The Plugin Guru

The magic mojo behind so many classic hits is the two inches of magnetic tape gluing the whole track together at the end of the chain. Now you can inject your tracks with this same buttery goodness in the form of the Slate VTM. We have separate gain controls for input and output, which can be linked, as well as four switches that effect our overall tone. Further settings can be adjusted via the red button in the top left corner. As with most Slate plugins, we get our handy A/B flipper at the top to make sure we are not overdoing any saturation or volume changes. For users looking to ease up the CPU usage, there is an option to remove the tape graphics. We have selector switches for bias ( how hard the tape is driven ), 30 or 15 ips tape speeds ( with very noticeable differences), two tape types with slightly different EQ curves, and a switch for either 16 track for mixdowns or 2 inch master tape for the master buss. Try using the 30 ips speed on the 16 track during a mixdown ...

There isn't a single track in my mix that doesn't get this mud-killing filter treatment. This is by far the most expansive and tweak-able filter around, and its used by the one and only Andrew Scheps. Following the advise of the master, I haven't looked back since adding this tone boner to the #1 slot across my inserts. In simple terms, a filter is a device that removes unwanted harmonic content either above the cutoff ( in the case of a lowpass filter ) or content below the cutoff ( in the case of a highpass filter ). It is useful for removing unwanted low or high end from signals that do not benefit from its content. Try removing below 100hz or so on guitars, or cutting above 12kz to remove some of that ice pick to the ear drum content. The Mcdsp filter adds the flexibility of 4 different slopes for each filter. The can be selected independently for the high and low pass filters, as well as individual peak knobs for each filter. On the left is a helpful input/output v...

Slate has made a name for themselves as a powerhouse in the analog modeling world of audio plugins, and the VBC compressor rack is no exception. Combining three compressors in series ( or separately assignable within the plugin list ) it has all the glue your buss needs to sound radio ready. Let's dive in to this monster and see why it comes out on top with a perfect score. Our first helpful tools come at the very top of the plugin window. We have a selection of great sounding presets for each module, as well as an incredibly useful A/B switch to quickly flip between tones. The Compressors The FG-Grey is a near perfect recreation of the fabled British buss compressor of the 1980's. Intuitive controls, including an auto release and variable compression ratios, make getting the fat, full punch of your tracks in minutes an effortless affair. I like to have mine at the top of the chain, utilizing the high pass filter to let the kick in and the onboard parallel...

Mcdsp is one of my favorite plugin manufacturers, and they have created an absolute gem in the form of the 6034 Ultimate Muti Band plugin. It features 4 adjustable bands with 3 different crossover slopes to sculpt any tone under the sun. Each band features a choice of 10 different compressors or a selection of gates and expanders for an incredible amount of tone shaping versatility. Do you want that classic "thrusty" vintage compressor for your low end but prefer the "silky" 70's model for your top end? Want ultra fast "all buttons" compression for your beater attack but a gate for the low end of your kick drum? Want to tame the muddy range on a bass guitar without affecting the attack of the pick? All these and more can be accomplished with one simple "desert island" plugin that I wouldn't be caught dead without on a session. For these reasons, and many many more, this gets a perfect 10/10 from me. Let's dive into the nitty gritty ...