Quote:
Originally Posted by Lcjones
In the meantime, I am totally open to new avenues. Whatcha got on yer mind? Are you writing a plugin that may address my needs?  |
Well, I'm not, but I may know of someone who is.
The plugin I'm thinking of is called Nebula by
Acoustica Audio.
The full release is still in the works, but there are currently a freebie version on their website as well as a special preview release that was released in the May issue of Computer Music Magazine, the title is "Hip Hop". The full release hasn't been set in stone yet, but the word is there will be several versions ranging from around $25 - $400.
So, you're probably wondering what's so special this plugin.... Right?.....
Well, since you asked....
IMO this plugin is literally going to leave all other plugins in the dust (at ANY price). Nebula uses samples of hardware equipment and puts that sound onto your tracks to sound like the actual hardware unit. This is not a digital algorithm or imitation of a certain piece of gear, this is a recording of the actual gear sampled many times at different volume levels and then applied to your dry track. There is currently nothing else like this available.
The best part is, it can use samples from literally any kind of gear such as preamps, mixer consoles, compressors, reverbs, choruses, flangers, EQ's, guitar amps (yes a REAL guitar simulator that actually sounds good!), maximizers, etc.... You name it!
Although the current versions out don't have the capabilities to do guitar distortion simulators yet, it can only do very light distortion. The current versions out right now are their testing ground and they have big improvements that will be coming. The plugin uses a method called Volterra Kernal processing and they said it needs to have 15 kernels to be able to simulate distortion. At the moment it only has 6. Also, the more kernels the better the representation of the gear and the better it will sound. So the fact that it sounds this good now, is awesome considering what they are going to be making on it!
The only down sides are it is not a "tweakable" as other plugins... At least not yet anyways. And it is a real CPU HOG! So mixing down tracks will be a must to free up CPU... But this is still more convenient than running out to a hardware unit (compressor or maximizer) and re-recording the tracks as you can have instant recall if you want to make any changes.
And here's the best part.... They are also going to be releasing a plugin called deconvolver that will let owners of Nebula sample their own equipment and share them with others FOR FREE! This means a literally
ENDLESS supply of samples of various effects.
I could go on and on about this, but let's just say I have used a lot of pluings and software. And this is the best I've heard. I think once their full version comes out and they increase the number of kernels to improve it's sound and capabilities, this is going to be the last plugin I need to buy for a long time (until everyone else catches up). Needless to say, I'm very excited about this one!
-tkr
Of course, I am very open to suggestions to help better my recording performance.
I'd have a completed CD by the end of spring. I don't think it's going to happen.....
