discoDSP has announced that the EQ30 graphical equalizer in 32-bit VST plugin format for compatible digital audio workstations on Windows is now a freeware.
EQ30 is a software graphical EQ modeled after the Alesis M-EQ 230 hardware unit. The plugin comes with the same feature set as its hardware counterpart, which is a dual 1/3 octave 30-band equalizer. It features input and output gain controls, along with solo buttons for the L and R audio channels. Unlike parametric equalizers which are useful for pinpointing specific frequencies in a sound, graphical EQs are best suited for gently fine-tuning the entire mix.
Read more about this here: https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2018/10/23/discodsp-eq30-free/
Recording Tips and Techniques
Accusonus aim to fix your vocals with ERA Voice Leveler
Accusonus expanded their range of single-knob processors with ERA Voice Leveler. It is a new set-and-forget vocal leveling plug-in to take the place of a compressor or indeed save hours of automation.
What sets this apart from other similar plug-ins, such as Vocal Rider from Waves, is the Emphasis feature which is designed to compensate for differences in frequency balance caused by a vocalist or voice actor moving around the mic during recording. There are two modes of operation: ‘Normal’ for a more natural sound and ‘Tight’ for more of a producer, radio-ready sound.
Read more about this here: https://www.soundonsound.com/news/accusonus-aim-fix-your-vocals-era-voice-leveler
Technique of the Week: Manually Removing Microphone Pop
When recording vocals, even if using a top-notch pop shield, there are times when the puff of wind caused by plosive sounds – “p”, “b” etc. – hits the microphone, creating a nasty ‘pop’ noise in your recording.
Locate the ‘pop’ sound in the recording and zoom in so you can see it in detail. Become familiar with the shape – a sudden, loud, low-frequency oscillation that rapidly dissipates. Create a cut in the audio part just before the start of the ‘pop’, and then use a fade tool to create a short convex fade-up that covers the length of the pop sound.
Read more about this here: https://www.musictech.net/2018/07/technique-week-manually-removing-microphone-pop/
SPL Crescendo 8 Channel Microphone Preamp
There are microphone preamps that we use when we need some color or when we need transparency. The new SPL Crescendo 8 channel mic preamp was intentionally created to be as colorless as possible by using an approach that you won’t see in inexpensive mic pres.
The preamps in the Crescendo achieve the transparency using what SPL calls “120V DC Audio Rail Technology.” SPL uses its own 5th generation SUPRA op-amps that use ±60 volt power to make a 120-volt power rail. The result is more than 10dB more headroom, 3dB less noise, and a preamp that’s really difficult to overload.
Read more about this here: https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/2018/10/15/spl-crescendo-mic-preamp/
Level Matching Demystified!
There are a lot of exciting things we can do with audio signals — but level matching usually isn’t on the list. Adjusting the volumes of two or more audio sources so that they have equal volume when comparing them isn’t something that usually gets people’s creative juices flowing.
Level matching usually isn’t as simple as turning up the fader volume at some point in the signal chain of the quieter signal. If two signals have differing peaks, they still won’t sound even. The best way to level match signals starts with having a good metering plug-in that offers accurate RMS metering.
Read more about this here: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/level-matching-demystified/