Use the Mix Head plugin on the mix bus for digital tape saturation
Problem: mix lacks warmth and cohesion
The Mix Head plugin acts as a digital tape saturation processor, smoothing out the edges of the mix and adding warmth. It's used on the mix bus after analog gear like the DW Fern and SSL Bus Plus. The plugin is set to 30…
Use the Mix Head plugin as a digital tape saturation processor on the mix bus
Problem: mix lacks cohesion and warmth
The Mix Head plugin is used as a digital tape saturation processor on the mix bus, providing a smooth and warm sound. It's used after analog gear like the DW Fern and SSL Bus Plus, and it's set to 30 IPS for a hi-fi…
Use the Mix Head plugin with a little input gain and drive for subtle saturation
Problem: mix lacks subtle saturation
The Mix Head plugin is used with a little input gain and drive to add subtle saturation to the mix. This helps enhance the overall sound without introducing harshness. The plugin is set to 30 IPS for a hi-fi sound, and…
Use a 30 IPS tape speed setting on the Mix Head for a hi-fi sound
Problem: mix lacks clarity and warmth
Setting the Mix Head plugin to 30 IPS tape speed provides a hi-fi, smooth sound that enhances the overall mix. This setting is preferred over 15 IPS, which adds more bottom end but lacks the clarity of 30 IPS. The 30 IPS…
Use the Pole Tech EQ on the mix bus for subtle frequency shaping
Problem: mix lacks subtle frequency balance
The Pole Tech EQ is used on the mix bus for subtle frequency shaping, even when no major adjustments are made. It adds a subtle 60Hz bump to enhance the low end without overdoing it. The plugin is preferred over the…
Insert the Pole Tech EQ on the mix bus even without making major adjustments
Problem: mix lacks subtle enhancement
The Pole Tech EQ is inserted on the mix bus even when no major adjustments are made, as it subtly enhances the mix. It's preferred over the vintage hardware version due to its consistency in stereo. This technique is…
Use the Pole Tech EQ for its 2B effect on the mix bus
Problem: mix lacks subtle 2B effect
The Pole Tech EQ is used on the mix bus for its 2B effect, which enhances the overall sound of the mix. It's preferred over the vintage hardware version because it's more consistent in stereo. This technique is used in…
Add tape saturation after the echo for a vintage feel
Problem: lack of warmth or vintage character
Adding tape saturation after the echo can give the sound a warm, vintage character that mimics the sound of recording to tape. This technique is especially useful for synths or leads that need more warmth and depth. The…
Apply vintage tape saturation to drums for warmth
Problem: drums sound flat or lifeless
Using a vintage tape saturation plugin on drums adds warmth and character to the sound, which is a signature of lo-fi production. This technique mimics the analog sound of old tape machines and can help glue the drums…
Apply tape compression to vocals for a radio-ready sound
Problem: uncontrolled vocal dynamics, harshness
Tape compression adds warmth and subtle dynamic control, making vocals sound polished and professional. The speaker demonstrates how it tames extreme volume spikes in the vocal track, creating a consistent and…
Avoid excessive frequency scooping with tape plugins
Problem: unintended frequency cuts
Tape emulation plugins can create unintended frequency cuts (e.g., 9kHz dips) if not carefully adjusted. The speaker warns that even subtle settings (e.g., 40kHz air band) can drastically alter the mix. This is a common…
Adjust tape emulator input to control saturation aggressiveness
Problem: over-processing with tape emulation
The Sleep Digital Virtual Tape Machine's input level determines how aggressive the saturation and frequency scooping effects are. Lowering the input reduces the plugin's impact, while increasing it adds more character…
Apply tape emulation on subgroups instead of the mix bus for separation
Problem: over-saturation, lack of separation
Using tape saturation plugins on individual subgroups (e.g., drums, bass) rather than the master bus creates tonal separation between elements. This avoids over-saturation of the entire mix while adding warmth to…
Use tape saturation (e.g., VTM) to add warmth and analog character to clean tones
Problem: clean tones lack warmth and character
Applying a tape saturation plugin like VTM with moderate settings (e.g., 10% saturation) adds warmth and analog-like harmonic distortion to clean guitar tones. This is particularly effective for country and blues guitar…
Apply warm tape saturation to mid-range for tonal shaping
Problem: lack of warmth or cohesion in mid-range
Using a tape saturation plugin (e.g., Poltech) on the mid-range adds warmth and cohesion to a track. It subtly enhances harmonic content without over-processing, making it ideal for smoothing out resonant frequencies or…
Use tape and console emulation plugins for warmth and depth
Problem: mix feels flat or lifeless
Tape and console emulation plugins add subtle imperfections that create a sense of depth and separation between instrument groups. These imperfections make the mix feel more organic and three-dimensional. Even with…
Imperfections in plugins can enhance depth and separation
Problem: mix feels flat and homogenous
The imperfections in tape and console emulation plugins can cause subtle differences in how instrument groups are processed. This results in a more natural and three-dimensional mix. These small variations help separate…
Use tape machines on individual buses and the mix bus with different settings
Problem: mix lacks depth and character
Apply tape machine plugins on individual buses and the mix bus, but use different settings for each. For example, use half-inch tape on the master bus and two-inch tape on individual channels. This approach adds subtle…
Use tape emulation with caution for low-end boost
Problem: excessive low-end from tape emulation
Tape emulation plugins can sometimes add a subtle low-end boost, which may not be desirable in all mixes. If the low end becomes too heavy, the speaker suggests either adjusting the tape plugin settings or using an EQ…
Use multi-tapped delays for tape emulation
Problem: flat or sterile reverb/delay
The Satin plugin offers four tape heads with independent delay times, allowing for complex tape-like echoes. This creates a warm, analog feel with spatial depth. The technique is particularly useful in ambient and lo-fi…
Add vinyl or tape effects with pitch shifting, downsampling, and random dropouts
Problem: lack of organic texture
To simulate vinyl or tape effects, use pitch shifting, downsampling, and random dropouts in combination with NoiseShaper. This technique can be used to add warmth, imperfections, and character to a sound, making it feel…