Dutch audio alchemists FabFilter continue to make it their mission to make everyone’s favourite stock-killers. Despite DAWs’ built-in tools that grow ever better, most engineers lean on third party audio plugins every day. If you’re a FabFilter user, what are your favourite flavours, and why? Let us know in our poll.
Audio Production Things We Loved In April 2024
As we hit the second quarter 2024 the list of things to keep engineers interested kept on growing. With the whole gamut of mics, speakers, software, and hardware covered in this month’s offering, here we round up our favourite arrivals from April.
Getting Great Drum Sounds With LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven Professional
LiquidSonics make a number of audio plugin reverbs for realistic rooms. We take a look at using their modern take on classic reverb hardware for drums, and why two of its controls especially could make it a secret weapon for drum ambiences to inspire.
How To Revive Bad Sounding Snare Drums
Many engineers will have been faced with snare drum recordings that are far from ideal. Whether it’s a self-recorded session from the artist, or a time-poor studio recording, here Luke shows some fast go-to methods to revive snare drums’ sounds, using what’s already there.
5 Effects Tips Using Reverbs And Delays
Time based effects like delay and reverb can transform a part. In this article Julian shares some creative uses of time based effects which can inspire and encourage experimentation. And you can do all of them using the stock plugins you already have.
Audio Production Things We Loved In March 2024
Whether you’re basking in the first signs of spring, or looking forward to darker nights in front of the fire, March brought a number of happenings to mark the changing of the seasons. With a number of software gems as well as a call to protect mixes’ quality, here are our favourites…
How To Get Natural Close Mic Drum Sounds
Roomy drum sounds are a great way to place kit sounds back a little, but pushing close mics up in the mix to get a balance can spoil the effect. Luckily there’s a way to infuse them with room character. See and hear one way to do it for yourself in this video.
SSL MODULE8 - Expert Review
Known for their legendary studio hardware, some of SSL’s best known creations might live outside the box, but the announcement of MODULE8 promises to bolster the company’s expanding line of virtual devices with a brand new multi effects audio plugin. We put it to the Experts to get their verdict.
oeksound Bloom - Expert Review
With two well-regarded intelligent fixers already under their belt, oeksound have now turned their attention to something different with distinctly artistic leanings. Here we put Bloom to the Experts for them to deliver their verdicts...
How Snare Sounds Have Changed In 50 Years Of Music Production
As sounds go, apart from the voice, the snare drum is one of those things that can help tell you whether you’re listening to Sinatra or James Brown. Its recorded presence has changed enormously through different eras. Here we take a look at the sounds behind the music.
How To Avoid Common Mistakes With Compressors
Knowing when or when not to reach for the compressor is just as important as knowing how to dial in the best settings. Here in our guide we explore some of the common pitfalls engineers must navigate to get the best out of their gear.
SSL 360 Link Controller - First Look
SSL’s UC1 hardware was created to control the company’s audio plugin channels strips. Answering many users’ requests, now hands-on control awaits any third party VST3 audio plugin. We get up-close to see how 360 Link can supercharge the UC1 in more ways than one.
Practical Ways To Get To A Great Mix Faster
Engineers are being bombarded with information along the lines of “STOP DOING THIS”… Whether you’re a new engineer or just fancy a fresh perspective, here we flip that to talk about some positive techniques to get the mix most of the way there.
How To Get Any Reverb With One Control
Engineers are used to getting the space they need inside their reverb by juggling a few familiar controls. Here we check out the space-morphing chops of one reverb that dares to do it all with one knob.
Why Using Saturation To Increase Loudness May Be Best
Driven sounds can bring an addictive edge for some extra density in the mix, but our beloved saturators can do more than just add mojo. Here we show how they can be used to control perceived level and why that can be useful.
The Big Benefits Of Plug-in Reverb
A few engineers remember the days when real artificial reverb was either plate or spring-shaped. Now with the absolute dominance of modern digital reverb, here we remind ourselves of just how totally indispensable this modern mix marvel really is…
Amazing Way To Get Tracks To Match The Room Sound Of One Instrument
With many drum VIs being recorded in some of the world’s finest spaces, until now their rooms’ sounds could only be enjoyed on one instrument. Here we show you a way to put all your tracks in the same space in just a few moves.
7 Audio Plugins I Can’t Live Without In 2024
Engineers can find themselves leaning on a small band of trusted tools that earn their keep, mix after mix. Despite an almost endless list of options out there, everybody has theirs; here Luke talks about the tools that he turns to nearly every day.
Submission Audio Flatline 2 Plug-in - First Look
Offering creative clipping and limiting effects, Submission Audio’s latest offering sets out to deliver hard-edged sounds without the red lights. Here we take a look and listen at Flatline 2 to see if there really is an intelligent way to hit the top.
We Check Out Newfangled Audio Recirculate
Delay is the effects staple that no studio can be without, but shaping its sound to taste can involve using more than one insert. Packing in dynamic, harmonic, and other tools into one window is Newfangled Audio’s Recirculate. We check it out.