Waves "Analog" Button.

[jordanvoth]

I leave it on when it's the SSL plugs, off on the API plugs cause I find the hiss too much.

[JoRillo]

My favorite is when I use H-Delay and I have like 3-4 different delays set up on Aux tracks - so it's just constantly hissing at me. I don't always notice it when I'm doing the mix, but as soon as I reload up my project and get blasted with hiss, I just have to....

[AASteveo]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

If it didn't default to ON, then it might be alright... but does anyone actually find the annoying hiss it gives to be beneficial?

I COMPLETELY AGREE!! That is THE MOST annoying thing about Waves. What's even more annoying is that soooo many engineers don't even know about it!

Seriously, how hard would it be to default the setting to off?? That's just like a big middle finger to the user.

[beyond]

I replaced the defaults with my own, all "analog" set to off

[AASteveo]

Originally Posted by beyond

I replaced the defaults with my own, all "analog" set to off

You are a genius! I wonder if you could save those presets and then copy that presets folder to a flash drive and bring it into a different studio and paste them onto a different rig.

[doom64]

Originally Posted by AASteveo

You are a genius! I wonder if you could save those presets and then copy that presets folder to a flash drive and bring it into a different studio and paste them onto a different rig.

Ha, or you could just remember to be detail-oriented and make sure that light is OFF!

Agreed, the analog hiss adds very little. Keep it on one or two tracks but that's it. Actually with acoustic recordings digital silence doesn't happen you always have some amount of room tone.

[Purple]

I was playing with the H-delay the other day, just seeing what presets are in there (there are some pretty funky ones actually). Anyway eventually I got back to mixing and manipulated the delay to do what I wanted it to do, but couldnt figure out for the life of me why a certain slightly louder word on the vocal track was clipping and distorting like crazy. Checked the pre-fade meters, no clipping, checked each plugin, no clipping, checked all busses, master faders, no clipping, checked monitoring chain, no clipping.

Eventually narrowed it down to the fact that one of the presets I had played with flicked the analog button to number 3, which for some reason clips audio viciously well below 0dBFS.

But yes, I find the hiss annoying - I make my own presets as well. Same thing for compressors, I hate opening them up when they are already doing gain reduction, so I set the default threshold to be high, makeup gain at +/-0.

[superwack]

Originally Posted by jordanvoth

I leave it on when it's the SSL plugs, off on the API plugs cause I find the hiss too much.

Interesting - if you watch the Waves tutorial on these plugs on waves.com the guy (Barry Wood, author of "Mixing by the Bundle") says the only plugins he leaves the analog turned "ON" for are the API - that they are the only ones that actually model the analog behavior and don't just add hiss!

[AfterViewer]

I recorded myself taking a piss on a de-esser screen (digital outboard), looped it and have a great new analog blank for warmth. Happiness is a warm analog tapesound.

[superwack]

Originally Posted by AfterViewer

I recorded myself taking a piss on a de-esser screen (digital outboard), looped it and have a great new analog blank for warmth. Happiness is a warm analog tapesound.

A buddy and I once sampled bacon frying and had it playing on a constant loop on the last fader of his console so we could add "sizzle" whenever a producer/client asked for it

[AfterViewer]

Originally Posted by superwack

A buddy and I once sampled bacon frying and had it playing on a constant loop on the last fader of his console so we could add "sizzle" whenever a producer/client asked for it

Ha! Was kidd'in of course about the screenshot. The Baconfry is genious! LOL!

[sportyspice]

Mmmmmmmmm Bacon!

[DSK]

When I demoed PIE compressor I found that the hiss was just too much.

What was not nice was that it felt that it took more than hiss when analog was turned off.

The behaviour changed. One of the reasons I didn't purchase it.
I think I will sometimes in the future as it's a really cool compressor.

But they realised this and on MPX you have a hiss knob... just lovely! add as much hiss as you want.. or just clear it completely.

[sportyspice]

BLT's w/ extra mayo and house fries. Damn!