Nick Blanc

On 3/10/2024 at 2:09 PM, Nicolas T. said:

"dynamic " folder ?    ?

I was hoping that with the new Ableton, they would remove the limit on the categories. I now have:

Master & Favorites
Synths & Drums
EQ, channelstrips & filters
Dynamics (so yes, all the compressors and limiters)
Distortion & saturation
Reverb & delay
Utility & creative

Some have overlap and I just tag them in multiple categories. Clippers can be used as a dynamics tool but also as a creative distorion tool. Something like a chorus would fall in the Utility & creative category, but some multi fx span over 4 cateogries.

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Offer ends in about 18 days.

Probably one of my favorites so far. I did some (basic) live playing, slapped on a vocal for good measure and voila. 

https://www.skystudiosplugins.com/

Over 2400 synth sounds and other instruments were sampled with the goal of picking the best 200 we could possibly make.

(Ended up with about 230 because I really loved all these sounds too much).

The instruments used to make the samples include a Jupiter 8, Prophet 5, Prophet 6, Moog Model D, Deckards Dream, Subsequent 37, Wurlitzers, Rhodes, Pianos, Panoptigon, Marimba and many other sound sources and outboard effects.

Normally $129, now $39. And you can use code BISHU for another 20% off.

4 hours ago, audioschmaudio said:

My new hobby is tagging all my plugins. I have way too many ? As I go through them all, I see some that I don't even recognise by name. Often I have to look up on the internet to find out what it actually does. That's the downside of hunting deals and freebies. 

Luckily I've done that about a year ago and they transfered perfectly. Except for most Ableton stock effects and instruments. But that's 5 minutes work tops to categorize them.

I will still record my new jam in the old one though today, just to be sure. I will switch somewhere this week probably after some more testing.

Awesome stuff and really affordable. I have the previous version and will stick with it, but I use it all the time. 

Although still expensive, this is an absolutely amazing collection. Now I'm torn. I would like to have this, or Slate + Ash Cycles, or some new hardware...

They don't do sales they often, although the bundle is always discounted (still pretty expensive). Anyway, normally €320 (why?!), now €159.

Which might pursuade me to pick it up.

https://slateandash.com/products/cycles

I don't know when the sale will end, it doesn't say.

Just installed it and posted around for a couple of minutes. Installations went smooth. Now to dive into the new browser, download the new packs and see how all the MIDI changes are working for me. In theory, or from what I saw, it should be really awesome for what I do so I'm pretty excited.

On 3/4/2024 at 11:03 PM, PavlovsCat said:

I watch and like his videos. And I definitely agree with your premise on the revenue model.  You're exactly right. If this is ever going to work, the compensation for these folks needs to come from the buying public, not the seller of the products being "reviewed"developer. I salute you for putting your money where your mouth is. 

Even so, the problem still exists that we're merely relying on the word and blind trust of the influencer that they're not accepting compensation and gifts from the companies who make the products that they review when they have no clear standards they're held to and no oversight in place. Whereas journalist reviewers of esteemed publications follow journalism principles and ethics  standards and have an editor who ensures accountability. I suppose I might be open to sponsoring a reviewer IF s/he he would sign an agreement with rules that s/he promised to abide by, such as not accepting anything of value from a company with a product being reviewed; that the even the review copy was not his/her property after the review was finished; that s/he fully abide by all government regulations; that there will be no discussions of potential future financial relationships or gifts with any of developers whose products are reviewed; and that any personal relationships with a developer or an employee of a developer must be fully and clearly disclosed (e.g., I'm dating the marketing manager). But even that takes blind trust that the influencer will abide by the agreement. Still, it beats where we're at today. 

While I agree Wietse seems pretty honest in his doings, even he slips up from time to time. And he does stand to gain from those so called non-funded reviews. We have a saying in the Netherlands which roughly translate to "only the sun comes up for free". It's used in a way that eventually everything either costs money/makes you money. Free plugin? They now have your email and name. Free chicken-spit for your new barbecue? Yeah you really want the motor with that. Sure I'll help you move, but we'll definitely need some beers when we're done.

He gains views, subscribers, customers. Does that make it a bad thing? Not necessarily. But let's be honest here, who has a dream of becoming a plug-in (or whatever else) reviewer? But still, doesn't make it a bad thing. Unless someone is not being honest. And boy is that prevalent.

She seems really shocked.

8 hours ago, antler said:

Paul always did seem like one of the more honest ones.

Indeed, that's why it always struck me as odd that he did those reviews. It's nice that someone from the actual 'scene' finally comes out to say it so bluntly (notice how further he gets in the video, the more f bombs are dropped in true Scottish fashion*).

* I was in Edinburgh once and the amounts of f's they are able to cram in one sentence is close to miraculous.

See the video below. It is rare when a  plugintube YouTuber comes around and admits it's all bullshit, but he did it. I appreciate the honesty where he says it was just for the money and that he has quit the whole show. 

Also where he says the YouTube algorithm is **** for these things. It's all about pumping out as much content as you can. Retention is always bad, so the only way to mitigate that is more and more content. Weaver Beats says the same thing, he makes daily videos because views drop after 1-2 days. I notice this myself on my jams (only after typing this Paul mentions him as an example). 

It's a no brainer but great someone finally said it, that they intentionally leave obvious stuff out of of review so people will comment which will push the algorithm.

It's a long one, but very ontopic for this part of the forum. Mods, please relocate if not appropriate.

My secret weapon on the drumbus.

41 minutes ago, Old Joad said:

Killer, this is much better then church.??

I left my comments on your YOUTUBE channel.

Thanks for the support!

1 hour ago, DeeringAmps said:

Good morning Nick!

??
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Welcome! Nice to see you again.

3 hours ago, XLSX Music said:

Thanks for listening Nick. In regards to the vocals, getting the balance right is something I'm still struggling with and it feels like it's the final piece of the puzzle I've got to solve. I'll get there eventually ?

 Haha case in point. I'm mixing my next week's jam right now and I can't get the vocal volume right ? 

28 minutes ago, daryl1968 said:

Looks like tons of fun Nick. Some great sounds going on there 

Thanks!

And yes it is a lot of fun. My dad visited yesterday for some coffee (and a cheeky whiskey) and to see my latest synth (Prophet 6). I was noodling around, turning knobs and suddenly got a great sound. Later that day, a friend visited to watch Formula 1, I was again noodling around and suddenly got a great melody. Recorded everything an hour later and that's a new jam for next week. It's all about fun and people joining in.

7 minutes ago, XLSX Music said:

Thanks for listening Nick. In regards to the vocals, getting the balance right is something I'm still struggling with and it feels like it's the final piece of the puzzle I've got to solve. I'll get there eventually ?

I know the process, vocals are hard. I'm nowwhere near getting them right. Practice makes perfect.

New sunday, new jam! A sidestep from the rough techno from last week, I decided to get back to a bit more melodic and full arrangement. Forgot I had some drums 'in the bag' I added just at the very end haha. Its weird how you can scroll through endless presets on your softsynths and not finding anything that fits well together, and somehow hardware does that automatically. 

Or I could be imagining it to justify my purchases ?

Nice song, definitely brings me back (I'm from roughly the same era). I wish this would be the current rock sound on the radio.

If I might add a point of critique, it might be my speakers right now, but the vocal seems a bit seperated from the instrumental. Like the balance is just slightly off. It's just a bit dryer?

NOVA is the only GE plugin I don't have. But I use mostly ProQ3, some Pultec emulation or a specialty thing (like Maag for high end, Chandler for mids on the master, SmartEQ when I'm lost). I even have the supposed king, the Kirchoff, but rarely use it.

Besides completing the collection for €20, what would NOVA give me?

On 3/1/2024 at 6:03 PM, e-cue said:

Just opened Softube central and this popped up:  

 

Like I mentioned before, I paid for this already.  Annoying.

I tried it and I got the same message. Weird. The plugin seems to load ok in my DAW though (after I clicked 'Keep' of course).

1 hour ago, Sergio said:

F29 intro price (aka Forever 31)  ?

Jup, I forever 29'ed it.