Trackplug 5 Mixtest: very close to Sonalksis

[4damind]

I've tested the new Trackplug 5 from WaveArts against Sonalksis Comp/EQs and I must say, they comes very close!
I think that Sonalksis brings a little more "shine" and a little more punch.
Here 2 short examples of a complete Mix. All Tracks EQed and some compressed with the Sonalksis Plugins or on the other side with the Trackplug 5.
Trackplug 5 in Vintage Mode (vintage high-shelfs, vintage peak detection).

Both examples a very short: 9sec /233kb

Mix 1
Mix 2
(1=sonalksis, 2=wavearts)

Whould be interesting what others think about the new TrackPlug 5 from WaveArts.

[Cintronic]

I agree your sonalksis example is punchier, but after swithing between the two a few times I think i prefered the sound from trackplug. It would be interesting to hear your view in 6 months when you know the plug-in as well as you know sonalksis.

[declassified]

The kick+hats on the sonalksis example seems louder...
The strings seem louder in the TrackPlug example though...

Are you sure your settings are the same?

[4damind]

The kick+hats on the sonalksis example seems louder...
The strings seem louder in the TrackPlug example though...

Are you sure your settings are the same?

Yes, exactly the same settings. Its very interesting to see how difficult the internal envelopes (envelope follower?) works. The first thing was "wow, there must be something wrong! the snare listens completely wider". To become closer to the sonalksis, the threshold could be changed and I've seen that the gainreduction is increased with "clean" settings in Trackplug but this mode will not shape the waveform (and makes it more sounding as the old TrackPlug 4).

But... Sonalksis was developed after analog circuits and TrackPlug has no such background. The new "vintage mode" add some odd (or odd and even in "Vintage Warm" mode) harmonics which brings TrackPlug nearer to Sonalksis

Surely, with more tuning (and time to play with it) things can be closer

[BobYordan]

The kick drum is much more punchy/louder on the sonalksis mix, that is the biggest difference that I can hear. Perhaps even the bass? The hi hat sound
seems a bit wider/louder? on the sonalksis mix. More like floating on top. I always supected that sonalksis plugs has some kind of stereo widening hidden algoritm.

You could try to add some more low boost in the track 5 mix to see if they get more comparable?

The sonalksis mix gets my vote. Much more club feel.

[autloc]

Sonalksis defnitely has more pumping going on - more bass, more hihats. Hard to say which I prefer.

[Barbarossa]

I like the first file much more. Silky and smooth compared to the 2nd file.

[polyslax]

Yup, #1 wins for me, which confirms my own findings with these 2 plugs.

[omo]

don't foget that sonalksis kinda EQing (attenuating highs) in mode 1

[kylen]

don't foget that sonalksis kinda EQing (attenuating highs) in mode 1

Just looking at the manual (not listening) it says:

"There are two attack/release circuits to choose from. Type I provides a classic character more prone to signal-dependent distortions, while Type II offers a more pure (modern) detection, with less dependency on signal level and dynamics."

I take that to mean there will be more normal harmonic distortion (hehe, my current crusade!) possible in mode I which might accentuate the highs? I guess I could listen to it...

[TMA]

1 sounds much smoother than 2 , 2 sounds a bit rough to my ears.