Tag Archives: effect

Effects, Music Software, Sound Design

Inspiration from Analogue – 5 Fantastic Digital FX Inspired Directly By Real World Gear

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Nowadays it is as easy as sitting down at a computer to make a good song. Sound design has been democratised with it no longer being necessary to have a full studio to create. However, whilst plugins are important, how you use them is also as significant. And choosing the correct plugins is not simply a matter of picking those which you like the look of or feel would work for your chosen genre. Just as plugin design involves taking something abstract such as a soundwave and combining it with the technology which can alter or modulate it, so does choosing plugins mean some thought is needed about what kind of sounds from real, live studio recordings you want to bring to your DAW. As guitarists, our physical instruments mean we are operating somewhere between digital and analogue even when working with a DAW – and the plugins featured in this article reflect this. Read on to find out this year’s top picks.

Mimicking Analogue Sound: How to Recreate a Full Studio on Your Desktop

Much goes into the process of designing plugins and it is a fine art to translate real life sound from amps and guitars onto a DAW. Some plugins even go as far as to use circuit modelling technology to precisely recreate the components within a physical stompbox or other piece of gear. These plugins below aren’t verbatim copies of real life stompboxes, but they all use creative ways of translating analogue soundwaves to digital FX and are great pieces of gear in themselves. Although roughly arranged by genre here, they are nevertheless all very versatile. Below is some inspiration and the best current FX on the market for those who wish to create studio tone from the comfort of their desktop.

Best For Indie:

PhoenixVerb is a brand-new collaboration between Exponential Audio and iZotope. iZotope was originally founded as a company aimed at musicians as opposed to engineers and so balanced the technicality of its products with easy-to-use interfaces which meant that musicians could simply focus on being creative as opposed to figuring out all of the mechanics of the product.

This shows through in PhoenixVerb’s distinctive dials and frequency display – it also has over 900 presets to help the musician on a time budget but also allows a sound designer to get deeper if desired with independent output controls for attack, tail, and early reflections. The verb’s frequency display is real time responsive to even the smallest changes and Exponential audio have modelled the sound to allow the musician control over every component of a soundwave, allowing for maximum independence and direct connection to the world of real studio sound when mixing and mastering.

https://www.izotope.com/en/shop/exponential-audio-phoenixverb.html

Specifications: Runs on Mac OSX Mountain Lion (10.8.5) to Mac OS X Catalina (10.15) and Windows 7 to Windows 10

Price: 99 USD

Best For Blues:

Waves Abbey Road Saturation – Waves Abbey Road Saturation FX plugin would be welcome for all genres, but for the rounded, warm, fuzzy sounds of blues, it is beyond comparison. It’s flexibility allows it to be used for all kind of warm sounds, whatever your niche may be, from rockabilly, blues, pop rock, or simply for adding a bit more warmth and depth to guitar recordings. Waves is modelled of the Abbey Road exclusive patented TG12345 desk distortion and has been dubbed the ‘compander’, compressing inputs and expanding outputs for a super-rich sound. As well as with its REDD distortion, it can be cranked up to add some grit and distortion proper to your heavier sounds or kept in the background adding layers of nuance.

https://www.waves.com/plugins/abbey-road-saturator#introducing-the-abbey-road-saturator-plugin

Specifications: Runs on MacOS 10.14.6, 10.15.7, 11.6.2, and 12.3. Also runs on Windows 10 64 bit and Windows 11.

Price: 29.99 USD

Best for Pop and Rock:

Chowdhury DSP – Chow Phaser. Made by independent American FX designer Justin Chowdhury, the Chow Phaser is modelled after a legendary piece of 70s analogue gear – the Schulte Compact Phasing ‘A’. This plugin is designed to have both mono and stereo features and prioritises roughness and warm to create nonlinear, multi-layered waves. The original Schulte Compact Phasing was used by artists as diverse as Kraftwerk, Ritchie Blackmore, and Pink Floyd. It’s interface allows for an incredible amount of fine tuning but it is the way this plugin mimics the warm sounds of the era it was based on that means it really brings the best of both worlds to your FX rack.

https://chowdsp.com/products.html

Specifications: Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Another great feature is full source code is also available on the designer’s website

Price: Free download from the designer’s website

FabFilter Saturn 2 – This plugin is currently one of the most talked about on the market and it’s modelling after real amps and FX is one of the things which has made it’s warm tone so appealing to many guitarists. The diversity of waveforms allows any musician to tune their FX to their satisfaction. It is also available for a 30-day free trial, meaning that you have plenty of time to test the FX to see which ones work for you before purchase. Saturn 2 also works with tape saturation but comes into its own when used for distortion overall.

https://www.fabfilter.com/products/saturn-2-multiband-distortion-saturation-plug-in

Specifications: Windows 7-11 or Vista, MacOS 10.12 or higher (64-bit only)

Price: Free trial for 30 days and then 129 USD as single

Lastly, Krush by Tritik is a fantastic middle ground between the sharp noises of the digital real and the rich, fuzzy tones analogue afficionados look for. It contains both bitcrushing and an extremely flexible modulation centre which expands the number of sounds possible exponentially, enabling you to go from gritty high speed guitar to soft, ballad-ready overdrive. It’s analogue modelled low pass and high pass filters are a make it an unusual but therefore desirable sweet spot between the digital and analogue realms, offering the best of both worlds. Krush sits in a unique position where it can achieve some of the dirtier higher, and sharper sounds which you would expect from a digital VST as well as adding richness and depth from its analogue inspirations.

Krush

Specifications: Windows 7 or later and MacOS 10.9 or later

Price: Free

These are just some of the plugins on the market which are inspired heavily by specific analogue technologies – and though they span a wide range of prices and genres, the technology behind them shows how the sound of your favourite studio recordings can be translated to your own work. It’s no easy feat replicating the world of the studio for a DAW, but all these designers have done it extremely well and despite rough guidelines listed here, these plugins are worth investigation for guitarists of every genre and budget.

DAWs, Effects, Music Software, Productivity, Sound Design

Your Identity as a Sound Designer: A Quick Cheatsheet for Using Plugins to Find Your Artistic Identity

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It’s hard to find your identity as a guitarist. Whilst it may seem as if there are no more legends along the lines of Steve Vai or Eric Clapton, the meaning of being a guitarist is still constantly changing. Now the ease of digital sound design means everyone has access to similar gear, it’s up to the individual to use it creatively in order to convey a unique sound. Read on for how sound design can help do this and quick tips as to developing your own unique sound.

Sound Design Identity: Understand How DAWs Affect Artistic Identity

In the age of analogue, much of an artist’s sonic identity could come from their gear, whether that was a quirky, refurbished guitar, or the amps and cabinets available in the studio. The shape of the room, it’s furnishings, and the number of people present would all have affected the way the finished product turned out. On a DAW, consistent and controlled settings prevent this variability, thus the ability to create a unique sound belongs to the artist themselves. This means when using a DAW sound designers must get creative with adding the things which would come naturally with an analogue recording- layering reverbs, equalising, and mixing and mastering so their sound has just the right amount of distinctiveness – something especially important for guitarists where so much is reliant on tone and feeling to get the musical message across.

Sound Design Identity: Learn From Your Idols

How did your favourite producers, sound designers, or guitarists get to where they are today? None of them would have been perfect from the get go. What separates them from the thousands of guitarists who give up is the fact that they not only continued trying but that they fine-tuned and adapted their creative processes to avoid ever making the same mistakes twice.

As sound designers- whether you have a small bedroom set up and are just starting out or a personal studio and you may be wishing to reinvent your sound, using plugins to experiment with adding and subtracting things from your sound is one way of ensuring all your tracks are unique and carry that distinctive fingerprint which sets them out as yours and yours alone.

Sound Design Identity: Use Reference Tracks

Reference tracks are a heavy part of the production process, but for any sound designer there is always the risk of sounding too much like your inspirations. It can be frustrating when you don’t have access to the same gear as them and you may spend your time in the studio trying to find that perfect sound. The important thing to realise is that any alternatives you choose will mark you out as separate from your influences and therefore give you more of a creative edge. As a result, embracing differences and realising it’s impossible to sound exactly like your idols is one of the best ways forward – it can separate you from the hundreds of other guitarists who get stuck at this stage. Reference tracks are just that – references, and expecting your work to sound exactly like them limits your creative possibilities. Whether a producer or sound designer yourself – or a guitarist working with a team of other creatives – understanding this can be one of the most freeing parts of developing a creative identity.  

Sound Design Identity: Repurpose Plugins and Sounds

Default plugins on DAWs such as Logic are often geared towards some of the most crowd pleasing and popular sounds. This means harking back to the heyday of guitar with rock and hard rock oriented amps which are versatile enough to still be used in modern genres such as indie rock. But what if you want something different? Before shelling out on specialist gear to sound just like your influences, see if repurposing the default plugins on your DAW can achieve similar sounds at a fraction of the price and whilst simultaneously giving your music a distinctive edge. That metal plugin you bought on a whim and have now forgotten about as your band changed direction? Some of the reverb could sound great for one of your darker, moodier tracks, even if it doesn’t strictly fit into the genre.

Think Outside of the Boundaries of Genre

Out of the wealth of plugins available, many are often geared towards specific genres, especially in niches known to sell consistently such as blues. However, these genre labels need not limit you if you truly want to break boundaries a bit. If you’re a rock guitarist, why not use an indie style reverb for a ballad? Or taking that same reverb heavy noise of underground and indie music and using it for experimental or noise music? By looking at your own genre through the eyes of another, you can get a more accurate picture of where you stand within wider sound design and make creative movies which pinpoint your sound yet keep it familiar enough that it can draw in new listeners.

Know What You Need

There is a lot of advice out there on the internet and ultimately every sound designer ha their own way of working. If you haven’t yet found yours, it can be hard to tell what’s relevant. Knowing what you need can bring exponential growth in both your artistic and technical development. Are you a bedroom producer who simply wants some decent reverb to make those low key, soft guitars sound more emotional? Or are you knee deep in technical shred guitar recordings and are looking to ensure every note of a guitar solo shines through? By focusing on what you love, it’s easier to find what you need- and find plugins which really work for you in the process.

Overall, these are just some of the ways in which the process of sound design can help you define a distinctive identity as an artist. By seeing your artistic identity reflected in the plugins you use, waveforms you see, and creative choices which you make, you can further hone and develop your sense of yourself as a musician so that all your work has your own distinctive stamp on it – a compilation of the gear you use and the way you use it in a pattern completely unique to you.

Music Hardware, Sound Design

The Hippie era and the Californian Desert: A guide to the guitar sound which created a musical phenomenon

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Note – this article is not necessarily intended as a guide to the specific pedals out there on the market or used by musicians. Instead, it gives a deeper look into the mechanics of each of these kinds of effects – how they work to create the sounds that they do, and how this in turn shaped the musical era when these became popular- both in the public imagination and in the way guitarists continue to use them today. Any of these kinds of pedal can be found in both digital and analogue form, with digital pedals for sound design altering the wave form in a very similar way to their analogue counterparts.

The two decades spanning the 1960s to the 1970s were a seminal and pioneering period of music. As society became less restrictive, all forms of new subcultures were born. Beginning with The Beatles, who took a strong influence from Indian ragas – and ending with Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, in this period music technology saw exponential growth in response to changes in demand by the music industry. Luthiers, technicians, and electronics specialists were able to showcase their skills with the design of new sounds and repurposing of old sounds.

These new sounds led to musicians redefining what it meant to play guitar. Sound recordings became increasingly complex, and memorabilia from the era has become prized within the market. Conjuring up vistas of the desert areas of California, with their rocky outcrops, stunning saguaro cacti, and the backdrop to many a Hollywood movie, guitarists in the sixties were all about distorting the sound of the original note through effects which aimed as much for edgy rebellion as for a mellow, rich, soulful tone with plenty of harmonics and different layers. Jimi Hendrix is one of the most notable as he held the stage through the raw feeling of his distorted version of the Star-Spangled Banner. Below are some of the pedals which became popular within the era – and a guide to their internal mechanisms for anyone curious about the creation of its signature sounds.  

Wah

This pedal was most famously used by Hendrix – and is designed to make a crying sound come out of the guitar. Wah pedals work by adding a filter to the original sound which is controlled when the pedal is activated, as well as by controls which may vary from pedal to pedal. As a result, parts of the soundwave are chopped off, boosting the midrange, and excluding the extremities to make the guitar sound as if it has literally developed a voice of its own. This mid-range boost is a very characteristic part of its technology, mellowing out the sound- making it richer, fuller, and more human. On any DAW, the wah pedal is one of the most commonly included pedal in any FX library, due to its popularity and versatility.                                                      

Fuzz

The fuzz pedal – another characteristic sound of the sixties and seventies desert rock era – uses a phenomenon called clipping to create a very different kind of distortion from both wah pedals and the myriad overdrive pedals available on the market. This means that so much gain is applied to the signal that it distorts, hitting a threshold which essentially causes the soundwave to double back on itself and overlap, causing a very grainy, thick sounding wall of noise. Whilst clipping is undesirable in the mixing and mastering process, within a fuzz pedal, all runs smoothly based off a very simple circuit and the resulting sound is much softer than the process within the mechanics might suggest. In fact, this is one of the gentler forms of guitar distortion, used by pop rock bands all throughout the sixties and seventies but also perfect for the slower ballads of harder rock acts. Like the wah pedal, the fuzz pedal is a staple of pretty much all DAWs, and there are plenty of options.

Tremolo

Tremolo bars became a characteristic feature of classic American rock ‘n’ roll towards the end of the era as guitar effects moved on in their sophistication. As rock music became more complex and the solos contained higher and more intense riffs, tremolo bars were favoured to give a ‘wobbly’, distorted sound to high notes.

Tremolo can refer to both the tremolo or whammy bar – which is a feature on certain kinds of guitar – as well as to tremolo pedals, which use very small, frequent alterations in either pitch, volume, or both to create a vibrato effect. Both square and sine waves distort the original signal differently, with distortion in this case referring to a way of altering the notes, which is different to the emphasis of undertones, overtones, and overlapping waves in fuzz, wah, and overdrive pedals. Therefore, they are invaluable for cleaner solos and different sounds when rock or metal guitarists want to take a break and go clean again. A tremolo is easily found on many FX plugins on DAWs such as Logic and Ableton.

Distortion/Overdrive

Classic distortion is one of the most recognisable sounds of the era, and music legend has it that it first became a significant part of rock history when the Rolling Stones stomped on their amps to record their now classic song (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. As a result, millions of other artists craved the sound which set them apart and provided a sense of edgy rebellion against the puritanism, clean sounds and lyrics of the fifties as middle America really came into being. The distorted sound became synonymous with music which set its listeners apart a little bit. It’s not hard to find distortion/overdrive on any DAW – and the multitude of choices means there is something for everyone, though as a result careful consideration is needed to find the perfect sound for your track.

Phaser

This pedal is most synonymous with the early seventies when Led Zeppelin began using it in their guitar solos to great effect. During this time, rock music began getting heavier. The phaser pedal is one which creates a sweeping sound by filtering the original signal via a sound processor. It has a series of peaks and troughs in its frequency attenuation graph, and thus when the positions of the peak’s changes, it makes the original note sound as if it is sweeping up and down due to the constantly changing frequencies within the pedal’s filter. As a result, this can be used to great dramatic effect. Phaser plugins range from state of the art to basic and can be found for all styles of guitar from psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll to heavy metal.

How have these sounds become associated with the Californian desert and how have they been repurposed for today?

Every era of music has its distinctive and characteristic sounds, but these sounds are some of the most evocative of a particular place and time because of the emotional and historical significance of the music which was created there. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix were pioneers of the music which shaped the minds and hearts of the youth at the time as well as bands such as Deep Purple, America, and earlier bands such as The Beatles and the Mamas and the Papas- and which for many who remember the era, this music still holds an extremely special place due to the memories of freedom and rebellion associated with it.

The Californian Desert was also the location of many historical festivals such as Woodstock – and saw the birth of musical get togethers which are still going on to this day. As a result, it is sometimes impossible to think of this era without also recalling the desert sounds and mesa outcrops which painted the backdrop to these festivals. Even to this day, the branding and decoration of some of these evokes the period with psychedelic lettering and bold colours, and the types of pedals in this article are perfect for bringing this era back to life or repurposing it’s sounds.  

Deals

Pluginboutique MEGA Spring Sale 2022

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Hello guys, today is your luck day as Pluginboutique is running their annual VST Plugin Spring Sale. On the menu we have fresh deals from £3.95 / $5 + get UJAM’s PHAT 2 free with your purchase. Most of the offers end on the 1st of May so you better hurry and finish stocking up on virtual instruments for your studio.

The deals that are available right now on Pluginboutique.com’s 2022 Spring Sale:

  • Wavesfactory Plugins Spring Sale (Exclusive) – For 11 years, Wavesfactory plugins have provided pristine sound quality and a clear focus on user experience. They design their plugins to be innovative and evocative, crafted with love and care. Save 25% off their entire plugin range at Plugin Boutique.
  • Plugin Boutique Scaler 2 + Excite Audio Lifeline Expanse Lite Bundle Sale – For a very limited time only, pick up our flagship music theory workstation Scaler 2 and Lifeline Expanse Lite, the intuitive and powerful multi-effect, in one single collection. Available for a limited time only.
  • Relab Development Spring Sale – Relab Development create premium quality software that meticulously emulates professional and well-known audio hardware. For a limited time only, save up to 64% on their authentic reverb emulations including upgrades with prices starting at just £26.95 / $35!
  • Sampleson & Plugin Boutique Stage54 Introductory Sale (Exclusive) – Stage54 is the virtual emulation of an extraordinary and hard to find 54-key electric tine piano. Created through meticulous spectral modelling, Stage54 captures the organic warmth and essence of this rare vintage electric piano and brings its iconic sound directly to your DAW. Buy now at the limited-time introductory price of £23.95 / $29, exclusively at Plugin Boutique.
  • Plugin Boutique 3 Plugins for £5 / €5 / $5 Bundle Sale (Exclusive) – Plugin Boutique are proud to present this incredible bundle featuring 3 essential plugins at an unprecedented price point. Get bass processor Bass XL, mind-blowing multi-fx Convex and powerful yet intuitive wavetable synth Union for only £5 / €5 / $5 – 98% off, exclusively at Plugin Boutique.
  • UJAM Manufacturer Focus Finisher FLUXX Sale (Exclusive) – Finisher FLUXX is a creatively supercharged effect plug-in that will transform, deconstruct and animate your sounds. Save 60% off exclusively at Plugin Boutique in our UJAM Manufacturer Focus promotion.
  • UJAM Manufacturer Focus Beatmaker Sale (Exclusive) – Create huge festival anthems with UJAM’s HYPE Beatmaker or bring the rhythms of a dystopian cyberpunk future with NEMESIS. Save up to 72% in the UJAM Manufacturer Focus promotion, exclusively at Plugin Boutique.
  • UJAM Manufacturer Focus Virtual Bassist ROYAL 2 Sale (Exclusive) – ROYAL 2 is a session bass professional – effortlessly fitting into any popular styles and genres with its rounded electric fingerstyle tones. Perfect for pop, ready to rock, impressive on indie and smooth on singer/songwriter material. Buy now in our Manufacturer Focus promotion with 69% off!
  • iZotope Neoverb Spring Sale (Exclusive) – iZotope Neoverb is the most intelligent reverb plug-in for music producers. Leave the trial and error behind and design unique spaces for vocals and instruments in seconds, without muddying the mix. Save 80% for a limited time only exclusively at Plugin Boutique!
  • iZotope Elements Suite Spring Sale (Exclusive) – The iZotope Elements Suite combines 4 powerful, award-winning audio technologies in one package: RX Elements, Neutron Elements, Nectar Elements, and Ozone Elements. Buy now for only £38.95 / $40 in the exclusive Plugin Boutique Spring sale.
  • KV331 Audio Spring Sale – Synthmaster is a ‘must-have’ for all synthesizer enthusiasts! Save up to 82% off in this special Spring Sale. Starting from only £10.95 / $14! (Includes Bundles & Upgrades).

If deals are what you want, what you really really want, then remember to check our Deals category regularly!

Music Software, Reviews

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 Honest Review (and comparison with Guitar Rig 7)

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Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 comes in two separate forms: Pro and Player. Whilst Pro is the paid for version, Player is so great for the novice musician that it is equally popular. Both can be a welcome addition to any collection of plugins, so let’s take a look at them in this review, as well as contrast the new Guitar Rig 7 update!

What is included in Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6?

Guitar Rig 6 has all the things provided to create amazing sound that hits the mark, emulating true-to-life instruments in an astounding way. It’s truly packed full of bonafide, plugins modeled on real instruments. In fact, you can find both modern, vintage, and boutique amps as well as effects from both Native Instruments and Softube. 

It also contains Native Instruments’ Patented Intelligent Circuit Modelling, the ability to colour code and personalise presents, and the chance to discover Native Instruments’ own FX. These are unique and you can’t get them with any other company, and they are generally very high quality. And, of course, you can turn it up to eleven by running multiple amp heads at the same time (with the Pro version).

How does Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 differ from other products out there?

There are a lot of options out there and it’s sometimes hard to wade through the mass of similar VST products. One problem is that many products claim to be all encompassing. Yet like any great piece of studio software, Guitar Rig 6 has stand-out features that set it aside from the rest. 

For Native Instruments, this is the Intelligent Circuit Modelling. Native Instruments have gone so far as to work with the creators of the corresponding analog products to perfectly simulate each individual component in the circuits of their amps, pedals, and effects. This means that every single part of the FX chain on Guitar Rig 6 is completely true to life.

How Does Guitar Rig 6 Stand Up to More Recent Updates? 

One of the biggest VST updates of 2023 has been the arrival of Guitar Rig 7. But if you are wondering what to get, Guitar Rig 6 is still very worthwhile. 

That’s because most of the additions to Guitar Rig 7 come in the form of new gear and small adjustments. Guitar Rig 6 still has the bulk of this VST’s main selling points. In fact, not all gear in Guitar Rig 7 has been updated. There is still all the legacy from Guitar Rig 6, however. 

How Does Guitar Rig 6 Compare to Real Gear? 

 For the musician without the space or money for a full home studio, it’s an amazing way to see what gear is out there. Like any amp simulator, Guitar Rig 6 lets youuse it in your own projects without having to fork out a hefty fee or track it down. 

Yet it’s the ICT which sets Guitar Rig 6 apart, because unless you are a hardcore audiophile with a need/desire for analogue instruments, it’s as good as the real thing. This amp sim is a real way to get as much true-to-life gear in one place. This means you can compare and contrast different sounds, too and this gives you an unprecedented ability to tie all tracks together. 

How Does Guitar Rig 6 Sound? 

Most musicians with a good ear will be able to tell this is an amp sim, but it doesn’t matter. The point is that it is a very good amp sim that recognises it’s not a substitute for real gear but instead is both a complement and an instrument in its own right that hinges on being as accurate as possible. 

Therefore it makes the sounds of favourite amps and FX accessible to the average musician while letting more seasoned pros sustain disbelief because the makers understand which sounds they are looking for.

Check out the latest price and possible deal on Guitar Rig 6 by (redirects to the official Native Instruments website)

How to use Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6?

Guitar Rig 6 contains digital copies of real amps that  all your favorite guitarists use. Yet how does it stand up in terms of genre-availability, true-to-life sound, and a real studio experience? 

What Does Guitar Rig 6 Work Well With? 

Guitar Rig 6 allows you to build a wall of sound out of many different amps, meaning that you can combine sounds to create the perfect medley of different FX, which works well in genres like grunge, post punk, pop punk, and indie. 

It also lets you get a bird’s eye view of the signal chain. 

Therefore, it can be a lifesaver for complex projects where having all your gear in one place can help with a streamlined workflow. 

What Genres Does Guitar Rig 6 Suit? 

  • This is a general, all-round amp sim that can work on everything from classic rock to modern indie pop 
  • It’s less suitable for distinct styles such as jazz or extreme metal, which have their own production conventions 
  • There is some bias towards classic and vintage amps, but the combinations you can make are great for all styles 
  • The NI browser is also very intuitive and allows you to quickly filter through sounds to find the perfect ones 

The sounds involved in Guitar Rig 6 can take on this kind of grungy, effects-heavy production, yet are versatile enough to encompass softer genres. . Overall, it does have something for every mood provided you are willing to combine and experiment.

Guitar Rig 6 Pro vs Guitar Rig Six Player

Guitar Rig 6 has  two different models: Guitar Rig 6 Pro and Guitar Rig 6 Player. The difference ismostly in the price and amount of features. Guitar Rig 6 Player is just as useful for musicians on a budget; It may not contain as many effects and pedals but you can easily use what’s there creatively. 

It’s great for boutique, specialized effects which can add verve and color to your music.

What Updates does GUITAR RIG 7 introduce? 

Ok, here’s the big one. The first major update to this software in three years, Guitar Rig 7 introduces the following exciting features in the PRO version: 

  • Ozone maximiser, a powerful limiter that integrates the guitar based features with production
  • 4 new pedals, ranging from grunge, death metal, to classic hard rock 
  • A pack of 4 LOFI effects including vintage vibrato, tape wobble, and Kolor. Great with current trends in indie pop, these are applicable to all genres and can lend an analog believability to any recording. Although Guitar Rig can sound generic and isn’t the same as a real analog studio, it does come very close and this pack gives you the potential to make up for its shortcomings. 
  • Impulse response loader, which lets you add FX such as filters to the sound of your amp and cab. It also enables panning, all with a smooth and intuitive interface. One thing it lacks compared to competitor Amplitube is mix placement modelling, but some of the other production features make up for this depending on what you’re looking for. 
  • There are also preset IRs, designed with real musicians for further control over sound

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 – not just for guitarists!

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 stands out in containing all of the above plus plugins with unusual variants of noise such as radio effects which can be used for more creative, avant-garde production.

Apart from Classic Guitar Music, What Can You Use This Amp Sim For? 

As we said, the sounds Guitar Rig 6 includes are focussed mostly towards indie, funk, rock, and blues. Ni created some individual plugins with with legendary musicians from all genres including Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein.  

Some of the FX on the Guitar Rig 7 update are aimed at heavier genres. Depending on what you play, however, Guitar Rig 6 is still worthwhile if you don’t need these sounds as much or have a lot of other FX plugins. 

Cinematic Sounds: the Native Instruments site has a demo video that shows how FX such as the eerie ‘Area 51’ can be used for violin, creating ethereal and unearthly sounds that can be extremely atmospheric. Natural FX such as reverb and delay also enhance almost any instrument. Guitar Rig 6 is greatto adapt to other instruments through present FX chains that can warp the sound of more than just guitar.

Check out the latest price and possible deal on Guitar Rig 6 by (redirects to the official Native Instruments website)

Final thoughts

Why buy Guitar Rig 6? Whether Pro or Player, it does not hurt to have something this all-encompassing on your side when producing. There is a slight  bias towards classic sounds, which can be restrictive. However,  it also makes this plugin super easy to apply to any genre of music. Plus, NI have taken enough care when creating itthat it is not too vanilla. 

Overall, the choices are broad yet NI gives each enough focus that it does them well. The technology isn’t cutting edge, a seasoned music lover can hear the difference, but this amp sim does make up for this in specificity, range, and intuitiveness. 

Overall it’s not necessarily a top-of-the-range substitute for a home studio – but Guitar Rig 6, depending on your requirements, is still a trusty staple to have in your DAW that you can apply to a vast variety of projects.

If you enjoyed this piece of gear review, we have a full category waiting to be explored, so dig in by clicking here!

DAWs, Music Software, Reviews

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 honest review

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This Amplitube 5 Honest Review is a complete look at the amp sim that’s often billed as the industry’s favorite effects modelling software. this is a totally honest look at the IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 guitar processing pack, plus it’s latest updates. 

This turned out to be intuitive and easy to use in terms of interface and a design. Plus, the latest Amplitube 5 update with TONEX Capture add the missing link that catapults this above competitors if you want an amp sim that offers real freedom. Ultimately, AmpliTube 5works with the flow of the average musician and IK Multimedia obviously created it with user thought process in mind, so read on for a thorough look.

How is IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 set up?

What stood out to me first was the way the entire signal chain has been modelled, with a crisp, clean overview of the chain including everything from direct input to pre-amps, gain, stomp-boxes, and moreThe latest amplitube 5 upgrade also lets you import custom amp and cab models as plugins, which is a really exciting feature. 

You can see the whole thing from a bird’s eye view and drag and drop the different parts around to experiment with positioning. Different lines are color coded – and you can go with dual input or even three different parallel lines of FX connected to the same DI, which makes it extremely nonlinear and versatile. 

I was refreshed by the way that this software seems to go above and beyond in terms of having a layout which explicitly works with the way most musicians seem to think and practice. It almost feels as if it was designed for guitarists, by guitarists. 

The gear selection process has been updated to drag and drop, and the gear view window is photorealistic and designed to be as hands on as it can possibly be without having the actual gear there in front of you – with a mixing window which is along the same lines too.

Amplitube 5 is software which isn’t messing around. IK Multimedia clearly designed it  with a holistic view of the production process and includes the following features:

  • The entire signal chain is covered from start to finish in terms of modelling.
  • Sound is hyper realistic due to IK using its own specifically trademarked DIM and VIR technology.
  • 8 track recording software allows the creation of nuance, layers, and walls of sound.
  • Set up and ease of use speed up each part of your workflow and thus minimizes processing power needed to create great sounds.
  • All FX are based on real gear and IK Multimedia has worked with real manufacturers including Orange, Mesa Boogie, and Fender thus allowing them to focus on what they do best with intuitive interface design while simultaneously including pro-level sounds created by those who have already hit the sweet spot with tone and popular appeal.

What does IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 include?

There are over 400 different bits of gear and the designers have taken their time to work with classic, crowd-pleasing companies such as Fender to hit the sweet spot between familiarity and spicing things up.. 

IK Multimedia has split it into three sections.he signal/FX chain modelling is the main focus and a mixing window sits above this.the gear selector window to one side which contains AmpliTube 5’s magnetic selection of options. Yet apart from it’s smooth interface, it’s the following features that make it stand out: 

  • VIR technology lets you change mic placement and have fine, detailed control over cabinets and amps 
  • New TONEX capabilities in the most recent update  let you use individual models of real life gear (more on this further down!) 
  • Mono and stereo input options in the FX chain as well as the option for multiple lines of FX 

The most basic version (Amplitube Custom Shop) gives you the most basic gear with the same high level of VIR modeling and intuitive signal chain manipulation. Then, you can purchase additional gear with credits. Even at its most basic version, Amplitube does not sacrifice quality. This is a great compromise if you need it and can be perfect if you’re a beginner.

Why purchase the IK Multimedia Amplitube 5?

Amplitube 5 may have great features, but any honest review must look at how they stack up. Personally, I found it was in the realm of inspiration where the AmpliTube really comes into its own. while I investigated it, I realised this is not just FX modelling which attempts to cram as many different options into one rig as possible. 

The creators clearly chose the software collection very carefully so it actively brings  new options and idea combos to the table. AmpliTube 5 has focused on user interface and managed to combine creativity, a format that actually works for musicians, and an excellent level of variety, so it doesn’t feel just like a set of different VSTs and tech.

As a result, this setup works for both beginners and pro sound designers in separate ways.

TONEX SOFTWARE – AMPLITUBE 5 LATEST UPDATE

A great feature that NO OTHER AMP SIM has is the TONEX modelling connection. 

TONEX is a feature from IK Multimedia that allows you to take ANY amp and cab combo and turn it into a plugin. If you don’t want your amp sims to sound generic or just like basic emulations, this is one of the most exciting features of Amplitube 5 now. We do a full review of TONEX by itself here, but let’s look at how it works in tandem with Amplitube 5. 

  • Users can upload, download, and share present models with TONEX via ToneNET
  • Brings with it an online database and the ability to go ultra specific
  • Adds to the detail Amplitube offers with its VIR technology to make this one of the most nuanced, detailed, and controllable amp sims out there.

Pricing and availability

Amplitube 5 can be bought off . At this kind of price, it’s beyond the budget of the average bedroom producer or beginner, but it is a bit of software which is well worth investing in – in terms of sheer density of different options per unit of cost plus the way it frees up workflow and creates a smooth, easy-going sound design process.

Final Thoughts

I found everything about the AmpliTube 5 to stand out in terms of care and consideration taken to make a top tier product. Amplitube 5 focusses on musicians’ processes,  as opposed to bunching a lot of different techs together. It has two main points of appeal. These are  the variety of FX and thus possibilities in sound design and chain modelling, and the creative, non-linear set up that gets rid of workflow issues for speedier and more enjoyable music production. 

Personally, the workflow and interface design sell me on it, combined with the level of control it gives musicians over tone, sound, and creativity.  However, the sheer number of options means it has an appeal beyond any genre or preferred work style. And if you want to read more reviews by us, head on down to our Reviews category by clicking here!

Deals

Expressive E Early Spring Sale (up to 55% off til 31st of March)

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Hey deal hunters and welcome to the hottest early spring deal in the music business. If you haven’t heard about Expressive E then you really need to. They make a lot of hardware and software tools that shine when you want to some extra layers of innovative control.

We hare big fans of the Touche MPE device, and of the MPE virtual instruments that they released previously. These instruments are a very nice addition to any music production studio so we can’t recommend them enough. We are also waiting on a (very early) preorder for their revolutionary new MPE keyboard, Osmose.

This time, the guys from Expressive E are offering some very nice VST Plugins with a huge discount of up to 55%. We recommend them all if you want to have a different/new experience in making music in the box. The offer ends on 31st of March so get your instruments ASAP:

  • Expressive E Imagine – 83 €/$ instead of 139 €/$ – Imagine digs deep inside the body of real life instruments, modifies and combines their acoustic characteristics to create an imaginary acoustic landscape. Thanks to a playful multidimensional approach, Imagine offers texture manipulations, mysterious unknown sound dimensions that still sound familiar.
  • Expressive E Noisy – 89 €/$ instead of 149 €/$ – A hybrid between physical modelling and subtractive synthesis, Noisy uses the principles of acoustic resonance to bring life to both electronic and acoustic sounds. Noisy was designed to generate highly playable, multidimensional sounds, whose textures and articulations can be easily combined and manipulated.
  • Expressive E Instruments Collection – 197 €/$ instead of 435 €/$ – This one is a collection of their most famous instruments, including the ones above. The instruments that are contained here are Imagine, Noisy, Violin, Viola, Cello. The last three instruments are based on Physical Modelling and do a really nice job. Already own parts of the bundle? log in and put this offer in your cart to see your special upgrade price!
  • Expressive E Touche Sounds Collection – 239 €/$ instead of 533 €/$ – If you own the Touche controller, then you really must have this collection. It is made to be fully compatible with it and contains the instruments previously presented in the Instruments Collection (Imagine, Noisy, Violin, Viola and Cello) plus two more: Mercury and Helium. As longtime users of the last two, we can fully recommend them if you are looking for new ways to do sound design.
  • Expressive E MPE Collection – 71 €/$ instead of 119 €/$ – The MPE Collection combines four banks of exclusive sounds into one versatile suite, ready to play with any instrument that supports MIDI Polyphonic Expression. The banks are Helium, Mercury, Patchwork and Carbon.
  • Expressive E Arche Collection – 71 €/$ instead of 119 €/$ – Arché is a plug-in suite by Expressive E, containing three exquisitely crafted physical models of a violin, a viola and a cello.

We hope you will find this piece of Deal news useful and actually complete your studio with this!

Deals

DEAL ALERT: Pluginboutique 10 year anniversary VST sale

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This one is huge, friends. Pluginboutique, probably the best and most complete outlet for all your VST needs is having a blast sale. Indeed, they really want to celebrate their 10th birthday by giving you a lot of options, so if you want to round off your studio virtual gear, now is the time.

Don’t forget that buying anything from Pluginboutique gives you Virtual Cash, their own way of saying thanks for shopping with us. You can use all this Virtual Cash for the next purchases on Pluginboutique.com

Without further ado, this is the list for the Pluginboutique VST Sale, celebrating 10 years of Pluginboutique.com. Most of the offers are available until the 28th of February 2022, so hurry up!

  1. IZOTOPE SALE, UP TO 95% OFF: Pick up 10 unmissable FX plugins from both iZotope and Exponential Audio individually, or get the entire collection of ten plugins in one bundle. CLICK HERE FOR THE IZOTOPE OFFER!. But wait, there’s more. I am talking about a huge IZOTOPE BUNDLE, discounted 96. CHECK OUT THE BUNDLE BY CLICKING HERE!
  2. SOFTUBE SALE, UP TO 76% OFF: Save big on Softube products such as Tape, Parallels and more in the Plugin Boutique Anniversary Sale! Prices from €15 / $15. CLICK HERE FOR THE SOFTUBE OFFER! Not satisfied with the 76% discount? SEE THE SECOND SOFTUBE OFFER, UP TO 88% OFF BY CLICKING HERE!
  3. PLUGINBOUTIQUE BUNDLE SALE, 96% OFF: This one is for the budget oriented, for less than 10 USD you can get a lot of great plugins that may just be everything you need to get started. CHECK OUT THIS ONE BY CLICKING HERE! There is a second bundle offer, 78% off. This one is a bit more expensive but much more powerfull than the first. CHECK OUT THE SECOND BUNDLE OFFER BY CLICKING HERE!
  4. LOOPCLOUD DRUM & PLAY SALE, UP TO 51% OFF: Whether you create kits from scratch or intricately edit loops, Loopcloud DRUM will enhance the way you work with beats. Loopcloud PLAY gives you access to an endless gallery of top-quality sounds from global genres and industry experts, packaged in a focused and easy-to-use interface. CLICK HERE FOR THE LOOPCLOUD OFFER!
  5. ARTURIA PIGMENTS 3, 50% OFF until the 17th of February 2021: Pigments 3 is a state-of-the-art software instrument that gives you the power of every shade of synthesis. With colourful sound engines, effortless modulation, professional utilities, and studio-grade FX explore an infinite spectrum of sound. CHECK OUT THE OFFER FOR ARTURIA PIGMENTS 3 BY CLICKING HERE!
  6. ARTURIA V COLLECTION 8, UP TO 50% OFF until the 17th of February 2021: The most comprehensive anthology of classic synth and keyboards ever made just got an update. V Collection 8 now features even more timeless instruments, lovingly recreated in software. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ARTURIA V COLLECTION 8 OFFER!
  7. ARTURIA FX COLLECTION, 50% OFF until the 17th of February 2021: An inspiring array of software effects that combine music industry heritage with futuristic features, and unparalleled sound quality with intuitive workflow. CHECK OUT THE ARTURIA FX COLLECTION OFFER HERE!
Effects, Music Software, Reviews

Eventide Split EQ: A new approach!

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Welcome to our review of the Eventide Split EQ VST product! There are few things more crucial to a good mix than equalization (EQ-ing). As the digital audio marketplace continues to grow, it becomes much easier to find new tools to add to your production toolbox. However, it becomes harder to find new products and plugins that do something that is in fact, well, new. With this in mind, Eventide sought out to solve some longtime problems in audio mixing and production with their latest offering, Split EQ.

What is Split EQ?

Eventide, a well-known name in the world of audio effects and digital production, brings us their latest VST plugin Split EQ, and it doesn’t take long to see why producers are so excited. For a home user like myself, well versed in DAWs, and VST plugins, Eventide Split EQ goes well beyond the parameters of others I’ve used. Equalization is a fine art, and our final mix is often limited by the quality of recordings available to us. Where conventional equalizers often come up short, Eventide Split EQ rises to the occasion, offering new mixing possibilities by approaching equalization in a whole new way – a split way.

What makes Eventide Split EQ different?

SplitEQ is two equalizers rolled into one. Through a literal ‘split’ of the audio signal – using a patented technology Eventide calls Structural Split – SplitEQ provides users with two controllable signal parameters – two entirely independent equalizers. Eventide calls these parameters Tonal and Transient.  Where conventional EQs alter the entire sound envelope as a whole, SplitEQ provides two signal paths. This is the magic behind this plugin.

The best price for this product can be obtained on Pluginboutique, and there is also their fidelity program where you get points for spending money in their store, points that can be used for future purchases.

CHECK OUT THE OFFER ON PLUGINBOUTIQUE BY CLICKING HERE

How does Eventide Split EQ work?

Signal splitting allows users to adjust individual elements of a track with much more control. The tonal signals are in many ways the body and soul of the track – they are ambient, resonant, and sustained. The transient signals are the more dynamic elements of a track – attack, harshness, and hiss. With SplitEQ, users can mix these distinct elements individually without sacrificing the overall mix. Signal parameters are easily adjustable through a click and drag user interface which is very intuitive and allows for easy audio monitoring. Most producers can appreciate how quickly things get muddy when trying to reign in a harsh treble response on a track; by using Evende SplitEQ, users gain a whole new level of maneuverability within a particular aspect of the sound envelope, thereby eliminating many of the concessions inherent to other EQs.

Where does SplitEQ really stand out?

Audio producers are always trying to find that sweet spot of a mix. With Eventide SplitEQ, users can preserve distinct elements of a track, maintaining clarity and crispness to vocal melodies without suffering top-end harshness or sacrificing bass response. SplitEQ also provides new options for spatial dynamics which are especially useful in high energy mixes, helping create motion for drops and adding variation to heavy electronic bass-lines.

Here is a very nice comparison between Split EQ and Fabfilter Pro Q3

Final thoughts on Eventide Split EQ?

Split EQ provides a wealth of new possibilities for home producers and addresses many of the limitations of conventional EQs. It’s clear the designers at Eventide know what users need and expect from their software and Split EQ is no exception. Eventide has managed to change the way we interact with equalization, and I look forward to adding Split EQ to my regular toolbox.

CHECK OUT THE OFFER ON PLUGINBOUTIQUE BY CLICKING HERE

Make sure you also check the DEALS category on idesignsound.com