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For the graphics, Softube apparently perused a few '70s hi-fi catalogs, drawing on classic Pioneer and Sanyo stereo faceplates. Also, the ratio control is continuously variable, but can be set directly to one of the standard ratios by clicking on the text surrounding the knob. In addition to the standard 1176 controls (including the famous "All Buttons In" setting), you get an incremental external sidechain input, sidechain filtering (both high and low-pass), a wet/dry control for parallel processing, and a unique "Lookahead" control that makes the quite fast attack time of the compressor even faster through digital trickery. Speaking of compressors, the other one in the bundle is FET Compressor, which is clearly modeled after the Universal Audio 1176, although it adds a number of very useful features, making me glad it's not a straight-up emulation - I have plenty of those by now. (Tracking or analog mixing are different stories.) It makes percussion tracks come alive, makes a bass synth poke out in the mix, and puts hair on the chest of anything you run through it.
#Softube tape multi track review pro
As much as I love my hardware Dyna-mite, I doubt I'll use it again during a Pro Tools mix.
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I really feel like Softube nailed this emulation on every front. Somewhat oddly, it also functions as a gate/expander, and a very effective one at that, with three modes: Peak, Average, and Gate. It sharpens the attack of whatever you put through it (most notably drums), and can also get super pumpy-breathy-roomy, depending on the release time. It's one of the more unique compressors I've ever come across, due to its aggressive sound and crazy make-up gain. The first time I ran across the hardware a number of years ago, I had to immediately go find my own two-channel unit. I'll start with the one that made me notice Studio Collection in the first place: Valley People Dyna-mite. There are twelve plug-ins in all, and they are a combination of branded and unbranded emulations of specific hardware alongside more general algorithmic effects. I've had the pleasure of using the Studio Collection suite in my mixes for a few months, and overall, I'm extremely pleased with them. Now, I'm not foolish enough to think that skeuomorphic precision and meticulous shading are going to make the stuff sound better exactly, but the first impression is a good one, and what soon follows is the notion that if they put as much energy into the sound of their plug-ins as they do into the look, then things will be pretty peachy in the sonics department. The first thing one notices about Softube plug-ins is that the graphics are kinda stunning.