Haven't been a massive fan of Neve plugins but was curious to give this new one a try and was very pleasantly surprised. $19 intro price. First time I've come across this Japanese developer. Will check out their Material Comp now.
VoosteQ Model N Channel
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- KVRAF
- 4071 posts since 22 Aug, 2012
https://www.voosteq.com/model-n-channel/
Haven't been a massive fan of Neve plugins but was curious to give this new one a try and was very pleasantly surprised. $19 intro price. First time I've come across this Japanese developer. Will check out their Material Comp now.
Haven't been a massive fan of Neve plugins but was curious to give this new one a try and was very pleasantly surprised. $19 intro price. First time I've come across this Japanese developer. Will check out their Material Comp now.
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- KVRAF
- 19797 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
I'm trying the demo and so far it's not jumping out at me as something I really want but I still need to run some more tests before forming a final opinion.
However I absolutely hate it when developers "age" their plugin GUIs with scratches and worn paint etc. I've got hardware from the 80's that still looks like it just came out of the box so seeing something that looks like it has been so abused sets my OCD off in a big way.
If I end up liking the sound the GUI won't keep me from buying it but it's not helping me form a positive opinion of the plugin overall.
Still for $19 it's pretty much impulse buy territory.
However I absolutely hate it when developers "age" their plugin GUIs with scratches and worn paint etc. I've got hardware from the 80's that still looks like it just came out of the box so seeing something that looks like it has been so abused sets my OCD off in a big way.
If I end up liking the sound the GUI won't keep me from buying it but it's not helping me form a positive opinion of the plugin overall.
Still for $19 it's pretty much impulse buy territory.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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- KVRAF
- 7664 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
I'm demoing as well.
My first impression of it is it sounds the way analogue-haters think all modeled hardware sounds.
I swapped out the UAD API Vision channels that I have on every channel of a song with Model N. I was unable to get anywhere near the effect of the UAD channel. The VoosteQ plugin sucked all of the energy and impact out, and just made everything a bit flat and fuzzy. (I'm using ONLY the mic preamp modeling of both plugins.)
The transformer modeling isn't actually bad, and the oversampling option right up front is nice. It's possible I may change my mind as I get more familiar with Model N. But I can say right now that I've never had any problem dialing in a punchy, dynamic tone with Neve preamp models from UAD, Lindell Audio, or NoiseAsh from the very first time I used them, but it has so far been elusive with VoosteQ.
My first impression of it is it sounds the way analogue-haters think all modeled hardware sounds.
I swapped out the UAD API Vision channels that I have on every channel of a song with Model N. I was unable to get anywhere near the effect of the UAD channel. The VoosteQ plugin sucked all of the energy and impact out, and just made everything a bit flat and fuzzy. (I'm using ONLY the mic preamp modeling of both plugins.)
The transformer modeling isn't actually bad, and the oversampling option right up front is nice. It's possible I may change my mind as I get more familiar with Model N. But I can say right now that I've never had any problem dialing in a punchy, dynamic tone with Neve preamp models from UAD, Lindell Audio, or NoiseAsh from the very first time I used them, but it has so far been elusive with VoosteQ.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
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- KVRAF
- 11369 posts since 3 Feb, 2003 from Finland, Espoo
This is a pretty damn impressive plugin for 19$ (normally 100$)!
I put it through the ringer in Plugin Doctor and it's definitely quite a complex model. The compressor sounds really impressive to my ears and I love the flavors of mojo you can get out of the whole thing.
My only complaint is that there is no "digital" volume control to be found anywhere. So if you don't want it all mushy and dark then you need to make sure you don't push audio into the thing too hard. Also notice how the EQ module has some non-linearities modeled, so you need to make sure you don't push that one too hard either. Many places where things happen.. thus your initial volume going into the plugin is very important. I got best results sending it around -18dBFS RMS levels and lower, which isn't really surprising really. Many companies use that as a reference. Luckily you can almost completely remove the noise in the settings menu (it goes down to -160dB or so) which means that if you want it to be really clean, you can gain stage into it at really low volume levels.
I pretty much always preferred the overall sound when I set the 'age' knob to New, though I can see it being useful as a tonal spice for things that don't need to be quite as pristine.
You have tons of different colours of harmonic distortion on tap here, all of them being useful and quite distinct from one another. The whole 'neve' thing does sound a tad bit "polite" in my opinion. It's all quite smooth and controlled, which is usually not always the case with the real hardware. It can be a bit upfront and grimey but this isn't the case here.. which I actually prefer as I already have options for that sound with other plugins. The preamp distortion when pushed hard doesn't sound all that accurate to my ears though. It's way too polite. The real deal usually craps out in a rather spectacularly useless way when it overshoots.. so again, a win in my book. Why include useless settings? But it does question the modeling accuracy somewhat.
Anyhow, for 19$ this is an absolute no-brainer. Probably the best bang for your buck in a while, especially if you happen to not have these models in any other plugin form (are there really anybody left in the world without these models?). Still, even if you do have these in other forms, this plugin is unique enough to possibly warrant the price of a big mac meal + an ice cream.
I put it through the ringer in Plugin Doctor and it's definitely quite a complex model. The compressor sounds really impressive to my ears and I love the flavors of mojo you can get out of the whole thing.
My only complaint is that there is no "digital" volume control to be found anywhere. So if you don't want it all mushy and dark then you need to make sure you don't push audio into the thing too hard. Also notice how the EQ module has some non-linearities modeled, so you need to make sure you don't push that one too hard either. Many places where things happen.. thus your initial volume going into the plugin is very important. I got best results sending it around -18dBFS RMS levels and lower, which isn't really surprising really. Many companies use that as a reference. Luckily you can almost completely remove the noise in the settings menu (it goes down to -160dB or so) which means that if you want it to be really clean, you can gain stage into it at really low volume levels.
I pretty much always preferred the overall sound when I set the 'age' knob to New, though I can see it being useful as a tonal spice for things that don't need to be quite as pristine.
You have tons of different colours of harmonic distortion on tap here, all of them being useful and quite distinct from one another. The whole 'neve' thing does sound a tad bit "polite" in my opinion. It's all quite smooth and controlled, which is usually not always the case with the real hardware. It can be a bit upfront and grimey but this isn't the case here.. which I actually prefer as I already have options for that sound with other plugins. The preamp distortion when pushed hard doesn't sound all that accurate to my ears though. It's way too polite. The real deal usually craps out in a rather spectacularly useless way when it overshoots.. so again, a win in my book. Why include useless settings? But it does question the modeling accuracy somewhat.
Anyhow, for 19$ this is an absolute no-brainer. Probably the best bang for your buck in a while, especially if you happen to not have these models in any other plugin form (are there really anybody left in the world without these models?). Still, even if you do have these in other forms, this plugin is unique enough to possibly warrant the price of a big mac meal + an ice cream.
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
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- KVRian
- 546 posts since 8 Mar, 2007
I really like that feature; especially that you can age the UI in real time.Teksonik wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:07 am However I absolutely hate it when developers "age" their plugin GUIs with scratches and worn paint etc. I've got hardware from the 80's that still looks like it just came out of the box so seeing something that looks like it has been so abused sets my OCD off in a big way.
I just wish you could resize the UI below 75%. It takes up far too much screen real-estate for me.
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- KVRist
- 153 posts since 1 Nov, 2018
This is going to make my music look amazing
MacOS Ventura | Logic Pro 10 |
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- KVRian
- 784 posts since 29 Mar, 2016
How does it sound compared to other channel strips?
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- Banned
- 475 posts since 22 Nov, 2015
I would have thought that's what the preamp Trim knob was for? Seems a strange decision not to have that as clean digital volume control!bmanic wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:47 am My only complaint is that there is no "digital" volume control to be found anywhere. So if you don't want it all mushy and dark then you need to make sure you don't push audio into the thing too hard.
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- KVRAF
- 19797 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
You like a "feature" that makes a plugin look like it was left out in a sandstorm or was used by people who have no respect for the gear they're using? Ok, whatever......careyletendre wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 6:25 amI really like that feature; especially that you can age the UI in real time.Teksonik wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:07 am However I absolutely hate it when developers "age" their plugin GUIs with scratches and worn paint etc. I've got hardware from the 80's that still looks like it just came out of the box so seeing something that looks like it has been so abused sets my OCD off in a big way.
Even with Condition set to New it still looks worn. Set to Aged and it looks like someone used it for target practice.
As for the sound I'm still at "meh" but will give it one last chance before passing on the plugin.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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- KVRAF
- 11369 posts since 3 Feb, 2003 from Finland, Espoo
Very good. It's definitely one of the best sounding channel strips in my opinion.. though I only have very limited time testing it still, so take that comment with a grain of salt.
Tomorrow I'm starting a commissioned mix project that will take a few days and I plan on using this plugin extensively during that time.. so I'll know more afterwards.
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- 12443 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
bmanic, sir! EXCUSE YOU!
Please stop trying to get me to spend money plugins. I probably wouldn't even have demoed Michaelangelo if not for you. Though, it's Tone Projects and everything they do is ace, so maybe I won't blame you for that. But I think you've done enough!
This is simply a bridge too far. There are lots of other Neve plugins. We all own them. Let's just leave it at that. If you're in that boat, then there's nothing to see here. Move on folks. Don't demo. Don't be tempted by the "it's really good and only $19 - that's like a cup of coffee" crowd! You don't need this. I don't need this. Don't even need to check it out.
Ugh...I don't feel too good. What's this gassy feeling in my gut?
Please stop trying to get me to spend money plugins. I probably wouldn't even have demoed Michaelangelo if not for you. Though, it's Tone Projects and everything they do is ace, so maybe I won't blame you for that. But I think you've done enough!
This is simply a bridge too far. There are lots of other Neve plugins. We all own them. Let's just leave it at that. If you're in that boat, then there's nothing to see here. Move on folks. Don't demo. Don't be tempted by the "it's really good and only $19 - that's like a cup of coffee" crowd! You don't need this. I don't need this. Don't even need to check it out.
Ugh...I don't feel too good. What's this gassy feeling in my gut?
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- KVRian
- 1498 posts since 21 Nov, 2005 from The Netherlands
Think he's a shill for all the good plugin companies.. 
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- KVRian
- 1194 posts since 11 Nov, 2010 from ny
valiant effort, but I am pretty content with Pro Q3, and Track Comp 2. Just dont need this, even at the price.