AudioMasters

This is a list containing free DX plugins that are known to work with AA 1.5

Here's a few places to look.  There are loads of others (a WWW search will reveal).  Keep in mind that with a VST Wrapper (www.spinaudio.com) that you can also employ VST effects while using CEP...

http://www.xelenio.com/vsti/

http://www.thedirectxfiles.com/

http://www.anwida.com/dxrevlight.asp

http://www.izotope.com/

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/Freeverb/

 :wink:

iZotope Vinyl

Yea, I posted the link to Isotope's site too!   :wink:

Thanks man!  The toolbox just got a bit of a kick!

There are also a few free dx plugs at http://voxengo.com/downloads/

Josh

my GOD i need to buy a copy of spinaudio vst wrapper pro ASAP ..... sheez!

doogs

For real.  I haven't been able to convince myself to dish out the cash just yet... but that may change before long!

For now, if I could just get all of my directx plugs to show up in the list, I'd be doing great!

Josh

I almost forgot these guys... http://www.musicware.dial.pipex.com/Plug-ins/Direct-XPlug-ins/Blue-LinePack.htm    :wink:

Sweet...  Thanks!

Josh

Yer welcome!!  :wink:

I have always enjoyed using Steinberg's Northpole (free) with another free vst filter. I don't know the name for the other plugin, all text files have disappeared as time goes by. And somehow readme.txt seems to be very popular accompaniment with plugins. Anyway filename is "AUM1_03Demo.dll". Together they make bizarre and strange noises, good for lead instruments.

-Tuskin

OK as long as this got bumped here's a good one for free:

Need a RTA (real time analyzer) spectrum that gives rms and peak level readouts too ?
http://www.elementalaudio.com/products/inspector/index.html

Why look at a spectrum (3D spectrums anyone ?):
http://www.chandrakantha.com/articles/spectrum/spectrum.html

Enjoy the placebo effect you get while EQing your mix while watching a RTA spectrum - Ha Ha  :lol:  I'm making fun of myself - I use a spectrum quite a bit...

I have 2 outboard 10 band ones, Ozone2 (my best - has infinite average, critical bands, 1/3 octave, overlays and decay times !), CurveEQ (my other best one - has infinite average, infinite peak, zoom, 1/6 octave)

Critical bands let you kind of see what's important to the ear - how you differentiate different bandwidths and what not. Pretty cool Ozone2 has that for the price - now if you want real precision and have $500 then you might go with a top of the line analyzers - I think Wave has PAZ - anyone use that and Ozone2 which is better ?

Of course you could also use a RTA spectrum to set up your monitoring and listening rooms but that's another thread (then I wouldn't have so many strange mixes to rebalance !)

kylen
Here's looking at you kid !  :shock:

That's a thread that I would be interested in. Perhaps we should start one for it? I love to hear all these tips and tricks..... actually, it's probably common knowledge for a lot of you out there; but I only know the tip of the iceberg so every little piece of information is fascinating to me.  :D

There is one already - it's just not here yet. We covered this subject in some detail on the Synt forum. What I can tell you is that it as riddled with snags and pitfalls, and at a bare minimum is going to require you to rent or purchase a measurement mic. Fortunately there are other ways of achieving a decent result - for instance, check out CARA (http://www.cara.de/), which we have now proved can do a decent job a) if you put enough, and correct, information in, and b) if you understand exactly what it's saying to you, and how to treat the results. This is probably the cheapest decent room analysis sytem there is anywhere, and will cost you rather less than a decent mic.

That's what I was thinking SteveG - not a week goes by without me thinking about all that cool information that, given the proper planning and engineering, could've remained in the public domain had the companies in question simply complied with the requests for the database. I know the guys over here are working hard to get it back into view.

In the meantime I guess there are actually at least 3 parts to this:

Your Ears and hearing quality:
http://earq.net/Product_Summax.html

Monitor Speakers (and Headphones):
Personal choice - from among the Industry standards...big list here

Monitors and the Room:
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/weaver11.htm
http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_rpg_diffusor_systems/

I need to set my listening room up to a better specification than the one I have now - 'Umm, it would look nice over there' and make sure the speakers are 18" from the wall... :)  For a bass trap a picture of the 'mother in law' ...
 
kylen

OK back to the freeware plug thread - I'll sneak in here with another VST plugin - these will work with Directixer or VST Adapter (Cakewalk). I use CEP 2.1 mostly, Audition 1.0 vanishes from time to time so beware.

A fabulous compressor that seems to use a bit of upward compression at times in addition to the normal downward compression:
http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-compressor.php

A GREAT mastering limiter & maximizer:
http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-master-limiter.php

Can someone who owns an L2 (software) try out this mastering limiter and see if it sounds as good or better ?

kylen

More VST - I like Endorphin.  Adds PUNCH with ease.

http://www.digitalfishphones.com/

While I have employed VST's (with a wrapper), I prefer to steer towards the DX things.  I've just about arrived at the conclusion that with CEP, Waves Native Gold Bundle, T-Racks and Ozone that I've pretty much got everything (at top quality) that I could possibly require.  I still occasionally throw the BBE Sonic Maximizer, AIPL's WarmTone, CloneEnsemble's Bass Chorus or the Antares Mic Modeler into a mix here or there, but I'm normally using them (when I do) for an extreme process.  Their not very subtle anyways!!!

 :wink:

Voodoo - If you have the L1 and some time on your next mix - can you try that mastering limiter I mentioned and tell me what you think compared to L1 ? I guess the L2 is for TDM and Pro Tools ($$$).

thanks,
kylen

Downloaded those last suggestions of yours, Kylen, and they seem well worth closer examination - only got time for a quick try at present.  Also the reverb seems worth the money!

Sure!  It might take a little while for me to get around to it, as "having time" is a rarity these days!!!

 :shock:

Wow, thanks for posting these, kylen. I thought I knew about all the freebies, but I missed these somehow. I don't really think much of most of the free stuff out there - particularly in the reverb and compressor department - but these are really good. I'm impressed as hell. Very interesting sound on the compressor in particular.

Yummy yummy free stuff...
Chris

The reverb is very interesting - seems to emulate real-sounding not-too-big spaces.  Perhaps not so good at long silky concert hall reverbs.  Still playing with it.  It's hard to objectively test one reverb against another - they each have a character which could be useful in a certain situation (apart from a few really nasty ones).  Horses for courses.

These are news to me also.  Using the SPIN Audio Wrapper Pro, I don't get any graphics on these - well a few knobs and lights show up, but the rest is missing in CEP2.1 and AA - in Vegas they show up fine.

What are you folks wrapping these with that works in AA?

I used Cakewalk VST Adapter or Directixer  to wrap these - you're right one of 'em only gives me just buttons on some things. I think VST Adapter is the one that works and gives the full equipment view - I'll check it out tonight if we don't get independent verification. I think Oz uses Spin which I've got lying around her somewhaer too. I believe both of those - Directixer and Spin have demo versions that you can check out to see if they work for you.

I'm back to CEP2.1 as AA has taken to simply vanishing...but I'm a DX/VST pluh guy so I 'spect it doesn't like something there.

I had te reverb crash on exit so, as I do in CEP while using plugs, save your work often ! I don't use that thing anyway since SIR and impulses are tickling my ears at the moment. The compressor and limitor are very good though - I'm using the Mastering limiter across a full mix (only -1.5 dB or so) and it sounds very very good !

kylen

OK, sounds good whenever you think of it. You could even get 'Little Voodoo' to set up the mastering limiter - it's got ONE knob !   8)

Take care,
kylen

All works fine with Spinaudio full version wrapper and Win98SE and AA, here.  The reverb has thrown out the odd error message when yanking knobs about during playback but hasn't actually crashed.  All knobs and flashing lights work.  Actually, having said that, I notice the hard limiter's lights come on before you hear the peak being compressed, as if they are reading ahead, which doubtless the effect does.

Works fine for me with Spinaudio as well. If only we could somehow convince plug-in manufacturers to stop using these stupid knobs! Arggh! It amazes me that this ridiculously non-functional interface has persisted as long as it has.

But hey, it's free, so this probably is the wrong place for *that* rant.:D

Chris

I like the pictures of the equipment in a lot of cases but the knobs vary in quality you're right. Do you have a favorite interface we can look at ? Or are you just saying you want a bunch of sliders and no picture of anything...

Here's an idea too, how about putting the sliders or knobs on your favorite picture. This is a family show so I'll keep it cool but I think you could imagine my 'Betty Page Compressor' - cool visual, eh ?

kylen

I don't mind knobs *quite* as much if I can at least double-click and enter an exact setting (the way you can on the waves stuff, for example). But really, I couldn't care less what it looks like as long as I can quickly enter the setting I want. I'd say I prefer sliders - they make the most sense when you're working with a mouse.

But this knob thing is idiotic.

Chris

You can convert it to sliders of your choice with 'skinrack' but you then lose the lights, if any.

I don't have a problem with the knobs per se...  but, I do have the software version of BBE Sonic Maximizer (I've got 3 hardware units as well) and when you open it, the master volume knob "defaults" to wide open!!  It's a PITA, but just requires remembering to "pull it down" before hitting the play button.

 :shock:

Ouch ! I can hear the galvanized chromium peeling off my eardrums !

I just got the BBE plug myself and matched it against my BBE Sonic Maximizer 462.

What did you think Voodoo - which BBE model (s) do you have and how are you thinking it compares ?

kylen

I have a 362, and 362NR (that have single end noise reduction) and one of the original 422's.  I also have a BBE DI-100 Active/Passive Direct Box.  The DI is decent, but I usually prefer to use either a Whirlwind, a Countryman or a Stewart.  It's not that the BBE sucks, it just has a colouration that I'm not looking for often.  As for the Maximizers....  of the hardware units, I actually prefer the original 422.  It seems a little less grainy in the high end.  My take on the software vs. the hardware is that they are very comparable.  As with any unit/program that utilizes this sort of technology.... less is best!!  Other than the strange quirk with the software (of defaulting to full volume when first opened), I think it's a very useful (if careful) tool and comes in at a fair price.  

 :wink:

Thanks Voodoo. The hardware BBE units are interesting - different models use different knees where they set the lo and hi controls. I'm in an anti-computer mood the past 3 or 4 weeks so it wouldn't be fair for me to say which I like best yet - I'll give it some time.

Yes, a little BBE goes a very long way.  :shock:  Plus your ears adjust to it fast allowing you to pour more and more on untill 45 minutes later your wife'll walk in and your hair is standing straight up !

I had to kind of calibrate my hardware unit using some CEP pink noise and put some markers on the front panel where the point is that begins to drop the mids - I don't like the sound past that point. I can rebalance my own mids - thank you very much !

For the BBE 462 the 'flat' position is low=30%, hi=full ccw. The mids drop out at lo=60%, hi=60%. I generally seem to have the low=35%, hi=35% or thereabouts. I haven't set up the software BBE yet...
I just like to know what effects the knobs have is the reason I like to run pink noise and watch the Ozone2 spectrum or CurveEQ. The other part of the picture is your ears of course since you can't see some things on a spectrum...

Happy BBEing !
kylen

Yeah groucho - Watch the Classic Compressor - I keep getting 40db of output in my ear when I touch the output knob. I'm sure the creator didn't mean for that to happen - I'll let him know. It's not a but but one click too far to the right and bang - zoom ! ouch

kylen

Thanks for all the info on monitor situations and plug-ins. I did run across the monitoring threads on the Synt forum, but the more I can learn the better! I'm like a dry-sponge.  :D

You guys forgot AnalogX!

http://www.analogx.com

TONS of free effects plugins, various utility plugins, standalone programs (including a Vocoder and a text-to-speech app), and a slew of non audio-related tools that are pretty darned useful in their own right.  Not to metion some great music to download by their creator.

Hey, you guys have to be kind to Nick - he's still feeling very sore about Adobe buying out Syntrillium. And I kind-of pinched him from the Adobe forum... (where I hope he will still visit from time to time, otherwise ozpeter will get hacked off. It's not out of bounds, you know!)

Welcome Nick... I was just at the Adobe forum maybe a half hour ago and also read your agony.  Funny how you can sometimes peg guys and their location, at least approximately.  What I mean is this: I judged by your language style you were from possibly New York, New Jersey or thereabouts (Adobe forums don't have location identity capability) ... but Philly is close enough both in geography and, um, texture.  

We share your CE passion.   8)

Thanks Nick !

I've been looking for something like SampleSlide to use when I put a SIR on a track...cool  8)

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/audio.htm

Bit Police looks good too - I'll be trying them out soon! Good Job !

kylen

Hi Nick..... :)

BTW I use the AnalogX proxy server thingy to my domestic network to the net - works well enough for free.

I finally tried that Classic series which kylen talked about and I think they sound great! I don't understand why the guy does it all for free actually! Hehe, I mean, ok, share one or two of those plug-ins, but ALL of them!? :shock:

Anyway, I saw some people had problems with them using their wrappers. I use the spinaudio lite wrapper and they all work fine.

Could you post the link to them??

 :wink:

Second post on page two of this thread, Voodoo.

Thanks Ozzie!!



Shaaarrrroooonnnneee!!!!!

 :shock:

Check this one out:

http://www.cs.usyd.edu.au/~mcraig/projects/paris/#ParisEQ

I've been testing it lately in several programs and it appears to be quite stable.  It's hard to believe, but it's free (donationware)!

M.

It would be really cool if it were DirectX instead of VST.  I realize that one could use a "wrapper", but all the same I prefer DX plugins.

 :wink:

I agree, DX plugins look more "neat". But VST's are, apparently, less strain on the system....
Bottom line is, I don't really care, as long as they are stable and give satisfactory results.

M.

And these two:

StripTool V1
FFX-4 DX manager

from

http://www.vb-audio.com


They allow CE 2000 users to chain up to four DX-VST plugins and have a nice (loooong) strip channel.


M.

One EXTREMELY useful plug in for me was one that came with the Sony branded Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 7.0
I guess it's Sony's Wave Hammer, which is basically a compressor/volume maximizer.   I have relied on that an Izotrope Ozone 2 for just about everything I've done in the past and have been quite happy with the results.

http://www.rgcaudio.com/downloads/freeware/ hfstimdx10.exe - great to use after Hardlimiting 2 trk mix FREE

i think this should be a sticky

RonC

Check this link
I know I know its in french
but it added a ton
{Link Deleted}
Moderator comment:
This link is to a site containing a lot of illegal software - mainly from Zone. Accordingly, it is gone. If you put links to illegal software on this site, they will be removed. Persistent offenders will be banned.