How do you use Nebula?

Discussion in 'Software' started by Bunford, Mar 24, 2017.

  1. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

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    I've just downloaded Nebula to give it a try along with a few of the modules as what I've heard sounds pretty awesome using it. However, I'm a tad confused on how to actually use it. Anybody got any good tutorials or introductions to using Nebula? One of the main things I'm confused about is why does it stay at the red module skin no matter what I choose to use and how do i change the skin to what's being used?!?!
     
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  3. dondada

    dondada Rock Star

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    i think there 2 distinct ways for nebula
    everything up to v3 you load up librarys like you would in waves qclone
    and the there are the aqua modules wich dont need the "main" plugin window anymore

    what you see in those ads and videos are actually the plugins


    and here a genral overview. (important part gainstaging) treat it like hardware!


    please correct me if i´m wrong (to actual users ;)

    i, like you, just stumbled about this new aqua thing and i like what i hear
    especialy the ivory (as i understand Maselec)
    and fucking Murano ( shadow hills)
     
  4. Pipotron3000

    Pipotron3000 Audiosexual

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    Nebula is not the way to start, i think ;)
    There are MANY things to solve and understand : gain staging, latency, skins, folders, config files...

    Try their Acqua based plugins (there are free ones), fall in love with sound...and after, you will love Nebula and make efforts to understand it :D

    Udemy Nebula Explained Professional/Starter seems good :D
     
  5. Yevheniy Taskov

    Yevheniy Taskov Member

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    First off you need to have a really good understanding of equalizers (or compressors) so that you know what all the various parameters do. Nebula doesn't really lend itself to mindless tweaking like most other plugins do, so you need you have a good idea ahead of time as to what you want your particular track to sound like.

    The best method I found to use Nebula is to look for another plugin that also emulates the hardware that you are using a Nebula library for, use that plugin to get somewhere in the ballpark of the sound you are looking for, then copy those settings to multiple instances of Nebula and tweak until satisfied. Say you are using AlexB's Classic Logic Console -- use Waves SSL E-Channel and tweak the knobs until you get the sound you are looking for, then load load four or so instances of Nebula with each of the frequencies you are using and match the settings to those on the Waves plugin. This should get you pretty close, though you may have to further tweak the frequencies, Q, or gain to get what you are looking for.

    My Personal Method
    I do a slightly more technical method myself. Say I am using AlexB's Classic Logic Console like above.
    1. First I will open an instance of the Waves SSL E-Channel plugin in my DAW and tweak the knobs until I am satisfied with the sound.
    2. Then I will load the Waves plugin into a program called VST Plugin Analyzer and copy those same settings as above so I can view the frequency response curve that those settings produce. I will save a copy of this image to refer to later.
    3. I will then load Blue Cat Audio Blue Cat PatchWork into VST Plugin Analyzer and load as many instances of Nebula as parts of the equalizer I am using, for example say I use these four:
      • ALEXB_CLQ-PRO_HFS (High Frequency Shelf)
      • ALEXB_CLQ-PRO_HM (High Mid Frequency Bell)
      • ALEXB_CLQ-PRO_LFB (Low Frequency Bell)
      • ALEXB_CLQ-PRO_HPF (High Pass Filter)
    4. I will then copy the settings I used with the Waves SSL E-Channel and see what the graph looks like.
    5. I will then tweak the various instances of Nebula until the frequency response graphs (between the Nebula instances and the Waves plugin) look nearly identical.
    6. Finally I will load all these settings into my DAW and usually will bounce the track once satisfied with the sound.
      • I often use the ND "no distortion" versions when I am doing cuts, and the full versions of the Nebula libraries when I am boosting
    The Udemy Nebula Explained Professional course is sort of useless in my opinion and presents you with a lot of technical jargon that you really do not need to use the program successfully.

    If you can't find another plugin modeled after your particular Nebula library, then you can always just use a generic equalizer like Fabfilter's Pro-Q2 as your reference. Just use that to get you close to the sound you are looking for, then use my method above to match the frequency response of your generic equalizer to that of the particular Nebula emulation.

    The only real issue you should pay attention to is gain staging. Make sure to use a plugin like PSPaudioware PSP TripleMeter or any other VU meter, set it to -18dbfs, and make sure your signal isn't too hot or too cold between EACH instance of Nebula. You should only have occasional peeks over 0, with most of the signal hovering around -7 to 0. You don't want the signal too weak either as you won't get the desired analog distortion. But if it is too hot you will get annoying clipping even though you signal isn't clipping on your DAWs meters.

    Unless you are doing all your mixing at this low level (which you should be) you will probably have to add a compressor/limiter or gain plugin after all the Nebula instances you get your processed signal back to where your other audio files' levels are. Personally I would bounce all the Nebula processing down to an audio file then normalize that to be in line with the other audio files.

    VST Plugin Analyzer
    Code:
    http://www.pcjv.de/applications/measurement-programs/
    This ended up being a bit longer than I initially intended but I hope it helps you understand this wonderful plugin. More people should give it a chance...
     
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  6. WillTheWeirdo

    WillTheWeirdo Audiosexual

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    If you search some of the other Nebula threads here, you'll get more info as I answered some of your questions in detail last year.
    Quick recap....
    1. Gain staging is absolutely vital with Nebula.
    2. Nebula chains are the secret formula for Nebula sonic success.
    3. Understanding hardware makes using Nebula much easier.

    IMHO, start with demoing Acqua's first, then if you are still interested in Nebula, visit the AA forum or Gearslutz for so much more Nebula info than will ever be posted here.

    FWIW, I'm a beta tester for Acustica Audio and I've been using Nebula for 8 years.
     
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  7. sideshowtmc

    sideshowtmc Producer

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    There's a Udemy tutorial floating around somewhere. Also read manuals for hardware and for the libraries i.e. Alex b mansuals henry oblongs manuals,
     
  8. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

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    I do have some experience of using hardware and gain staging as I used to co-record and engineer my band in my teens in a local studio in the 90s and early 00s. I also have some experience of gain staging too and understand the concept. Though, been software reliant in recent years so will need to brush up a bit. It's more the Nebula interface that doesn't seem very intuitive or user friendly!
     
  9. tgunz020707

    tgunz020707 Kapellmeister

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    Kind of like what yev said except i use nyrv agent load up a full eq (when you load a "preset" youre only loading one band of a eq if thats what your using HP would be a high pass ect) usually 4 instances of nebula (nyrv also has smart cpu or something which takes load off you computer and it works) then I map the main parameters of each instance of nebula and save it as a preset then I just open nyrv and pick which eq,console or comp ect I have saved and want to use and your good to go also before loading nebula you need to have some type of gain stage most libraries they say to start with -18db if I'm not mistaking this can also be added to your nyrv setup just add it fist in the 8 slots .....nyrv is a vst able to load any vst and make multiple vsts into one where you can customise knobs layouts ect




     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2017
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  10. Death Thash Doom

    Death Thash Doom Platinum Record

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    If you calibrate using a quality VU meter then you'll get the best out of Nebula. Unless stated I go for an RMS of around -24 with the peaks hitting mostly around -12 (measured against full scale digital), That way I'm free to send anything out to the patchbay and through whatever I want along with some of the various analogue modelled processors and effects available plugin wise.
    Waves Dorrough collection, PSPaudioware's TripleMeter and Klanghelm's VUMT/VUMT 2/VUMT 2 deluxe are just the job for such a task.
    Also http://www.airwindows.com/purestgain-vst/ and http://www.airwindows.com/bitshiftgain/ can be very handy, Sonalksis's FreeG is another one off the top of my head which delivers precise results.
    Of course you could for a system like Katz's K metering or read up on and implement the EBU r128 broadcasting loudness measurement system if you are planning to have releases that have to adhere to such, Resources are plenty, Gearslutz and KVR have many, many threads on all such which are worth routing through should you want to, This site has a good overall of it http://www.r128audio.com/ then NUGEN Audio offer some great but pricey plug-ins and standalone tools that'll see you right.

    I agree regarding the Nebula interface and so on, It's a pain in the arse which is even more so as Nebula 3 skins currently won't load in Nebula 4, It is also unclear if the awesome 3rd-party library content creators are going to convert to Nebula 4 the last time I heard/read anything from Acustica and the Nebula forums amongst here, Gearslutz, KVR...etc. which isn't exactly inspiring to hear...It's always been a bit of a "feature" the communication between the developers and 3rd party library creators, However despite all that it smokes my much loved LiquidMix soundwise and is definitely, definitely worth sticking with to get the most <insert terms for analogue sound descriptions here> results

    All the best, Sorry I have no additional advice about how to make it more intuitive and best to all as always :wink:

    Dean
     
  11. dondada

    dondada Rock Star

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    so, in your opinion, where does lq mix stand in all of vst world.
    there are nice 32s poping up on ebay. but should i invest time and effort now?
     
  12. Death Thash Doom

    Death Thash Doom Platinum Record

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    I like the LM and Sintefex's dynamic convolution, In my extremely humble honest opinion, If you have a spare firewire port, Enjoy using modelled equalizers and compressors then you'll more than likely find a LM a good addition for a good, used price.
    The way it lets you build up your own equalizers is handy and makes sense, Get a pultec EQP-1A low boost and cut, low and high mids of an 550A or B, A high shelf of a 1073 for example, 7-Bands is the maximum per EQ instance, I guess it is the same really as can be done with Nebula if you have a nice selection of EQ libraries but obviously different in some ways. It's strengths for me I'd say are that it uses nothing processor wise which makes for tracking/multi-tracking with top notch EQ and dynamics available on 32 channels (Same for live sound so long as there is a computer involved running a plugin host and FireWire port), Mixdowns, Especially on sources that have been DI'd and sources from ITB instruments, A really well thought out and wide selection of vintage, modern, rare and "boutique" equalizers and compressors that come damned well close to the real deals, Being able to build an EQ from sections covering anything a person could want is dope, The GUI is not a photorealistic piece of eye candy but it is solid for purpose (along with the controls on the hardware module) that simply make one use their ear's to decide, Due to the GUI being as it is once you have the hang of it, Workflow is good, Preset storage and loading is easy, It's only missing the saturation and time-based capabilities of Nebula but they're not deal breakers EQ and compression wise, Adding an instance of Nebula (or one of other saturation or tape...etc. based plugins) with a suitable sound dialled in to add that additional "mojo" that makes analogue gear so desirable. It will probably become your go to EQ and compressor but at the same time it does not render what you have, like and use EQ and compression plugin wise redundant/useless.
    The only downsides is that Focusrite do not support it any longer and their pairing with Sintefex ended after the Liquid Channel, Liquid 4Pre and finally the Liquid Saffire range which featured a pair of Liquid mic preamps, It could of got even better, Still Sintefex are still going and the LiquidMix is solid and stable https://us.focusrite.com/downloads?product=Liquid+Mix instead of just abandonware unlike is the case for almost everything else external DSP wise bar Universal Audio's digital platform which is very successful, Even has some form of mic preamp modelling available when their own interfaces came out, So I do like Focusrite and still think the LM holds up very well, If we think of the relatively affordable channel strips that Focusrite we're doing when they released the LiquidMix, It is kind of amusing that they made their own stuff bar the very best RED series and ISA range mic, EQ and compressor outboard obsolete quality wise, That is something many other companies would not do.
    32 channels is slashed in half each time the sample-rate is increased, However that is not something I find to be any issue as I use 24-bit/44.1kHz for multi-tracking anyway, However I could see it being an issue for people that use higher than 48kHz course.
    That is about it all really, For a decent price I can not see why not if the FireWire port isn't a problem

    Hope that is useful/helps some, All the best your way and to all as always :wink:

    Dean
     
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  13. dondada

    dondada Rock Star

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    cheers that was very helpful sir!
    have a good week m8!
     
  14. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

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    The Liquid Mix sounds awesome in my opinion. I found the way to get it working on Windows 10 64 bit and posted the way to get it going here: https://audiosex.pro/threads/solved...-working-on-windows-10-x64.25036/#post-217873

    However, I recently reinstalled Windows and with latest build of Windows I skipped the requirement for legacy drivers and it still works perfectly.

    Personally, with most people thinking they don't work on anything after Windows 7 and therefore selling them cheap on eBay etc, I would definitely snap one up as they are pretty awesome and give you the tactile hands on feel too. I bought mine off eBay for £32!
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
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  15. dondada

    dondada Rock Star

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    yep thats what i thought - hoped for. + the custom eq thing sounds dope!
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2017
  16. ddd999

    ddd999 Member

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    AnalogInTheBox : FATE Compressor & EAR ROOM

     
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