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Softube Modular – Doepfer, Intellijel, & Heartbeat Review – Awesome Preset Sounds Walkthrough!

Softube Modular - Doepfer, Intellijel, & Heartbeat Review - Awesome Preset Sounds Walkthrough! 

The Softube Modular plugin with the Doepfer Eurorack, Intellijel, and Heartbeat drum machine is one of the coolest plugins I have ever heard!  

I have always been hooked on synthesizers ever since my grade school friend showed me his Radio Shack Realistic sound fx maker and Moog Concertmate MG-1 back in the 1970s. And I even had some chances to learn analog subtractive synthesis when I was in high school and college on classics like the ARP 2600 and 5200.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of turning knobs to create sounds from other worlds that make you think of sci-fi movies and giant robots. Occasionally I feel like I could even do without the music part as long as I can create wild and cool sounds that modulate all day long!

But these days it can be pretty hard to (and expensive) to find hardware synths to keep the passion alive. So when I saw that Softube had designed a modular system that will allow you to build digital versions of analog synths I knew I had to check it out. 

I got ahold of Softube Modular with the Doepfer Eurorack modular system, Intellijel, and Heartbeat drum machine. There is a whole world of possibilities in here. And the best way to check these out is of course to try out a demo and see what you can do with them yourself.  However in the end the only part that really matters to you is "How do they sound??" right?

So here are a couple of videos where I walk you through the presets as fast as I can to give you a quick overview of how this awesome modular plugins from Softube actually sound:

From the Softube Website:

MODULAR

Buchla and Moog started it all with their modular synthesizers in the 1960s. Doepfer made it affordable in the 1990s by introducing the Eurorack standard. Today, the Modular plug-in from Softube makes the modular synthesizer truly accessible to everyone.

Click to show Softube Modular

Created in close collaboration with Doepfer, Softube Modular gives you both the sound, flexibility and expandability of a true analog modular synthesizer. But Softube Modular is more than just another virtual synthesizer plug-in—it's an entirely new modular synth standard.

Softube Modular is a revolutionary virtual modular synthesizer. I finally have a way to patch and experiment on the go with my laptop. So far its been incredibly fun, and I am looking forward to all the new modules they will add!

Richard Devine, Electronic artist and music producer (Warp, Schematic)

Infinitely Expandable 
As a Modular owner, the basic system gives you a great toolkit to start out with. It includes six modeled Doepfer modules and over 20 utility modules. But there is much more to discover. Additional modules from quality Eurorack vendors—starting with a range of units from cutting-edge manufacturer Intellijel—are available for separate purchase. More modules will continuously be made available. Owners of Softube's drum synth Heartbeat can add its instrument and EQ modules to Modular and combine them with any other modules. Softube's award-winning engineering team have modeled each analog module, component by component, and the resulting plug-ins are sonically indistinguishable from their hardware counterparts.

A synthesists dream come true, a high quality virtual Eurorack experience!

Christoffer Berg, Programmer, mixer and producer for Depeche Mode, The Knife and Fever Ray.

Want to start with the 20 day demo?

Welcome Experts—And Beginners 
Experienced Eurorack synth users will be right at home from the start. Modular's workflow is very close to the use of physical Eurorack modular synths. Add modules, connect them using virtual patch cords, adjust their knobs and switches to your heart's desire. Get MIDI connectivity with the MIDI To CV/Gate Converter and add any of the included step sequencers—unless you prefer using your DAW's built-in sequencer, of course.

To beginners, a modular synthesizer can be daunting at first. But Modular offers a wide range of expertly designed presets, immediately available to be put to use in your music. When you are ready to learn more about patching a Eurorack synth, the manual offers step by step patching tutorials that go hand in hand with the included tutorial presets.

We have been getting to know Softube Modular for nearly a year now, we're really impressed by its functionality but most of all by its sound. Its 'analogueness' became irrelevant when we started playing, the oscillators and filter modules have deep and detailed sound, reassuring foundations for modular building.

Ed Handley and Andy Turner (Plaid), Electronic artists

Both experts and beginners will enjoy the included Performance modules. These give the user a limited set of knobs and buttons that can be freely assigned to control any parameter on any module in the current patch—making creative tweaking on the fly super easy and accessible for inspired studio production and live performances.

In Short

  • Modular is a cross-platform modular synthesizer plug-in standard, which features authorized emulations of modules from well known hardware Eurorack brands
  • True dynamic circuit-emulation—looks, functions and sounds like its hardware counterparts
  • Basic system contains six Doepfer modules (A-110-1 VCO, A-108 VCF, A-132-3 Dual VCA, A-140 ADSR, A-118 Noise/Random, A-147 VCLFO)
  • Basic system contains the unique ROLI Seaboard RISE module which interface Modular with the ROLI Seaboard RISE keyboard controller
  • Modular also contains over 20 Utility modules (such as MIDI to CV/gate, mixers, slew, sample & hold, switches, multiples, delay, offset, sequencers, clock dividers, logic and signal tools, as well as a Polyphonic MIDI to CV/gate module).
  • Additional authorized emulations from Intellijel is available as add-ons (uFold II, Korgasmatron II, Rubicon). Many more modules from other quality hardware Eurorack vendors to be released
  • Simple design of your own interaction layout with the Performance modules in classic synthesizer style
  • Softube Heartbeat drum channels and EQ can be used as separate modules for owners of Heartbeat
  • More than 400 quality presets included covering a huge range of styles and sounds
  • Can be used both as effect and instrument for your DAW and integrates beautifully with your hardware Eurorack modular
  • High internal sample rate within system enables true feedback
  • Download our Saturation Knob plug-in and get a free module to use inside Modular

Exponential Audio – NIMBUS & R4 Reverb Plugins Review with Lij Shaw

Exponential Audio - NIMBUS & R4 Reverb Plugins Review with Lij Shaw

Exponential Audio makes some of the best reverb plugins that you can find for any DAW. These are definitely the best and most flexible digital reverbs I have heard.

The designer, Michael Carnes, brings 30 years of digital reverb design and knowledge to create a complete line of plugins. These reverbs are useful whether you are mixing on a laptop or in multi channel surround for a feature film. They are very realistic and musical reverbs, and the closest thing to my real plate reverb in a DAW.

In this video I take you on a quick tour of the NIMBUS and R4 reverb plugins.

These reverbs are expansive and flexible. You can easily get a killer room sound for your drums or a full rich plate, chamber, or hall for your vocals. The music in this video is the song "The Girl Sleeps As If..." from my band Three Fried Men for Poetry Scores productions. http://poetryscores.blogspot.com/

Cheers!Lij

Go check it out at: https://www.exponentialaudio.com/

From the Exponential Audio website:

Exponential Audio makes world-class plugins for demanding audio professionals. Our plugins are used by some of the biggest names in audio production and can be heard on award winning music, TV and movies. Our stereo and surround reverbs and effects plugins are some of the best around. We support all major DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro and Studio One--in fact anything that uses AAX, AU, VST or VST3. Visit the product pages to learn more about the products Exponential Audio makes for you. Then download plug-in demos and try them for yourself.

NIMBUS: the powerful new reverb unit from Exponential Audio.

While many companies were making convolution reverbs with photorealistic graphics requiring loads of DSP, Exponential’s Michael Carnes was swimming in the other direction with his designs.

That disruptive approach has paid off, with Exponential Audio now regarded as one of the leading effects companies for professionals in music, post-production and games design. Our plug-ins are used on Grammy-winning albums, and top movies that take you to galaxies far-far away or deep into Middle Earth.

Meet NIMBUS, a new and improved reverb unit based on the familiar PhoenixVerb but offering better sound, greater flexibility and new capabilities:

Better sounding: NIMBUS is based on the core of the hugely popular PhoenixVerb, but we’ve combined honest user feedback with a fertile creative imagination to make it sound even better.

No CPU hog: NIMBUS is a native plug-in, requiring no special hardware and offering even more flexibility while continuing to work with its now-famous minimal load on your computer.

Easy to use: We know that workflow matters to our users. While NIMBUS is brand new, existing users will find it reassuringly familiar, and new users will find their way around in a matter of minutes.

Plugging all the gaps

There were always elements - like overdrive - that NIMBUS creator Michael Carnes felt would be helpful in 'warming up' a reverb. He also saw a need to dynamically lower reverb levels in louder parts of a mix: with dynamic tail suppression NIMBUS now has this covered.

Users have long asked for tempo-controllable pre-delay: NIMBUS now has this implemented.

Over 1200 presets and handy new tool-tips: NIMBUS has everything under control to get you started.

Meet R4: reverb royalty from Exponential Audio.

Every generation of engineers and producers has iconic pieces of studio equipment; they act like markers along the path of recording history. Many top engineers will talk about reverbs in the same way, they will speak of the first time they heard some of the classic hardware reverb units which have created a dynasty over the past few decades. Some of these units have Michael Carnes' fingerprints on them, and his new creation R4 is the next reverb in this royal lineage. R4 offers all the class of historic hardware reverb units but with many new features only possible with modern plug-in development technology. R4 is pure class and for this reason, is destined to become a classic.

No CPU hog: R4 is a native plug-in, requiring no special hardware and offering even more flexibility while continuing to work with its now-famous minimal load on your computer.

Easy to use: We know that workflow matters to our users. While R4 is brand new, existing users will find it reassuringly familiar, and new users will find their way around in a matter of minutes.

Plugging all the gaps

There were always elements - like overdrive - that NIMBUS creator Michael Carnes felt would be helpful in 'warming up' a reverb. He also saw a need to dynamically lower reverb levels in louder parts of a mix: with dynamic tail suppression R4 and NIMBUS now have this covered.

Users have long asked for tempo-controllable pre-delay: R4 now has this implemented.

Over 1200 presets and handy new tool-tips: R4 has everything under control to get you started.


What’s new?

R4 features at a glance:

  • A character reverb that outdoes all the classics
  • A new hall algorithm, as well as updated versions of the R2 algorithms
  • Warp section with compressor/expander and overdrive
  • Modulated EQ
  • Pre-delay and reverb delay now adjustable by tempo
  • Tail suppression circuit for more dynamic response
  • Gated reverb effects
  • Over 1200 presets
  • Helpful tool-tips to guide new users.

Get Your Mix Right The First Time With MixChecker From Audified

GET YOUR MIX RIGHT THE FIRST TIME WITH MIXCHECKER FROM AUDIFIED

MixChecker comes from Audified.com. You can use it to gain more insight into your mix and make better judgements about things like bass and vocal level. In this video I show you some of the basics for how to do that.

Go check it out at: https://shop.audified.com/collections/products/products/mixchecker

Cheers!Lij

From the Audified.com website:

This ultimate mixing assistant will help you to get better mixes instantly. MixChecker (VST/AAX/AU plug-in) saves your precious time. Plug it in the master track of your project as the last segment of your listening chain and quickly turn your studio monitors into classic reference monitors or several consumer devices.

MixChecker is iLok protected. The hardware key is not necessary, only the License Manager. Please refer to our guide to see how to activate the trial and full versions.

You Mix For The People

Have you ever wondered why your music, your videos, showreels and movies do not sound well when you move out of your studio? Why do they lose punch and clarity that your awesome studio monitors deliver? That is because you do not use the same equipment the real people use. To bring the best quality to your audience, you need to check your mixes as often as possible. That is why we made MixChecker. Because we know You mix for the People.

Do You Hear What They Hear?

The consumers, the people you are mixing your content for, do not use hi-end studio monitors. They watch TV, listen to music in their cars. They even use their desktop speakers, tablets and smartphones or their earphones. You need your mix to sound great despite of what lousy conditions your audience uses.

Version 1.1 just released - See what's new:

No more extra exports

In past, to ensure your mix sounds right on any device, you had to export your sound and listen in different conditions. Import your mix to your smartphone, burn on CD and listen in your car, get back to your studio, do little tweaks and export again...

Now you can use the MixChecker to perform quick round test that will only take a few seconds. And get back to mixing and corrections while you still know what the problem in your mix was.

What it does

MixChecker functions are divided into two sections. The Simulation offers acoustic models of several consumer devices and classic reference monitors. Pressing a single button will turn your monitors into the selected device.

Not all studio monitors deliver flat frequency response. Therefore we also added the Compensation section. It will allow you to tell MixChecker, you are using average 5" or 8" speakers or headphones. That will change the resulting sound accordingly.

The Bypass button turns all processing off. When illuminated, only clean signal comes through MixChecker.

How we do it

We measured the frequency responses and behaviour of all the devices listed in MixChecker in laboratory conditions to create their true and faithful models that you can rely on. Read more here.

MixChecker: Behind the scenes

Posted by Audified Crew on

The more people get familiar with our MixChecker, the more questions from the musicians and producers we get. And that is awesome. We are glad you are curious. Those questions deserve answers. We gathered members of our team and let each of them be answered by the most qualified person...

Where does the idea for MixChecker come from?

Jakub (Marketing Director): Our team developed the technology for MixChecker quite a long time ago to be used for some of our other products as well as it served for the purposes of of the Academy of Performing Arts.
The idea for MixChecker itself comes from the needs some of us experienced in our previous jobs. I – for example – used to work in TV Promotion business. We always suffered from the fact, that our TV trailers always sounded great in the studio but listening from a TV set was a nightmare. So we used a TV set as a reference monitor in that time. And it was a hassle. We wished to find a quicker way to get to better sound.


Later we discussed the topic within the Audified team and thought there are more people with such need. They mix not only for TV, but for radio stations, computer games, mobile OS games etc. And the idea was here. Let's make something, that would make their life easier. Just test and go. No setting up, no exporting, no wiring. And the MixChecker was here.

Is MixChecker accurate?

Lubor (CEO): Mixchecker does not simulate each device on consumer market exactly – it would not be even possible. The goal of this tool is not to create a real model of particular device as such. It shouldn't be used as an effect. MixChecker should be considered a guide that shows you the weaknesses of your mix regarding to various types of devices. For example: if you are mixing an advertisement that will mostly be viewed on smartphones – you cannot determine what particular type of phone will be the most used one. But all smartphones have some sound parameters in common – so MixChecker can give you some realistic picture.

You may have noticed our guitar speaker simulator (MultiCabinet – the technology is also used in ampLion Pro and GK Amplification 2), in which you may change the position of the listening point (or miking) using three parameters, but this is exactly what we wanted to avoid when creating MixChecker. We wanted to create just one typical characteristics of each device combining the measurements, and it was not easy.

Is it professional?

Lubor: Absolutely. We have used the best possible conditions for measurements – a professional system which costs thousand times more than the best audio interfaces. Also the results were processed in a complicated way: We have even written an application, computing the characteristics from all the measured results.
So even if MixChecker base is a convolution engine, there is a lot of other work in the final product. The above mentioned MultiCabinet is a plug-in doing only convolution. There is much more behind MixChecker.
Vlada (Lead Programmer for MixChecker): In addition to what Lubor says, we used professional software with DSP toolboxes. Each device was measured in echo-free chamber from several distances with different microphone positions. We made well over 300 measurments instances to create MixChecker models. Then we discussed the measurements with audio professionals and even with professional musicians at the academy, so we have great feedback, which measurements are useful.

I never had such terrible sound from my earbuds, say a lot of users...

Jakub: The users of MixChecker are more than likely people who choose their headphones very carefully. The sound of the earbuds in MixChecker is really weak – but it has a reason. We did not include any kind of hi-end audiophile earbuds – because then you wouldn't get the realistic picture on what the average people would hear (using mostly the earbuds that are distributed with their smartphones etc.).
Vlada: We used a special artificial masuring head to capture the image of the headphones. We believe there is no better way to do it in present days. Also, have you ever thought about the fact how much the sound of your headphones depends on the position and the way you wear them? Well we have. So the models of the headphones and earbuds are the result of the mean of several measurements in different positions and different models. The biggest influence can be noticed on low frequencies – as you may see in the picture. This picture illustrates the measurements of on-ear headphones, five measurements are averaged in this case. After that, the measurement system characteristics is compensated so we get the final result without the influence of the system, including the “ear characteristics” for extra-aural headphones.

Is MixChecker for me?

Jakub: Everybody should be aware of the problem and everybody should check their mixes somehow. MixChecker can be substituted in several ways. You may exportyour mixes and do round checks on several devices, write down your thoughts and feelings and than make corrections in your mixes and do the same round again. But this may cost a lot of time and time (in professional studio) means a lot of money. In some conditions (broadcast...), you even do not have the chance to do so. So the answer depends on how much you value your time. MixChecker can save a few hours on a project. That can make few days a month or weeks a year. And that is a hell lot of time.

Is MixChecker going to gain any new features in future?

Lubor: MixChecker is a living product, there will be evolution, but we would like to keep it as simple as it is now. Yes, we have gathered some thoughts for the first update already. And we are open to any more suggestions. Even if they don't concern the MixChecker – we will be happy if you write us.

How to fatten up your loops with the Audified U78 and U73b

How to fatten up your loops with the Audified U78 and U73b

Here are a couple of great plugins to really fatten up your loops. The Audified U78 and U73b are both modeled after the vintage Telefunken U73b vari mu compressor/limiter.

One of the cool features of these plugins is the ability to switch them into "oversample" mode which bring out a higher fidelity in the sound. I show you how to work around your limited processing power by using the freeze feature in Pro Tools.

From the Audified.com website:

U73b: The device was often used for mastering between 1960 and 1980. It is an all tube vary-mu compressor/limiter with adjustable release time option. We kept the circuit exactly as it was originally designed and only added input and output gain (before and right after compressor circuit) to help with proper adjustment of the compression. The plugin effect has been also supplemented with a VU meter and selectable side-chaining. U73b is great for mastering, mixing drums, bass, guitar, vocals and voice overs.

U78: To start with, we removed our award-winning U73b Compressor plug-in's compression function. Filters were added, together with the tone control, and, finally, a strong gain control completed the U78 Saturator. We kept the heart and soul of the machine to deliver the beautifully musical tube sound. The result is a saturator that sounds like no other. The U78 Saturator is even better than the real thing, being blessed with the things that dreams are musically made of.

Audified U73b Compressor

New in version 2

  • External side-chain added
  • Auto Output parameter added
  • Plugins built in newer IDEs with more effective code.
  • Color settings dialog added
  • Default calibration parameter value mechanism added, calibration parameter range changed.
  • English language added
  • Oversampling added
  • GUI improved, retina support
  • Software can be used on 2 computers per ID simultaneously. (User gets 2 licenses)

Controls

The compressor's controls are very easy, but the effect of this unique device is audible at the same moment you turn it on:



Compressor/Limiter switch
– is the upper U73b knob and it switches between Compressor mode (Kompr), Bypass (Durchschalt) and Limiter mode (Begr). The compressor mode has lower threshold setting and very gentle increasing ratio, in opposite, the limiter mode provides higher threshold setting with higher ratio but still with smooth knee.

Release time – the first three positions offer fixed release time, the other three positions (marked red) provide adjustable program content dependent release time option.

IN – adjust input gain before the compressor/limiter circuit

OUT – adjust output gain after the compressor/limiter circuit.

Key input – selects the signal source used for controlling the gain reduction

HPF – U73b is a vintage device and as such it may not meet present mastering demands. We added a bass management button that simply switches between original sound and desired modern sound (without low frequencies bypass).

Audified U78 Saturator

Valve saturating plug-in based on the circuitry of the famous U73b Compressor

Almost anything is possible in the digital world. With the right skills and technology you can create absolutely anything you like... like the U78 Saturator. So we took the circuitry of the legendary U73b compressor and played around a bit to come up with some seriously satisfying saturation!

More than modeling

To start with, we removed our award-winning U73b Compressor plug-in's compression function. Filters were added, together with the tone control, and, finally, a strong gain control completed the U78 Saturator. We kept the heart and soul of the machine to deliver the beautifully musical tube sound. The result is a saturator that sounds like no other. The U78 Saturator is even better than the real thing, being blessed with the things that dreams are musically made of.

U78 Saturator is iLok protected. The hardware key is not necessary, only the License Manager. Please refer to our guide to see how to activate the trial and full versions.

U78 Saturator Controls

Gain - adjusts the input gain of the saturation circuit. (The higher the settings, the more rich the sound that can be achieved.)
HiPass - sets the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter, which comes before the saturation circuit in the signal path. (The range is from 30 Hz to 800 Hz - turn the knob to minimum to turn off the HiPass filter.)
LowPass - sets the cutoff frequency of the lowpass filter, which comes before the saturation circuit in the signal path. (The range is from 1 kHz to 8 kHz - turn the knob to maximum to turn off the LowPass filter.)
Tone - controls the U78 Saturator's unique tone filter. (Lower settings produce darker sounds with more low frequency content; conversely, higher settings result in brighter, sparkly sounds.)
Mix - controls the dry and wet signal ratio. (The dry signal is delayed to match the wet signal path latency to prevent phasing issues.)

The presets

The plug-in is mainly intended to be used on bass, drums
and vocals, but creativity knows no boundaries. The presets for the device are prepared by experienced producers such as Baby Brown (represented in the preset list with BB initials) or Boris Carloff (BC).