#pluginreview

Arturia's synthesizer preset collection 'Analog Lab' Clear Targeted Version: Play Sound Samples First Impressions Detailed Manipulation for Additional Sound Design Limited Number of Presets Desiring a Virtual Instrument that Inspires Learning

Arturia's synthesizer preset collection 'Analog Lab'

Arturia's Analog Lab is akin to Native Instruments' Play series. Both companies are renowned for their virtual instrument plugins. Analog Lab and the Play series both aim to facilitate easy sound manipulation with simple operations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1BSnJP3Flc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbQ5QnpHjdg However, Analog Lab has a slightly different nature right from its name. While NI's Play series mainly focuses on sampling instruments suitable for specific genres or styles, Analog Lab is a collection of presets utilizing the sounds of Arturia's analog synthesizer modeling products (V Collection). Yet, the interface is not complex. The sound remains analog-like, while the user interface is intuitive and follows abstract imagery. In that aspect, it seems to be a good choice for users seeking both analog sound and convenience.

Clear Targeted Version: Play

The latest version of Analog Lab is Analog Lab V. Recently, Arturia has switched the sales approach of Analog Lab V to 'Pro' and 'Play' versions. Play is a free version with some features restricted. While it might be a very 'personal' thought, I wonder if this move is aimed at the Play series of Native Instruments. Nevertheless, these two products have similar intentions and characteristics. Manipulating every knob and parameter of a synthesizer to create sound can be fun but quite exhausting. Especially if you're clicking on a small monitor with a mouse, it can be frustrating. As someone lacking expertise and manic passion in synthesizing, I naturally became curious about the direction of a product like Analog Lab Play. Installing Analog Lab V through the Arturia Software Center grants full access to the Pro version for licensed users, while Analog Lab Play seems to be activated for non-purchasers. Currently, the installed virtual instrument or download manager still displays 'Analog Lab V,' but the official name has been changed to 'Analog Lab' on the Arturia website. Moreover, it appears as 'Analog Lab Pro' on search engines, leading to confusion regarding the product name, indicating a need for improvement.

Sound Samples

First Impressions

Whether it's a synthesizer or an amp simulator, the sound set as the 'first sound' when you load a plugin is crucial. Although users may change it to their desired sound, the initial sound when launching a virtual instrument should provide satisfaction and excitement, as it sets the tone for the experience. Analog Lab Play starts with an EP sound reminiscent of the JUNO series. I wanted to try different sounds immediately but found out that I could switch to the next preset directly using the left and right arrow keys without moving the mouse. I only realized this feature later and changed presets using the mouse initially, but I wonder if it would have been helpful to have a popup guide at the beginning.

Switching presets with the keyboard arrow keys navigates through different categories of presets such as EP, bass, strings, leads, etc. It's not random but follows a predetermined order. However, looking at the order within 'All Presets,' it doesn't seem to align with the direction keys. While it might not be significant, it feels like they're arranged more as a demo or trial experience. It would have been more intriguing if the sounds changed randomly.

Once you specify the preset category and press the arrow keys, the sound changes within that category. You can also categorize presets based on sound type or instrument type in the browser. Additional sounds can be purchased from the store.

Detailed Manipulation for Additional Sound Design

I found myself just pressing the arrow keys to listen to different sounds without needing to touch the mouse or do anything special. This seemed to be the identity and intent of this Play version. Nevertheless, some sound modifications are possible.

You can manipulate knobs like Brightness, Timbre, Time, Movement, etc., for basic sound design. Depending on the preset, controls like Reverb become available instead of Brightness, tailored to the sound's characteristics. Adjusting the Mix knobs of effects like Chorus, Phaser, or Compressor allows you to completely remove or increase the effects. Reverb and delay can also be controlled separately with volume knobs.

You can mix an 808 drum with applied amp sound using the Mix knob. In fact, to implement such FX effects with effectors, you would need to manipulate more knobs. There seems to be evidence of considering what minimal controls are needed while using this preset. Although the Play version provides only a simplified set of knobs for sound manipulation besides selecting presets, it still allows for various sound designs.

The Keyboard Split feature, which has been available in Analog Lab, is also usable in the Play version. For presets mainly composed of layered pad sounds, you can see orange and green lines on the virtual keyboard. Two sounds are playing in these presets, and by assigning these two lines to certain keys, you can allocate MIDI notes to be played. It's an advantage to have such excellent features of Analog Lab available for free.

Limited Number of Presets

The most significant limitation of the Play version is the small number of presets. While the possibilities of extensive sound design offered in the Pro version might be a merit for those proficient in composition, the fact that more presets can be used is undeniably the real advantage of the Analog Lab series, which pursues simplicity and convenience.

The Play version allows for 100 presets. While this might not be too few, categories like EP have only 4 presets, and drums have only 7, making the scarcity of presets quite apparent. The Pro version offers 2,000 presets and the ability to add custom presets. The regular price of Analog Lab Pro is $199. Although it's currently discounted to $99, it still raises doubts whether upgrading at such a price from the free version is worthwhile. Perhaps the Play version already offers too much? If you're considering purchasing after trying the Play version, it might be more beneficial in the long run to buy the V Collection, which provides more freedom and utility.

Desiring a Virtual Instrument that Inspires Learning

As virtual instrument usage becomes more simplified and accessible, there are concerns as well. Analog Lab Play allows for the easy use of satisfying, good-quality sounds without much effort. Furthermore, if MIDI sample packs easily available on the internet are used, composition might just become looping MIDI files while pressing arrow keys to browse presets.

Guitar Rig is likely one of the most famous amp simulator plugins in the market. Despite various brands like IK Multimedia, Positive Grid, Brainworx, Neural DSP releasing their own amp simulators, Guitar Rig, launched in 2004, has maintained high visibility in the guitar software market, updating to version 7 this year.

The Guitar Rig 7, released three years after version 6 in 2020, brings some notable updates. The Intelligent Circuit Modeling (ICM) technology, introduced in Guitar Rig 6, is expanded to include more amps. According to Native Instruments, ICM uses machine learning to precisely replicate the feel of hardware. Additionally, features added through a collaboration with iZotope catch attention. The 'Kolor' saturation plugin, adding color to the tone, includes two settings from iZotope's Trash. Moreover, the Maximizer module from Ozone is incorporated, providing effective control over guitar track volumes.

Guitar Rig has traditionally stuck to a rack-style interface design. However, version 7 introduces a sidebar on the right, allowing users to see the signal flow of connected modules at a glance. Users can drag and rearrange modules easily by looking at the sidebar.

Amp Modeling Quality in Guitar Rig 7 Pro

As of 2023, most amp simulators already deliver high-quality sound. However, Guitar Rig's amp modeling leans towards convenience rather than hyper-realism. This doesn't mean Guitar Rig sounds bad; it provides well-crafted and clean tones. Compared to products like Amplitube or Brainworx, Guitar Rig offers a smoother feel with less gritty texture. The noise gate effectively manages noise without compromising the overall tone.

If you're seeking ultra-realistic amp sounds or the raw feel of a tube amp, Guitar Rig's sound might not align with your preferences. However, for composers and producers needing clean and organized guitar recordings, it's incredibly convenient. Regarding mic positioning, unlike Amplitube's extensive options, Guitar Rig offers two mic settings with the ability to blend distances. While this may be a limitation for users wanting intricate control, it's a user-friendly feature for those who prefer adjusting mic distance and room tone with a single slider. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex-POrZDAmI

Diverse Presets Offered

One standout feature that sets Guitar Rig apart is its multitude of presets. Unlike some products that focus on amp head settings and basic effects, Guitar Rig shines when it comes to incorporating various FX modules in a rack-style setup. Starting from simple guitar effect pedals like overdrive, distortion, delay, and reverb, Guitar Rig allows users to explore harmonic exciters, synthesizers, and unique spatial effects. Even without delving into individual module settings, the default presets provide a wide range of tones. This is a significant advantage for composers and producers, offering the opportunity to experiment with a plethora of effects almost at the level of synthesizers. Guitar Rig is not limited to guitars; it can be used as an effective effects processor for drums, EP, and other instruments, thanks to presets tailored to different input styles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqNCIswZaI

Input/Output Gain Staging

Amp simulators respond richly to input gain control, and Guitar Rig is no exception. While it tends to deliver clean tones, pushing the input gain provides enough room for gritty tone shaping. However, for experiencing the effects of various modules and presets, excessively raising the input gain is unnecessary. Desired effects can be achieved with minimal gain. Output gain staging is also convenient. Avoiding clipping issues is easily managed with built-in limiters, Ozone's maximizer, and volume modules. Balancing the volume gap between clean and driven tones is effortlessly achievable.

Conclusion on Guitar Rig 7 Pro

Mpressor is a hardware compressor originally manufactured by Elysia. With the help of modern technology, it is now also available as an audio plugin through the Plugin Alliance or Universal Audio platforms. About Elysia What is Compressor? Mpressor FeatureThreshold Attack, Release Ratio EQ Gain, EQ Freq GR Limit Gain Floor Conclusion

Picture=Plugin Alliance

About Elysia

Founded in Nettetal Germany in 2005 by Ruben Tilgner and Dominik Klaßen, elysia began as an obsession: Would it actually be possible to really build the special machine they had in mind, with all the features and sound characteristics they dreamed of? The answer, in the form of their first and still flagship product, the alpha compressor, was yes! Since then, elysia has become a union of creative audio enthusiasts who have a clearly defined objective: The development and production of high-quality audio equipment featuring that certain something. Elysia do not want to settle for the status quo and rehash existing concepts time and again. Their goal is to adapt their products to current demands in everyday studio life. These are the fundamentals on which elysia products are built. The elysia name has come to represent the highest sound quality, the exclusive use of top grade components, perfect workflow and reliability, and the implementation of innovative features without voodoo, but with a real profit in daily usage. (Source : Plugin Alliance)

What is Compressor?

Elysia Mpressor is a compressor. It is a device or software plugin that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal. It decreases the volume of loud sounds or amplifies soft sounds, helping to maintain a more consistent overall volume. This is widely used in music production and sound engineering.

Mpressor Feature

Threshold

Threshold defines when the compressor operates. Mpressor supports sidechain input. Attack, Release

The time it takes for the compressor to completely reduce the gain to the intended value is called attack, and the time it takes for the compressor to return to its original state is called release. Mpressor has an Auto button so you can automatically set the appropriate time. Ratio

Mpressor provides ratios from 1.2 to 4.0. Although it does not provide an extremely extreme ratio like a limiter, it is capable of everything from precise and subtle compression to powerful settings. EQ Gain, EQ Freq

The Mpressor is a great compressor, but it can also act as a kind of equalizer that can change the timbre of a sound source. If you specify the desired sound range with EQ Freq, you can obtain a type of Tilt EQ effect in the Boost/Cut method based on that sound range. GR Limit

If you are concerned that too much compression may be applied and ruin the quality of the sound source, you can set the GR Limit. No matter how low the threshold and high ratio are set, setting a limit will prevent the compressor from operating above a certain db, resulting in a transparent mix. Gain

Lastly, compensate for the reduced level with the Gain knob. It can be raised up to 20db. Floor

Pressing the Floor button creates subtle background noise that mimics analog circuitry. If you want clean results, it is best to turn off the Floor button.

Conclusion

Fabfilter Pro C-2 (Plugin Review)

As is the case with most beginners, when I first started out recording and mixing, compression was an absolute mystery to me. In theory, I knew what compression was supposed to do, but all of the controls and parameters seemed arbitrary. I was fumbling around in the dark, and at the end of the day, I was applying compression in ways that made no sense. If you’ve been a victim of this feeling, don’t give up! Fabfilter might be just what you need!

The Fabfilter Pro C-2 is hands-down the best compressor I’ve ever used. I use it on at least 90% of my tracks. Its highly intuitive user interface and ability to match the sound of both vintage and modern compression techniques make for a ridiculously powerful plugin. Trying to describe the way this plugin sounds would take way too much time simply because of how flexible it is, so instead, I’ll just run through each feature and explain what it does and how the display shows what is actually happening to your signal.

Threshold - Starting at the left side, we have the threshold knob. The threshold line is illustrated by the curved white line coming from the bottom left. Most compressors have a threshold feature, but what makes this one unique is the little headphone button to the top left of the knob which solos only the sound passing the threshold so you can hear exactly how much of the signal you’re compressing.

Ratio - This basically tells the compressor how hard to compress something once it passes the threshold. As you increase the ratio, the threshold curve gets stronger.

Style - Pro C-2 offers 8 different styles of compression to choose from. “Clean” mode is... well clean. It’s very transparent and allows for surgical compression rather than coloring the sound. “Classic” offers a more vintage vibe. “Opto” utilizes soft knee settings, which is great for vocals. “Bus” is great for submixes such as your drum bus to glue it all together. “Punch” offers high transient priority by using slow attack times. Other modes include “Mastering”, ”Vocal”, and ”Pumping.”

Standard Attack/Release settings

Wet/Dry Gain - Allows you to blend the uncompressed signal with the compressed signal. This is also known as “parallel compression.”

Knee - Determines how abrupt the compression curve is. As you increase this setting, the curve becomes a sharp angle.

Lookahead - A feature that can only be implemented in digital compressors. It allows the compressor to literally look further ahead in the track and prepare itself for any extreme volume spikes.

Hold - Tells the compressor to hold the gain reduction for x amount of milliseconds.

Sidechain - The sidechain area of this plugin is accessed through a drop-down menu at the bottom of the display. Simply pick which channel you’d like to sidechain it to from the sidechain menu and adjust to taste. This feature is especially helpful, for instance, if you want the bass guitar to duck down just a little when the kick drum hits to help the kick cut through the mix a bit more.

Presets - This plugin comes loaded with around 100 presets for different instruments/applications. They might not be exactly what you’re looking for but they’ll definitely get you in the ballpark.

Pro C-2 has plenty of other advanced settings/features that I personally don’t feel qualified to talk about. But those features aside, this is easily one of the best software compressors on the market. Not only that, but as a beginner, it will teach you what compression does by literally showing you on an easy-to-interpret graph. This alone is invaluable and a huge time saver. 

At $179, I think the Pro C-2 is a stellar deal. That may seem like a lot for one plugin, but I’d go as far to say you may never need to buy another compressor plugin aside from this one. It’s just THAT versatile.