MUSICLAB

Tag: Sidechain

  • How to use my computer to make a recording studio? (5: Effects)

    How to use my computer to make a recording studio? (5: Effects)

    In this serie:

    1. Introduction
    2. The audio interface
    3. The DAW
    4. Virtual Instruments (VST)
    5. Effects
    6. Cables&cables

    Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins are what amateur and professional recording engineers and artists use to enhance their audio projects. A plugin is a type of software that works inside another piece of software. Instead of working on its own, you plug it into something else (in our case, the DAW).

    If you’ve ever visited a recording studio, you’ve certainly noticed some racks containing objects called effects: they’re the equipment that allows the sound engineer to add details to the instruments, maybe some reverb, an echo, a compressor or a special effect. For a guitarist these are the studio equivalent of the numerous pedals at his feet, and the studio ones are much more refined, precise and expensive.

    The chain of effects can actually characterize the sound of an instrument in an important way, the famous case being the sound of the solos of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. Two notes are enough and you recognize it. Or Jimi Hendrix’s Wha Wha, and many other famous examples (and we are talking about just ONE effect).

    One of the most famous effects used by Gilmour is a delay called the Binson Echorec, a tape echo from days gone by.

    – (left) David tweaking his Binson II unit during A Saucerful of Secrets filmed at Pompeii. (right) David pictured at Earl’s Court, London, UK in May 1973 with a Binsin II and a Binson PE.

    That distinctive sound is so desired that many software houses has seen fit to create a replica of the delay in digital format, emulating not only the sound but also the look in the interface.

    A quick internet search for Binson Echorec VST will yield many results.

    This delay is just an example, you can find any kind of known and unknown effects, free and paid, in every category and often it will be just how you use effects that will shape your personal sound.

    Your DAW’s mixer will allow you to use them freely, even emulating rather refined techniques such as sidechain and parallel compression.

    The world of effects is a complex world, just as important as that of tools. Below is a probably partial list of the available audio effects organized by categories.

    Dynamic Effects

    Compression
    FET Compression
    Multi-band Compression
    Optical Compression
    Parallel/Manhattan Compression
    Sidechain Compression
    Variable Mu Compression
    VCA Compression
De-Esser
Distortion
    Bitcrushing
    Clipping
    Distortion
    Fuzz
    Overdrive
    Sample Rate Reduction
    Tape Saturation
    Valve Saturation
Exciter
Expander
Level
Limiting
Noise Gating
Noise Reduction
Transient Shaper

    Modulation Effects

    Chorus
Flanger
Phaser
Ring Modulation
Rotary Effect
Tremolo
Vibrato

    Sound Manipulation Processes

    Reverse
Time Compression
Time Expansion

    Spectral Processes

    Equalization
    Dynamic EQ
    Graphic EQ
    Parametric EQ
    Semi-Parametric EQ
    Shelving EQ
Filters
    Band-pass Filter
    Bell Curve Filter
    Envelope Filter
    High-pass Filter
    High Shelf Filter
    Low-pass Filter
    Low Shelf Filter
    Notch Filter
    Wah
Imaging
Panning
Pitch Correction
Pitch Shifting

    Time-Based Effects

    Delay
    Analog (BBD) Delay
    Digital Delay
    Doubling Echo
    Haas Effect
    Ping Pong Delay
    Reverse Delay
    Shimmer Delay
    Slapback Delay
    Tape Delay
Looping
Reverb
    Acoustic Emulation Reverb
    Bloom Reverb
    Convolution Reverb
    Gated Reverb
    Plate Reverb
    Reverse Reverb
    Shimmer Reverb
    Spring Reverb

    Some Free VST effects plugins (list is very bog, just do a search for free VST effect on web):

    Have fun, don’t listen to the various gurus, find your own way creating your personal, distinctive sound.