great idea for a thread! I think for me two plug-ins really stand out: Audio Damage Ricochet – it is very easy to use, very cheap, and just has a certain sound that is unique. Celemony Melodyne plug-in. Just brilliant. Sounds fantastic. Once you’ve learnt how to use it (which only takes an hour), you can be super fast at correcting recordings. Love it. Honourable mentions would be the L3-LL from Waves and (hopefully) the effects rack from Omnisphere being made available as effect plug-ins. ______________________________ Tyrone Howe Logic Pro 8.02, Access Virus TI Keyboard
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#6 (permalink) 19th November 2008 , 04:50 PM
sureno Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: west london depot Posts: 4,180	T3 and M you guys have pretty much mentioned what imediately sprang to mind for what i would bring to the table but iv managed to squeeze a couple more out SUGARBYTES - in particular Effectrix. The Effect Sequencer. Create grooving sound mutations and unheard breakbeats with this innovative tool! Izotopes - Trash is the ultimate tool for selectively adding distortion to your tracks. You’ll find just as much use for the subtler tone enhancements to your other tracks—tape saturation for vocals, overdrive for keyboards or a pinch of fuzz on a lead guitar, for example. Chain pairs of distortions together or apply distortion independently to individual frequency bands. ______________________________ I'v licked my fair share of Peanut Butter!!! (If i carry on pushing the boundries i may mysteriously disappear) www.sureno.co.uk
Online

#9 (permalink) 20th November 2008 , 12:42 AM
Dave Boulden Keeper o' the Keys! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 636	Damn, I wish ProAudioDSP's DSM was available in VST format... that is one seriously natural sounding compressor/limiter/doohickey!!! ______________________________ http://www.daveboulden.co.uk/
Online

#11 (permalink) 20th November 2008 , 11:00 AM
Dave Boulden Keeper o' the Keys! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 636	I think I might just do that... even at £200, that sound is, as you say, f*cking awesome! ______________________________ http://www.daveboulden.co.uk/
Online

#12 (permalink) 20th November 2008 , 11:10 AM
Dave Boulden Keeper o' the Keys! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 636	Double-damn! They are Mac only too!! Oh well... I've sent a begging email asking them to port it to Win VST anyway ______________________________ http://www.daveboulden.co.uk/
Online

#14 (permalink) 24th November 2008 , 08:32 PM
cane creek Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middlesbrough , UK Posts: 135	Artificial Audio Obelisk 'Obelisk' what a superb plugin , ive been playing around with the Demo this morning. Watch the 7 very short video's here , which basically explain the whole operation. Yup im gonna buy this one , its the dogs bollox. Mac/AU only at the present moment however a PC/VST version is in the works. ______________________________ canecreek.co.uk
Offline	Last edited by cane creek; 24th November 2008 at 08:37 PM .

#15 (permalink) 24th November 2008 , 08:42 PM
sureno Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: west london depot Posts: 4,180	yes i was looking at this today, bought the sylenth1 instead but looks cool ______________________________ I'v licked my fair share of Peanut Butter!!! (If i carry on pushing the boundries i may mysteriously disappear) www.sureno.co.uk
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