Post by ojd on Aug 3, 2014 9:36:09 GMT 1
Hello. Some time ago (like 10 years ago) I've made prodigital VST using SE (don't ask me where to get it, because its vaporized in the internet, and i don't have it on my computer). I've used usual stock modules, and frankly I don't remeber how I did it, I was mostly toying around.
Ok, now when i'm doing music as a (semi-) pro, I think about all my experiences with sound, and what I like. About 3 years ago, i've dropped digital mixing, and bought Tascam 414. I was very concerned with the way DAW make you think only one way possible. Hardware on the other hand is very inspiring in its limitations. I've started to mix using those simple controls.
To this day, I think this is the best layout for mixing, including track number. Sometimes i've been using it by feeding input from DAW, and working volume+trim to get exact amount of distorion/level I wanted. EQ is not the best in the world, but it has big range, so its good for cutting stuff. Also, the sound is very pronounced (ok, the mixer is bad on 414, but the cassette sound is so wonderful, so it balances things). Also I had an experience in using soundcraft mixers. I think those mixers have the best sound overall, very warm gain+eq. So the idea of those controls (eq+volume+gain) is universal for distortions (EQ>Gain>limiter(opamp/diode)>EQ), amplifiers (eq, gain, master vol), VCFs (the same algorithm, only feedback loop is added for resonance), electronics overall.
------------------------------now for the VST idea--------------------------------------
So my idea is to emulate channel from 414. 5 controls are: volume, gain, pan, low, hi. That's it. I'm thinking about adding stuff, that i've been missing on 414, and could be useful in VST format - Stereo/mono switch (or pot to make stereo width 0 - 200 %), phase reverse, mute.
Now i'm collecting ideas, and stuff needed to make it happen. The idea is to drop instance of the VST into every channel you are about to mix, and use simple fader box (like korgnanokontrol) to mix, making takes, rather than drawing automation curves. EQ+volume+gain - is full featured instrument of its own, thats adding character to the material you are mixing (as shown by muslimgauze), a kind of distortion box, maybe with selectable type of dist (fuzz/diode, OD/opamp). The feel is very impotrant. It must be like compression till ~10 o'clock, od/distortion till 3 o'clock, fuzz/noise up to 5. Any ideas how to realize this? EQ is in question, because working 3 knobs (low, hi, volume) you could get any kind of EQ (like lo-, hi-, vol+ = mid++, lo+, hi+, vol - = mid-- and so on), but realising that real estate of 5 knobs per channel is nowhere found on commercial midi boxes, maybe clever realisation of 1 knob + button could be enough. For EQ there might be tweak page, where EQ frequencies, and range are selected, and knobs are just attenuator/amplifier.
Daw's sends are used. I would love to see how this channel would feedback, when return of the delay gets sended in feedback loop, with same parameters and control over delay tail, as in usual channels. I imagine any delay plugin would turn into dub delay with this kind of setup. Return's volume act as delay feedback too, korg monotron-delay style (old dub trick). The gain should limit the headroom of feedback, so it would turn into oscillation, but at steady volume.
After take is done, volume inside your DAW may be used to level tracks (like when you listening to your mix in a better room). Further enhancement like sidechain compression, exciting and so on added. This plugin should focus on instrumental side of mixing, hands-on, dub-like approach (king tubby/ Lee Perry style).
Is anyone interested in that kind of a project? Any free modules for this specific task you would recommend? I could draw pretty interface for this VST , though my main concern is CPU usage. I'll be posting into this thread any progress I make
Ok, now when i'm doing music as a (semi-) pro, I think about all my experiences with sound, and what I like. About 3 years ago, i've dropped digital mixing, and bought Tascam 414. I was very concerned with the way DAW make you think only one way possible. Hardware on the other hand is very inspiring in its limitations. I've started to mix using those simple controls.
To this day, I think this is the best layout for mixing, including track number. Sometimes i've been using it by feeding input from DAW, and working volume+trim to get exact amount of distorion/level I wanted. EQ is not the best in the world, but it has big range, so its good for cutting stuff. Also, the sound is very pronounced (ok, the mixer is bad on 414, but the cassette sound is so wonderful, so it balances things). Also I had an experience in using soundcraft mixers. I think those mixers have the best sound overall, very warm gain+eq. So the idea of those controls (eq+volume+gain) is universal for distortions (EQ>Gain>limiter(opamp/diode)>EQ), amplifiers (eq, gain, master vol), VCFs (the same algorithm, only feedback loop is added for resonance), electronics overall.
------------------------------now for the VST idea--------------------------------------
So my idea is to emulate channel from 414. 5 controls are: volume, gain, pan, low, hi. That's it. I'm thinking about adding stuff, that i've been missing on 414, and could be useful in VST format - Stereo/mono switch (or pot to make stereo width 0 - 200 %), phase reverse, mute.
Now i'm collecting ideas, and stuff needed to make it happen. The idea is to drop instance of the VST into every channel you are about to mix, and use simple fader box (like korgnanokontrol) to mix, making takes, rather than drawing automation curves. EQ+volume+gain - is full featured instrument of its own, thats adding character to the material you are mixing (as shown by muslimgauze), a kind of distortion box, maybe with selectable type of dist (fuzz/diode, OD/opamp). The feel is very impotrant. It must be like compression till ~10 o'clock, od/distortion till 3 o'clock, fuzz/noise up to 5. Any ideas how to realize this? EQ is in question, because working 3 knobs (low, hi, volume) you could get any kind of EQ (like lo-, hi-, vol+ = mid++, lo+, hi+, vol - = mid-- and so on), but realising that real estate of 5 knobs per channel is nowhere found on commercial midi boxes, maybe clever realisation of 1 knob + button could be enough. For EQ there might be tweak page, where EQ frequencies, and range are selected, and knobs are just attenuator/amplifier.
Daw's sends are used. I would love to see how this channel would feedback, when return of the delay gets sended in feedback loop, with same parameters and control over delay tail, as in usual channels. I imagine any delay plugin would turn into dub delay with this kind of setup. Return's volume act as delay feedback too, korg monotron-delay style (old dub trick). The gain should limit the headroom of feedback, so it would turn into oscillation, but at steady volume.
After take is done, volume inside your DAW may be used to level tracks (like when you listening to your mix in a better room). Further enhancement like sidechain compression, exciting and so on added. This plugin should focus on instrumental side of mixing, hands-on, dub-like approach (king tubby/ Lee Perry style).
Is anyone interested in that kind of a project? Any free modules for this specific task you would recommend? I could draw pretty interface for this VST , though my main concern is CPU usage. I'll be posting into this thread any progress I make
