What's a good plug-in to add warmth

Discussion in 'Working with Sound' started by DimChandeliers, Feb 21, 2012.

  1. DimChandeliers

    DimChandeliers Ultrasonic

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    I archived a bunch of original songs from 4-track reel-to-reel to digital format. The tracks lost a lot of their warmth in the process, especially the string synth tracks that were done on an ARP string synth.

    Can anyone recommend a good plug-in to add some of that warmth to the digital tracks?

    Thanks,

    D.C.
     
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  3. lampwiikk

    lampwiikk Member

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    Kramer Tape is good, and Nomad Factory Magnetik
     
  4. PYRUS MALUS

    PYRUS MALUS Noisemaker

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    Agreed - those and -- PSP Vintage Warmer
     
  5. bigboobs

    bigboobs Kapellmeister

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    +1 for vintage warmer :)
     
  6. psyfactor

    psyfactor Newbie

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    Did u get the input to the digital recorder from the same outputs where it sounded warm?
    Just curious about the digitisation process you used, since technically it should be a carbon copy frequency-wise of what was playing back. ie - the warmth on the original should still be there.
    Typically analog warmth plugins are used on sources recorded digitally, since the warmth is actually caused by distortion introduced by the tape and analog recorder.
     
  7. paradise_hell

    paradise_hell Newbie

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    All the above answers...agreed.

    ever try Roundtone products...tape too. but i prefer kramer most of the time...almost on each group i put this kramer stuff..
     
  8. studio5599

    studio5599 Producer

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    Run it through Harrison Mix Bus and be Amazed awesome mixer link found on here tape saturation is what you seek
    http://audioz.info/audio-software/pc/37453-download_harrison-mixbus-v206.html true analog mixing
     
  9. rhythmatist

    rhythmatist Audiosexual

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    "Warm" is one of those terms thrown around a lot but is very subjective as to what it means. I'm not sure that is the term you are looking for here. It usually refers to the way harmonics introduced by the recording process combine to make things less brittle and harsh sounding. It sounds to me you are talking about the higher end frequency degradation that comes from storing magnetic tape for extended periods. How long and in what kind of environment were the tapes stored? Are you playing back on the same machine they were recorded on that has good heads, alignment, etc.? I have old 2 inch, 24track tapes and to re-play them after all these years you need to send to a place that puts them in an oven for a while so when they unwind the emulsion doesn't stick to the back of the tape. You really can't replace a magnetic domain that has been lost. A modeler can only imitate what is missing. You want as much of the original signal as you can get before you start letting machinery fill in what it thinks should go there. If the emulsion is not flaking off, you might be better off to put some very selective frequency compression and EQ,in combo with hiss reduction. I'm getting old. I remember a little about working with tape when that was all we had. lol And sometimes, when I'm staring at a blue screen or error message, I miss it.
     
  10. DimChandeliers

    DimChandeliers Ultrasonic

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    Thanks for the replies. I used the same make & model tape deck (Teac 3340) to do the transfer. The heads seemed to be in good shape.
    The tapes were stored in plastic bins in the attic. They were there for ten years. I didn't 'bake' them. The tranfer was direct from tape outputs to Phase 22 PCI card.

    I'll try some of the suggestions.
     
  11. musicfreak

    musicfreak Newbie

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    The Waves MPX Tape Distortion sounds really nice on the Master-Track. It can add
    some vibrato and slap-delay too for the "authentic shit". But its too big for putting
    it on a single Track imo.

    The Voxengo Overtone GEQ is my way to add some more of that harmonic content
    for naturally lush sounding recordings. Its subtle but very good.

    I think "warmth" is a combination of distortion and EQing afterwards. Maybe with
    a high shelf filter. If you ever recorded a track on a simple tape and back to your DAW you
    will think there is less bass and more treble. To make it fit in the mix you probably
    have to filter some of the high harmonics OUT afterwards and thats why its called
    "warmth" - (i dont know - just a thought :D) the mids are more focused and compact.

    I would say adding warmth is more a mixing thing than a puristic detail thing.
     
  12. thepopenale

    thepopenale Noisemaker

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    I was gonna say PSP Vinatge Warmer too. Just be aware that most of its presets have O.T.T. compression settings so keep an eye on that.
     
  13. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    good EQing :)
     
  14. thepopenale

    thepopenale Noisemaker

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    meh.

    you're right but EQing alone wouldnt be as effective as adding some gain to the signal too.

    The EQ section on the Vintage Warmer, though limited in options, sounds great when you give it a hearty boost.
     
  15. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    yh true i forgot to add saturation and compression :)
     
  16. Antilles

    Antilles Member

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    DUY DAD-tape and DUY DAD-Valve
     
  17. uber909

    uber909 Member

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    You can't get back what you've lost in the process.


    Two options:

    1) You archive your songs again with a better signal chain. => Safe.

    2) You add something different with any "warmth" plug. => Experimental.

    Good luck.
     
  18. nadirtozenith

    nadirtozenith Rock Star

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    hello, audioz-ers,

    beside the above mentioned things (also about the warmness thing), one of these might be helpful...

    Sound Toys Decapitator (mode a, t, p, n, e, in this order, however this is very program material dependent)

    URS Classic Console Strip Pro (input stage, maximum intensity, tube 1, tube 2, iron settings)

    URS Saturation (transformer american, transformer british, discrete mic pre british, tube)

    Izotope Ozone Advanced (multiband exciter, lot of settings, maximum drive, mix as needed)

    Izotope Alloy (multiband exciter, warm setting, maximum drive, mix as needed)

    Softube Focusing Equalizer

    Softube FET Compressor

    Softube Trident A-Range Equalizer

    Izotope Trash (read the recipes manuals)

    Nomad Factory Limiting Amplifier LM 662

    Nomad Factory Studio Channel SC 226

    Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Analog Track Box

    Wave Arts Tube Saturator

    Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Valve Driver ADR 2S

    Sonnox Oxford Inflator

    D16 Group Redoptor

    SPL Analog Code Twin Tube

    112 dB Redline Preamp

    112 dB Big Blue Limiter

    112 dB Redline Equalizer

    Nomad Factory Tube Screamer

    speaker distortion (very basic) can be found (is modeled) in...

    Magix Vandal Guitar Amplifier
    Peavey Electronics Revalver

    free plugs that sound good

    Goldberg Bootsy EQ Mark II
    Goldberg Ferric TDS
    Jeroen Breebaart Ferox
    AAY Audio ATube
    Voxengo Variable Saturator

    most probably there are lot of other things, these are what i have used in the past....

    the first couple of the plugs are able to enhance really deep sine sub basses, too (very rare, very dear capability)...

    all the best... :bow:
     
  19. subGENRE

    subGENRE Audiosexual

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    Kramer Tape + Slate VCC on every channel and the master *yes*

    Watch out for the emulated noise in the waves vintage stuff :wow:
     
  20. thepopenale

    thepopenale Noisemaker

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    Yeah I often get duped into a game of "Find The Noise". Some times I wouldn't notice until an hour into a project when I take a break.

    Then I gotta search through each VST/i and see whats causing it :sad:
     
  21. ZUK

    ZUK Rock Star

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    My choice:

    112dB Redline - Preamp
    Antares Avox Warm
    Cakewalk Tubeleveler
    CDSoundMaster - VTM-M2
    Magix - Am track / Am phibia
    Mellowmuse - Satv
    Nomad - Magnetic I / II
    PSP audioware - Vintagewarmer2 / Mixsaturator2
    SKnote - Roundtone / StripBus
    Sonimus - Satson
    Sound Toys - Decapitator
    URS - Saturation native
    Virsyn - Vtape
    Voxengo - Lampthruster / Warmifier / VariSaturator / Analog Flux Tape Bus
    Wavearts - Tube Saturator
    Waves - Kramer Tape Stereo

    There are a few plugins, I know, but everyone has their sound. :thumbsup:
    Note that almost all change the eq, and many are cleaner than others.
    When I say clean I mean to add warm/saturation/harmonic content without destroying or add noise to the original sound.
    Remember to be subtle. usually everyone go above applying effects. :wink:
     
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