KVR Audio

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Tue May 16, 2017 2:29 am

Introducing my newest plugin, I like to call it the "Wind Maker"
This is currently BETA

Windows x86/64 VST
Stereo only
No GUI, uses host default interface
"Works best at 96khz"

Sidechain Included, read on for details!

Log in to download

SmoothSlew SC.zip

KVR download

It's a slewrate limiter with 3 different modes of operation. What a slewrate limiter does, is it limits the change of voltage over time, which causes a chaotic kind of IMD. The 3 modes are in reference to the underlying transfer function generating the limiting, hard-knee, soft-knee, and a special soft-root which doesn't act the same as the other two. The ability to mix the effect with the dry signal allows the plugin to operate in either a compression or expansion mode, with 100% mix compressing and -100% mix expanding.

A slewrate limiter is best described as a non-linear lowpass filter. How strong the "voltage" is determines how much cut there is. The plugin's Sensitivity control applies upward gain (drive type) to saturate the signal. As more gain is added, more high frequencies are slewed and reduced in amplitude.

The sidechain allows direct audio rate control of the Sensitivity parameter. It will be engaged when the SC Mode control reads "External". While in this mode, the sidechain input signal is first rectified |x| then limited in amplitude to 1.0 ( 0dBFS ). Also while in this mode, the Sensitivity knob on the screen is non-functional. This is done to ensure the control remains within it's designed range, even with inputs over 1. Negative inputs are made positive, so an increasingly negative polarity signal becomes increasingly positive. It's worth experimenting with a plugin like FuncShaper or MUtility to run your custom maths on the sidechain signal, to exert control over the entire range.

This is currently BETA, so please report any bugs, and feel free to make a request.

Enjoy!

lexr · Post by **lexr** » Tue May 16, 2017 3:18 am

Interesting! Will check it out. Why "Wind Maker"?

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Tue May 16, 2017 3:57 am

lexr wrote:Interesting! Will check it out. Why "Wind Maker"?

It's sound reminds me of a rough wind in the middle of the night.

V0RT3X · Post by **V0RT3X** » Tue May 16, 2017 4:01 am

camsr wrote:
lexr wrote:Interesting! Will check it out. Why "Wind Maker"?
It's sound reminds me of a rough wind in the middle of the night.

Do any of the presets have to do with the foods that caused this type of rough wind?

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Tue May 16, 2017 4:19 am

There's only 1 preset hardcoded at the moment, but anything's possible

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Tue May 16, 2017 11:00 pm

in case you missed it

cron · Post by **cron** » Tue May 16, 2017 11:16 pm

Many thanks for the freebie camsr. Will check this out forthwith.

Tearing Riots · Post by **Tearing Riots** » Thu May 18, 2017 12:46 pm

That´s cool, thanks

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Fri May 19, 2017 3:41 am

This is pretty neat. The mix could probably use a log scale (or something) since the most fun areas seem to be from about 96% to 100% in my experience. Also I find that putting a maximizer after it yields some nifty results, so maybe automatic gain compensation would be good feature?

Inspired me to try running some drum loops etc. from my DAW out through Eurorack gear. Your plugin sounds better than trying to use Disting's slew limiter, and cleaner than Mini Slew (but Mini Slew does get pretty interesting in weird ways)

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Fri May 19, 2017 4:33 am

The mix knob, I'm not terribly satisfied with it and I've been reconsidering it, but I like your idea and if I decide to keep it, I will probably implement an inverted quadratic fade (s-shape) instead of linear. That would give more precision to the edges and keep the middle less tweaky versus log.

Automatic gain matching wouldn't be difficult, but it also doesn't make sense... since this algorithm is highly non-linear and frequency balance changes a lot, it may not work as expected. I think that the mix knob as it is now is kind of ferocious going from 100 to 0, I thought about how auto gain would work in this circumstance and the results would not be good. To solve this I may remove the mix control and use a separate input and effect gain. Then again, one day it may have both controls, swappable at will, just thinking out loud.

I am using it on a parallel mixer track most of the time, so the mix control isn't as significant but can be used when required.

Those two units you mentioned are pretty cool, looking at youtube videos, comparing them to this and they do control signal stuff well. This one would need a wider sensitivity range to do both audio and control bandwidth successfully. I think the next update will have a lower sens limit and possibly higher also.

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 2:31 am

Just bumping

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:05 am

another bump, just curious if anyone experienced VST related problems.

Eleventh · Post by **Eleventh** » Wed Jul 05, 2017 11:12 am

Thanks! Really nice freebie. x64 VST is working without a problem.

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 6:08 pm

Working on adding new stuff. The next iteration will have a sidechain input! And also two new ways to distort, by only slewing at the signal peaks and the signal near 0. Maybe a new mode or two as well. The sidechain signal will control the sensitivity value directly, so you'll be able to add an LFO or whatever you can think of. The next build won't be compatible with the current, but the settings will remain equivalent.

Halonmusic · Post by **Halonmusic** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:06 pm

Cool. Will check it out

SmoothSlew now with sidechain