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Permalink Reply by Bill Renfrew on May 23, 2010 at 8:23pm

I'm new to the forum. Glad to be here!

I wanted to chime in on Waves. I've been using the Gold Bundle for years and as much as I've resented the poor customer service and the WUP I've really valued their stuff enough to keep going. Maybe others make better for cheaper with better service, but you know how it is...you find something you love that works for you and that you have lots of practice on and you pretty much stick with it.. Recently I had some technical problems and I contacted customer service and I have to say that Waves must have finally gotten the message and responded to all the bad press. Surpisingly, I was treated with respect, urgency, and they acted instantly to resolve my issue. I totally understand people's frustration with the update play but last year they threw in a free compressor called the H-Comp to the Gold bundle and it's one of my go to plugs now for vocals that need to be reeled in. I only use one preset on it...Tight Vocal...and in my opinion its fantastic. I don't use it all the time...only on stuff where the vocal really needs attention. It saves me a LOT of time drawing volume curves.

Speaking of drawing volume curves, as for the discussion on the new Vocal Rider, I've considered buying this because I have spent considerable time drawing volume curves on indie client project vocals. It's very time consuming and I've always thought if there was a plug that could shorten my time on that task that would be great. From what I've heard the Vocal Rider is just that plug and from what I've heard, it works like magic. As to whether it sucks the human element out of mixing I can only see that happening if it was over applied...if the threshold or whatever were set so low that it just flattens it. As always, moderation is everything. If I had it I'd probalby use it to get the process started to save me time and then go in and finish the little stuff by hand. I don't think that would be thumbing my nose to old school mixing or having 'machines to the work' by any means. Some of my work I love having machines to, but never at the expense of vibe or texture of the production. I have to trust my ears for that more than anything else.

Regards,

Bill Renfrew

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Payne on May 26, 2010 at 11:18am

But can it write a Hit Song?

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Permalink Reply by Seth Tovey on May 26, 2010 at 1:39pm

First of all I would just like to say hello to everyone. I'm new to the forum and think it's a really beautiful thing to have for folks in our industry.

I've always found it amusing that software companies believe what we do is science and can be generated in a "Plug-in".
While some plugins are great tools, I don't feel that they will ever be able to emulate a true artist of his craft, as an artist is simply a life of constant change and progression.
I remember reading somewhere that a company received roughly 4 million dollars to develop an "auto mix" software. The goal was to allow people with absolutely no musical knowledge to be able to create songs in a guitar hero style environment and have the whole thing mixed by selecting the style of song you created and it will give you a digital file to give to your family and friends.
Various companies are also working on auto mixing for live sound as well.

It's funny though, how musicians are throwing their protools rigs in the garbage and getting back to just being able to play and sing. Recording everything to 8 track real to real. Really it's beautiful and a big slap in the face to software companies. God bless the unpredictability of artists!

Sorry to rant! Have a great day fellas!

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Permalink Reply by Pete Warren on May 26, 2010 at 2:48pm

Funny, but...

1. If they didn't know how to sing before throwing out their rig, they likely don't know how to do it afterwards. Analog tape doesn't help people sing better, play better, or write better songs. Tube gear doesn't help with these things either.

2. If they are throwing out their gear, please let me know, and I'll come take out the trash for them. I will find a way to make music with it.

3. What we do IS science and it is also art. Art without science is basically undelivered art. I doubt you'd be able to convince Les Paul that he was not using science when he created the multi-track. It takes science to align a tape head. It takes science to design a room. Math too. Software companies give us extra tools to use. They give us more choices as to which tools we use.

4. Would you trade in your current cell phone for an old land-line rotary dial?

5. If someone can use an auto-mix and make a few bucks doing it because it works for some, then more power to them. There's nothing wrong with the software. It's the folks using it.

Sort of like how guns don't kill people.... Bullets do.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Warren on May 26, 2010 at 2:52pm

And Welcome, Seth.

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Permalink Reply by Seth Tovey on May 26, 2010 at 3:07pm

Thanks for the welcome Pete! I would definitely agree that no amount of equipment makes you more or less talented.
And yes in the right hands software is absolutely wonderful and incredible. I would just hate to see people relying solely on the vocal rider plugin. As in, put it on and call it a day. I like what Bob was saying about it.
Thanks again for the welcome and have a great day!

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Permalink Reply by Bill Renfrew on May 26, 2010 at 7:19pm

Would anyone soley rely on a vocal rider? Who would do that?

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