Synth-based music: post-prod. Cleaning noise, EQ, verbs: ERA? Sonible? Waves? Dyson?

[creativeforge]

Looking for comments and recommendations on post-prod for synth-based music.

I have old tracks I'd like to clean-up and beef up a bit in a transparent way, hoping to carve a bit of space around the various sounds. It's only instrumental music using synths and sound modules. (One song also has an annoying clipping horror for a second).

Accusonus Era let's me upgrade for a good price, but do I need all of these for synth-based music? Then there's Sonible as well, and Melda, Acustica...

Thanks in advance!

Andre

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[S.M Hassani]

Hi Andre,

Sounds like fun, I enjoy restoring old records.

The ERA bundle features a DeClipper module which may help with that one song you've indicated. When de-noising I reach for iZotope's RX7 and Klevgrands's Brusfri. But again the ERA bundle has a good plugin for that.

My favorite part of the Accusonus kit is the De-Reverb module. When applied lightly, it can clean up a lot of high frequency noise and hiss.

For carving space in a spectrum, Sonible's Smart:Comp is a real gem! In side chain mode, It will do the job in a clean, artifact free manner. It's also a great compressor all around. I used it on the Arkeon Drum Titans Demo to fit a massive Sub Bass (Also from Arkeon) under the Heavyocity drums. At 2:27 you can hear how effective and transparent the result was.

In terms of EQ, I really like NovaGE and the Slick EQ M from Tokyo Dawn Labs. Affordable and highly effective.

I'll come back to this in a couple of hours.

Good Luck!

 

[creativeforge]

Thanks for the reply, and recommendations! It's actually not old records, but music I've composed over 20 years ago. 44.1 on 16, using an ADAT blackface and dumped on a computer a few years later using Cakewalk 7 to 9.03 at the time.

My favorite part of the Accusonus kit is the De-Reverb module. When applied lightly, it can clean up a lot of high frequency noise and hiss.

This could be useful, as all the sounds from the synths and modules come with their own reverbs, and I was just listening to day and noticed that in some passage there's a bit too much reverb.

The ERA bundle features a DeClipper module which may help with that one song you've indicated.

Ah! That's another plus for Era, then.

When de-noising I reach for iZotope's RX7 and Klevgrands's Brusfri. But again the ERA bundle has a good plugin for that.

I got Brusfri earlier this year, actually, so that's a good start. I'll read more on the other you mentioned, especially Smart:Comp. (Nice product, Arkeon... ) Thanks again!

Cheers,

Andre

 

[creativeforge]

I forgot to mention that I don't have individual tracks anymore, only the stereo mix down. So it could make things a bit harder to manage...

 

[S.M Hassani]

Most of those plugins will work fine on your stereo mix downs, for the purposes you indicated. With regards to Smart:Comp, I'm sure you know that the spectral side chain process, will only work well if you introduce new elements to those mixes.

When I added the Impact+Sub Bass sounds to the video, I applied them post edit, to a "Final" stereo mix, as an afterthought. I figured why not showcase even more of the Arkeon sound set. As you've heard, Smart:Comp delivered quite well.

Plugin Boutique currently have Smart:Comp on Sale at $75, but it does go lower if you're not in a hurry.

BTW thank you for the kind comment on Arkeon. (DM me if you're interested...)

All the best!

Sidi