January 30, 2012

Article Section - Engineer/Mixer Mike Ging Speaks About the Summit Audio TLA-100A

In this video mixer/engineer Mike Ging (Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Kanye West, P Diddy, etc.) explains why he thinks the built-in parallel compression of the TLA-100 is an essential feature.

"The most important one for me is the "Parallel Inject" control. This allows me to set compression levels higher than I normally would with the hardware unit, and mix back in a little of the direct signal to allow some of the transients and air that give life to a lead vocal."

Read the full article and see video

January 3, 2012

Release 1.3.4 for VST/AU/RTAS Platforms

Version 1.3.4 of all plug-ins has been released for the VST, VST3, AU, and RTAS formats. Changes include CPU optimizations, updated control surface layouts, improved loading times, and various bug fixes. See the change log for a complete list of fixes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We unfortunately had to change the VST3 unique ID of Summit Audio TLA-100A due to a collision with another plug-in. This means that VST3 projects that use the TLA-100 will break and the plug-in settings will need to be duplicated manually. We're very sorry about this, but there doesn't seem to be any better solution. Please contact support if you have any questions about this.

December 9, 2011

Softube Releases SONAR ProChannel Modules at Special Price!

For a limited time through January 31, 2012, the Mix Bundle will be sold at a special price of $179 (retail $299) from the Cakewalk store.

Note that SONAR X1 Producer Expanded is necessary for use of the ProChannel Module versions. For existing owners of the respective Mix Bundle plug-ins, the ProChannel versions are a free update as part our new 1.3.3 Windows VST installers!

Note that those of you who are not SONAR users can still get the discounted price at the Cakewalk store.

Cakewalk Store More about the Mix Bundle More about ProChannel

December 2, 2011

Article Section - Lookahead compression with the FET

In this article famous producer Tony Maserati describes how to get a fast attack but still keep the smooth sound of a slower attack by using the lookahead feature on the FET Compressor.

"Transients, what do you do with them? Well, with compressors we can make them pop, slap, grab only half of them while letting the rest pass, or we can stomp on them like they stole something."

Read the full article

November 10, 2011

Article Section - Getting Big Rock Drum Sounds

Over the years, the conventional sound of rock drums has changed a whole lot. From the pillowy sounds of the 60s to the gated sounds of the 80s to the larger-than-life sounds of today, what the public comes to expect from rock drums continues to evolve. Of course as producers and engineers, it is our job to know how to get sounds that will be consistent with what our artists and buying public expect.

Read the full article

November 3, 2011

AAX Versions of Softube Plug-Ins Released

Today we are releasing 20 of our plug-ins for Avid's new Pro Tools format AAX. 15 of the plug-ins are also available in the new AAX DSP format. And it's a free update!

Softube is the first major plug-in developer to release a substantial amount of AAX plug-ins for both DSP and Native. If you are a Pro Tools 10 user, this update is a no-brainer. Projects with existing RTAS or TDM plug-ins will automatically and smoothly switch to AAX, or AAX DSP if you have the new HDX card. DSP versions are included with the native license and do not need to be purchased separately.

The new AAX update is so far only available for Mac, Windows will follow soon. The DSP versions are still in beta, but are included in the installer.

Download AAX (Mac only)

October 6, 2011

Finally! The TLA-100A is here!

It feels really good to announce that the Summit Audio TLA-100A plug-in has finally been released! It's been a while since we released a new plug-in (instead of all these updates, new formats, etc.) so we are very excited about this.

So... What is the TLA-100A? It's the "set-and-forget" compressor, with a program-dependent nature that works with the signal to provide optimal performance without constant tweaking. Its ease-of-use and warm, rich sound is why it is still, after more than a quarter of a century, regarded as an industry standard for mixing, tracking and live usage. Both tube and solid state technologies are combined in this innovative design which has made the TLA-100A a tried-and-true choice for vocals, in addition to bass, drums and guitar.

On top of the standard TLA-100A action, we added a couple of modern features, such as an adjustable output saturation (modeled from the original unit) that's easily accessible from an Saturation knob (as in the Trident A-Range). We also added Parallel Compression and Sidechain Filtering.

Get demo here Buy now ($279) Click for more info!

September 28, 2011

64-bit Support with Free Upgrade

It's here! We know many of you have asked about this, so we're very happy to annouce that all our native plug-in formats: VST, VST3 and AudioUnits, for Mac and Windows now include 64-bit support. And to make good news great—it's a totally FREE update!

It's about time some may say, and they may be right, but we wanted to be absolutely sure that the 64-bit versions have the same rock-solid performance and extraordinary sound quality that you can expect from any Softube product.

We have also redone all our installers and added the Softube Plug-Ins Control application. There is now a single installer for all plug-ins per platform, so for example: all Windows VST 64-bit plug-ins now have one installer. By using compression and copying techniques we managed to reduce the installer size and hard disk footprint considerably.

The Plug-Ins Control application makes it easy to add, remove and update Softube plug-ins, all from one interface.

September 14, 2011

Article Section - Keeping your Projects Tidy and Clean

With all the myriad plugins and virtual instruments we have access to today, and the many DAWs available to work in, one aspect of working on projects is quite often overlooked - keeping them tidy.

With that in mind, I have developed some simple but effective workflow habits when working on my own projects that have made my life a good deal easier in the digital domain, so I thought I would share a few tips.

Read the full article

September 8, 2011

Greg Wells: On Producing Mika vs. The All American Rejects

Greg Wells is a two time Grammy nominated producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. He has worked with major artists such as Mika, Katy Perry, Timbaland, OneRepublic and Pink. CD's featuring Greg's songs have sold over 60 million units worldwide.

In the interview Greg talks about his experiences producing in general and some of the differences producing MIKA and The All American Rejects. He also describes his vocal chain and how he uses Softube plug-ins in his work.

Read the entire interview

March 1, 2011

Doug Aldrich: Recording Whitesnake's "Forevermore"

Guitar wizard and producer Doug Aldrich talks about recording Whitesnake's new album 'Forevermore', coming March 29. Visit Doug's site and Whitesnake's official homepage for more information!

Doug has been using the Trident A-Range extensively on the new Whitesnake album. He has also found a lot of use for Vintage Amp Room, Metal Amp Room and the Marshall JMD:1. In the interview he explains how he has worked with different amps and Amp Rooms to get a beefy sound with a lot of clarity.

Read the entire interview

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