LOUDER THAN LIFTOFF Silver Bullet mk2

[Dr.Gunjah]

This woud be awesome to have as a native reaper feature because I'm kinda tired of begging for input/output knobs over and over again when devs release new plugins.

Is there a feature request in the reaper forum where we can +1?

[Calagan]

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but I didn't get the gain staging issue (or debate) with Silver Bullet (maybe it's a language issue).
Is bmanic recommending to lower the input level or to raise it ?
In order to obtain what results ?

[ambientdogs]

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but I didn't get the gain staging issue (or debate) with Silver Bullet (maybe it's a language issue).
Is bmanic recommending to lower the input level or to raise it ?
In order to obtain what results ?

Just more sonic options, not something you have to do all the time. Try it!

[ambientdogs]

This woud be awesome to have as a native reaper feature because I'm kinda tired of begging for input/output knobs over and over again when devs release new plugins.

Is there a feature request in the reaper forum where we can +1?

I wrote in email form, you should too, and start a thread about it, and send them mail via snail mail, and rent billboard space over I-5

[jbraner]

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but I didn't get the gain staging issue (or debate) with Silver Bullet (maybe it's a language issue).
Is bmanic recommending to lower the input level or to raise it ?
In order to obtain what results ?

His option allows you to raise or lower the input and then make up the output - so you always have the same level coming out.

[Calagan]

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but I didn't get the gain staging issue (or debate) with Silver Bullet (maybe it's a language issue).
Is bmanic recommending to lower the input level or to raise it ?
In order to obtain what results ?

His option allows you to raise or lower the input and then make up the output - so you always have the same level coming out.

Ok, thanks. But I don't get the purpose.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but I didn't get the gain staging issue (or debate) with Silver Bullet (maybe it's a language issue).
Is bmanic recommending to lower the input level or to raise it ?
In order to obtain what results ?

His option allows you to raise or lower the input and then make up the output - so you always have the same level coming out.

Ok, thanks. But I don't get the purpose.

You can drive the plugin harder (with more input gain). This will change the behavior and sound. In this case, more saturation and clipping (i.e. removing peaks - which is handy for bringing up volume levels without peaks).

Analog, and analog-style, gear can sound good when abused. This is a very common way of abusing gear.

[jbraner]

Also - you keep a steady volume when you're changing the input - so when you raise the input, it lowers the output and when you lower the input, it raises the output. This way you don't have to keep adjusting different knobs, to keep a steady level. also you won't get your mind playing "louder is better" tricks

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Another way to do it is via Patchwork if you happen to have it. You can put a Utility>Gain plugin first in the chain, and another last in the chain, and create a Macro knob to control them set to move the controls inverse to each other. Then you just host your plugin(s) directly in Patchwork. Lots of ways to skin that cat.

[Calagan]

Thanks all of you for your answers. Ok, I was thinking it was about a specific gainstaging method with Silver Bullet - like it shines at -24dbfs RMS instead of -18dbfs or something like that.
I didn't get the advices because to me it starts clipping (and also compressing) quite quickly with standard 0Vu levels... Just selecting one amp and driving it at noon is pretty transparent but the peaks are shaved of some dB.
But I guess in order to saturate in a more trashy way, the headroom knob is not sufficient.
I'll re-read the posts and think about it, but so far I prefer SB in the subtle saturation. I've got much better tools for dirty saturation...

[Dr.Gunjah]

Ok, thanks. But I don't get the purpose.

Even with everything turned off (except for the Power button) this plugin does something to the sound (creates harmonics) if you push into it. The more you push the more harmonics you get. The levels needed to make this happen are way beyond what any sane person would typically use tho.

[anoise]

Thanks all of you for your answers.

Here is the developers advice regarding input levels :
https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... tcount=752

[ambientdogs]

I think I may have created some confusion bringing it up, just to be clear I don't think anyone is recommending hitting the mixbus, subgroups, or anything like that anywhere near that hard. This is more in the 'sound design' / track mangling category.

[Calagan]

I think I may have created some confusion bringing it up, just to be clear I don't think anyone is recommending hitting the mixbus, subgroups, or anything like that anywhere near that hard. This is more in the 'sound design' / track mangling category.

No problem. It's about discussing the plugin, so it's good you bring something up that is being discussed afterward. re-reading the whole conversation, I think it's pretty clear it was about driving it super hard...

[Calagan]

Thanks all of you for your answers.

Here is the developers advice regarding input levels :
https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... tcount=752

Thanks for the link. I think I did read it long time ago, and forgot about it.
So it seems the gainstaging is pretty standard on this plugin : average level at 0VU and peaks at -8/-6 dbfs.

One thing I don't get with this plugin is the meter is post-FX. It seems counter-intuitive to me. At least we should be able to monitor the input level with a switch or something...