Adding Heat and Colour To Softsynths, Preamps for real synths...

[peter_martin]

My studio yin and I have got a few nice bits of gear, but no pre-amps and a good amount of soft synths with a few good hardware bits. For the time being we don't have any exact methodology for applying 'heat' to individual soft synths. Ideally the game plan is to bus out all software synths to a decent pre.

We have an OB8, Jupiter 6, MS20, JP8080, and a few other pieces.

Bud I chat with (Jody of WOW) simply uses the Soundcraft Ghost's pres to record in all his synth kit. It got me thinking, I wonder what if I used the CT Pro and certain pre impulses on certain sounds for adding character for both the soft and hard synths?

Right now I'd like to get something going on ITB right now, and we own several color/distortion based generators like Colortone Pro, Hydratone, Trash, Amplitube 2, and a couple of others. I also heard using some of the stock Logic distortion plugs are pretty neat.

Really the key is to add heat with what we have now with the software world, and expand by pumping stuff through some pres later this year when we get the Virus.

How do you guys work?

[lain2097]

A desk can add "colour" to anything as it has pres. Just dial the source lower and turn up the gain to reveal more character. Of course depending on the quality. External pres can also do this.

Even try guitar pedals! Experiment.

Analogue mixing desks do change the signal. ITB generally I don't like (and I know others will bash this).