VBC Released
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The-Zeronaut
Mixing..Y U SO DIFFICULT?
- Sep 24, 2007
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The two activations is so you can have on two different iloks (YOU) like having an ilok for your home and other for your studio, or one for the laptop and the other one for the studio pc, or just to have the second one as a backup...
You cant buy it with friend and use each one an activation
Slate has done this because of the ilok problems we had some days ago ..so you can have a backup
The-Zeronaut
Mixing..Y U SO DIFFICULT?
- Sep 24, 2007
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Steven said this on gearslutz (pretty cool idea)
I almost forgot to mention! Another cool thing (and this was Fabrice's very clever idea) is that on the GREY, when you switch to different attack times, the threshold is adjusted for EQUAL gain reduction.
On the hardware unit, if you switch from a fast attack to a slow attack, you have to decrease the threshold in order to get the same gain reduction. This makes it a bit more difficult to compare attack times on material. I find this very handy! Check it out.
I almost forgot to mention! Another cool thing (and this was Fabrice's very clever idea) is that on the GREY, when you switch to different attack times, the threshold is adjusted for EQUAL gain reduction.
On the hardware unit, if you switch from a fast attack to a slow attack, you have to decrease the threshold in order to get the same gain reduction. This makes it a bit more difficult to compare attack times on material. I find this very handy! Check it out.
right_to_rage
Member
- Feb 16, 2009
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JeffTD
Senhor Testiculo
HOFX
Member
- Apr 12, 2012
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So, two acoustic mixes, one before going through VBC, the next passing through VBC Rack. I've done a quick level match before rendering too to even up. Keep in mind I'm just a bedroom warrior, I don't hold myself as a professional, just a musician that enjoys the hobby. That said, I like to think my experience is of interest to this discussion.
Guitars were recorded with a pair of NT5s. There is VCC and VTM on the tracks before going into VCC Buss and VTM 1/2" tape.
With the VBC, it was going through Grey, Red (no gain reduction) then Mu. On Mu, it was set to mid-side setting, quick attack/release on mid, slow attack, quick release. Only slight gain reduction on each channel, and 0.5 db make up gain on the side (I'm aware this has added to increase in stereo width, but that was intentional).
What I can hear, apart from increase stereo width, is an overall sheen applied to the sound, the track sounds a lot more exciting with different picked notes plucking out nicely but not inordinately, the vocals, which usually have this mid range grating to it that makes it hard for me to find a place for it sounds like it's more part of the track.
Overall, it's gone from something that sounds like I recorded in my room, and accepted the limitations in results, to something that I would be happy to pay for.
I wish this came out 12 years ago, when I first heard of compressors, because I can hear clear as day what changing the attack and release time does to the signal, along with the amount of gain reduction. I feel it allows me to go "ok, this is what I want this to sound like, theory tells me I should start with the knobs here" and the results are what you expect. Not a sludgy mess that I try to EQ again, compress again, EQ again....blah...
Also, it's a cover song, played and sung by me.
Before VBC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/smcxn7v508wx8wc/San_Celeste-Green_Corn-UNMASTERED.wav
After VBC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/muq7e8l14dbr0ze/San_Celeste-Green_Corn-MASTERED.wav
Guitars were recorded with a pair of NT5s. There is VCC and VTM on the tracks before going into VCC Buss and VTM 1/2" tape.
With the VBC, it was going through Grey, Red (no gain reduction) then Mu. On Mu, it was set to mid-side setting, quick attack/release on mid, slow attack, quick release. Only slight gain reduction on each channel, and 0.5 db make up gain on the side (I'm aware this has added to increase in stereo width, but that was intentional).
What I can hear, apart from increase stereo width, is an overall sheen applied to the sound, the track sounds a lot more exciting with different picked notes plucking out nicely but not inordinately, the vocals, which usually have this mid range grating to it that makes it hard for me to find a place for it sounds like it's more part of the track.
Overall, it's gone from something that sounds like I recorded in my room, and accepted the limitations in results, to something that I would be happy to pay for.
I wish this came out 12 years ago, when I first heard of compressors, because I can hear clear as day what changing the attack and release time does to the signal, along with the amount of gain reduction. I feel it allows me to go "ok, this is what I want this to sound like, theory tells me I should start with the knobs here" and the results are what you expect. Not a sludgy mess that I try to EQ again, compress again, EQ again....blah...
Also, it's a cover song, played and sung by me.
Before VBC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/smcxn7v508wx8wc/San_Celeste-Green_Corn-UNMASTERED.wav
After VBC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/muq7e8l14dbr0ze/San_Celeste-Green_Corn-MASTERED.wav
Max Morton
Member
I'm afraid to admit it, but after testing VBC, I won't calm down until I buy it... Stunningly great compressors, and not just in bus/group domain.
Stunningly great compressors, and not just in bus/group domain.
mva801
Member
- Nov 18, 2009
- 1,870
- 13
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Gah maybe I'll get this before VTM. I'll have to check the website and see how long it's on sale. I'm in love with the Vari-mu and the C2 we have at the studio, so if these are faithful, having them everywhere is just fucking worth it. Even if I don't want to spend the money right now. Damn you Slate.
Melb_shredder
Orpheus: Melodic Death
Played around with it! I love it. It definitely wouldn't replace my GSSL outboard, but this is a damn good piece of kit which gives me some different flavors AND... obviously being a plugin.. multi instances instead of printing everything all the time!
Good stuff \m/ I'm finding a LOT more love for this than VTM to be honest!
Good stuff \m/ I'm finding a LOT more love for this than VTM to be honest!
TRUIE
Member
Great cover of a great NoFX song ahah !!
The VBC/mastered version sounds amazing indeed, less dry sounding and way more consistent/homogeneous in a good way.
Way more polished too.
I have to download the demo... but I'm afraid to like it, as I don't have the cash for it right now !
The-Zeronaut
Mixing..Y U SO DIFFICULT?
- Sep 24, 2007
- 1,794
- 5
- 38
Some tips for VBC Steven gave on Gearslutz:
In mastering, do the "Howie Weinberg" and go through the FG-RED without compression, just using the DRIVE to excite the transients.
In mastering, before you eq the mix, toss it through the FG-MU without any compression to let the virtual tubes and trannies tighten up the bottom, thicken the mids, and do that airy gloss thing to the top.
For hard rock mixing, start off mixing into the FG-GREY with the first classic preset but push the threshold until you're really slamming 5-8db of compression on the mix.. Everything is gonna sit really big and if you have wide panned heavy guitars, they're gonna pop out of the speakers.
When using the CLA preset on FG-RED, 2-3db of compression should do the trick.. it's a pretty strong setting despite the 1.5:1 ratio.
On Drum buss, use the MU and crank the input till you get some tasty distortion, and then back down the wet/dry until it you're getting just a bit of extra OOOMPH.
Wide rock guitar buss: FG-GREY on medium attack and fastest release for a super in your face sound.
FG MU is amazing on background vox buss. Can blend them together really well and add some air.
Metal Mix... try FG-GREY attack 3 and auto release for some fat punch or for a more defined punch use the CLA preset on FG-RED. Or combine both and back down the wet/dry ratios.
In mastering, do the "Howie Weinberg" and go through the FG-RED without compression, just using the DRIVE to excite the transients.
In mastering, before you eq the mix, toss it through the FG-MU without any compression to let the virtual tubes and trannies tighten up the bottom, thicken the mids, and do that airy gloss thing to the top.
For hard rock mixing, start off mixing into the FG-GREY with the first classic preset but push the threshold until you're really slamming 5-8db of compression on the mix.. Everything is gonna sit really big and if you have wide panned heavy guitars, they're gonna pop out of the speakers.
When using the CLA preset on FG-RED, 2-3db of compression should do the trick.. it's a pretty strong setting despite the 1.5:1 ratio.
On Drum buss, use the MU and crank the input till you get some tasty distortion, and then back down the wet/dry until it you're getting just a bit of extra OOOMPH.
Wide rock guitar buss: FG-GREY on medium attack and fastest release for a super in your face sound.
FG MU is amazing on background vox buss. Can blend them together really well and add some air.
Metal Mix... try FG-GREY attack 3 and auto release for some fat punch or for a more defined punch use the CLA preset on FG-RED. Or combine both and back down the wet/dry ratios.
egan.
daylightdies.com
HOFX
Member
- Apr 12, 2012
- 469
- 0
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Tonight I'm going to try something that I've never achieved before: a punchy, slamming kit from the standard BFD2 kits. I'll post results with FX on and off.
If anyone has any tracks they want me to run through VBC, post them up in the next day or two with a rough guide to settings you want (attack/release times, gain reduction, particular compressor or whole rack, also if you want VCC or VTM processing [or maybe not if that muddies the comparison]) and I'll run them through for you and re-post results for comparison.
If anyone has any tracks they want me to run through VBC, post them up in the next day or two with a rough guide to settings you want (attack/release times, gain reduction, particular compressor or whole rack, also if you want VCC or VTM processing [or maybe not if that muddies the comparison]) and I'll run them through for you and re-post results for comparison.
HOFX
Member
- Apr 12, 2012
- 469
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I can confirm. On my Intel Q6600 the rack takes 6 % CPU. Given the age of the computer and the amount of processing going on with all 3 compressors engaged, I'd rate this as quite efficient.
HOFX
Member
- Apr 12, 2012
- 469
- 0
- 16
Great cover of a great NoFX song ahah !!
The VBC/mastered version sounds amazing indeed, less dry sounding and way more consistent/homogeneous in a good way.
Way more polished too.
I have to download the demo... but I'm afraid to like it, as I don't have the cash for it right now !
Thanks mate.
It'll be $200 well spent.
