Saturation is an often misunderstood process, sometimes written off as basic distortion effect, too subtle for most uses. While this isn’t entirely inaccurate, saturation has a lot to offer and can impart a true analog flavor on our mixes if used correctly. Most saturation plug-ins are pretty simple devices, but the real key to using the effect is understanding how it works. Let’s take a look at the process in detail and then we can go through a few examples of a few saturation plug-ins in action.
Audiotuts+ Author - Mo Volans
Posts by Mo Volans
Mastering Your Sampler’s Synthesis Engine
Jun 20th in Production by Mo VolansYou may not realize it, but the software or hardware sampler you own is likely to contain a powerful synthesis engine under the hood. If you haven’t explored it fully you may be missing out on a valuable resource in your studio.
Understanding Ableton Live 8’s New Groove Engine
Jun 11th in Production by Mo VolansAbleton has introduced a huge list of new features into the latest version of Live. Amongst some of the highlights are new instruments, new warp algorithms and even several new effects plug-ins.
All these features are impressive (and some of them definitely deserve their own tutorials), but one of the most important updates for many users is the introduction of a brand new groove engine, so let’s get stuck in and see how it works.
Using Rewire to Expand Your Audio Toolset
Jun 8th in Mixing & Mastering by Mo VolansAs producing completely ‘in the box’ fast becomes the norm, it’s essential we maximize the potential of our computer set up. Of course, improving our computer hardware and investing in new sample libraries is one way to do this—but another is to seamlessly wire together our applications using Rewire.
Rewire is often underestimated and in many cases goes unused. Using Rewire correctly can actually expand your sound palette, avoid unnecessary rendering and even add extra processing tools to your DAW. Let’s take a look at how Rewire works, some of its history and a few situations we can use it in.
Producing and Mastering a DJ Set
May 22nd in Mixing & Mastering by Mo VolansSo you have your beat mixing down to a fine art and you have a great collection of tunes. You have recorded your latest live show or have put the finishing touches on a promotional set in the studio. The question is what do you do now?
To turn the recording into a really listenable product it’s a good idea to apply some basic mastering and ensure that it’s in the right format. It’s also important to be able to insert track markers if you intend to burn to CD. Here are a few tips to get you going.
Creating Rich Soundscapes with Organic & Electronic Sounds
May 18th in Production, Recording by Mo VolansCreating lush, expansive back drops can be a key part of a successful chill-out track or a great breakdown. Producing something truly original in this area requires a bit of creativity.
There’s always the temptation to use an impressive pad sound from the latest super plug-in, but to really stand out from the crowd you need to dip your toes into the world of sound design.
How to Use Buss Compression
May 4th in Mixing & Mastering by Mo VolansCompression can be a pretty confusing subject. With so much jargon and literally thousands of different compressors to choose from it’s no wonder some less experienced producers get a little stumped from time to time.
One area of compression that appears to remain a mystery to some is that of buss compression. This is one that I’m asked about a lot, so let’s take a look at the ins and outs of the process and shed some light on the subject.
How to Create a Wide Synth String Patch
Apr 27th in Production by Mo VolansFollowing my recent tutorial on creating classic synth FX, I thought it may be helpful to some of you to see some other sounds constructed using the same basic format. This tutorial focuses on building a wide synth string sound, with some interesting modulation routing.
First you will see the sound constructed step by step using the FAW ‘Circle’ soft synth and then the patch will be recreated using a number of instruments from popular DAWs. Obviously the recreations may not be exactly the same as the original patch but they should show that any synth can be used to create a good range of sounds.
How to Manage & Minimize Latency in Your Audio Projects
Apr 13th in Recording by Mo VolansWhatever genre you are working in and whatever DAW you use to produce your music, it is likely you have suffered from latency issues at some point. Whether you are aware of it or not latency can be a real problem in the modern digital studio and can really effect your workflow.
To help you tackle this tricky subject I’ll break it down into easy segments, starting with what latency actually is and following onto subjects such as optimizing your system and how to tackle latency throughout your workflow.
The Top 6 New Features of Cubase 5
Apr 13th in Production by Mo VolansThe new version of Cubase has landed with some pretty impressive new features that will be interesting to both new and seasoned users alike. Let’s take a look at a few ground-breaking features the new version has to offer and see if these latest additions keep Cubase up there with the other big guns.
