TB ReelBus - thoughts?

[3ee]

So what was the Mystery machine?
Would it be Saturn by any chance?

Fabfilter Saturn? No, it lacks some of my favorite qualities also.. but it has others!

Cold be an external unit...
Alter all.. Can anyone state that the 3rd example doesn't have punch, tape warmth and and other tape related goodness?
Even if you don't like the overall color in particular (for example I don't like the way it colors the bass that much, I like it's thickness in the dry example better)

hmm...on a side note, I think that "punch" is more like a side-effect of "warmth" and the way it interacts with the whole sound, I might be missing something also.

Warmth is not something that you get from trying to process the low-mids from the spectrum imho. It has to do with the all instruments contributing to a cumulative effect that's inter-modulated in a <<<insert poetic word>>> way, don't you agree?

[Kingston]

This is a great plugin, and it sounds very much like a prosumer reel to reel tape, but I don't think the wow/flutter bit was nailed to perfection.

Play some high pitch tine, like a music box, and you can hear it wobble in a very unnatural way. It's like occasionally someone taps the reel to slow down the tape very gently, a "dj effect". This is something not even a consumer cassette tape ever does. But reelbus does even on a very mild w/f setting.

Sure I wouldn't exactly use a tape effect on a music box, but just to illustrate the point.

It's a great option to be able turn off the w/f emulation, but I would certainly like to use it more if it was realistic.

[Arksun]

This is a great plugin, and it sounds very much like a prosumer reel to reel tape, but I don't think the wow/flutter bit was nailed to perfection.

Play some high pitch tine, like a music box, and you can hear it wobble in a very unnatural way. It's like occasionally someone taps the reel to slow down the tape very gently, a "dj effect". This is something not even a consumer cassette tape ever does. But reelbus does even on a very mild w/f setting.

Sure I wouldn't exactly use a tape effect on a music box, but just to illustrate the point.

It's a great option to be able turn off the w/f emulation, but I would certainly like to use it more if it was realistic.

It's not exactly tape-like no, but I like the wow/flutter as it is and how its varying intensity and speed depending on the device setting.

I would rather he added different behaviour in new device types (theres 3 reserved slots in the plugin) than change how it currently behaves. Maybe have an extreme option too for over the top vibrato effect on one of them.

lter all.. Can anyone state that the 3rd example doesn't have punch, tape warmth and and other tape related goodness?

Your mystery option certainly changed the sound dramatically, particuarly in its frequency response. But I found it a bit too grainy sounding and it completely killed the kick, sucked the life out of its sub-bass phump. Preferred the Reelbus example and I think it woulda sounded better if you'd tweaked it further still.

[3ee]

Your mystery option certainly changed the sound dramatically, particuarly in its frequency response. But I found it a bit too grainy sounding and it completely killed the kick, sucked the life out of its sub-bass phump. Preferred the Reelbus example and I think it woulda sounded better if you'd tweaked it further still.

Yep, to get most of the qualities I wanted to point out I had to drive the input more and the sound is obviously colored among other things.

I wouldn't say that it killed the kick sub that much, but more like a trade for punch instead. I don't think you really gave the example a chance to be charming though...seen that you gave only negative feedback on it. (it wasn't meant as a TB ReelBus comparison)

The TB ReelBus example: For my own taste, I prefer to drive ReelBus a bit harder than shown in the example... but with the feedback around here I though that I was driving it to much anyway.

I will try to readjust to my likening (usually a bit more saturation and color) and post the example... or might wait for an update first, maybe it's just around the corner.

[egbert]

I know there are a lot of feature requests already, but could you please consider adding a tape feedback like in waves mpx (with tempo sync of course)?
Reeltape would be amazing tape delay..

I would appreciate this too. I remember a tape echo plugin that someone released years ago which hosted Steinberg's Magneto internally (ie a Vst plugin which hosted another one) for tape emulation duties. You could do something like this perhaps.

[Kingston]

It's not exactly tape-like no, but I like the wow/flutter as it is and how its varying intensity and speed depending on the device setting.

I would rather he added different behaviour in new device types (theres 3 reserved slots in the plugin) than change how it currently behaves. Maybe have an extreme option too for over the top vibrato effect on one of them.

On the last page you complain that this effect "misses the mark compared to what a real tape can do", yet you'd still keep the unrealistic woo & flutter. Where's the logic in that?

And a "hell no!" to all the suggestions of tape echo. Why not make the tape models perfect first? Use that waves plugin or that magneto bubblegum contraption if you like echo so much.

[3ee]

The tape
unit model internally calls up a very large set of parameters and coefficients
to model that particular unit, of which groups of these can be changed relatively compared to their tape unit reference setting.

Seen that you have hybrid models beside the 2 emulations.

Can you consider giving an "under the hood" button or something in which we'll have access to maybe a limited number of the extra parameters even if you limit the min/max values? ..or the extra parameters are a bit esoteric for us.

I would like giving a try in fine-tuning my "perfect" tape sound for example.

Would pay for that kind of update!

[3ee]

Just discovered that the Saturation knob works in a very odd way.
EDIT: not an issue anymore with version 3

For example:
1. load a monophonic generic simple saw on your synth (no filtering)
2. load TB ReelBus and bring it's rec level to 3db(auto level makeup ON)
3. other parameters to minimum except the obvious input rec level and the saturation (100%) on hybrid model.
4. play few bass notes and notice a bit of "plastic" color, so far so good.

5. hold a note and play around with the rec level, min/max, (btw you might notice a small stereo glitch bug) ..finally bring it back to 3db.
6. set the saturation to 200% and hold a bass note, you can also move the rec level up and down again if you wish, (bring it up to accentuate the odd effect)

7. notice the "plastic bucket" pseudo comb filtery coloration that you can use as a special effect (Japanese models will accentuate the effect and the Professional one will kill it)

My point is that the saturation knob may not work as you expect, so it would be best if you leave it to 100% or less if you want to use this as a tape effect and use the input rec level to drive for more saturation if needed

The circuit clip knob is very enigmatic in this respect also ..and I do agree as someone mentioned, that it sounds a bit clicky and harsh in some of the cases.

[Arksun]

On the last page you complain that this effect "misses the mark compared to what a real tape can do", yet you'd still keep the unrealistic woo & flutter. Where's the logic in that?

Where is the logic of twisting my words to mean I was complaining specifically about the wow/flutter effect?.

I have no problem with the wow/flutter knob as it is, but welcome alternative and/or more extreme variations in new devices to full the reserved slots, as already stated.

[bangzero]

The tape
unit model internally calls up a very large set of parameters and coefficients
to model that particular unit, of which groups of these can be changed relatively compared to their tape unit reference setting.

Seen that you have hybrid models beside the 2 emulations.

Can you consider giving an "under the hood" button or something in which we'll have access to maybe a limited number of the extra parameters even if you limit the min/max values? ..or the extra parameters are a bit esoteric for us.

*love* this fx as is. and, if you ever do something "under the hood" like 3ee suggests, i'd quite like to see "mix and match" of the component elements of the various models. for example, it would be nice to have the very low asperity noise of the Professional model with the spectrum of the Japanese 7.5" model.

big thanks for all your excellent work on this djeroen! /dan

[FarleyCZ]

Guys? I have no f*cking clue what you're talking about. I didn't use real studio tape recorder, just listened to the music when it was in use.

...but i LOVE this plugin. What it does to the highend is amazing!

[paul psilas]

Guys? I have no f*cking clue what you're talking about. I didn't use real studio tape recorder, just listened to the music when it was in use.

...but i LOVE this plugin. What it does to the highend is amazing!

You have made a little mistake in your recent review though by stating that no Studer Revox hardware was used to create this plugin whereas if you read the 3 part development on TB's site,you'll see that this 'IS' a hardware modeled plugin,for both Jap and Swiss models.

[swartzfeger]

Has anyone used this with Logic? I can't get Logic to scan it/authorize it. According to the TB plugin manual, 'Apple Logic doesn't support VST plugins.' (paraphrased)

Huh?

[FarleyCZ]

Guys? I have no f*cking clue what you're talking about. I didn't use real studio tape recorder, just listened to the music when it was in use.

...but i LOVE this plugin. What it does to the highend is amazing!

You have made a little mistake in your recent review though by stating that no Studer Revox hardware was used to create this plugin whereas if you read the 3 part development on TB's site,you'll see that this 'IS' a hardware modeled plugin,for both Jap and Swiss models.

Yes, but as I understand it, Studder was used just for recording testing record and actual metering was done on Teac recorder. If that's wrong, please explain, I'll fix it. My English is not mistakeproof by any means, it could happen.

[heffus]

I would love to see a mix knob on this, and every plug for that matter. It sounds lovely but it would be nice to be able to dial in exactly how much of that goodness you want.