Valve warmth plugin for vocals

[Jay Menon]

I use a Rode NT2000 (in omni mode, in a highly treated room) and I rather like the sound on my vocals. Having said that, I don't really have anything for comparison...

I am however, fascinated by the idea of a valve mic, and I wonder, could I logically use a valve emulator plugin to my already recorded vocals to create that thickening 'larger than life' effect?

If so, what's a good one please? I use a Logic based system.

Expert opinions most appreciated...

[molecular]

You can certainly use a valve emulator to thicken the sound... as to whether that will result in anything like any particular valve mic is probably another matter.

My favourite sound thickener valve emulation things at the moment are fabfilter saturn (used subtly) and the "revival" unit that came with slate's virtual mix rack - which, fair play to them, I got for free for being patient waiting for the AAX release of their RC-Tube console so I don't even know if it's demo-able or how much it costs.

[Aled Hughes]

the "revival" unit that came with slate's virtual mix rack - which, fair play to them, I got for free for being patient waiting for the AAX release of their RC-Tube console so I don't even know if it's demo-able or how much it costs.

It's free, though an iLok is needed. I'm also using it a lot and liking it.

[molecular]

the "revival" unit that came with slate's virtual mix rack - which, fair play to them, I got for free for being patient waiting for the AAX release of their RC-Tube console so I don't even know if it's demo-able or how much it costs.

It's free, though an iLok is needed. I'm also using it a lot and liking it.

and there was me feeling all grateful!

...still, it's really good, the red comp is sweet as well.

[iceman]

+1 for the slate plugins i use them all regularly defo worth investing in!

[Martin Walker]

I'm also enjoying Revival, although I was a bit miffed that it's not strictly speaking a single plug-in.

You have to install the entire 438MB demo version of Slate Digital's 8-plug-in Virtual Mix Rack to get Revival onto your computer, and then it can only be used as a rack component, and not on its own;)

Martin

[Richard Graham]

I'm also enjoying Revival, although I was a bit miffed that it's not strictly speaking a single plug-in.

You have to install the entire 438MB demo version of Slate Digital's 8-plug-in Virtual Mix Rack to get Revival onto your computer, and then it can only be used as a rack component, and not on its own;)

Martin

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

[Aled Hughes]

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

I may be wrong here, but I think it contains the Virtual Console Collection as well, as version 2 lives within their Virtual Mix Rack.

[molecular]

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

I may be wrong here, but I think it contains the Virtual Console Collection as well, as version 2 lives within their Virtual Mix Rack.

I think so. Mine was with the RC-Tube and was half a gig, but I think the whole collection is probably in there, just not unlocked in my case.

[Mixedup]

to create that thickening 'larger than life' effect?

Are you sure that it's a valve character you want? It just seems from your post that you have expectations of what it will sound like that aren't based on experience. Valves can add grit and flair too. Or they can be incredibly clean (there's a reason audiophiles use tube devices too). And other things — saturating transformers, analogue tape — can impart 'warmth'.

If you're inexperienced in these matters, have a read of This SOS Article On Analogue Warmth.

FWIW, I like the sound of SPL's Twin Tube plug-in. But when it comes to thickening, warmth etc, I tend to look to EQ and saturation plug-ins. Some good freebies to try are VladG Molot (a compressor, but you can bypass the compression and it will still sound 'thick') and TB Ferox (their old tape emulation, in their archive; it's rather thicker sounding than most such plug-ins but used subtly or in parallel can sound lovely).

For the price of some of the more expensive plug-ins, you could even try a different mic — there are some very nice, affordable ribbons and dynamics, for instance, that will give you a very different character than your current mic.

[Richard Graham]

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

I may be wrong here, but I think it contains the Virtual Console Collection as well, as version 2 lives within their Virtual Mix Rack.

I think so. Mine was with the RC-Tube and was half a gig, but I think the whole collection is probably in there, just not unlocked in my case.

I still don't get it. Reaper fits about 50 vst effects (as well as a fully-fledged DAW) into a 15mb download. Ok so they don't have flash GUIs, but a few gifs can't take up that much space, surely?

[Jay Menon]

Thank you Mixed Up. That is a targeted, specific and relevant piece of advice I can really use - most appreciated.

[Mixedup]

Thank you Mixed Up. That is a targeted, specific and relevant piece of advice I can really use - most appreciated.

De rien! I hope it leads you somewhere worthwhile

[_ Six _]

I use a Rode NT2000 (in omni mode, in a highly treated room) and I rather like the sound on my vocals. Having said that, I don't really have anything for comparison...

You may be confusing warmth with not as bright. I find those Rode mics are too much for rock style vocals. Sometimes a simple SM58 does the job perfectly well! Especially with male vox.

[The Elf]

It's that good old 'W' word again. Nobody knows what it is, nobody can agree on what it means to them, but everyone wants it!

Valves add 'warmth' in the same way that dolphins are 'happy'. Valves glow, so they must add 'warmth' - yeah?

[Richie Royale]

Michael Jackson knew about warmth, he would play back music so loud, the tweeters caught fire (according to Bruce Swedien).

[The_BPP]

Michael Jackson knew about warmth, he would play back music so loud, the tweeters caught fire (according to Bruce Swedien).

I thought you were going to mention that Pepsi advert he did.

[Mixedup]

It's that good old 'W' word again. Nobody knows what it is, nobody can agree on what it means to them, but everyone wants it!

Valves add 'warmth' in the same way that dolphins are 'happy'. Valves glow, so they must add 'warmth' - yeah?

Well, yeah, it's a vague term and means different things to different people. But not always worth laughing at. It's also a convenient short-hand on occasion. And it seemed to be what the OP was asking about. You'll be telling me next you don't know what 'brighter' or 'more brittle-sounding' means

[Martin Walker]

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

I may be wrong here, but I think it contains the Virtual Console Collection as well, as version 2 lives within their Virtual Mix Rack.

It's actually worse than that - I've just checked up in my system and the contents of the folder named

C:\ProgramData\Slate Digital\Virtual Mix Rack

total a massive 997.4MB !!!!

I'm going to work with the free Revival for a bit (and its demo version VMR stablemates) for a few days and then decide whether or not to uninstall the lot.

Martin

[molecular]

Half a gig? For an EQ and compressor plugin? Those must be some mighty complicated algorithms Mr Slate!

I may be wrong here, but I think it contains the Virtual Console Collection as well, as version 2 lives within their Virtual Mix Rack.

It's actually worse than that - I've just checked up in my system and the contents of the folder named

C:\ProgramData\Slate Digital\Virtual Mix Rack

total a massive 997.4MB !!!!

I'm going to work with the free Revival for a bit (and its demo version VMR stablemates) for a few days and then decide whether or not to uninstall the lot.

Martin

Where's that thread where somebody said file size isn't an issue any more :/

Does anyone have any theories as to how they managed to use up a gig of data on that thing?

[Richie Royale]

Does anyone have any theories as to how they managed to use up a gig of data on that thing?

Incompetent programmers?

[The Elf]

I've just checked up in my system and the contents of the folder named
C:\ProgramData\Slate Digital\Virtual Mix Rack
total a massive 997.4MB !!!

What on earth is going on in there?!?!

That folder size would be the nemesis for my backup system!

[Aled Hughes]

Same folder is a hair over 1GB here.

Just had a look and all the modules are there as suspected, alongside VCC. Revival itself is 119MB.

[Martin Walker]

Same folder is a hair over 1GB here.

Just had a look and all the modules are there as suspected, alongside VCC. Revival itself is 119MB.

Hence my thought of deleting everything but Revival once I've demoed the other modules and they've timed out

I don't REALLY mind marketing-related tricks like this, but would much prefer developers to be honest up front - download and install 1GB of our data and get a free plug-in, rather than have a free plug-in, and only then do you find out the 'catch'

Martin