Focusrite ports RED 2 and 3 modules (without Dave Gamble?)

[Compyfox]

There is one major thing to point out on top of that:

The Midnight Suite and the RED suite compressors are listed as "VCA", while the Scarlett Suite compressor is listed as OPTO. Just take a look at this page:
http://us.focusrite.com/plug-ins/scarle ... y-features


Additional to that, i took a dive into the ISA 130 manual again, here they are also listed as "VCA", with no sidechain capability - but "link" capability for Stereo usage. They were rebuilds of the FORTE console after all.
http://us.focusrite.com/sites/default/f ... guide1.pdf


The RED on the other hand does come with a sidechain mode (called "key"), as can be read in the manual:
http://www.lydrommet.no/sitefiles/1/fel ... -Range.pdf

Then again, I don't now why the RED clones (neither of them currently) don't offer the sidechain, and neither limiter as well. Only the compressor.



As it stands, it looks like the current RED plugin bundle do seem be a re-release of the D2/D3 on ProTools by Paul Neyrinck. And it really doesn't give you that much over the MIDNIGHT suite. So the price question still remains. However - only current Focusrite software devs can give is more technical details, I'm afraid.

Not worth $299 (imho) but definitely worth using if you get it bundled with your interface or maybe in some sale.

It's more the "hey, here's something entirely new, pay 300 bucks for it" liar attitude that bothers me.

I can agree with that. Nowadays it's way more easy to take a closer look (and people should always do that). So that crazy marketing doesn't stand such a big of a chance.




Sub-note:
I will aösp take a closer look the next 48 hours. Let's see what results/plots I can come up with, and if I can confirm the "nulling". I'll post my findings in here.

[Kang]

The following is entirely speculation, unverified:
Midnight Suite based on Forte
Red based on Forte

Seems that way... So they make a plugin based off a plugin based off hardware and name it after totally different hardware? Or were the ISA and RED hardware stuff the same?

The one poster said that this compressor is right up there with the glue. Not only are these two compressors (glue&red3) designed to handle different tasks, but this red 3 compressor is a complete waste of time, and if it were anything other than free, money as well.

He meant that HE 'likes' it as much as the GLUE as opposed to it sounding like the GLUE, which is purely subjective. I think the RED is a fine compressor, super clean. I thought the Midnight stuff was good when I got it too, stopped using it in favor of paid stuff, but if it was a Waves compressor promoted as 'clean' people would probably be all over it. I like the new RED GUI so I think I'll keep it around at least. It was still a bogus move by Focusrite.

[chokehold]

Compyfox, don't start arguing with mights and mays based on suspicions and assumptions.

Open your host, place the same audio clip on two tracks, phase invert one track.
Place Red EQ and/or Compressor on one track, Midnight EQ and/or Compressor on the other.

If your settings match on both Red and Midnight counterparts, you'll have "-inf" peak level, which is absolute silence.

"The cake is a lie."

[Ultrasonic]

He meant that HE 'likes' it as much as the GLUE as opposed to it sounding like the GLUE, which is purely subjective

.
I didnt mention anything about it "sounding like the glue". Didnt even imply it. Two plugins can do the same job and not sound alike. He meant it was "awesome on the level of the glue". Its clearly not. When this thread is done we'll never hear about this compressor again. The only thing that makes the thread interesting is that Dave's name is on it...and obviously now the cake being a lie.

[Aiynzahev]

There is definitely something I really like about the attack which I rarely find. Don't think I have anything else that can do it.

But no way I'm paying $300 for it. I guess I should have bought Midnight when it was on sale ages ago.

[bmanic]

Midnight bundle compressor and the R3 don't sound anything alike. They are behaving completely differently. The timing, both attack and release behavior is completely different on the R3 compressor compared to the midnight bundle comp.

I have yet to find any use for the midnight bundle comp whereas the R3 compressor is absolutely superb on pretty much everything. An extremely versatile compressor.

[chokehold]

bmanic: prove it.

[bmanic]

bmanic: prove it.

Red 3 transfer curve at 2 to 1 ratio


Scarlett Midnight Compressor transfer curve at 2 to 1 ratio


.. not to mention that the Midnight Compressor completely lacks an auto release function, attack sounding nothing like R3, etc. But yeah, you can imagine just how different they are just by looking at the transfer curve, or whatever this thing I just measured should be called (Dave corrected me once and said it shouldn't be called a transfer function).

EDIT: turns out I was mixing up my plugins. This Scarlett plugin suite is not the same as the Focusrite Midnight suite. No idea how I got that idea.. anyway, this explains the confusion.

[Gamma-UT]

I've got Midnight and Red3 to null at a variety of settings, not just the extremes. They appear to be one and the same. I always liked the Midnight though.

@bmanic: that is not the version of the Midnight I'm using. This is the blue-faced version. It has auto-release.

http://us.focusrite.com/plug-ins/midnight-plug-in-suite

[chokehold]

bmanic: Scarlett isn't Midnight.

[bmanic]

Ah that'd explain the difference. No idea why I thought it was called Midnight.. strange. Yeah this explains the confusion. Sorry, my bad.

[chokehold]

Sorry, my bad.

No problem. Happens to the best, right.

[Aiynzahev]

So the midnight suite is no longer available right? At least not to buy.

[bill45]

hibidy, can you download yet?

[Compyfox]

Compyfox, don't start arguing with mights and mays based on suspicions and assumptions.

Open your host, place the same audio clip on two tracks, phase invert one track.
Place Red EQ and/or Compressor on one track, Midnight EQ and/or Compressor on the other.

This is what I will do shortly. I'll also push it through VST Plugin Analyzer and a couple of test tones to see what's up (i.e. the attack/release behavior).

"The cake is a lie."

Not thinking with portals over here (yet).

Red 3 transfer curve at 2 to 1 ratio

Scarlett Suite Compressor transfer curve at 2 to 1 ratio

This clearly shows that the compressors are two different beasts altogether.

EDIT:
Scratch that part with "run down versions being different".

IMO, OPTO comps often show a soft knee. But in this case, the RED3 shows the soft knee over the SCARLETT SUITE comp, which is a hard knee. The RED3 is a VCA, the SCARLETT SUITE is listed as OPTO... I'll really have to check the transfer curves over here with Slate, and Focusrite's "RED"/ISA130 clones before I can comment any further. But this alone is an indication that the comps work differently (and clears why this particular "RED" clone sounds softer).

I will put both the Midnight and the RED to the test within the next 48 hours. I'll see what I can find out.

So the midnight suite is no longer available right? At least not to buy.

It's still available through the Focusrite shop for 99USD. Some retailers also still have it "boxed" (which is nothing more than a DVD case with a serial in it - at least last time I asked at a store). Interface users (USB/Firewire) can grab it for free as of late.

hibidy, can you download yet?

Looks like the US page as major issues. The German, UK and "Global" pages work fine. You can access the download section, the Support, the modules are listed correctly as well. So if you have issues with the page, maybe try the "global area" mode of the page.