Late 80's / Early 90's Lo-Fi Indie Sound

[TS-12]

something like here:



and here starting around 51:00





I like the Lo-Finess of everything besides bass, the drums, vocals, reverb and guitar have that specific sound that I tried recreating in the DAW many times but couldn't.

What effects and techniques would help me get that type of sound ?

I got 80s spaces, JP-ME-1, Korneff Micro-Digital reverbs, Infiltrator, RC-20. But willing to get any and all plugins that will help get as close as possible to that sound

[DrGonzo]

Just a couple of random thoughts:

avoid compressors and eq on separate tracks
maybe an eq on the master to shape the shape of the tone, but really basic settings
maybe look into tape plugins try to squeeze in all tracks into one cheap reel of tape - like a portastudio.

[jamcat]

You just need a cassette tape plugin and turn the 'Garbage' knob all the way up.

[miloszz]

Those are not what I think of when it comes to "lo-fi indie" but you're talking cheap analog mixers into cheap tape solutions (Portastudio, Tascam 388) with few channels, minimal outboard gear.

tbh I'd probably get Goodhertz Tupe and see if the wide variety of tone shaping options (tube or tape saturation, opto-compressor, the EQ/emphasis controls) can get what you want.

[Starbright]

Also look for realy cheap 90s sounds like a Proteus emulation and Blue Lue by Fanan Team as sequencer for one of the proteus drumkits. Also Xpand!2 might have some of the sounds you need

[jamcat]

Probably the most authentic result would come from IK Multimedia TASCAM PORTA ONE with BIAS turned up in Studio One with S1's proprietary Retro Mix Legends Porta Cassette in the Mix FX slot on the Master. That will give you the crunch from the IK plugin and the warble from the Mix FX for a properly chewed tape.


Aberrant DSP SketchCassette II is also pretty good on a budget.


Or for a few dollars more, there's the even better Cassette from Wavesfactory.
Here's a video featuring the insufferable Dan Worrall.

[TS-12]

You just need a cassette tape plugin and turn the 'Garbage' knob all the way up.

Any plugin in particular that has that knob?
Edit: saw your second post. Thanks

[TS-12]

In the second video they're playing live without recording. So cassette tape isn't the big part of the sound. Maybe VHS tape is in that particular situation since it was recorded live on the vhs camera

[jamcat]

Any plugin in particular that has that knob?

There probably isn’t an actual ‘Garbage’ knob on any. But there will be at least one knob that makes it sound like garbage. On the IK Tascam Porta One it’s the BIAS knob. On others it could be bias, age, wear, distortion, trash, etc., or some combination.

[JerGoertz]

You'll probably want to introduce all (or most) of these into the audio to emulate the lo-fi feel you're looking for:

- Restricted frequency range
- Saturation/distortion
- Pitch instability
- Noise

I concur with jamcat that Wavesfactory Cassette is good. Also try soundghost's Drift, it's also good and maybe a little underappreciated.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Check out the Bedroom Producers Blog VHS plugin.

[whassup]

Check out the Bedroom Producers Blog VHS plugin.

This.

[TS-12]

nice it's even free

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Yes, and it's free! I never heard mention of it on KVR (probably just missed the thread) but it's quite good. Now that I'm not typing on a mobile device, here's me being more useful and providing the link:

https://bedroomproducersblog.com/free-v ... dirty-vhs/

[HenkDeWegWeg]

Mono Bedankt.