Slate Digital FG-X Mastering Processor

[Ermz]

I hope that at least proves that up until now Ozone 4 has owned Voxengo Elephant, even if few wanted to admit it.

Can definitely see how FG-X retains the most transients there, Steven. It's hard to argue. There is an overall sense of clarity, much closer to the mix itself than any of the others. Though I have to say, from a personal perspective, I actually kind of like what Ozone does to it, in terms of subduing the peakyness. Errant transients were never really a love of mine, and whilst it's amazing that you've created a tool which can retain them in a master, I still have some love for the tools that subdue them slightly, despite how crazy that may sound. Maybe that's just the way my approach developed after mixing through peak limiters and clippers for so long.

Honestly, I'd be happy using either, and since I'm fortunate enough to have both I most likely will!

Thanks again for the comparisons.

 

[Slate]

Thanks for listening Ermz. My team and I will be in Melbourne doing some seminars in September, we'll have to meet up!

 

[Ermz]

Would be my pleasure. We can give you the guided tour of our favourite watering holes for escaping the punishing Aussie weather

 

[Emdprodukt]

First question: Can you give us a a long-time-user-discount so I can actually afford FG-X ?

 

[ParsonsMatt]

Will definitely be buying this to use on my new projects Can't wait!

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Using Elephant as limiter. (masters punch +3 preset, pushed up to 4)
Gclip for the loudness
And more processing stuff
http://catharsis.supremepixels.com/Erik/Dandelium/Elephant.wav

 

[Ermz]

I'm definitely preferring the FG-X clip to that one, Erik. Though one interesting thing is that the chorus seems more 'glued' with the Elephant/GClip chain because everything is getting squashed down. It's astounding how much our minds can get accustomed to a certain sound, after hearing it on the radio or on records for long enough. For me a squashed chorus just sounds 'normal' now, and I'm struggling to deal with the kick and snare transients actually existing. Anyway, the FG-X definitely sounds much stronger on this end.

 

[abt]

Thanks for listening Ermz. My team and I will be in Melbourne doing some seminars in September, we'll have to meet up!

Are you doing anything in Sydney?

 

[dcb]

officially a slate fg x user now ;-) i did some remastering for my latest production - and it kicked ozones ass.
something im not sure about is the low end transient shaper. to me it feels, that you run into overusing this thing
very fast. the low end gets a little blurry when overdone.
definately loving the high end transients on my masters now!
thanks steven for a wonderful product!

 

[Machinated]

just demoing, and I am liking it. Haven't put it through its paces on different styles yet but that will come in time.

I heard the afformentioned crackling noise to begin with, but I managed to get rid of it (or at least most of it) with a bit of tweaking. The transient controls are really nice (just don't overdo them). Also helped to run an EQ just before it to tweak the low end (bringing it gradually louder whilst looking out for artifacts). will more than likely buy this soonish, just want to check there is no upgrade path for those who have bought everything slate so far? I've been away on holiday for the past week so I may have missed something.

Cheers!

Also a quick note - moving the plugin on a different slot in logic caused it to lose all its settings (not sure if this is a demo only thing or not - if its only on the demo thats fine).

 

[FIXXXER]

is there any discount for TRIGGER users!?

 

[Erik Monsonis]

I'm definitely preferring the FG-X clip to that one, Erik. Though one interesting thing is that the chorus seems more 'glued' with the Elephant/GClip chain because everything is getting squashed down. It's astounding how much our minds can get accustomed to a certain sound, after hearing it on the radio or on records for long enough. For me a squashed chorus just sounds 'normal' now, and I'm struggling to deal with the kick and snare transients actually existing. Anyway, the FG-X definitely sounds much stronger on this end.

Yeah, I agree with you, but I was just showing that transients can be preserved more than the original clips in Elephant, the difference between a good use of Elephant and other mastering software can be even smaller (I'm by no means Mastering engineer).

And yeah, I might be buying the FG-X, to me sounds completely transparent.

 

[Slate]

Guys, use the Transient shapers only when necessary.. If its your own mix and you can go back and mix the kick louder (if it needs it), then do it. The transient stuff is for mastering engineers who can't remix the songs and who want some subtle low end or high end smack in the final master.. You are right that you can quickly overdo them.

And as its been said, the FG-X likes balance in the lows.. so during your fast blast stuff, if the sub lows build up in mudddd.. the FG-X will let you know! Once you balance the lows, if you do have any distortion, move the ITP down a bit to make the curves a bit less aggressive.

Overall I hope you guys find that the FG-X is by far the cleanest and punchiest way to go loud!

 

[Lasse Lammert]

is there any discount for TRIGGER users!?

I'd actually be interested in this, too!
I'm loving my finalizer, so I won't buy FGX for the price you're asking for (not saying it's too expensive! just saying that I don't think I need FGX and IF I'll be using it at all it'd be very rarely to augment the finalizer).
so if there's a discount I might actually be tempted to try it.

 

[Emdprodukt]

I'd actually be interested in this, too!
I'm loving my finalizer, so I won't buy FGX for the price you're asking for (not saying it's too expensive! just saying that I don't think I need FGX and IF I'll be using it at all it'd be very rarely to augment the finalizer).
so if there's a discount I might actually be tempted to try it.

+ 10

allready payed for ozone and elephant. I would probably sell them if we get a discount for FG-X. Steven, how about a Slate Digital Flatrate? ;D If you keep the quality of your products that high I'm totally sold.

 

[gabriel g.]

I dont think there will be any discount this time, but Steven said on gearslutz that there will be MAYBE a discount for the studio-consoles...

Steven, if you do any discount, whats with the people who bought the fg-x for the normal price?!?!?!?!

I would be totaly pissed to find out I paid 250€ and then see a discount!!!!!

 

[dcb]

I dont think there will be any discount this time, but Steven said on gearslutz that there will be MAYBE a discount for the studio-consoles...

Steven, if you do any discount, whats with the people who bought the fg-x for the normal price?!?!?!?!

I would be totaly pissed to find out I paid 250€ and then see a discount!!!!!

+ 1 uad hasnt lowered their prices for massive passive since it came out.
so i dont think they will offer discount on this thing. would make some customers who payed full on the product go

 

[Slate]

Well, I'll be honest with you guys. The development of the FG-X has cost a lot of money. Therefore we can't offer any customer discounts on it, at least not yet, but I can assure you that:

FG-X users will get a discount on Virtual Consoles
FG-X sounds leagues better then the Finalizer
FG-X will pay for itself when your clients hear how clear and punchy their record sounds!

 

[~BURNY~]

As a non-whiner owner of Slate Drums Platinum+Trigger+FX-G, can I have VC for free?

 

[Josh Burgess]

Well, I'll be honest with you guys. The development of the FG-X has cost a lot of money. Therefore we can't offer any customer discounts on it, at least not yet, but I can assure you that:

FG-X users will get a discount on Virtual Consoles
FG-X sounds leagues better then the Finalizer
FG-X will pay for itself when your clients hear how clear and punchy their record sounds!

So, are you saying you don't think the albums Andy has mastered are clear and punchy? Are you going to call him up and tell him he should stop using the finalizer?