Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
I`ve been using the channel strip for years, since before it was officially launched. The current version is one of the best multipurpose channel strips I have ever used.
If I didn`t already own it, I would jump on this deal.
@for: Compression and EQ are the two most significant effects you can use when recording mixing and mastering. If you cant use them, you really do need to read up on how to use them, plus when and where. Mind you, reverb runs them a close third...
I`ve been using the channel strip for years, since before it was officially launched. The current version is one of the best multipurpose channel strips I have ever used.
If I didn`t already own it, I would jump on this deal.
@for: Compression and EQ are the two most significant effects you can use when recording mixing and mastering. If you cant use them, you really do need to read up on how to use them, plus when and where. Mind you, reverb runs them a close third...
Yes compression always confused me, i prefer to run volume envelopes which is kinda the same or at least similar from my current understanding which might be wrong, more time consuming....i do need to download a bunch of compressors one day and play around though and compare
Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
@for: You would do better to search for some tutorial videos on how to use things like compression, limiting, e.q. etc.
Once you "get " the basics of these effects, THEN download a few different freebies AND have a go with the ones included in Reaper & see if you can get a handle on what they do.
Whilst nothing beats "doing it" it really does help to have a basic understanding of how they work and why you need to use them.
Yes compression always confused me, i prefer to run volume envelopes which is kinda the same or at least similar from my current understanding which might be wrong, more time consuming....i do need to download a bunch of compressors one day and play around though and compare
volume riding only changes the signals level while its dynamic range remains the same while applying compression changes/reduces the dynamic range of the signal (the range between its softest and loudest parts). Also, a lot of compressors not only compress but impart some desireable signature sound while compressing or even when not compressing (due to their virtual circuitry trying to mimic the complex behavior of hardware circuitry).
@for: You would do better to search for some tutorial videos on how to use things like compression, limiting, e.q. etc.
Once you "get " the basics of these effects, THEN download a few different freebies AND have a go with the ones included in Reaper & see if you can get a handle on what they do.
Whilst nothing beats "doing it" it really does help to have a basic understanding of how they work and why you need to use them.
volume riding only changes the signals level while its dynamic range remains the same while applying compression changes/reduces the dynamic range of the signal (the range between its softest and loudest parts). Also, a lot of compressors not only compress but impart some desireable signature sound while compressing or even when not compressing (due to their virtual circuitry trying to mimic the complex behavior of hardware circuitry).
.
i see...yes need to play around with a few to understanding this
These offerings are designed to emulate the sound of their analog counterparts and thus add a certain sound to the audio they are used on, besides doing their intended task.
I would advise to first learn how to use compression (or any other audio engineering skill) with clean, digital plugins, which do nothing to the sound except for their intended task, so that the output is predictable and the effect can be studied. Any DAWs stock plugins (including Reaper’s) are such clean tools that work perfectly fine for getting things done. If you don’t like the interface of Reaper’s plugins there are lots of freebies that work and sound pretty much the same, choose some that have the fundamental controls layed out in a way that makes sense to you and doesn’t seem daunting (I like Melda’s free offerings but not everyone does).
Once you master the techniques on a conceptual basis you can try out different tools for the same task, which emulate analog gear and add a sonic character, and decide which ones sound the best to you, often for different tasks different compressors are favoured.
I recently purchased these two plugins with their valentine sale, however I can’t seem to get them to work in Reaper. The GUI is very small and the plugins are missing the dials/knobs. If I remove the UI they work. Otherwise they load up glitchy. Anyone have any similar issues? Or know of a work around?
Warren Huart's videos are amazing. I highly recommend them!
I would agree with the above comment. EQ and Compressors are the 2 most critical tools (after volume and panning) in a mixing engineers tool kit.
Both took me a long time of trial and error to start understanding.. and even then compressors still eluded me. Watching Warren's videos fixed the mysteries (I watched most of all his mixing lessons). I wish I had spent that time years ago!
Compressor are a strange beast. They seem so hard to understand, but once you understand them, you're like, "oh.. that's pretty simple." It's hard to find someone who can explain them well.
Last edited by passenger1147; 02-17-2021 at 05:17 AM.
Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
Quote:
Originally Posted by azzfest
I recently purchased these two plugins with their valentine sale, however I can’t seem to get them to work in Reaper. The GUI is very small and the plugins are missing the dials/knobs. If I remove the UI they work. Otherwise they load up glitchy. Anyone have any similar issues? Or know of a work around?
Do you have the versions that work with iLok security?
As far as the gui being tiny, that is odd, as I already own at least the channel strip, which is pretty large by anyone`s standards.
Are you by any chance using a 4k monitor? If so you need to use the theme adjuster to get it to match your monitor.
And of course you can always ask SSL what you might be doing wrong.
At this stage, if nothing I have said above helps, I would at the very least try re-downloading and installing the two plugins properly from scratch.
You are gonna LOVE them when you get it all set up right.
By the way, that price is SO good I am getting tempted to buy the bundle so at least I get the buss compressor for $49. I got the channel strip & their native reverb, both of which I use a lot.
These offerings are designed to emulate the sound of their analog counterparts and thus add a certain sound to the audio they are used on, besides doing their intended task.
I would advise to first learn how to use compression (or any other audio engineering skill) with clean, digital plugins, which do nothing to the sound except for their intended task, so that the output is predictable and the effect can be studied. Any DAWs stock plugins (including Reaper’s) are such clean tools that work perfectly fine for getting things done. If you don’t like the interface of Reaper’s plugins there are lots of freebies that work and sound pretty much the same, choose some that have the fundamental controls layed out in a way that makes sense to you and doesn’t seem daunting (I like Melda’s free offerings but not everyone does).
Once you master the techniques on a conceptual basis you can try out different tools for the same task, which emulate analog gear and add a sonic character, and decide which ones sound the best to you, often for different tasks different compressors are favoured.
Just to note: the SSL channel strip and bus compressor do not emulate analogue gear. They are based on ports from their digital desks. It is clean, digital processing with no clipping or harmonic distortion.
Just to note: the SSL channel strip and bus compressor do not emulate analogue gear. They are based on ports from their digital desks. It is clean, digital processing with no clipping or harmonic distortion.
Ok thanks for the information, that's ignorance on my side then. I was just convinced that SSL is specialised on analog consoles and deducted that their plugins would be emulations of their analog gear. If those however are plain digital processors without any circuit emulation going on, I think they are way overpriced. Lots of cheaper and even free alternatives for digital EQs and compressors are available.
Ok thanks for the information, that's ignorance on my side then. I was just convinced that SSL is specialised on analog consoles and deducted that their plugins would be emulations of their analog gear. If those however are plain digital processors without any circuit emulation going on, I think they are way overpriced. Lots of cheaper and even free alternatives for digital EQs and compressors are available.
They are still emulating the ideal filters and compression that were intended for the analogue desks, but this was made by engineers, not gear junkies who like the "side-effects" of analogue circuits!
I guess the SSL brand brings a premium, but $50 for 2 plugins is okay. Full price is excessive for me.
Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
Agree with you on full price - I was beta testing for them & got mine free.
@Phazma - trust me, there is nothing sterile/digital about these.
If you look at the sheer number of hit records mixed over the years on SSL desks it speaks volumes for the character of their plugins, especially the channel strip which is designed to be switchable between the characteristic of two of their console series components.
Check out their video presentations on the SSL site.
Agree with you on full price - I was beta testing for them & got mine free.
@Phazma - trust me, there is nothing sterile/digital about these.
If you look at the sheer number of hit records mixed over the years on SSL desks it speaks volumes for the character of their plugins, especially the channel strip which is designed to be switchable between the characteristic of two of their console series components.
Check out their video presentations on the SSL site.
It's just switchable between fixed and proportional Q in the EQ. It's not mojo, it's just filters.
Basically these plugins (and the digital desks they are based on) are what the SSL engineers would have made in the 80s and 90s if they weren't restricted by electronics. A zero distortion desk.
Quite so, but the two flavours of filter definitely affect the net result as far as my ageing ears can tell, so it isn`t THAT subtle.
EDIT: Just read that GS post from Mr.SSL & he is of course making the same point I am trying to! Relief...
Oh yeah, not trying to disagree with you there, just making sure people don't get the impression it's a "warts and all" analogue emulation.
I'm a big fan of proportional Q. Lots of people who swear by stock DAW EQs always say that you can match any curve with them, but what you can't do is match a proportional Q as you are boosting or cutting (well, maybe with some parameter modulation wizardry, but I can't be arsed with that).
Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
Bloody Hell!
I noticed that the current version of the plugins is 6.5 & mine are at 6.3 so I went online & found I could not login to my account!!
Everything had changed (again) so I have contacted support & hope they will let me back in again! with gritted teeth...
I noticed that the current version of the plugins is 6.5 & mine are at 6.3 so I went online & found I could not login to my account!!
Everything had changed (again) so I have contacted support & hope they will let me back in again! with gritted teeth...
Don't worry about the website/account for now, some sort of changeover period...just download the plugs and they'll run with your existing license. (which is ilok)
Go here and choose UC1 from the dropdown and you'll see the plug installers and the 360 installer.
Location: Near Cambridge UK and Near Questembert, France
Posts: 22,754
Thanks Stella. Any idea where I can find a D/L for the Native Flexverb, which I also own?
The current version of the channel strip DID install correctly after a re-start, happily.
Whenever I see such a drastic price reduction, I get suspicious. It makes me wonder if there's some catch.
That Warren Huart vid is very informative. Thanks.
No this is very normal! Many companies offer that. There are typically special offers on Black Friday, Spring Brake, Valentines Day or any date that gives a reason to offer special prices ;-)
Sometimes companies do that before they release a new version of that tool. Or sometimes they just do it to get this to the people and receive good ratings.
Many big companies do that. I once got a synth for 19 EUR instead of 145 EUR regular price (no crack - the offer was from the original supplier!)
Also I bought the SSL comp mentioned above for that special price at valentines day. I would not have bought it for 400$. It is a full version and one of the best comps I have! Besides very good quality - it is very simple to use and not overloaded with crappy features.
Don't worry about the website/account for now, some sort of changeover period...just download the plugs and they'll run with your existing license. (which is ilok)
Go here and choose UC1 from the dropdown and you'll see the plug installers and the 360 installer.
Whenever I see such a drastic price reduction, I get suspicious. It makes me wonder if there's some catch.
That Warren Huart vid is very informative. Thanks.
I think all they were trying to do was get as many people using their channel strip and bus compressor plugins as they could to push their upcoming hardware controller.
$479 to $49.99 SSL Bus Compressor and Channel Strip plug-ins
Linear Mode
