June 21st only if you like Arturia’s Facebook page HERE, you get a free version of their minimoog software. HURRY
Tone2 Vintage Demo Contest
So I’ve reviewed Tone2 Software (HERE) so now it’s your turn. Tone2 is giving you a demo of the “Best of Both Worlds” synth Saurus and if you appease them by producing a killer track with factory presets, you win a copy. Simple as that! Here are the terms and conditions
Tone2 is running a demo write contest to see what You can do with Saurus’ factory presets.
A nice chance to show your producing skills and win some Tone2 products. Anyone can enter!
How?
Download the Saurus demo from our website (HERE) and produce a short vintage demo
song using only the factory presets. Already got Saurus? no problem, we encourage Saurus owners to
compete as well.
The three best songs will be picked by us, win a prize and featured in the new Saurus product MP3 demo.
Prizes
1st prize: The winner of the best song wins a $250 credit to spend in the Tone2 shop
2nd prize: The winner of the second best song wins a $200 credit credit to spend in the Tone2 shop
3rd prize: The winner of the third best song wins a $100 credit credit to spend in the Tone2 shop
Everyone else: Not among one of the three winners but still have a good song? anyone who did not win
but whose song is still used in our demo receives a free BiFilter2 license.
For more info please visit the contest web page HERE
Melodyne Updates
Look guys! Everyone’s favorite in-studio friend has come back with more tricks! Technical Grammy award winning Celemony (in reality every vocalist should share their Grammy with them as well) has updated its critically acclaimed pitch and time editing software to Version 2.1 for Editor, Essentials, and Assistant. This update comes with a few performance enhancing features as well as some visual toys to make correcting self absorbed obliviously untalented a little more enjoyable.
In addition to Melodyne’s pitch correction, which is used and valued all over the world, Melodyne editor offers additional editing functions that make day-to-day music production simpler and inspire users to greater heights of creativity in their handling of audio. Released at the end of last year, Version 2 brought extended timing tools, comprehensive scale functions and – like the smaller editions – Rewire support. With Version 2.1, Celemony has now introduced further improvements from which all three editions benefit.Version 2.1 brings workflow improvements, including a new zoom function and an intelligent compare function in ARA mode. Other improvements result in enhanced reliability and performance. These include the ability to reduce the maximum number of undo steps in order to reduce RAM consumption. A variety of bug fixes enhance both stability and compatibility: the program’s interaction, for example, with Cakewalk Sonar and Presonus Studio One. The update from Version 2.0 to Version 2.1 is free of charge and recommended to all users.
For more information, visit Melodyne’s site HERE. Make sure you log into the user area to get the correct update. Or just let Pro Tools update assistant do it for you!
Review: Tone2 Saurus
I have a love / hate relationship with software synths. It seems everyone makes one and most of them sound like those old midi ringtones cell phones used to have. Also everyone claims that theirs replicates “vintage synth sounds” but all they seem to do is throw a low pass filter on the preset and call it good. Don’t get me started on the user interfaces. I see too many companies controls overlooked and your experience suffers for it. I know it has nothing to do with sound, but the look and feel of a program can definitely make it more enjoyable to use. So basically to sum up my rant, I am very picky with soft synths.
So how does Tone2’s Saurus stand up to my pessimistic litmus test. Well surprisingly well…
Tone2 is a European company that is behind the scenes in more areas than most audio software manufacturers. When your resume includes BMW, Disney, and a medical facility for “particle acceleration,” you’ve got my attention. Someone else who has been documented as having their full attention is Skrillex (He uses Gladiator). So when Tone2 sent me over a copy to get my hands on this new “best of both worlds synth,” I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Saurus is a VST / VSTi / AU virtual synth that works in both 32 and 64 bit environments. It implements what Tone2 calls “True Analog Modeling Technology”, a system they themselves have created. This gives the synth, its old school street cred with the warm analog sound we have all decided we want again after the sterile synth debacle of the mid to late 90’s. They have also implemented quite a few distinct types of filters to add to the already great analog sound you can get from this piece of software.
All technical jargon aside, this synth runs great. It integrates into other programs nicely without a hitch. Analog Laboratory could use a lesson in that. The sounds simply inspire. You can tell the presets were painstakingly created with the user in mind ie: you don’t get those everyday presets that most companies throw in there for filler. I found myself having to stop the actual review process to create new material, which is the ultimate testament to any piece of gear. I’m a huge fan of rhythmic synth sounds to use as base layers and their gate and arpeggio section is extremely easy to use as well as versatile. You can take a factory preset and make it all your own within seconds of simply using those two features. I especially like how intricate you can go into the gating process without having to click through a bunch of menus. It’s all simply right in front of you.
The browsing feature is very simple as well, giving you an option to choose by section by clicking on the screen, or by the Program and Bank buttons. The buttons make searching for sounds much easier whereas, if you know the sound you want, pulling it up is right there by clicking on the LCD screen above it. Organization is key.
When it comes to making your own presets, I prefer this one over 90% of my other soft-synths. I’m no pro when it comes to sound design but with Saurus, everything is just… right there. They’ve taken the guess work of extra knobs out of the equation and traded it for seamless simplicity. You don’t always have to control every aspect of the sound design process to get unique sounds, so just let the brains at Tone2 handle the technical stuff. Just sit back and enjoy the sound design process. All buttons and knobs are very clearly labeled and organized in a truly obsessive fashion (in a good way). The GUI is very appealing too. They didn’t let the quality of the synth program outshine the look either. Just like you usually are more reticent to buy an album if the artwork looks shoddy, the same goes for software. If your eyes get tired, you get tired. Kudos to Tone2 on making it both beautiful and beautiful sounding.
My only complaint is the Pad section of presets and that it isn’t a standalone for Mac. I usually jump off from one preset and tweak it until I’m happy with it, but I found that most of the pad sounds were very similar. I love depth and detail and space in my pads, but these seem to just be right on the verge of being there, but I just couldn’t get the to sound like I want. The leads…. perfect. The Arpeggio and Gate section… perfect. The Chip section… extremely useful. I just wish they had more presets in that bank.
Overall… I love the program. It truly is a great synth that captures modern and vintage sounds all in one program. Also, it’s extremely cost effective quality, coming in at just $120.00 US. Your wallet and wife won’t be complaining too much, given that other synth programs like this are double the cost. A huge hats off to the guys at Tone2 for not charging more, they very easily could’ve. So if you’re looking for a new weapon to add to the arsenal, I would be completely confident saying to go ahead and buy this world class synth.
Price: $119.00 USD
Compatibility:
PC: Windows XP / ME / 7 / 8 / Vista (32 bit or 64 bit); Intel Pentium4 compatible CPU
Mac: Mac OSX 10.5 or higher; PowerPC, G4, G5 or Intel Mac (32 or 64 bit)
PC formats: 32-bit VSTi, 64-bit VSTi, standalone
Mac formats: 32-bit VSTi, 64-bit VSTi, 32-bit Audiounit, 64-bit Audiounit; Univeral Binary
For more information, click HERE.
To buy, click HERE
Cascade: Active Passive Fat Head 2
Introducing the first active ribbon mic! Cascade is world renown in many home and professional studios for it’s award winning Fat Head ribbon mic, and now they’ve stepped it up a notch with the Fat Head 2 Active / Passive. No more worrying about the what if’s of phantom power with your ribbon mics. You also get alot more gain, making those higher dB ribbon pres a thing of the past. These ALSO come stock with Lundahl transformers.
Phantom-powered Active electronics provide stable impedance and higher output for maximum compatibility with microphone preamplifiers
Passive mode provides the option for use with a high-gain preamp (where extra gain is not needed)
Smooth, warm and natural voicing for instrument reproduction High-SPL capability and extended frequency response
High sensitivity and low self-noise
This microphone is perfect for use on a wide range of instruments (guitar cabs, vocals, strings, horns drum overheads, orchestras and more) and live-stage settings.
Active or Passive mode is activated by a simple flick-of-a-switch Active electronics are designed, manufactured and fitted in the USA
Versatility, compatibility with the widest range of mic preamps, we have also made the active gain stage internally switchable, so that you can bypass the active gain stage, using a high quality switch with gold contacts.
Stock with a Lundahl LL2913 transformer
ACTIVE/PASSIVE switch is mounted internally for safety (caution should be used when engaging the Active switch, an additional 25db of gain will be added to the signal path)
Each Includes:
Active/Passive ribbon microphone
Heavy Duty Aluminum case
Padded storage pouch
Premium suspension mount
Micro-fiber cleaning cloth
Drawcord cloth storage pouch
Your choice of Silver Body/Nickel Grill or Black Body/Nickel Grill
And right now you can get one Fat Head 2 Active Passive at a great introductory price of $599.00 AND get a free pop filter.
OR
Buy two for $1198.00 and get a free Blumlein bar.
For more info and to buy, Click HERE
Izotope Iris
I’ve recently stumbled upon Izotope’s newest sound design synth Iris, and while it seems to be a very strong sound shaping tool, I haven’t for the life of me figured out a practical enough use to drop the cash to get it. From all of the demo videos on iZotope’s YouTube Channel, the only use I’ve seemed to find for it, is making the soundtrack to my nightmares and the theme music to Dhalsim’s fighting stage on Street Fighter II. My case in point
My guess is though, once it is out there a little longer, this synth tool may shape up to be a very powerful unique synth design tool. I’ll be patient with it before making any assumptions.
For more info, click HERE.
Price: Limited time introductory rate of $149. Then it goes up to $249
Warm Audio WA12 Review Part 2: The Audio Files
Well just as I expected, my inbox has been inundated with emails calling me a shill, over-hyping a product, and “too sexy to report on pro audio.” While the last one may be true, the other two could not be more absurd so in preparation, I had raw WAV files to back up my claim. NOTE: if you really don’t believe me after this, I’ll send you to Pro Tools Session and you can see these are raw files, if that’s not enough, I don’t know what else to tell you because it’s not like he’s trying to sell you a pre for $1000. It’s half that and honestly, if you need that much proof over that little dough, you might need to find a new hobby. So here we go.
A little background on this particular session:
DAW – Pro Tools HD9
Clock Source – The new Avid HD I/O (which isn’t that great to begin with but don’t get me started)
Microphone – Blue Spark on every track (I wanted to keep it inexpensive)
Acoustic Guitar – Breedlove Atlas
Electric Guitar – Paul Reed Smith NF3
Guitar Amp – Matchless Avalon 2 channel on channel 1 (Fun Fact on that amp, there’s only 3 in the world and I have the last one made)
Guitar Effects – Pigtronix Echolution
If you’re looking for the written review of the WA-12 look no further, HERE is the link.
Also for good measure, HERE is a review of the Blue Spark for those interested in buying one to match the WA12 in color. Fun Fact 2: They actually use the exact same color to make each of them.
Ok now that we got that out of the way and everyone knows every aspect of the gear, lets get down to brass tax.
Here we have the acoustic guitar ran through the SSL VHD. I added a little bit of the Variable Harmonic Drive to give it as vintage of a sound as I could
NOTE: I tried to meter these things as close as I could as not to bias any pre’s with the louder is better theory, but seeing as I had no metering on any of the pre’s, I had to use T-Racks metering program to get it as close as I can.
AGT SSL VHD by Everything Recorded
Sounds pretty good right. Well let’s run it up against the WA12 to see how well it holds up.
AGT WA12 Tone in by Everything Recorded
I did engage the tone button on the WA12 to add that little oomph to the track. I do hear less bite in the WA12 than the SSL as well as more pronounced tone in the high mids. So if we’re getting a more full-bodied sound out of the WA12, lets see how it works against the Millennia, which is known for extremely transparent open sound.
AGT Millennia by Everything Recorded
I don’t want to sound biased but the Millennia sounds flatter than the WA12… just saying.
Onto Electric Guitar.
Once again, the SSL VHD
EGT SSL VHD by Everything Recorded
That’s a pretty good benchmark for a decent dry electric guitar track. SSL always has the punch and with the Variable Harmonic Drive, adds just a little of the vintage to it. And now the WA12
EGT WA12 by Everything Recorded
I’d say they sound fairly identical on electric. That’s a huge feather in Warm Audio’s cap due to SSL being a go-to for most engineers on rock tracks. Now for fun lets throw the Millennia in the mix again.
EGT Millennia by Everything Recorded
I can hear just a slight boost in the 8-10Khz in the Millennia but it’s just barely noticeable. All in all I say they all sounded very close on that comparison. Keep in mind, this pre is $449.00.
Now lets try some female vocals.
Here is the SSL VHD
FVOC SSL VHD by Everything Recorded
Great sounding as usual. And now with the WA12
FVOC WA12 Tone in by Everything Recorded
I did engage the tone button again on the female vocal to add more low end and it seemed to add quite a bit more than the SSL did while still retaining the highs. So now lets throw it in the ring with the Millennia.
FVOC Millennia by Everything Recorded
Definitely lacking the same low end either of the pre’s have, it still retains the highs and sparkle Millennia is known for. So lets take the tone button off and see if we can replicate Millennia’s sound with the WA12
FVOC WA12 by Everything Recorded
Not too shabby…
Now just for fun, Here is 3 acoustic tracks and the female vocal all recorded together STILL with no processing of any kind. This is straight off of the pre into the DAW on each track. All I did was pan the two rhythm tracks and flip the polarity with the preamp on the one on the right side.
All WA12 Song by Everything Recorded
As always, Everything Recording encourages everyone to their own opinions, so feel free to argue my points. Just don’t get too heated… No one’s looking for a fight, unless it’s an exact recreation of the fight scene in Anchorman.
