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'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle?
#607630 - 24/04/08 07:42 AM

I was having a blether with another muso last night, and we started debating the merits of the many plug in emulations of classic consoles around at the moment - stuff like the Waves API / SSL bundles and the UAD Neve plugs. We couldn't agree on at what point do the plugs cease to have a function.

By way of example, if I have a project with 12 tracks running and open an instance of of UAD's Neve channel strip on each track, but don't tweak any of the knobs, is the plug-in still effecting the sound?

Is there a desirable, euphonic effect imparted to mixes created on a virtual Waves SSL 4000 desk, where the EQ, filters and dynamics remain untouched? It'd be great to hear some input from folks, especially if you've got experience using these kinds of channel strip plugs.

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Jack Ruston

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Re: 'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle? new

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#607641 - 24/04/08 08:06 AM

Some do some dont. The Waves SSL and API do...Some of the tritone digital ones do...some of the URS ones do. Most of the 'normal' ones are designed to do nothing if they're set at unity but there's always some 'digital funny business' when you instanciate a plug in. This may account for why some people immediately notice a (negative) difference as soon as that instanciation occurrs. YMMV.

J

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Zukan
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Re: 'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle? new

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#607647 - 24/04/08 08:23 AM

Although they may exhibit some influence on the sound in idle mode they it is not the same as leaving a hardware unit in bypass mode.
The hardware that has circuitry, by it's very nature, will still 'colour' the sound in bypass mode simply because of the circuit path's influence on the signal running through it. In effect, the circuitry is still live even in bypass mode.

With plugins I think you will find that 'bypass' is not the same thing as algorithms are not designed to affect a sound till they are instigated.

However, using a plugin in default mode is not the same as bypass mode and will still have parameter variances at default setup that will affect the signal.

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Steve Hill
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Re: 'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle? new

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#607654 - 24/04/08 08:36 AM

I reckon quite a few of the UAD plug-ins (notably the Pultec) do affect the sound even when all the knobs are zeroed. Using the plug-in's Bypass button seems to illustrate the effect.

I find just loading say a Neve EQ to a vocal track has some effect, before I've tried to do anything with it.

My understanding is that Universal Audio have consciously done this in an endeavour to replicate as closely as possible what the hardware units do.

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Barilla
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Re: 'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle? new

[Re: Steve Hill]
#607668 - 24/04/08 09:07 AM

Quote Steve Hill:

I reckon quite a few of the UAD plug-ins (notably the Pultec) do affect the sound even when all the knobs are zeroed.

You are right about this, Steve - especially the Neve EQs. The Pultec sounds different too, but it performs a volume boost (something like +2 dB), doesn't it? Makes it harder to judge.

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Re: 'Real' console plug-in emulations - do they work, even when idle? new

[Re: Barilla]
#607743 - 24/04/08 11:51 AM

Thanks for your replies chaps - some food for thought there about creating a virtual 'desk' with channel strips (so long as your computer can handle the load), regardless of whether the EQ and dynamics are used. Though I imagine there has to be a limit (probably quickly reached) to the amount of benefit in trying to replicate a clean, non-digital signal path using digital technology....

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