CLA MIXHUB
Plugin
MIX EFFORTLESSLY.
While most may dismiss it as an unnecessary new gimmick,
upon working with this piece of software, it seems to
really help. When running large sessions, I found myself
mixing them down to the manageable “console fit” number
of tracks and mixing the stems. It helps when you want
even compression, eq settings over several groups. It's
quite easy to mix within the window, you never need to
close it and access the DAW screen. It is a new workflow
change and in some cases, when you are stuck in a rut
with the mix it really brings some fun back into it.
The latest offering from the Waves-CLA partnership
promises a lot, but does it deliver? At first, it seems
like another console emulation gimmick. But there's
more to this plugin. You start by running the plugin as
several instances in your mix window. And then you
can continue mixing within the one plugin window.
The plugin is split into 4 sections - The preamp stage,
Dynamics, EQ, and faders. The channels (supports up
to 64) is split into 8 “buckets” as they like to call it. Each
containing 8 tracks. You can easily swap between the
bucket view and single-channel view. The sound is of
course modeled after CLA’s own SSL console. The Input
section features high and low pass filters and a control for
switch-ing harmonic distortion. You can add some sweet
SSL style drive with the mic pre. The dynamics section
has the built-in console comp along with a CLA Bluey
mode. The gate at this section is quite versatile too with
a lot of hold and side chain options built into the super
easy to use layout. The EQ is classic SSL and performs
as you expect it to. There's a VU meter, a stereo imaging
tool and of course, a fader at the end. It also features an
addi-tional insert point to add more waves plugins.
SONIBLE
SMART EQ 2
Plugin
A FRESH TAKE ON EQ
If you’ve been following our previous reviews, you may
notice our interest in “smart” plugins. With Gulfoss, Soothe,
etc the new generation of plugins promises to make life as a
mix engineer a lot easier than it used to be. This is the latest
offering from Austrian-based developer Sonible, known for
their intelligent filter plugins. It claims to be “a state-of-the-
art linear phase EQ with a built-in A.I. smart: filter band.”
It promises to help you achieve tonal balance on something
quickly using several existing instrumental profiles for what
the developers refer to as “content-aware processing.” They
have profiles for things including drums, strings, brass,
winds, piano, bass, guitars, etc. In addition, the plugin will
learn and adjust filtering based on whatever content you feed
it, allowing you to save cus-tom profiles for repetitive EQing
tasks. It basically works by the user selecting a mode from the
preset menu that is closest to the instrument that you use it
on and then letting the plugin analyze a section of the track.
The plugin then draws an extremely detailed eq curve to tame
harsh resonances and issues. It aims to provide a good starting
point for the user to then carry on with additional processing
if necessary. There is also Mid/Side capability for enhanced
width and the plugin works quite well as a traditional EQ.
The newly added Tilt filter is a welcome feature as well. The
company also says it will help beginners develop their ears as
they see the plugin achieve something that is close to “correct”.
In my personal experience, the plugin does indeed do what it
says. The EQ curve is drawn is quite detailed (you can choose
the number of nodes you might need) and tweaking it does
indeed get you close to a good start point. However, having to
analyze each time may be a little annoying but this can be solved
by having set user profiles. The thing is, with something like
this, a lot of times you end up with something that sounds too
cleaned up and sterile. I do agree on how it might help beginners
develop their ears as they see the plugin shape the sonics. But
we’re a long way off from software mixing on their own.
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
41