KVR Audio

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:12 pm

Hi!

Im kinda new here and first time posting but I got a question. If this has been asked before then please redirect me to that thread/post.
Fair warning, this might a long post (hopefully not):

Background:
So, I've been struggling with getting a nice and noticeable bass sound but havent had any luck.
I have the Scarbee Rickenbacker bass (got it free) which can be annoying sometimes so I have considered buying either MODO Bass or EZ Bass.
I prefer the Modo actually but was going to get EZ instead because I need to save up some money.
Recently I saw that Soundtoys is having a sale and so I've been demoing their bundle. I have been using the presets in Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe, and Radiator (each one separately in the Effect Rack) on the bass and that gives me the sound I'm looking for, which is a noticeable and warm bass sound.
I also tried them on drums which gave me the same results and I'm might use them guitars someday.
I'm no expert so I mainly use presets and sometimes try and tweak some knobs so I can hopefully learn what they actually do.

To sum this up:
I also own the FX Collection from Arturia but I feel that they can be a bit hard to understand.
But I will really try and learn how to use them of course.
The idea of the Effect Rack is really handy but I dont need the other plugins in it as the FX Collection have something similar (delays, compressors, filters, reverbs). Im not in need for new reverbs, delays, filters, compressors as I want to learn to use/understand the ones I have in the FX.

Now here's the question:
Will the FX Collection from Arturia give me the same results or something similar if I learn to use them or will Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe, Radiator or the Effect Rack be helpful for me?

acousticglue · Post by **acousticglue** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 3:57 am

It all can be slightly to larger in difference on any plugins.

CapnLockheed · Post by **CapnLockheed** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 5:56 am

Oh GAWD....yet another KVR "apples vs oranges" thread.

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:49 am

That is understandable. Whenever I do some research, it seems like many plugins basically do the same thing but they are still "different" which can be confusing. Another guy tipped me about Vertigo VSM-3 which has "lots of useable presets, but best of all, it may be the best saturator for bass and guitar I have ever used"
I've narrowed it down to this:
Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe, Vertigo VSM-3 are saturators and saturators are good to have. Not entirely sure what Radiator does.
There's Fabfilter Saturn which is also an saturator and very talked about.
So, what kind of saturator is most helpful for me and easy to understand/work with?

And sorry if this might be annoying to some but in the plugin jungle, it's not always easy to navigate
I also like both apples and oranges

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:15 am

drisa wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:49 amThat is understandable. Whenever I do some research, it seems like many plugins basically do the same thing but they are still "different" which can be confusing...

He means they're completely different (that's what "apples vs. oranges mean"). Arturia FX are utilitarian and try to emulate hardware, Soundtoys' stuff is usually used for extreme, creative, colorful manipulation of sound.

If you have the money get the Rack - you can't do wrong with their stuff, unless music you're doing is orchestral stuff or guitar ballads maybe.

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:33 am

No orchestral or guitar ballads here, not yet anyways.
I guess the Rack could be of use to me if it gives me the same results as other plugins, even though I wont use everything in it.
Final question then:
Any difference between Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe and Fabfilter Saturn in terms of easy to use/understand and results?
Or do they do the same thing?

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:43 am

drisa wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:33 am Any difference between Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe and Fabfilter Saturn?
Or do they do the same thing?

Get Saturn. It does everything from gentle, mastering-grade saturation, through guitar/bass amps to far-out shit.

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:24 pm

Okey!
I'll demo Saturn first on guitar/bass/drums etc and then make my mind.
If I decided to go with Saturn then I can always get the Rack on next years sale, if I need it. Thanks for your input!

acousticglue · Post by **acousticglue** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:57 pm

Elysia Phil's Cascade

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:33 pm

acousticglue wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:57 pm Elysia Phil's Cascade

Thanks, will check it out!

jens · Post by **jens** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 3:35 pm

drisa wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:33 am Finally question then:
Any difference between Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe and Fabfilter Saturn in terms of easy to use/understand and results?
Or do they do the same thing?

Devil Loc is a very special thing - it can be of great use, but is more likely to make your program material sound like a bunch of drunken frogs in a potato- bag having a farting competition...

FF Saturn is very versatile, yet not so easy to set up if a nice sound is your objective.

Decapitator is super easy to use and the few stream-lined controls help you a lot to get exacly the sound you want - and that is especially true for bass-guitar and the like. I can set up Decapitator in less than a minute and it'll make me grin like an idiot, or I can keep tweaking Saturn for half an hour and ending up wanting to quit making music for good.

Of course I am exaggerating a bit to make my point, but not by much neccessarily.

Decapitator is very musical, Saturn is very technical - both have their place, but they're typically very different for very different needs - which is why the afore-mentioned Apple vs. Oranges analogy applies.

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 4:45 pm

I actually understand what you mean, after demoing Saturn.
Decapitator had a UI that is a bit easier for me to understand than Saturn.Although I dont understand exactly what they mean yet, I can hear a difference and a result that I am looking for.
Tried to turn some things around in Saturn but heard no difference, not the one I'm looking for anyway.
No doubt Saturn is good but maybe not for me at this stage because I still haven't gained enough technical knowledge. I can always get it later on.
Elysia Phil's Cascade seemed pretty good to and easy to use, according to its video walkthrough. But I really am tired of creating an account everytime I want to demo/buy something so I'll have to pass on this for now.

To summarize, if I have understood correctly and feel free to correct me:

The Effect Rack is very tempting on its sale price right now and it has plugins that are probably useful.
But Arturia's FX plugins can do about the same things as the Rack if I have understood it correctly, at least most, not all. So I'll mange with Arturia's FX + Decapitator. The Radiator seemed useful too but I think that Decapitator will be useful enough.

Thanks for making it clearer for me, I appreciate it!

PS: I often try to write as clearly as possible so that others who have the same question can find their answer.

jens · Post by **jens** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:17 pm

No, I'd say Soundtoys' Effect Rack is again quite different to Arturia's effects, even if there is of course quite some overlap - but I would say they complement each other very well. (The Effect Rack doesn't include Little Alter Boy though, which in my opinion is one of their best offerings.)

jens · Post by **jens** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:21 pm

B.t.w.: if you look for something great, inexpensive, very musical and very easy to use for distortion/saturation, then I recommend you to also check out Klanghelm's SDRR:

https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/SDRR.html

drisa · Post by **drisa** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:21 pm

jens wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:17 pm No, I'd say Soundtoys' Effect Rack is again quite different to Arturia's effects, even if there is of course quite some overlap - but I would say they complement each other very well. (The Effect Rack doesn't include Little Alter Boy though, which in my opinion is one of their best offerings.)

Ah okey, thanks for correcting me there!
Little Alterboy was really cool when I tried it so I agree with you. But their Effect Rack/bundle might come in handy someday when I'm more experienced.
Thanks for your suggestion about the SDRR. I'll check it out and see how it compares to Decapitator, sadly no demo for it though. The sale ends 12 January at Soundtoys so I got some time left.

Arturia FX Collection vs Soundtoys Decapitator, Devil Loc-Deluxe, Radiator/Effect Rack