Waves REDD

[billzoe]

Waves' "Analog" noise feature is a trip. I have spent THOUSAND$$$'s having my Power Supplies re-done and in many cases MOVED into External housings to get rid of this sound. To me thats the (Hum-Buzz, i dont mind hiss) part of Vintage gear i hate ! I guess its cool for realism.

[billzoe]

Originally Posted by Gear Geek

Finally gave some modest eq tweaks a go. Sounds better bypassed imo and even when it doesn't, swapping with VCC sounds better. A little shocked so many like this. I have a hunch it's mostly due to nostalgia and the GUI.

Dont forget, it ROLLS off some HF, as does most Tube gear from that era ! Heres a trick ive found that exploits this issue. Add (after the Redd or similar gear) some subtle Harmonics at 10-15k and up, it unveils some of the stuff the gear adds but buries in the finals.

yeah, i am thinking i like it after feeling the same way (i felt SKnotes Stripbus was as good or better)... Jury is still out with me, the Senses CAN PLAY TRICKS ! Esp under the Intoxication of the idea of a Beatle Desk at hand ! Ever twiddle an EQ knob and think... "Man that ROCKS!" only to realize i had it in BYPASS !!! Doh!

But so far i am mostly liking it now, poss more than SKnote, but i wont commit just yet on a final ruling (i did Buy it tho).

At this point, i would say it sounds to me like a "CLASSY, Best of the best OLD Tube Console" whereas the Sknotes are Awesome but perhaps a little more Profane than Class. Like the REDDs were AS good as Colored Tubes/Transformers/Caps/Resistors and Inductor ckts could sound, whereas cheaper Desks sounded good but not as Classy. And then there are modern Tube desks-chans that are Classy but NO Color, the Redd seems to have Class and Color, together...maybe its just placebo like you said... Oh well ....

[youngfreak]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Attachment 319943

Attachment 319944

For kicks, I've attached a couple of short examples of both the TG and REDD sounds from Abbey Road in 1969. The song called "The Years" was done in Studio 2 using the noticeably clearer TG. The other track, called "With Her," was cut in Studio 3 where the REDD desk was. Definitely has a bit of the tube vibe in that REDD cut....

TH

I really enjoyed these, they sound great!

I've been having a lot of fun playing around in DUO mode, there's lots of cool things to be done with stereo-imaging there.

[JetLag]

Originally Posted by Andy_bt

Usually the question I ask myself is would I buy it if it had a minimalistic GUI with a couple VU/faders and an unknown plugin maker name on it?
A.

I asked myself the same question while demoing it. The truth is it added some subtle color that I liked but is it worth 200 dollars?
I liked it and would use it but I feel that money might be better spent on putting it towards a guitar or a tube amp. While playing with Redd I got centered that it all really comes down to the song and what's getting recorded more than what's doing the recording. If I had an unlimited budget, yeah I would get it. I still might get it. That interface is extremely seductive as is the idea that I'm using a close proximity to what the Beatles used to record most of their music.
Very seductive indeed.

It seems that people really like Slate VCC. I'm deliberating between Slate VCC and Redd (and I guess Waves NLS which doesn't have as high marks from the Gearslutz crowd from what I can see).

[billzoe]

Originally Posted by JetLag

I asked myself the same question while demoing it. The truth is it added some subtle color that I liked but is it worth 200 dollars?
I liked it and would use it but I feel that money might be better spent on putting it towards a guitar or a tube amp. While playing with Redd I got centered that it all really comes down to the song and what's getting recorded more than what's doing the recording. If I had an unlimited budget, yeah I would get it. I still might get it. That interface is extremely seductive as is the idea that I'm using a close proximity to what the Beatles used to record most of their music.
Very seductive indeed.

If youre a guitarist and are using a SState amp or a modeler, getting a New (Tube) amp takes PRIORITY ! If you Rec with a good amp, you will sound good in the mix, if not, its much harder to fake that with plugs (youll have the tone, but NOT the 3-D and Loudness factor of a Real Amp).

If you already have a tube amp, yer good.

[billzoe]

Again, to share an interesting Hybrid of Vintage and Fidelity, a trick i have found, is to blend them.

Many OLD pieces ROLL off your HF, but there is new stuff there, that is added by but hidden by the ckt losses.

So , try leaving the Redd EQ flat or minimal, then add a HQ Exciter like the Waves Vintage Aphex, then a little EQ to compensate the LF and HF rolls in the Redd or other OLD gear (i first started doing this with Real gear), then some Make Up Gain.... Vintage but HI-FI !

The Waves Aphex is really good at this. Never use it unless you have roll off prior, for best results...

SKnote makes a good Exciter too, a Dynamic (reacts to Transients vs always on) one is preferable.

Try it on a 2 Track Master or even a CD Rip from diff albums you like....

Redd at low vol, flattish eq > Exciter > Pultec EQ type (just a little boost on HF and LF-like 12k and 50hz) > Make Up Gain (Like Satson or SSL/Helios or HQ Fidelic Solid State)

......the last 3 fx will unveil stuff that was hidden and has Mojo !


I could be having Flashbacks but i swear i am hearing Swirly Harmonic waves in the Redd Plug (on the 2 buss) reminiscent on Summer of Love era recordings, anyone else noticing this? It has a subliminal effect of familiarity.....Ah, gotta be a Flashback, prob just a Peptide popped some endigenous stuff out....No im not high, been sober for decades!

[JetLag]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Attachment 319943

Attachment 319944

For kicks, I've attached a couple of short examples of both the TG and REDD sounds from Abbey Road in 1969. The song called "The Years" was done in Studio 2 using the noticeably clearer TG. The other track, called "With Her," was cut in Studio 3 where the REDD desk was. Definitely has a bit of the tube vibe in that REDD cut....

TH

Sounds really great! I'd like to hear the whole tracks. Is there a site/page where I can listen?

[billzoe]

Also, ya gotta check this Wow N Flutter FREE plug out and play around with ADT and Flanging on a duplicated track (use manual flanging vs the built in one)... It goes GREAT with the REDD (put a REDD on Both tracks)... Then ad some more tape emu..... and yer back in '67!

THE INTERRUPTOR: VST devices download page - Wow N Flutter

[Jeezo]

I see a lot of VCC mention here ....while i don't think it's the same at all .....the beauty of the REDD imho is the "curves" ,,eq's and the tools onboard ......you can get a sound real quick with a lot of diffrerent possibility and colors (i don't even talk about the 3D controls we have !! just exellent) ...so i see it more like an "FX" , a treatment ...

VCC , when you know how to hit it , is just a insert and miss and it's THE console emu for me !!! i mix in !!!! and it's on my Master , Beat, vocals, instruments, FX ...buses......and on some tracks also ....

So i don't think those that have VCC could say "i don't need that" and vice versa , those that gonna go REDD can say , i don't need VCC !!!

The complemente each other really well !!!


No it's sure that the sound is not wanted on all sources , depending on the style of music , but the vibe and color it gives is exellent and anny non treated (with it ) element will kinda stick out the mix (like a dry sound in a wet mix !!) and so it's reallly cool to play and choose sounds that gonna be treated or not ...

And again , the REDD can be subtile or drastic !!(i like on video going drastic to really put on people mind the sonic print of a plugin ))

For the gui , well Andy , you already knows my point of view here .....if you spend the night with 2 woman that give the same "fun" , if one looks like Zeta Jones and the other like "Marine Lepen" , the same night experience will not be the same !!! your exitation will not be the same !!! you're feeling will not be the same !!! lol (sorry for the image , but this is what comes in mind about this debate...lol)

any intreraction with brain has an impact in imaging (brain work), also more important is how you interact with the plugin , with a smile on your face (and this positive mood) or with stress trying to tweak an ugly asss plugin ...

[Levon]

Originally Posted by JetLag

Sounds really great! I'd like to hear the whole tracks. Is there a site/page where I can listen?

You could buy the CD?

Amazon.com: Resurrection: Music

Recommended...

[Jeezo]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Attachment 319943

Attachment 319944

For kicks, I've attached a couple of short examples of both the TG and REDD sounds from Abbey Road in 1969. The song called "The Years" was done in Studio 2 using the noticeably clearer TG. The other track, called "With Her," was cut in Studio 3 where the REDD desk was. Definitely has a bit of the tube vibe in that REDD cut....

TH

morning , coffe ...and your sound ....cool !! i tell you truth , i didn't paid any attetion to try to analyse the plugin impact , just enjoyed the vibe ...

[Pucks]

Originally Posted by Pucks

Tomorrow I will do some final 'fresh ears' listening tests and decide whether to buy it - or not. For now I'm pretty happy with the results.

"Tomorrow" is NOW. It stays! More impact & more cohesion.

[Jeezo]

Originally Posted by Pucks

"Tomorrow" is NOW. It stays! More impact & more cohesion.

[Beatworld]

Originally Posted by Jeezo

i tell you truth , i didn't paid any attetion to try to analyse the plugin impact , just enjoyed the vibe ...

The examples are from 1969.
They don't use the plugins!!

[Jeezo]

Originally Posted by Beatworld

The examples are from 1969.
They don't use the plugins!!

lol i had a doubt .... and iwas like damn the treatment on voices are so spot on with the old school vibe !!

lol ...nice track defintly gonna chek those .....

[van Overhalen]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Attachment 319943

Attachment 319944

For kicks, I've attached a couple of short examples of both the TG and REDD sounds from Abbey Road in 1969. The song called "The Years" was done in Studio 2 using the noticeably clearer TG. The other track, called "With Her," was cut in Studio 3 where the REDD desk was. Definitely has a bit of the tube vibe in that REDD cut....

TH

Thanx so much for those !

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by Beatworld

The examples are from 1969.
They don't use the plugins!!

Didn't they use Waves plugs in 1969?
A.
PS: +1 on the nice tracks BTW

[Jeezo]

Originally Posted by Andy_bt

Didn't they use Waves plugs in 1969?
A.
PS: +1 on the nice tracks BTW

lol yep and they used the FGX on the whole mix ...lol
I really dig this color ....

[JetLag]

Originally Posted by Jeezo

So i don't think those that have VCC could say "i don't need that" and vice versa , those that gonna go REDD can say , i don't need VCC !!!

The complemente each other really well !!!

Thanks for your input Jeezo!
The music I do is highly influenced by the British Invasion and in spirit by the first wave of British and American Punk Rock so I'm obviously highly attracted to the idea of the Redd. I can't afford both so I'm really having a hard time deciding on which plug-in to get.
I'm also thinking of just getting a Vox AC4 for recording guitar and scrubbing the plugs altogether for now. The rich must have so much fun!

[dubmunkey]

Originally Posted by JetLag

Thanks for your input Jeezo!
The music I do is highly influenced by the British Invasion and in spirit by the first wave of British and American Punk Rock so I'm obviously highly attracted to the idea of the Redd. I can't afford both so I'm really having a hard time deciding on which plug-in to get.
I'm also thinking of just getting a Vox AC4 for recording guitar and scrubbing the plugs altogether for now. The rich must have so much fun!

Get the vox

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by Jeezo

lol yep and they used the FGX on the whole mix ...lol
I really dig this color ....

That FGX you say they used is really good, very dynamic and not a hint of aliasing!
A.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Jeezo

morning , coffe ...and your sound ....cool !! i tell you truth , i didn't paid any attetion to try to analyse the plugin impact , just enjoyed the vibe ...

Those aren't plugins
Thanks!
TH

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Beatworld

The examples are from 1969.
They don't use the plugins!!

Yeah I posted because earlier someone mentioned the TG and the REDD desks. I thought it would be helpful to hear an entire track cut with both for comparison, especially since both tracks are acoustic numbers and are similar in style. I had it in my memory that they sounded the same, but on listening you can definitely hear the more tube vibe of "With Her."

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Yeah I posted because earlier someone mentioned the TG and the REDD desks. I thought it would be helpful to hear an entire track cut with both for comparison, especially since both tracks are acoustic numbers and are similar in style. I had it in my memory that they sounded the same, but on listening you can definitely hear the more tube vibe of "With Her."

Thanks!
Both sound great IMO but I really like "With her" overall tone, I'm surprised at how much work there is on the stereo field
A.

[smoke]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Yeah, sadly, the cool GUI has an effect on me...I'm not made of wood...

But - I could see this being useful. I could see these getting people's mixes in trouble really quickly though. There are a lot of stuff to **** up on this plug...

Really? The only thing I could imagine would be abusing the drive knob, but when that's not working (which I found on higher frequency sounds, especially with transient peaks) it tells you right then and there, it sounds sh*t.

Everything else is just EQ, it's very straightforward. I think there's less to screw up. There is not even a gang bypass to re-question your decisions and go back and forth round and round!

Set it, trust it, move on.

[JetLag]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Yeah I posted because earlier someone mentioned the TG and the REDD desks. I thought it would be helpful to hear an entire track cut with both for comparison, especially since both tracks are acoustic numbers and are similar in style. I had it in my memory that they sounded the same, but on listening you can definitely hear the more tube vibe of "With Her."

When I was first listening to your tracks I thought "Jesus, he really "effing" nailed it!". Then I re-read your original post and nearly fell off my chair realizing that you used the actual boards that we're all sitting around here dreaming of and drooling over. That's why it sounds so freaking good. That must have been an amazing experience. Thanks so much for sharing and I will definitely check out your music. I'm a pop freak so it's totally my thing.

[Beatworld]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

I thought it would be helpful to hear an entire track cut with both for comparison, especially since both tracks are acoustic numbers and are similar in style.

Helpful and VERY enjoyable.

Thanks

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by Gear Geek

A little shocked so many like this. I have a hunch it's mostly due to nostalgia and the GUI.

Also: we probably like different things.

Aesthetics matter.

- c

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Beatworld

Helpful and VERY enjoyable.

Thanks

Your welcome, and thanks to all for the kind remarks.

The tracking on "The Years" was Geoff Emerick, "With Her" Norman Smith.

All the mixing was done by Jeff Jarratt and Alan Parsons ( who was supposed to be an assistant but was much more than that!).

They took a lot of time and care. We were just kids and about all we did is ask if we could have some more reverb lol.

( I had definitely discovered the EMI chambers!)

TH

[rdstreets]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Attachment 319943

Attachment 319944

For kicks, I've attached a couple of short examples of both the TG and REDD sounds from Abbey Road in 1969. The song called "The Years" was done in Studio 2 using the noticeably clearer TG. The other track, called "With Her," was cut in Studio 3 where the REDD desk was. Definitely has a bit of the tube vibe in that REDD cut....

TH

Thanks for sharing these sample tracks.. Abbey Road in 1969. I'm full of envy. That must have been a hell of an experience!

Yes, the track "With Her" is the sound I remember. The highs are more subdued (gentle on the ear), the vocal punches thru as the primary element and there is a roundness to the bass.

Again, this sound doesn't work on everything and there probably are many paths one can take to get close to it. That said, the non-drive/analog elements of the plug to my ears seem to take you to that sound more directly.

Probably will not incorporate these plugs for my more electronic pop material but for the 60s/70s Midwestern American rock stuff? Hell yes!