T-RackS Custom Shop Released

[braj]

That's something we could talk to Bobby Owsinski about. Of course, with new T-RackS CS models coming out every few months, that will be a lot of editions!

Yeah, I know it wouldn't be able to cover all gear, but if it could cover the Grande bundle that would be 'Grande!'

[bill45]

Now that you've had them for awhile, How are the Quad series and British channel? I found the plugins, after the demo period expired.
The tracks groove 3 video is awesome,I hope they update that too.

[zeep]

After running some mixes, groups and single channels through the quad compressor and quad limiter i'm not blown away.

Quad Compressor.
I found little character to it, it sounds a bit bland really.
What i also miss is there's no INPUT GAIN control. Why not?
Another bad thing is, using the Link button puts everything at the same level, which is bad when i have like different Threshold levels on channels but i want to lower them all a few db's equally (because there's no input level), doing it now all the Threshold levels are identical after dragging.
Maybe allow Shift+drag to keep independent levels when Link is active?

Quad Limiter.
Can't say i'm crazy about it. Most times when i thought a specific mix or sound could benefit from some multiband limiting, either for soundshaping purposes or for spicing up a mix, i ended up tweaking a lot of knobs with not enough to show for it.
But maybe that's me, beside standard usability i look for playfulness and soul in plugins. Drive audio to see where it shows its teeth, and where a sweet spot lies.
Also suffering from no way to drive Input Level, the quad limiter is a bit disappointing.

I will keep playing around with them and hopefully find good use for them. I hope IKM will think about adding Input Gain to both of them because they will benefit from it.

For now the plugins are ok. They do what you expect them to do and i can see people liking them.

[bill45]

Thanks zeep, have you tried the British channel?

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

These Quad processors are not "character" plugins like the British Channel for example. I know YMMV so thanks for the thoughts on them, I just wanted to make sure people were aware of the intentions about their sound as they are definitely great-sounding but aren't meant to impart a huge amount of character - at least compared to plugins like British Channel, Black 76, White 2A, and others like that in the T-RackS family.

On another note, not in response or related to the above: The "Try" period (for both T-RackS and AmpliTube Custom Shop models) has been increased to 72 hours and the reset period has been reduced to six weeks.

[zeep]

These Quad processors are not "character" plugins like the British Channel for example. I know YMMV so thanks for the thoughts on them, I just wanted to make sure people were aware of the intentions about their sound as they are definitely great-sounding but aren't meant to impart a huge amount of character - at least compared to plugins like British Channel, Black 76, White 2A, and others like that in the T-RackS family.

It's BECAUSE of your other plugins, like the compressors and multiband limiter, that i expected 'character' from these!
I wish it WAS Classic Compressor x 4. That thing rocks.


Peter, what are your thoughts about adding an input gain to the quad comp & limiter?
Is it possible that IKM will consider such an addition? It would help A LOT mixing with these plugins.

[Brian @ IK Multimedia]

An input control is totally unnecessary. Some compressors work by having a fixed threshold and adjustable input and output. This one works by having 4 independently adjustable threshold bands, and a fixed input. You have the same amount of flexibility either way.

This is a tool for transparent modern precision mastering, so adding additional coloration here is not preferable.

[zeep]

An input control is totally unnecessary

Are you serious?? Totally unnecessary, so you can't imagine any situation where you would benefit from driving it harder or less hard?
Most mastering multiband compressors have input gain. Izotope, Vengeance MS Multiband Compressor and Powercore Master X5 to name some. Let alone that most mastering limiters have input gain.


How about making the Link work (optionally) in a way that it doesn't mirror one setting to all bands, but leaves the bands at their relative settings?
If anything you'd give the user a way to change global threshold if there's no input gain.

The way you have it setup now forces a users to either tweak all bands independently or use a gain plugin if he wants to hit the threshold harder, Link is useless in that scenario because it resets all bands to the current.

[Brian @ IK Multimedia]

Lowering the threshold gets the same result as driving the input. Raising the threshold gets the same result as lowering the input gain. Not having an input gain encourages best practices and retains the highest audio fidelity and resolution.

[zeep]

Lowering the threshold gets the same result as driving the input. Raising the threshold gets the same result as lowering the input gain. Not having an input gain encourages best practices and retains the highest audio fidelity and resolution.

I completely agree with how the threshold works.

But please then make the LINK button, when active, stop resetting all Thresholds settings to the current channel's. Make it optionally if you want.
This will give the user the ability to quickly raise/lower all thresholds while retaining their individual levels.

[Doc Jon]

Really really pleased with this bundle, very happy that I upgraded

I actually like all the Quad models, definitely functional rather than imparting character - but that LINK button is bugging me too, would agree it would be nice to have the option to keep the relative differences between the bands rather than resetting them all to the selected band

Jon

[andycraig]

LINK button is bugging me too, would agree it would be nice to have the option to keep the relative differences between the bands rather than resetting them all to the selected band

+1

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Thank you for the suggestions. Anybody interested in upgrading should do so soon, I know January 7th is an odd time to end it, but alas that is when it does come to an end according to the news item at http://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/promos/?item_id=1842

[xamido]

Hi, do you have any idea of when you'll update the gui on the british channel? I want to get it once it's updated.

[MickGael]

Hi, do you have any idea of when you'll update the gui on the british channel? I want to get it once it's updated.

+1