Effects And Signal Processors For Use With Sonar

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Revision as of 20:35, 18 July 2007

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Analog Simulators

Tape Saturation

Since SONAR works with 32-bit floating point plugins, it would seem to me that it should be possible to add a tape saturation plugin to each track and have the equivalent of a non-linear analog tape editor, so I put together this Compendium of Tape Saturation Plugins

Tape Saturation Plugins

• AIPL WarmTone (DirectX) — applies tube-like warmth and tape-like compression to any instrument (professional=$64 standard=$34) "Old! CPU hog."

• Cakewalk FX2 Tape Sim — the classic sound and warmth of several different vintage analog tape decks (included with SONAR) "Pretty good", "OK", "Not exagerated", "It just works"

• Camel Phat — has several analogue-modelled distortion algorithms ($49) "for a bit of dirt"

• Ozone — unusual saturation and distortion plugin (free) NOTE: As of September 19, 2006 when I checked, the free VST plugins here are no longer available.

• Extreme Punch VST Plugin — emulates the sound and saturation of analog tape at its best ($24.95) Free Demo

• PSP MixSaturator — to produce a saturated sound, typical for such analog devices as tape recorders and valve circuits ($149) "Nice sheen when combined with T-Racks Clipper", "... to bring life back into a sound", "Better than traditional exciters"

• Saturator — Analog Tape Saturation Emulator — emulates the non-linear curve of analog tape in saturation (free)

• Sound Forge Acoustic Mirror or SIR - Impulse Response Processor with Analog Tape impulse (allimpulses.zip)

• Voxengo Analogflux - TapeBus (VST) — reel-to-reel tape saturation, modulation noise and smearing effects which are known for the 'analog' feel they bring to any audio recording ($79.95) "Incredible", "'glue' for your mixes", "fabulous", "Much better than magneto"

• iZotope Ozone (VST)— Excellent mastering plugin - 64-bit analog paragraphic equalizer, multi-band harmonic exciter, mastering reverb, etc. Numerous presets include strong midrange tape saturation, several wideners/exciters, numerous presets specific to drums, guitar, piano. Additional free presets available from their site. Preset contributions welcome. Available for $249.99 as of July 2007. This is a mastering plug-in not an effects one. I have experimented with various presets on this and the VC-64 and I think this is slightly superior, though I have used both then turned each off in succession and it is hard to hear the difference with SOME of the presets. That Ozone has a much wider range and variety of presets than the VC-64.

Other recommended products

• BLOCKFISH from digitalfishphones — a versatile compressor with countless ways to shape the incoming audio (free download) "I especially like the saturation", "especially if you "lift" the faceplate off and mess with the fine tuning features embedded in it"

• iZotope Trash — 64-bit distortion, filter, delay and amplifier modeling ($199.99) "when I need to go over the edge"

• PSP Vintage Warmer — saturation effects typical of analog tape recorders with limiter ($149) "Great slammed tape sounds", "most used plug-in I have in my arsenal"

• Steinberg Magneto — can't be purchased as a separate stand-alone plugin.

Analysis Tools

Choruses / Flangers / Phasers

Compressors

• OtiumFX Beatpuncher Compadre. Great sounding, definitely with it's own character. Adds a real "punch" and energy to tracks.
• Kjaerhus GUP-1 Golden Uni-pressor. A high quality compressor, with a nice simple interface at a bargain price. Kjaerhus also offer some more fully featured compressors such as the GCO-1 Golden Compressor, and the GAC-1 Golden Audio Channel which features two compressors and is essentially the same plugin as the new VC-64 included with SONAR 6 producer edition. Those on a tight budget should definitely check out Kjaerhus's freeware Classic Compressor.

Delays

Distortion / Overdrive

Equalizers

Exciters

Gates

Limiters

Mastering Plug-Ins

Noise Reduction

Pitch / Time Shifters

Reverbs

Cakewalk PerfectSpace Convolution Reverb & More

SONAR 5 Producer Edition introduced the PerfectSpace Convolution Reverb as a VST plugin. This is a very powerful tool but the interface is kind of quirky and it is difficult to find the impulses. Here are step-by-step instructions:

• Insert a PerfectSpace plugin in by right-clicking in the effects bin and selecting VST→PerfectSpace

• Choose an impulse by clicking on the "New Page" icon in the upper left corner of the blue screen and navigating to "C:\\Program Files\\Cakewalk\\VstPlugins\\PerfectSpace\\Acoustic Guitar" or one of the other folders (e.g., Bass Amps, cRaZy, Digital 300, Guitar Amps, Kick and Snare, Plates, Real Spaces, Springs, Synthesized, The Great Outdoors, etc.)

• Select different impulses in the category by clicking the right or left arrows in the upper right corner of the blue window

The title of this section is "reverb and more" because this convolution reverb can do much more than reverb like amplifier, tube and tape responses.

Vocal Processors

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