KVR Audio

Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:17 am

wow, i just saw a vid about this as it is at audioplugindeals.
is this just bullocks or is this plugin really analyzing the frequency very nicely and you can quickly adjust your layers/mixes?

https://audioplugin.deals

what's your opinion on this plugin?

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:28 pm

The concept of frei:raum is a bit confusing at first. The bands in the smart EQ work like a normal EQ. However when the learn (magic wand) is engaged for each band and the software completes learning, the band gain become the gain for the complex filter structure created within each band.

For proximity and entropy, again the band gain does not do the usual thing. in the case of these two EQs the gains change the balance between tonal and spectral aspects of the audio within that band.

By using the 3 together the audio can be shaped in ways you can not shape them using, well, any other plugins I've used before. Maybe some spectral plugins like Sknote Sound Brigade or Melda Spectral Dynamics. But you'd have to couple a spectral processor with dynamic EQs, anti-resonant filters like Acon Refilter, etc. Even still, frankly, I can't think of a plugin chain that will do what frei-raum does.

I had my eye on this for awhile, since it was released. But I didn't want to buy it at the usual asking price, because for me it's not worth it - not because it's not good at what it does (which it is) but just a matter of affordability and justifiability. However for $60 its a no-brainer for me. So thanks for making me aware of this sale!

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:46 pm

Very interesting indeed.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:45 pm

I am working on a track for a friend. its acoustic guitars and vocals. Its a very challenging mix because of the way it was recorded - lots of resonances and other issues. I am going to try it with frei:aum now that I own it! I think it will really help to sculpt each track into an easier form to mix with. We shall see...

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:00 pm

plexuss wrote:I am working on a track for a friend. its acoustic guitars and vocals. Its a very challenging mix because of the way it was recorded - lots of resonances and other issues. I am going to try it with frei:aum now that I own it! I think it will really help to sculpt each track into an easier form to mix with. We shall see...

It would be nice to get your feedback once you used it for a little while. I have melda, FAB Pro Q2 and some others, and all though frei:raum brings something totally new to the table, I am still not sure if it would be a good buy for me or not.

don1thedon · Post by **don1thedon** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:06 pm

Yeh similarly I've looked at this a number of times. I like the concept but, no surprise, the price has been prohibitive. Any feedback on its useability would be welcomed.

woodsdenis · Post by **woodsdenis** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:46 pm

I am demoing it now, tried it on a mix bus and the results were fantastic. Bearing in mind that it was only shifting freq a tiny amount but the AI seem to take out the right amount of resonances from the hi end, freaky really . Not CPU light so you wouldn't be using this as a go to eq.

Also the separate Smart Eq plugin seems to have a smoothing control for the magic wand curves which the frei:raum does not, or am I missing something ?

Funkybot's Evil Twin · Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:24 am

I wrote a detailed SmartEQ+ review on Gearslutz that you can find here: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/reviews ... rt-eq.html

I believe it's the main EQ in frei:raum, which also includes Entropy and Proximity, not covered in that review. I've used them too though and they're very much specialty EQs with the SmartEQ+ and magic bands being the functions that are more likely to get used. Those bands can work very well, but these EQs are linear phase only so pre-ringing artifacts and large latency figures are a factor. Still, neat concept and can do nice things.

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:34 am

Bought without demoing, now check this out...

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:20 am

Same here, I just bought it hoping it will be what I expect it to be

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:32 am

My first encounter with frei:raum EQ, testing it on a field recording of an Easter choir, which I recorded in a Moscow church. The video has basic tutorial descriptions embedded on how to use each parameter.

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:39 am

So nice. I just installed it and opened FL Studio. When I add frei:raum into my project it crashes FL Studio, and it's happening every time.

do_androids_dream · Post by **do_androids_dream** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:40 am

For the first time ever I'm going to say yes, this does look somewhat game changing.

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:40 am

ATN69 wrote:So nice. I just installed it and opened FL Studio. When I add frei:raum into my project it crashes FL Studio, and it's happening every time.

Arrggh, doesn't help you but it works perfectly fine in Logic X.

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:53 am

Sampleconstruct wrote:
ATN69 wrote:So nice. I just installed it and opened FL Studio. When I add frei:raum into my project it crashes FL Studio, and it's happening every time.
Arrggh, doesn't help you but it works perfectly fine in Logic X.

It should work fine in any DAW when running as a vst plugin. Quite annoying. I contacted Sonible already to see what they have to say. They must have run beta testing on various DAWs before release. I won Studio One and Reason in the charity auction and hopefully I will get them soon so I can do more testing on my own. I also have Bitwig. I will try it there.

frei:raum - Magic EQ?