Are there plugins which can make my mix sound "warm" and analog without changing the dynamics?

[Danny_79]

Hi everybody! As the title suggests, i am looking for some plugin that can give my mix "warm" and analogish sound without using compression and/or distortion. Perhaps an analog style eq or something like that. So if you guys know of any, just hit me with suggestions The reason is that i am considering sending those mixes to Landr(AI mastering service) and at their website, it says that i should not use any dynamic changing plugins on the master track. Still, i want it to sound as analog as possible. I use reaper so it has to be compatible with that.
Thanx in advance!

[Wonks]

As ‘analogue’ basically equates to low level distortion, then if you don’t want distortion, then no.

Duplicate your track and try some gentle distortion on it and see what you think. I’d try some of Reaper’s tape emulations.

[RichardT]

Yes, to get an analogue sound, you’ll need some combination of distortion, compression, noise and EQ. Plugins like Saturn can do most or all of these things.

https://www.fabfilter.com/products/satu ... on-plug-in

But I suspect you can achieve good results using your DAW’s built in effects, with a little more work.

You can certainly use some compression on the stereo bus with LANDR if you want to. What they don’t want is a heavily compressed or limited track.

[Arpangel]

Warm? and analogue? or dull and distorted?
This is the only bit of software I know that actually does make things sound better, not dull.
The PSP Vintage Warmer, it actually works.

[Danny_79]

Warm? and analogue? or dull and distorted?
This is the only bit of software I know that actually does make things sound better, not dull.
The PSP Vintage Warmer, it actually works.

They are seemingly the same thing, but i kinda hoped there was a way around it I will check PSP Vintage warmer out

[Danny_79]

Yes, to get an analogue sound, you’ll need some combination of distortion, compression, noise and EQ. Plugins like Saturn can do most or all of these things.

https://www.fabfilter.com/products/satu ... on-plug-in

But I suspect you can achieve good results using your DAW’s built in effects, with a little more work.

You can certainly use some compression on the stereo bus with LANDR if you want to. What they don’t want is a heavily compressed or limited track.

Ok, then maybe i can use some tape emulator or something. The only problem compared to a normal compressor is that in the case of saturation, it's hard to know exactly how much dynamics i kill. But i guess it's trial and error. I should probably render the file and see how compressed it looks

[Drew Stephenson]

Without straying out of the standard Reaper plugins, try the JS Saturation for that side of things, and then try a bit of gentle high and low shelving EQ to take down the extremes of the frequency range.

[James Perrett]

Without straying out of the standard Reaper plugins, try the JS Saturation for that side of things, and then try a bit of gentle high and low shelving EQ to take down the extremes of the frequency range.

ReaComp's Master Bus Glue preset is also a good place to start - aim for only 2-3dB of gain reduction at most.

[The Elf]

Build 'warmth' into your mix. Don't throw something over the master bus in a 'hit and hope'.

[RichardT]

Yes, to get an analogue sound, you’ll need some combination of distortion, compression, noise and EQ. Plugins like Saturn can do most or all of these things.

https://www.fabfilter.com/products/satu ... on-plug-in

But I suspect you can achieve good results using your DAW’s built in effects, with a little more work.

You can certainly use some compression on the stereo bus with LANDR if you want to. What they don’t want is a heavily compressed or limited track.

Ok, then maybe i can use some tape emulator or something. The only problem compared to a normal compressor is that in the case of saturation, it's hard to know exactly how much dynamics i kill. But i guess it's trial and error. I should probably render the file and see how compressed it looks

I'd say - judge it by ear! There is no textbook answer. If you're not familiar with a plugin, it can help to audition some presets until you get something in the ballpark, and then edit from there. You're not looking for heavy compression and tape emulation plugins don't normally give you that anyway.

[RichardT]

Build 'warmth' into your mix. Don't throw something over the master bus in a 'hit and hope'.

Yes, this will give the best results, at the cost of more work. For myself, like the Elf, I don't add 'warming' effects to the master bus, just to individual tracks that could benefit from it. Though glue compression on the master bus, as suggested by James, can certainly work well.

I'd suggest that if you can get what you want with something on the master bus - go for it. But if some elements sound too warm and others not warm enough, then you may need to work at track (or group track) level.

Likewise if the sound loses too much clarity with the effects on the master bus.

[Sam Inglis]

Does the LANDR website really include the advice not to use any dynamics plug-ins on the master? Or are they specifically asking you not to send them tracks that have been limited to make them as loud as possible? If the latter then I'd fully agree. If the former then I'd completely disagree. Mix bus compression (as opposed to limiting) is an artistic choice and one you should be free to experiment with.

[RichardT]

They do indeed recommend no dynamics processing, Sam.

But they qualify it by saying that if people want to give them compressed mixes they can.

It's a bit contradictory. Probably they say that because a lot of people have submitted highly compressed mixes in the past and a simple recommendation not to compress at all is more effective in stopping that.

[YashN]

Hi everybody! As the title suggests, i am looking for some plugin that can give my mix "warm" and analogish sound without using compression and/or distortion. ... Still, i want it to sound as analog as possible. I use reaper so it has to be compatible with that.
Thanx in advance!

Acustica Audio, things like Nebula and its consoles or more recent ones, on each digital track.

[Danny_79]

Does the LANDR website really include the advice not to use any dynamics plug-ins on the master? Or are they specifically asking you not to send them tracks that have been limited to make them as loud as possible? If the latter then I'd fully agree. If the former then I'd completely disagree. Mix bus compression (as opposed to limiting) is an artistic choice and one you should be free to experiment with.

If i remember correctly, i think it said that i can use plugins for coloration but not compression. So when i think about it, i guess that means light compression is ok

[RichardT]

Does the LANDR website really include the advice not to use any dynamics plug-ins on the master? Or are they specifically asking you not to send them tracks that have been limited to make them as loud as possible? If the latter then I'd fully agree. If the former then I'd completely disagree. Mix bus compression (as opposed to limiting) is an artistic choice and one you should be free to experiment with.

If i remember correctly, i think it said that i can use plugins for coloration but not compression. So when i think about it, i guess that means light compression is ok

In practice, I would get your mix sounding as good as you can, even if that involves some master bus compression. As long as it’s still got dynamics!

[Wonks]

They probably won’t want you putting compression in the finished master tracks, as that limits what they can do, but it doesn’t stop you using compression on individual tracks (sometimes pumping compression is an integral part of the sound), or mixing with compression on the master bus - but removing it before the final master render.

But you may prefer your mastered mix better than a 3rd party master.

[James Perrett]

Most mastering engineers won't mind compression on the stereo mix provided that it is appropriate. Often appropriate means something that isn't obviously audible although with some genres the bus compressor is deliberately used to produce pumping effects.

The problems occur when there is too much bus compression used. I've been known to use expanders on obviously over-compressed mixes before mastering them and then maybe compressing them again in a more sympathetic way.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Reaper has several options. James mentioned the ReaComp preset, and Drew mentioned the JS Saturation which I think is quite good, it compares very well to other plugins despite the clunky looking UI. CHOW DSP has a nice free tape sim, but it's just an old Sony domestic model so it's not spectacular.

If you install Reapak you can then add the Tukan plugins, there are some very nice tape sims in there.

FWIW I agree with James and Sam, master bus compression is an artistic choice. LANDR should adjust the wording to reflect that. Something like- don't compress or limit to try to make it loud, but you are ok to do it for vibe/ feel/ art.

I tried Mixland 3348 tape recently, which was a bit of a revelation. It's digital tape machines, so you would not expect much- but I found the Mitsubishi X80 simulation very flattering and "warm" whereas the Sony 3348 and other models sounded offensive to me But when you see the inside of the Mitsubishi, it becomes clear. Transformer i/o and almost OTT line amp design.

[James Perrett]

But when you see the inside of the Mitsubishi, it becomes clear. Transformer i/o and almost OTT line amp design.

Sounds a bit like my MTR90 Mk1. In fact quite a few pieces of old gear have some fairly hefty driver stages in front of the output transformer.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

But when you see the inside of the Mitsubishi, it becomes clear. Transformer i/o and almost OTT line amp design.

Sounds a bit like my MTR90 Mk1. In fact quite a few pieces of old gear have some fairly hefty driver stages in front of the output transformer.

Funny you should say that. Mitsubishi teamed up with Otari for the X850 32 track. It was Otari's transport design.

[Sam Inglis]

They probably won’t want you putting compression in the finished master tracks, as that limits what they can do, but it doesn’t stop you using compression on individual tracks (sometimes pumping compression is an integral part of the sound), or mixing with compression on the master bus - but removing it before the final master render.

I don't always use compression on the master bus. But when I use a compressor on the master bus, I'm not doing so to make the mix louder, or to anticipate what might happen at mastering. I'm doing it to control the balance of the instruments, in a way that I can't easily achieve by other means. If I take the compressor off, the mix won't be the mix any more. I don't have a great deal of faith in the idea that LANDR will somehow recognise the intent and restore that control at the mastering stage.

[Ben Asaro]

Build 'warmth' into your mix. Don't throw something over the master bus in a 'hit and hope'.

Wow, 'warmth' should be replaced with "[X]", printed out, and hung in every studio in the world.

Stellar advice.

[Arpangel]

What is this "warmth" that is ringing aloft in this venerable kingdom?

"Warmth"

Comforting, soothing, healing, reassuring, "womb-like"

Warmth, my good Sir, is only appreciated when we are cold, without cold, there would be no warmth.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Build 'warmth' into your mix. Don't throw something over the master bus in a 'hit and hope'.

Wow, 'warmth' should be replaced with "[X]", printed out, and hung in every studio in the world.

Stellar advice.

It actually is good advice. An excellent principle to work from. I can only give one example- about half the time I find the issue is with one or two instruments that have a bit too much poke. A dynamic eq or Soothe on those parts lets the warmth of the rest come through. At other times, it's an arrangment issue. There can be many causes, but Elf's suggestion gives you a target.