Softube CL1B Compressor goes Native

Ermz

Ermz

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Apr 5, 2002
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This is a big one. This plug-in was only available for the TC Powercore platform until recently. It is widely renowned as one of the best analogue emulations available, and it's now available to a much greater percentile of us.

Here's the link: http://www.softube.se/index.php?p=news

You can find some videos, and audio demos there, as well as a 10 day trial if you have an iLok.

I've downloaded mine just now and will shoot it out against the Waves CLA Compressors and PSP Old Timer tomorrow.
 
FWIW I just bought it after I auditioned it on multiple sources next to the Waves CLA pack and the PSP Old Timer.

There is no contest. This is the most analogue and musical sounding comp plug-in out of the lot.

As far as price... it can be had for $275 US, but it has enough settings and features to be able to match almost all 4 of the Waves CLA comps. Think of 'fixed mode' as the 1176 setting, and the 'fix/manual' mode as the LA comps. Then think of manual mode as your normal compressor where you can assign your own attack and release! Very flexible.
 
I want this so fucking bad.

OMGGGGGGGGGGG.

I may demo it next weekend when I go to track vox for our current production and run it on the input channel and just fuckin' print it, no going back, as if I was using the actual hardware during tracking.

Should I do it?

=D I've only got a 10-day window and I figure if I use it, it'd be best to use it on vox straight away.. MMMM, delightful.
 
Yeah, amazingly I found it to be most effective on drums and bass... bass especially. It was the only compressor that totally PINNED the track and enhanced the growl. The difference between it and the other comps was absurd there. The CL1B is way more colored.

Since my shootout thread is bombing out, here is a small sampling of it on bass, alongside the uncompressed track and the CLA1176, you work out which one the CL1B is! :)

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/285689/Forum/Compressor Shoot-out/bass-raw.mp3

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/285689/Forum/Compressor Shoot-out/bass-1.mp3

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/285689/Forum/Compressor Shoot-out/bass-2.mp3
 
Haha, holy shit. Bass 2 is the CL1B, correct?

I put the demo on my studio computer before I left for the night and am anxiously awaiting using it tomorrow on the vocals!

Since I only have 10 days to demo, I'm just going to wing it and print it to the track. The vocalist for this band is only in town on the weekends and we're going to get all 5 songs done for this EP done tomorrow, god willing.

Ermz, be on the lookout for this EP. It'll be done soon and I'll hit you up with a link. If you like Whitechapel at all, you'll love this band. ESPECIALLY the vocals, I swear to god this guys vocals are the BEST extreme vocals I have EVERRR recorded and I've mixed Whitechapel, lol.
 
OK, so, back from the days session. Went AMAZING. 3 out of 5 songs done (this dude is absolutely talented and I had him doing all kinds of crazy layering and he was able to pull off ALL my ideas!

Anyways, I ran the Tubetech plug on the input, printed to track. Started with the male vocal preset (which is in fixed mode, 1176-ish) and aimed for fairly conservative compression. All I can say is:
:OMG:

This thing sounds BEAUTIFUL. SO musical and I've never heard an ITB compressor break up in such a pleasing way with such AMAZING color and tonality. I had the plug taking off maybe 10dB in the hottest sections and it all sounds better than I could have imagined.

I thew it on the bass track and guess what, it's NEVER leaving. LOL.

Also threw it on my snare track and instantly this rough mix started sounding like a record the more and more I tweaked it, replacing some of my compressor plugs (mostly PSP OldTimer) w/the Tubetech and tweaked a bit.

MY GOD.

I just need to get some hardware pieces and move on with life, enjoying the glory, haha.
 
Totally right man, 'Bass 2' was the CL1B. Trust me when I tell you that all the very best native comps I have - including the CLA pack - sounded almost indistinguishable from #1. They had their own slight nuances, but the CL1B was the only that made me think 'fuck, this is what my analogue comps would be doing to the sound'.

The Softube guys really know their shit, and the added benefit is that we don't have to give our money to Waves.

I'm really glad to hear you had a good session today. Can't wait to hear what sort of work you're doing these days, so bring it on whenever it's ready!
 
SigmundFreud33 said:
Haha, holy shit. Bass 2 is the CL1B, correct?

I put the demo on my studio computer before I left for the night and am anxiously awaiting using it tomorrow on the vocals!

Since I only have 10 days to demo, I'm just going to wing it and print it to the track. The vocalist for this band is only in town on the weekends and we're going to get all 5 songs done for this EP done tomorrow, god willing.

Ermz, be on the lookout for this EP. It'll be done soon and I'll hit you up with a link. If you like Whitechapel at all, you'll love this band. ESPECIALLY the vocals, I swear to god this guys vocals are the BEST extreme vocals I have EVERRR recorded and I've mixed Whitechapel, lol.
Click to expand...

I am really interested to hear the results on this guys vox. Please post a clip if you can - cheers!
 
Yes, an added note, anytime I refer or talk about a band or session, my man Phil is assumed to be right next to me =D. Him and I own and run our studio together!

I will post a clip when the masters are totally down. I don't think the band wants any of this getting out there. Plus, the guitars are just Podfarm right now, but FUCK do they sound brutal!

As you can tell, I'm stoked!

I'm listening to it now, and I can't believe what it did to my snare and tom sound. It's compressed fucking PERFECTLY.

Thanks Ermz!
 
CJ, Do you record the compressed vocal or do you print it to a track after the recordings?
If it's the 1st case, how do I have to set in PT to record directly the plugin sound?
 
::XeS:: said:
CJ, Do you record the compressed vocal or do you print it to a track after the recordings?
If it's the 1st case, how do I have to set in PT to record directly the plugin sound?
Click to expand...

Bro, for the first time ever, I said fuck it and actually recorded the COMPRESSED vocal as if I had the actual hardware. So, I'm stuck w/the compressed vocal whether I like it or not.

Luckily, it sounds fucking AMAZING and I couldn't be HAPPIER recording the vox this way. Going to be my go-to from now on.

I use Nuendo, so I have no idea how to do that in PT. I don't even know if you can? I know you can monitor through it but I don't think it will actually print it on the track while recording unless you bounce it down the Tubetech on as an insert.

At least, thats what I remember from using PT! =D
 
1 - create a aux input and insert the plugin in this channel.
2 - put the input of the mic in this aux channel
3 - route the aux to a bus
4 - create an audio channel with this bus in its input
5 - REC!
 
Really happy to hear that the compressor is working out so well for you Charlie. I've yet to give it a run on a serious mix, but the time for that is nearing.

Also, you guys are lucky to be able to work in a team. I always preferred that way, because things get done so much quicker. Unfortunately the budgets here barely cover one technician, much less two!
 
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