Satin: quick mixdown audio demo (tape on / off)

[SWAN808]

Thanks Sascha for the demo.

I dont have any experience with real tape but Im encouraged by these demos.

My problem with a lot of algorithmic saturation is that sometimes it seems to have a subjectively plastic sound to my ears particularly in the high end.

However in these demos there is plenty of hf information and it appears to stay fresh and crisp but more saturated and a nice amount of girth in the low end.

I would have expected the 'eq flat' version to be more...flat - whereas its the one which has the high end roll off? Is that because the other examples have a bit of air in them from the tape choices/machines?

[sascha]

I would have expected the 'eq flat' version to be more...flat - whereas its the one which has the high end roll off? Is that because the other examples have a bit of air in them from the tape choices/machines?

'Flat' means there is no 'industry standard curve' applied, hence no pre- and post eq.
For instance, if you apply IEC15 on the input, the HF rolls off by 6dB/oct at 4.5k (-3dB point). Post-eq is the inverse curve. This was chosen in a way that the HF doesn't distort the tape too much. If you hit the tape all the way flat, the HF gets distorted earlier. Therefore the much smoother, but saturated sound.

Here's a brief but very good overview on the topic:
http://www.soundfan.it/en/recorders.html#bias_nab
http://www9.dw-world.de/rtc/infotheque/ ... ec_06.html

[SWAN808]

I would have expected the 'eq flat' version to be more...flat - whereas its the one which has the high end roll off? Is that because the other examples have a bit of air in them from the tape choices/machines?

'Flat' means there is no 'industry standard curve' applied, hence no pre- and post eq.
For instance, if you apply IEC15 on the input, the HF rolls off by 6dB/oct at 4.5k (-3dB point). Post-eq is the inverse curve. This was chosen in a way that the HF doesn't distort the tape too much. If you hit the tape all the way flat, the HF gets distorted earlier. Therefore the much smoother, but saturated sound.

Here's a brief but very good overview on the topic:
http://www.soundfan.it/en/recorders.html#bias_nab
http://www9.dw-world.de/rtc/infotheque/ ... ec_06.html

thanks for those links I didnt get it at first as its tape specific stuff I dont know about...will check them out...looking fwd to trying it...

[xh3rv]

So, we've been wading through a deep learning process of our model, for instance, what makes '3D', what makes things 'glue'.

When I listened to the first Satin mix, I got the impression that for each track or sound, some definition joins into a background, some definition pops out into its own space. Sort of like a sculpted relief. 3D and glue seem orthogonal but it's more like everything is getting contoured, molded into a particularly smooth, nuanced sound stage by this contrast.

Reading about the EQ curves and the various transformations on signals, I'm getting the sense that the composite 'tape' effect varies in intensity across the spectrum and dynamic range, even within what's perceived in an individual sound ... is this part of what makes '3D' and 'glue'?

[Simon-Claudius]

From http://www.soundfan.it/en/recorders.html#bias_nab:

"There is no way to modify the NAB or IEC curves as you have no way to change the RIAA curve in your phono preamp."

Sascha probably said something on the lines of: "Well, actually..."

[sascha]

From http://www.soundfan.it/en/recorders.html#bias_nab:

"There is no way to modify the NAB or IEC curves as you have no way to change the RIAA curve in your phono preamp."

Sascha probably said something on the lines of: "Well, actually..."

The curves are fixed / standardised, but nobody forces you to have the same for rec & repro. In Satin, you can combine them freely.

[3ee]

At 1st I thought that even though the differences were noticeable, they were too subtle... but after getting used to the track (btw, cool song! ) the effect became more noticeable.... there is this "weight" and "polished contour" added which is very nice, can't wait to take Satin for a spin.