Hmmmm - NEBULA

[void]

So, now after those of you trying have had it for a while. What do you REALLY think? Hows it compare to your other plugs? You going to forget about your other plugs and whack on of these gizmos and all the tracks your CPU can afford? God, lets hope not, no mix needs that, and that goes for any plug...

But ayway, I ask cause Im very curious. Not in a position to try it myself at the moment unfortunately. There seems to be a awful lot of hype about Nebula, it smells a bit fishy to me. Quite a few new users with low post counts keep bobbing up giving it praise.

Whats the verdict?

[marcan]

For what I have done with it, it really brings something that other plugs don't. I couldn't compare it to the original hardware that it sounds to simulate but I really liked what I heard...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
The CPU hog was the only drawback.<o:p></o:p>

[pigcat]

Out of big curiousity, I installed them and give another shot (the free version).

Reverb - Basically I like their reverb, sounds quite nice and natural to my ears (those labeled with "70", perhaps it's lexicon?). But there's a big problem with it - super high latency! Makes me virtually can't play any virtual instruments with the latency. CPU usage is lower than I thought.

Preamps - Little saturation, kinda underwhelmed, but subtle make good things too. Tends to take away highs with those free presets, not quite like it. Usable though...

EQ - Well this still sounds decent to me - with the 2 available EQ. There's phase ringing which is quite obvious. I rather stick to my HydraTone if I have to choose.

Compressor - there's only 1 free presets. Not sure what's the model, but it's kind weird. First of all, the ratio setting...in dB? And the compress effect is kinda weird - it really sounds more like a limiter rather than a compressor. Heavy setting, everything sounds like it was brickwall'ed and when it release, it release everything just like a limiter.

Haven't really test the other stuffs. I'm quite curious what does the "liquid" parameter thing which appear in almost every presets, some kind of analog emulation? Some presets it really take a lot of CPU, some even more than ColorTone. All in all, it doesn't impress me at the moment...

Now I'm curious to see opinions from anyone who're happy with it.

[Finnish]

It eats alot of CPU on my old laptop, but I like what I hear. I've basically tested only preamps, waiting for da real Nebula2-release

[CoteRotie]

Originally Posted by pigcat

Out of big curiousity, I installed them and give another shot (the free version).

Reverb - Basically I like their reverb, sounds quite nice and natural to my ears (those labeled with "70", perhaps it's lexicon?). But there's a big problem with it - super high latency! Makes me virtually can't play any virtual instruments with the latency. CPU usage is lower than I thought.

Preamps - Little saturation, kinda underwhelmed, but subtle make good things too. Tends to take away highs with those free presets, not quite like it. Usable though...

EQ - Well this still sounds decent to me - with the 2 available EQ. There's phase ringing which is quite obvious. I rather stick to my HydraTone if I have to choose.

Compressor - there's only 1 free presets. Not sure what's the model, but it's kind weird. First of all, the ratio setting...in dB? And the compress effect is kinda weird - it really sounds more like a limiter rather than a compressor. Heavy setting, everything sounds like it was brickwall'ed and when it release, it release everything just like a limiter.

Haven't really test the other stuffs. I'm quite curious what does the "liquid" parameter thing which appear in almost every presets, some kind of analog emulation? Some presets it really take a lot of CPU, some even more than ColorTone. All in all, it doesn't impress me at the moment...

Now I'm curious to see opinions from anyone who're happy with it.

I would have written the exact same thing you did.

What IS up with ratio in dB?

WTF is the liquid thing?

Why can't one plug do both reverb and compression? (It would seem that the program could sense which is which and run the correct algorithm. Maybe it's an efficiency or memory thing.)

Some things sound pretty good, others are confusing and don't act the way you would expect, e.g. the compressor you mentioned above.

A pretty good effort for something that's under development, but it needs work. If they polish it up (GUI) and keep improving it (DOCUMENTATION too!) they may have a big winner.

Regards,

John

[marcan]

Originally Posted by CoteRotie

WTF is the liquid thing?

liquidity is the way in which IR are mixed together in the time domain. So, Low liquidity= it comes closer to the real gear
High liquidity = less close

Personnaly I like the 70's serie (verb, chorus, ...), 4KG to heaven, 2055 angels eq, analog channel.

[pigcat]

Originally Posted by CoteRotie

Why can't one plug do both reverb and compression? (It would seem that the program could sense which is which and run the correct algorithm. Maybe it's an efficiency or memory thing.)

Most probably if they let the reverb do low latency processing the CPU usage will shoot high up.

Perhaps Nebula will shine in the future with fast processor, though I doubt that. For what I can see at the moment it doesn't worth that CPU power sacrificing for decent quality. But once again, their reverb is very nice, kind of like convolution reverb + realtime calculation, sounds more natural. Looking forward to their reverb with low CPU usage and low latency version...

[matucha]

I like the comp (747) set to fastest release and attack around 70ms, grabbing ~2dB, when it fits its meaty

[Spyrow]

Yes the compressor is very nice, as is almost all the presets.

This is the future, beleive it or not. Why to spend so many hours designing an algorithm which behavies similar to analog hardware? that's difficult, all we have seen it.
This plug behaves like analog because it copies the hardware with signal theory, it does very well and it will do it better.
Do you want the best piano virtual instrument? Some time ago when there was little RAM people wanted to do an algorithm which behaves like a piano. Now you simply get the best sampled one. 30Gb library for a piano. Is it like the real? No, just 99%. It worth? Yes, it's way cheaper... and confortable (no room, no detune, recall with midi, several instances...)
Same will be with the analog hardware. Maybe the future GUI is not like Nebula it is now, maybe it'll be more like UAD plugs, so you can't really see what's inside, but I'm pretty sure that convolution will be there because it sounds very good and the CPUs are going to be better with the years.


There will be analog hardware like there are real pianos, and there will be digital plugs like there are piano sounding synths and everything will have their place.

[void]

I got to try it. Maybe its me, but I dont get the hype.

On a piano track, boosting top end, the waves SSL chaqnnel strip sounded noticeably better, no matter what I did with the settings. I was using the angel EQ, oh well :0)

[matucha]

I don't think there's a lot hype around it and that it works on everything, but it is for FREE and sounds good if it fits.

[Arksun]

All i can say really is just... wow!

For a freebie plugin this things unbelievable. I've pretty much avoided any impulse based processors so far, always preferring the best algorithm based ones for reverb etc, but THIS.

Initial impressions were of course, how the hell do I use this thing, took some learning. Once I figured it out it was ok, badly needs those info panels above the sliders on the right but I guess that's on the non-free versions soon to be release anyways, so fair enough.

So I installed the Library-0, checked out this one reverb. Meh, not bad, nothing particuarly special though.

Tried a phase, hmmm, yeah this is pretty nice!. Getting impressed now.

...and then I tried that 747 compressor preset. Oh my god how good is that!!!.

That one preset alone has won me over. Best native plugin compressor I've ever heard, period. bar none.

Every other compressor plug i've tried always seems to make the sound stage shrink slightly or just, i dunno, just loose something. always felt like a big compromise, a fight between getting the settings exactly right to really benefit from its use.

But this thing, it just sounds fantastic right from the off, seems to accentuate the stereo presence of the sounds, it just sounds spanking gorgeous!.

Someone please please PLEASE release some more compressor types for this Nebula2 free program!!

..has anyone come up with some more compressors yet?. If so, which library are they in, me want!!

[Spyrow]

Originally Posted by Arksun

Someone please please PLEASE release some more compressor types for this Nebula2 free program!!

..has anyone come up with some more compressors yet?. If so, which library are they in, me want!!

I think there will not be more compressors in the free program, but the full version is very near now. There is another comp in the Nebula3CM (from computermusic magazine) and its awesome as well. Maybe with NebulaKM.
With the final version people will be able to sample their own analog gear and share it through the nebula forum so join the community

[mOjO FET]

Yes Arksun, I know how you feel.

And also most important (to me) the presets actually have mojo!
Just run any sterile synth or something harsh through the analog channel f.e. and you instantly get a remedy against digital shrillness (is that a word?)like you would get with hardware.

For me Nebula was also a kind of a redemption after using plugs for months and years I realized you can't get the same sound with them like with hardware.

Nebula does give the sound or it does it close enough for me.

The next Computer Magazine will have an update for Nebula so it's probably worth picking it up.

The full version is close.

Michael

[Arksun]

Yeah I haven't bought CM in a long time, time to visit the shops!

Anyone from the company reading this can give us a rough estimate on the full products being released?. Not that i'm impatient or anything.

*starts twitching*

[chester]

Originally Posted by void

I got to try it. Maybe its me, but I dont get the hype.

On a piano track, boosting top end, the waves SSL chaqnnel strip sounded noticeably better, no matter what I did with the settings. I was using the angel EQ, oh well :0)

hm, i like the angel eq very much for rnb/hiphop based production, very shiny sound without being harsh and even nearly every other setting never sounds bad!

but all that we discuss, again, are personal opinions. I know the 747 Comp very well and must say the one in nebula is a very good replication!!! Smooth like his real brother.

bye ches

[lllubi]

you can buy nebula already on Acusticaudio !!!

i am not working for them but i use only precision limiter from my uad-1
since i used their plugs.

[Absolute]

I didnt find anything worth keeping loading up in my Daw

I also cant stand unworthy hype. After hearing it I think that most of the hype must come from the promise of the technology. But I dont let what plugin looks like or how it was created influence me.

[Sirocco]

i am a beta tester for nebula 3 and i have over 100 programs for it.

let me tell u all to hold on to your seats!!

massive stuff is coming!

[Arksun]

Originally Posted by Absolute

I didnt find anything worth keeping loading up in my Daw

I also cant stand unworthy hype. After hearing it I think that most of the hype must come from the promise of the technology. But I dont let what plugin looks like or how it was created influence me.

Though this may surprise you, some of us don't let hype or appearence fool us either . My initial impression of it upon seeing the gui was that it would suck, until I heard the sound that is. My ears tell me, this is one of the best software plugins around, so we'll have to agree to disagree

[Sirocco]

Originally Posted by Arksun

Though this may surprise you, some of us don't let hype or appearence fool us either . My initial impression of it upon seeing the gui was that it would suck, until I heard the sound that is. My ears tell me, this is one of the best software plugins around, so we'll have to agree to disagree

you happen to be the producer/preset designer extrordinnaire?

if so -- big fan.

And nebula is the real deal -- for the year or so ive been a beta tester ive yet to experience anything remotely close in the software domain to nebula. the way it handles your audio when you reach the reader or overdrive it, is truly characteristic of outboard gear and is the thing that is missing to me from the urs/waves ssl plugins

[Mark III]

Got Nebula 2 the other day to try it out...sounds 1000% better than the free version, I will be getting Neb 3 for sure!!! ..Simply one of the best kept secrets..(I know its been hyped but still..not many have caught on it seems!)

I have the UAD stuff .(Neve stuff) ..which has the colour.....but no where near as much character and mojo as Nebula! ...There are a few Gems in the library already...more to come so I hear.!!

The downer is the CPU consumption...but like, if you have a great piece of outboard..you can only track with it once at a time...so I treat it like that if that makes sense.


Anyway yeah, it's damn great! ...and at 13 quid ...LOL! I feel I'm stealing!



Cheers.

[beachhunt]

Originally Posted by Sirocco

i am a beta tester for nebula 3 and i have over 100 programs for it.

let me tell u all to hold on to your seats!!

massive stuff is coming!

Re-he-heeally?

[skipp]

Yep, almost 3 years later.

[Sirocco]

Originally Posted by skipp

Yep, almost 3 years later.

What about it?

[Jesse Graffam]

Originally Posted by skipp

Yep, almost 3 years later.