Saturday, October 4, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 White New Skin


Manwelo Sitoy the man behind Aradaz Amp Crunch and Green GUI did it again for the White. Thank you very much man, it's a very good GUI.

Download it here (right click -> save as...).

There are no additional updates for this free guitar amp VST, the version still v.1.4.1, it's only reskinned with the new one. Manwelo helps me compiled it. Hope you all like it...

Thanks,

Thursday, October 2, 2008

List of Aradaz's Next Project

Hello friends,

As you know, my PC was crashed several weeks ago. The mainboard, HDD and power supply are damaged. I'm lucky enough that I got my VST data back.

It's already October now. In my plan, the Aradaz Amp 2 Red should be released on September, but it doesn't happpened. I'm sorry to all of you guys who wait for Aradaz Amp 2 Red because it hasn't been released yet. I haven't got my PC works. Really sorry.

For your information, this is the list for my next works:

  • Aradaz Amp 2 Red (new VST)
  • OUR Cabinet Simulator Updates
  • Aradaz Amp 2 White Updates + new GUI
  • Indonesian Cabinet Simulator (new VST)
  • Aradaz Fast Limiter (new VST)
I will doing this when I got my PC works, so stay updated!

Thank you,

-Arie-

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Aradaz Amp Crunch and White Sound Samples

Dimitar Nalbantov, a friend of mine from the other side of the globe made two Aradaz Amp guitar sound samples using the White and Crunch. Both sounds really good I didn't realize that these virtual amp could be this good.
Check these out:

Aradaz Crunch
Aradaz White

What do you think?? Cool right??
He uses Addictive Drum for the drum parts.

Thanks,

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Aradaz VST Codes are Saved

I was making a database software for my final presentation test that day. After I decided to restart my PC because something strange happened that I can't burn a cd, a blue screen appeared. I tried to restart the PC for the second time, the same blue screen appeared. I tried it again, it's even worst there was no signal to my monitor, I didn't see anything from it.

My friend told me to open the case and cleaned every part of the CPU, still no better. Tried to clear the CMOS, not good at all.

I'm so lucky even my HDD is damage, the second and the third partition of my HDD are saved. I got all my VST data back. I opened them using my brother's PC and used my HDD as a slave drive.

Thanks to everybody who has sent me e-mail, wrote comments and advices "here" and also a forum thread "here".

I will follow your suggestion to have a daily and a monthly backups for all my work and continue my VST project after I have a new PC, soon!


Regards,

-Arie-

Monday, September 15, 2008

Aradaz's PC is Dead along with The Red

Sunday bloody sunday...

Is it a really bad news??

  • My old harddisk (6,5 y.o) where all my VST codes are written (three years of learn & research) is in a critical damage. Some pins are broken, it's un-detected by other PC, some bad sectors before it's finnaly "ill" and I never made any backups.
    Now, I'm facing a new "homework", to get those datas back. How?? I really don't know yet, any advice???
  • Mainboard -> 80 % dead
  • 1 GB of Memory ???
  • Pentium IV 2,66 Processor ???
  • CD / DVD Drives -> not really thinking of them
Ha..ha.. it's a very old PC, isn't it??

My new "to be born" guitar amp VST plugin, The RED, is still trapped inside the harddisk, I'm not really finished the code yet because my final test today (it's delayed untill friday)... I hope I can get them back...

Friday, September 12, 2008

The Next Aradaz Amp

I'm developing a new guitar amp VST right now. The features will be as usual, 3 stages of EQ (a.k.a tonestack), cabinet simulation, up to 96000Hz sample rate supports etc.

The sound will be fuzzy, more distortion and heavier than the White and Green. I made a quick punk sample of how it sound would be. You can download them "here".

I'm waiting for your advice and suggestion about the sound, GUI or anything for this new guitar amp VST. I don't know what should I named it, Punkstortion?? or ... Red ... anyone??

Please write your comments below...

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Guitar VST List 2008

These are Aradaz Guitar VST product line until September 2008. All of them are available for free. Check them out!!


Aradaz Amp Crunch


This is my first creation of a VST plugin, I've been developing it since November 2006. I was doing a paper (not related to this) for my graduation that day and making VST was my new hobby. I named it Aradaz Amp Crunch because it's a crunch sounding amp.

Features:

  • GUI made by Manwelo Sitoy
  • Tube Simulated
  • Tone Stack Simulated
  • 2 Cabinet Simulations
  • 2 x Oversampling (<= 48 kHz)
  • Sample Rate up to 96 kHz
  • 64 bit Internal Processing

Aradaz Amp 2 White


This is the first version of Aradaz Amp 2 series. Another virtual guitar amplifier VST plugin with more distorted sound with high gain setting. It’s valve-like, open and gleaming warm treble.

Features:
  • 2 Channels Overdrive and Distortion
  • Tube Simulated
  • Tone Stack Simulated
  • Cabinet Simulator
  • Sample Rate up to 96 kHz
  • 64 bit Internal Processing

Aradaz Amp 2 Green


One more virtual guitar amplifier by Aradaz. The second version of Aradaz Amp 2 series. High gain types of amp, with more clarity and string definition. It’s valve-like, warm and soft, little nasal and catchy on the upper mids.

Features:
  • GUI made by Manwelo Sitoy
  • 2 Channels Clean and Distortion
  • New Tube Simulated
  • Tone Stack Simulated
  • 2 Cabinet Simulations (Second IR made by Noarin)
  • Sample Rate up to 96 kHz
  • 64 bit Internal Processing

OUR Cabinet Simulator

This is a simple IR based guitar cabinet simulation VST plugin. It can blends 2 different cabinets to produces a new cabinet sound. The basic idea of this plugin is we can blend 2 different cabinets at one time and set the mixture between these two.

Features:
  • GUI-less
  • 8 Cabinet Simulations (Cabinet IR made by Alu, Dimi & Noarin)
  • 2 Cabinet Simultaneously
  • Sample delay for each cabinet
  • Phase parameter for each cabinet
  • 44100 - 96000 Hz sample rate Support
  • 64 bit internal processing

MORE COMING SOON!!
Subscribe Aradaz VST Free here
STAY UPDATED!!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Updated to v1.3.5

I made some minor update for this VST plugin. My main concern was the tube and the cabinet simulation that take too much CPU consumption. There is no difference in sound quality with the previous version. It's even better perhaps, at least cheaper...

Update List:

  • 15.3 % cheaper CPU consumption (11.1% -> 9.4%)
  • Better About Box Graphic

Thanks,

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Aradaz Virtual Guitar Amp Rhythm Setting


I've tried several settings to get a great guitar sound using Amp 2 Green and my new OUR cabinet simulator VST plugin. Because I'm rarely doing solo, so I just want to show you my daily rhythm setting. I think this is the best (IMHO) I found so far.

I'm sure you have different setting for these plugins. Would you share to us??

Related Posts:
Aradaz Amp 2 Green Clean Setting
Aradaz Amp Crunch Solo Setting by Nalbantov

Monday, September 1, 2008

OUR Cabinet Simulator Updated to v1.0.5

OUR Cabinet Simulator has been updated to v1.0.5

Update List:

  • Phase Parameters added
  • Bug Fixed
Thanks,

Sunday, August 31, 2008

OUR CABINET SIMULATOR RELEASE!!

Our Cabinet Simulator v1.0 has been release

features:

  • GUI-less
  • 8 Cabinet Simulations (Cabinet Impulse Responses made by Alu, Dimi & Noarin)
  • 2 Cabinet Simultaneously
  • Sample delay for each cabinet
  • 44100 - 96000 Hz sample rate Support
  • Double internal processing
Thanks,

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Aradaz Maximizer 5 Updated to v1.3


Aradaz Maximizer 5 has been updated to v1.3

Update List:

  • VU meter added
  • About box added
Thanks,

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Green and White Bad Bug Fixed

I'm really sorry guys, there was a bug on my previous VST release.
Those VSTs are:

  • Aradaz Amp 2 Green v1.2 & v1.3
  • Aradaz Amp 2 White v1.4
I realized the bug when I read Markus's comment. This is what he wrote:

hi dimitar,

I love your amp sims, they sound great to me. anyway, i got a malfunction in reaper: recorded two guitar tracks, opened "green amp" in the first, drag & drop to the second instantly crashes reaper (and, the second time, even my system with a blue screen). Just wanted to tell you ...
Cheers and keep on!
Markus


Thank you very much Markus, but my name is Arie.

After I read it, I went back home to fixed the bug. It was 2.00 AM, and I found the bug 3 hours later at 5.00 AM (what a tyring day, I hadn't much time to sleep). Now, I've already fixed the bug and the VSTs are available to download.

So this is the update for both VST
(Aradaz Amp 2 Green v1.3.1 and White v1.4.1):
  • BAD BUG FIXED
Yes I only fixed one bug but it's bad and very important, I don't want my plugins cause an error to your PC. If you found another, just send me e-mail or write them in the comment box. I'll fix it immediately.

If you like my plugins and want to receive latest news or updates information, you can subscribe this blog for free "HERE" via RSS reader.

Thank you,

-Arie-

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Updated to v1.3


Aradaz Amp 2 Green has been updated to v1.3

Update List:

  • New GUI (Made by Manwelo Sitoy)
  • New Cabinet Simulation Added (Cabinet Impulse Response Made by Noarin)
  • About Box Added
Thanks,

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Alu's Idea for OUR Cabinet Simulator

My friend Alu from www.guitarampmodeling.com shared his briliant idea for OUR Cabinet Simulator.

This is what he wrote originally taken from here, let's discuss.

Mr. Aradaz, an idea...
by Alu on Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:07 am

So, I know you're actually working on a new cab-simulation plugin, impulse based, so I would like to give you an idea about a cool feature you could insert into it...
Yesterday I was thinking about a method to easily emulate the phase cancellation of two mics placed in front of the same cab...
Phase cancellation is not always a bad thing, a lot of sound engineers use it (sometimes without knowing this) to get killer tones out of thier amps/cabs.
Phase cancellation is caused by a little delay between the two signals being captured by the mics when they're at different distances from the speaker, so I could easily use a plugin like Voxengo Pristine Space which features a "delay" parameter. So it seems that I already have the chance to create phase cancellation using that plugin... what's the problem? The fact that the minimum amount of delay I can set is 1 millisecond.
Someone could think that 1 millisecond of delay is a really short time, so it's fine to recreate phase cancellation of two mics with, for example, 1cm of difference in their distance from the cab...
Well, no...
The speed of sound is measured at about 332m/s in the air, so the sound wave moves of 332m/s * 0.001s = 0.332 m (33.2 cm) every millisecond...
This means that I can emulate a minimum of 33.2cm of distance between the mics from the cab... If I want to have the phase cancellation generated by a difference of, let's say, 3cm, I'm f*****... bad thing, isn't it?
Here is the simple idea...
Why not using a delay function based on the number of samples captured by the AD converter, instead of milliseconds? I believe that a plugin that can actually delay a signal of a certain number of samples already exists (I haven't found it yet, but the idea is really simple/stupid, so someone could have created a plugin with that feature... if you know one let me know cause I need it) but would be really cool to have such a feature in your upcoming impulse based cab sim!
90% of musical software users are running their hosts at 44100Hz, this means a sample every 1/44100 s = 0.0000226 s = 0.0226 milliseconds.
As I stated above, the sound wave moves of 332m/s * 0.0000226s = 0.0075m every sample (7,5 mm). This means that using a sample based delay I can emulate a minimum of 7.5 mm of distance between the two mics... that's way better than using milliseconds, since it's about 44 times more accurate!
I think that is really easy to implement too, since you should just keep in memory a certain number of samples depending on the amount of distance setted by the user (let's say a maximum of 40 samples, so 30 cm of difference, it's more than enough)...
I've tried to recreate phase cancellation manually moving a wave of 1 or 2 or 3 samples using Audacity, and the results were pretty cool, way better than Voxengo Pristine Space! A lot of fizzyness was being killed during the process and the resulting sound had more lows too!

Create a plugin that can load 2 different impulses from my hardisk (cause I'm pretty sure you're gonna make it in the future), can set the % of balance between the impulses (already implemented on your first cabsim) and with a function to emulate the mic distance from the cab creating phase cancellation and it's gonna be the best cab simulation ever made so far...
What do you think?
Would it be possible to delay the signal of a shorter time than a sample time? I'm a bit rusted about physics/digital stuff, so I'm not sure about this, but I would say yes as long as your pc can handle it...

Sorry for the blatant explanation, I'm sure you already knew all these things I've written, but I would like to make all the users understand and maybe have their opinions too and discuss about this...

Think about it!
Thanks!


It will be discussed here.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Aradaz VST to-do List (August 2008)

This is my to-do list for August 2008:

I hope I could finished them on time, because it's only 11 more days. For your information, I will add another cabinet simulation and a new look for Aradaz Amp 2 Green. For the Aradaz Maximizer 5, I will add some visual metering on it.

I'm still learning to be a better programmer, that's why I need a dead line. It could get me away from lazyness...

Wish me luck guys,

Thank you for using my plugins...

Friday, August 15, 2008

New Skin for Aradaz Amp 2 Green


This is a new skin preview of Aradaz Amp 2 Green. Manwelo Sitoy (the man behind this awesome skin) said that it wasn't yet 'finalized' but should be extremely close to this.

I will use this skin for the Aradaz Amp 2 Green upcoming updates. I'm sure that you can't wait to use this new skin, so I'll try the best I can to work the update for this virtual amp. I'm a litle busy right now but I will spare my time to work on this while making my new project "OUR Cabinet Simulator" VST plugin.

I really like this new skin, it'd give me "that" feeling of using a virtual guitar amp. Yes, a virtual guitar amp, a never ending amp....

Thank you very much Manwelo, you are great...

Thanks for reading everybody,

best,

-Arie-

Thursday, August 14, 2008

OUR Cabinet Simulator Project Continue


I hope this picture can help you to understand my project "OUR Cabinet Simulator" VST that I mentioned before.
Ok, these are the letters explanation:

A = Drop down box to choose the type of cabinet.
I'm still gathering the impulse responses, I hope it would be more and more cabinets for every updates.

B = The "X" is used to simulates the mic position from center to edge. It's similar with the beta version of the plugin that you can download it "here". And this is the idea behind it.

C = Mute / Un-Mute the cabinets.

D = Cabinet's volume ratio between the 1st and the 2nd cab. More to the left means more 1st cabinet sounding and vice versa.

I'm still making this VST plugin, I hope it would be done by this month.

Thanks Guys....

Related posts:
OUR Cabinet Simulator VST Project
Aradaz Cabinet Simulator Beta
Cabinet Simulator Idea
Guitar Cabinet Simulator
Impulse Response Modification

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

My Next Project "OUR Cabinet Simulator"

I'll continue working the free Guitar Cabinet Simulator VST. If you haven't tried the beta version of the plugin you can download it "here" the cabinet impulse responses are made by Guitarheck.

The basic idea of my upcoming plugin is we can blend 2 different cabinets at one time. For each cabinet, we can set the mixture between the edge and the center of the cabinet. In other words, we can simulate the position of the mic from center to the edge. Read "here" if you want to learn how I do it.

I have contacted some friends in a forum at http://www.guitarampmodeling.com to make OUR Cabinet Simulator (thanks guys). I'll use their IR for the cabinet simulations. If you have another suggestion or want to share cabinet impulse responses I'd be very thankful.

The different between the previous Guitar Cabinet Simulator is we can choose the cabinet that listed in the drop down box (maybe I'll using drop down box). I think it's better for me to describe how it works by using picture, but I haven't drawed it.

I'll continue this post when I finished drawing the picture...

Thanks guys...

Related posts:
Aradaz Cabinet Simulator Beta
Cabinet Simulator Idea
Guitar Cabinet Simulator
Impulse Response Modification

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Updated to v1.2

Aradaz Amp 2 Green has been updated to v1.2

Update list:

  • Reduced CPU usage (11.1 %)
  • Re-design the cabinet simulator code, now it has 0 latency
  • Cleaned bug potential code internally
Thanks

Friday, August 8, 2008

Nalbantov's "Terrestrial Paradise" Aradaz Amp 2 Green Setting

Dimitar Nalbantov uses Aradaz Amp 2 Green for his song "Terrestrial Paradise". This song will be featured on the Guitar Idol 2008 CD release.

He shared his preset and song sample of this amp on his blog.

Thanks for sharing your preset Dimi and don't forget everybody you can also share your Aradaz Amp preset to the world... just let me know...
The update of the Aradaz Amp 2 Green will be uploaded soon.

Thank you,

Related Posts:
Aradaz Amp 2 Green Clean Setting
Aradaz Amp Crunch Solo Setting by Nalbantov

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Clean Setting

This is my simple Aradaz Amp 2 Green clean setting:

  • Turn off the distortion channel (turn off the led above the input knob)
  • Set the input knob at minimum
  • Set the gain knob to 9 o'clock
  • Set the tonestack (equalizer) as you want
  • Set your desire volume level
If you found the output level is too small, you should add Aradaz Maximizer 5 next to the Green Amp. Then set the maximize and the character knobs of the Maximizer as you please. See the picture below:


or

if you want to use another cabinet simulation for this Amp.

Thanks,

Related Posts:
Aradaz Amp Crunch Solo Setting by Dimitar Nalbantov
Guitar Cabinet Simulator
Another Impulse Response Convolver Plugin

Monday, August 4, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 White Updated to v1.4

Aradaz Amp 2 White has been updated to v1.4

Update list:

  • Reduced CPU usage (5.9 %)
  • Re-design the cabinet simulator code, now it has 0 latency
  • Cleaned bug potential code internally
The White and The Green version of Aradaz Amp 2 are quite similar in their coding structure. So, I will update the Green version soon.

Thanks for using my plugins everybody.

Regards,

Nalbantov Collaboration using Aradaz Amp Crunch

Dimitar Nalbantov working on side collaboration project at KVR audio forum and using Aradaz Amp Crunch for guitar lead.
It sounds really great!
Check it out!

Here

or

Dimi's Blog.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Aradaz Amp Crunch Updated to v1.3

I have contacted Manwelo Sitoy, the guy who made Aradaz Amp new skins. He sent me the GUI png file yesterday. Thanks Manwelo.

After I received the file, I went back home to change the GUI for the Aradaz Amp Crunch. It was so confusing, error occured everytime I compiled the code. I didn't know what was going on with my PC and the code. So I looked to the code carefully. I found several bug that I didn't realize for so long. Fixed it, changed the GUI and then...

Aradaz Amp (Crunch) has been updated to v1.3

Update List:

  • 2 New GUIs (Made by Manwelo Sitoy)
  • Glitching when controlling treble knob fixed
  • 2x oversampling bug fixed
  • Cleaned bug potential code internally
Thanks,

Saturday, July 26, 2008

New Aradaz Amp Crunch Skin

KrustyNoodle made 2 new skins for Aradaz Amp Crunch v1.2. But I haven't contacted with him, because I just saw the GUI a few minutes ago. I will upload the new look Aradaz Amp Crunch VST as soon as possible if he let me do it.





So which one should we use? both?

Friday, July 25, 2008

Aradaz Amp Crunch Solo Setting by Nalbantov

Dimitar Nalbantov has shared his usual Aradaz Amp Crunch solo setting on his blog. He also uploaded the chain patch for Reaper and some video to watch.

So why wait? go to his blog to see the setting.


Link:
Dimitar Nalbantov's Blog

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Fading The Impulse Response

When shorten an impulse response, don't do a hard delete at the end of the sample. It can creates a digital click when we use the impulse. So, we have to do a quick fade at the end of the sample to get a smooth short impulse.

I want to share to you how I fade the impulse. But, honestly I don't really sure that it makes alot of differences than just doing blind fade out.

Here it is:

  • Find the hill and valley at end of the impulse waveform


  • Zoom in and click at the zero crossing (or near)

  • Zoom Out and sort to the end of the impulse response sample


  • Apply fade out


Thanx for reading guys, don't be affraid to do some experiments with impulse responses...

Related Posts:
Shorten The Impulse Response
Impulse Response Modification
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Aradaz Amp on Dimitar Nalbantov Newest Album

Dimitar Nalbantov has finished the song "Abandoned Place" the last song from "Mother Earth" The solo guitar is recorded with Aradaz Amp Crunch then added some delay and reverb. You can download the samples at Nalbantov's blog.

Some of the drums was changed and used his new Ibanez RG2550 to re-record some of the main melody parts. Hmmmhh... New guitar... New Album... yummey...

Congrats Dimi... Thanx,

Friday, July 18, 2008

Shorten The Impulse Response

Longer impulse response means more CPU consumption. To make the CPU works lighter, we have to remove some samples at the beginning and the end of impulse response. Thus, we can use alot of impulse responses when doing mixing and give more space for CPU to become overloaded.

I'll show you how to shorten the impulse response. I make guitar cabinet impulse with 262625 samples long to be 1024. I'm using Wavosaur 1.0.2.0 as the audio editing software.

Let's do it:

  • Load the impulse response into the audio editing software (Wavosaur 1.0.2.0)

  • Change the sample display to sample (Options -> Sample Display -> Sample)


  • Zoom in the beginning of impulse


  • Sort and cut those samples*



  • Zoom out, click at point 1023 and sort (shift -> left arrow) to 0


  • Crop the samples


  • Fades out some samples at the end of the impulse to remove digital click*


  • Save the file

*Find the cross between hill and valley of the waveform when applying fades or cutting the beginning samples.

Related Posts:
Impulse Response Modification
Cabinet Simulator Idea
Impulse Response Convolver Test

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Guitar Sound Samples by Dimitar Nalbantov

If you haven't heard how Aradaz Amp 2 Green sound's like, download it here or the Aradaz Amp 2 White here. Those samples are made by one of the best Guitar Player on the internet, Dimitar Nalbantov. He also made a song sample using Aradaz Amp Crunch. Download here. This song called Abandonment.

Thanks for using my VST plugins everybody....

If you haven't tried my VST plugins, please download them from the right side bar of this blog. I put all my latest VST download link there...

peace,

Monday, July 14, 2008

Another Impulse Response Convolver Plugin

I found this free convolution VST plugin a year ago. I didn't notice how amazing this plugin is untill I tried it again last night. You can find this plugin here, it's made by Red State Sound. Don't forget to read it features, minimum system requirements and limitations to get optimal result while using the plugin.


This is another convolution plugin option that can be used for:

Follow the link to find out more...

Thank you,

Saturday, July 12, 2008

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Impulse Response Convolver test

I read an interesting comment which written by Cyaoeu on my previous post about Impulse Response Modification 2 . He found something weird when using KeFIR as an impulse response convolver. He wrote that there are new frequency appeared at 10000 Hz and 12000 Hz when tested using a sine wave. I gave a simple answer that "Two very narrow spikes you found are ussualy happen when the impulse response that loaded in KeFIR are to short or we didn't set the LENGTH knob properly". Is it true? Let's prove it.

I made a simple test based on what Cyaoeu did. I'm using 512 sample points impulse response. 1000 Hz sine wave from mda TestTone VST plugin. Voxengo Span v1.9.1 as the spectrum analyzer and KeFIR v1.2. This test is done under Tracktion v1.6.0.1.

The plugin sequence:

mda TestTone (1000 Hz) -> KeFIR v1.2 -> Voxengo Span v1.9.1

Lets take a look to the picture below:


When the impulse response is loaded into KeFIR for the first time, it's yes... what Cyaeou has reported is true there are new frequencies appeared at 10000, 12000 and 21000 Hz. I assume that few last samples are uncounted by the plugin. We can see it's 10 % on KeFIR full length, so there still enough space to add more length on KeFIR parameter.

I add more length to 13 %, as the result, you can see the picture below:


Yup, those new weird frequencies are gone. KeFIR is pure fast convolution plugin without any coloration added. In my opinion it's one of the best free plugin for impulses response convolver plugin or impulse response modification.

From what I've tested, these are some advices when using KeFIR as convolver plugin:

  • Make sure the length parameter is sets properly
  • If your IR is longer than 8192 samples on KeFIR v1.2 or 32768 samples on KeFIR v1.3, you should cut your IR first. Read Shorten The Impulse Response.

Thank you for reading everybody...

Thanks for your great comment Cyaoeu...

Related Posts:
Shorten The Impulse Response
Cabinet Simulator Idea
Impulse Response Modification
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Cabinet Simulator Idea

I'm using impulse response (IR) to make a cabinet simulator VST. It uses two different impulses that can be controlled using "edge/center" parameter. This parameter is use to set the mixture between this two IRs. If you haven't tried my cabinet simulator, please download "here".

I want to share the idea behind my cabinet simulator VST plugins. It's very simple and you can do it without understanding any dsp or programming language.

We need two convolution VST plugins and a panning plugin. I'm using KeFIR for the IR convolver that runs under the racks of Tracktion version 1.6.0.1. Let's take a look at the picture below:


  • As you can see, we use the panning plugin as the control parameter to set the mixture of two IRs.
  • Left panning output goes to the KeFIR input and the right panning output goes to the other KeFIR input.
  • The IRs are loaded into each KeFIR (it's better to use IRs with same length).
  • The LENGTH parameter on both KeFIR should be sets equally.
  • The output of each KeFIR has to be connected on both (left and right) racks output.

We can do it for any kind of impulse responses, it could be reverb, preamp or other impulse responses.

Related posts:
Guitar Cabinet Simulator
Impulse Response Modification

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Aradaz Cabinet Simulator VST (beta) Updated to v1.2

The previous Cabinet Simulator Beta (v1.1) still has the bug. It muted in some VST host. But, it (v1.1) works fine on Tracktion version 1.6.0.1, wavosaur 1.0.2.0 and H.Seib VST Host 1.45.

Niksounds and Costa (thanks guys) told me that the plugins still muting in Sonar 7 and Revalver, I tested it on Audacity 1.2.6 using VST enabler. The result is... yes it's muting in Audacity 1.2.6, I finally found the bug.

I think the muting problem is happen because the impulse response doesn't loaded into memory correctly. I checked the code, made some modification to it, compiled the modified code and then the muting problem is gone in Audacity. So I re-tested it in all VST host which installed in my PC. It works fine there...

Ok folks, let's try the update, again...

Download Link:
here

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Impulse Response Modification (2)

I assume that you have read my previous post about impulse response modification. Now, I want to share another impulse response (IR) modification method that I used to make. I think we could get a better result by using this method.

The steps of modifying impulse response are similar. The different with the first IR modification is on the plugins that we use. When the first method is using EQ plugin to modify the IR, right now we have to use another IR that hosted in a convolution plugin (s.a KeFIR) to make the new modified IR.

We need to run more than one convolution plugins to do this. One is used to host the original IR and the other used to host the chosen IR as the modifier. You can use any IR as the modifier. It depends on what kind of modification that you want to create.

Let’s take a look at the picture below:


The first KeFIR (on the left) is hosting the original IR and the other host the IR modifier.

Set the length of the IRs properly to make sure there are no samples left behind.

Continue the work by "stealing the IR" that can be read "here"

Related posts:

Impulse Response Modification
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Updated to v1.1

Aradaz Amp 2 Green has been updated to v1.1

Update list:

- Denormal bug solved
- Muting bug solved
- Clean Channel Added
- Default master volume changed

Thanks...

Aradaz Amp 2 White Updated to v1.3

Aradaz Amp 2 White has been updated to v1.3

Update list:

- Muting bug solved
- Default master volume changed

Thanks...

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Release!!


Aradaz Amp 2 Green, the second version of Aradaz Amp 2 has been released.

Features:

  • 8 parameters (input, gain, bass, mid, treble, types of EQ, cabinet simulator and volume)
  • New tube simulation
  • 2 types of equalizer
  • Sample Rate up to 96 kHz
  • 64 bit internal processing
I hope you like it, enjoy...

Thanks,

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Aradaz Cabinet Simulator VST (beta) Updated to v1.1

Thanks to Niksounds at kvraudio, he told me that there was a bug in the previous cab simulator on Sonar 7. I think I found the bug, but I'm not to sure if it's the right one because I don't have Sonar 7 installed in my PC.

You can download the original GuitarHack Impulse Responses from here. I found it yesterday, the old impulse link is broken down. He has a magic touch of making impulse responses, I really like them a lot. You can use KeFIR to host them as cabinet simulator.

Ok folks, let's try the update, I hope it was the right bug that I caught... hup!

Download Link:
has been updated again here

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Recording Equalizer Tips

  • Prepare the sound source as good as possible
  • If you are using mic to capture the sound source, keep your mixer EQ flat and find the best position of your mic before recording the sound source.
  • Listen carefully to the sound that comes from monitor speakers.
  • Don't do an extreme EQ-ing except for Drum tracks.
  • Compare the result between after and before EQ-ing.
  • Make sure the difference is not too extreme.
  • Return to the first step if your EQ settings are too extreme and still don’t get the sound as you want.
Related Posts:
Audio Frequency Equalizer
Electric Guitar Mixing

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Audio Frequency Equalizer

Equalizer (EQ) is a signal processor that used to equalized or balanced any signal frequency level. There are three common types of EQ, shelving, sweep and parametric.

Shelving EQ is only has one parameter that used to control loudness (dB) of the frequency. For example, 3 band shelving EQ which only has 3 knobs (Bass, Mid, Treble), we could only change those 3 fixed frequencies. 15 and 13 band frequencies are ussualy called 1/3 or 2/3 octave graphic equalizer.





Sweep EQ has two parameters, which are parameter to control loudness (dB) and parameter to choose frequency (Hz). This type of EQ is ussualy found on professional mixer. Find the frequency that want to be changed and then increase (boost) or decrease (cut) the frequency loudness.



Parametric EQ has three parameters, which are loudness (dB), frequency (Hz) and bandwidth (octave) parameters. This type of EQ can be used as shelving and sweep eq. We can do alot of things when using this EQ such as removing hum, hiss or any unwanted sound without changing the overall sound. We could also adding more byte/edge or brightness to the sound by using this EQ.



Related Posts:
Electric Guitar Mixing

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Aradaz Cabinet Simulator VST (Beta)

I made this VST plugin a few hours ago. Suddenly I got an idea of how to make a cabinet simulator - combinator. Combinator?? Yup, it mixes 2 cabinet impulse responses. I'm using 2 guitarhack impulse responses ("center" and "edge") to make this plugin.

We can control the ratio between two cabinets (edge/center). "0" for 100% edge, "1" for 100% center and 0 > MIXTURE(Combination) > 1.

Cabinet Simulator VST (Beta) Features:

- Edge/Center parameter
- Volume parameter
- up to 96 kHz sample rate supports
- No-GUI

Please let me know if you found another great free cabinet impulse responses on the internet (write down in the comment box). I have a plan to make a better version of this (free of course).

Thank you..

Related Posts:
Guitar VST
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Cabinet Simulator VST (Beta) Download Link:
has been updated here

Monday, June 23, 2008

Recording DI-Box

DI-Box is used to convert an unbalanced signal to be balanced. The advantage of using balanced signal is indispensable to ensure signal quality especially when using long cables. That's why DI-Box is always used in Live situation. So, how to use DI-Box in recording studio that doesn't use long cables?

Reasons of using DI-box in recording studio:

1. Alter TS/TRS Jack to XLR

Console in many recording studio uses XLR connectors. Commonly, instruments use TS / TRS jack connectors, therefore it makes the sound engineer works easier and faster to convert these connectors.

2. Impendance Conversion

A DI-Box allows you to pick up a signal directly from an unbalanced, high impendance output, such an electric guitar into the recording console line inputs that have low impendance connectors.

3. Paralel Connection

For example, we want to record guitar signals into two tracks. The first signal goes directly to recording console and the other goes to mic'd guitar amplifier speaker before it feeds to recording console.

4. Cabinet Simulator

Some DI-Box have cabinet simulator featured. At least two DI-boxes (that I know) which have this feature, there are Behringer GI100 and Hughess & Kettner Red Box.

Related Posts:
Guitar Recording Techniques
Computer Guitar Amplifier

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Aradaz Free VST Download Link

All of the latest Aradaz VST download links are on the right side bar. Just right click on the plugin's name which you want to download and then save as.
I have removed all previous version of the VST. So, only the latest versions are available to download.

*edited August 8, 2010
Since blogspot has a new static page feature, I moved the download links on the new download page.

Thanks...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 White Update to v1.2


It takes very long time to make GUI for my VST plugins. When coding is only takes 3 hours, drawing and designing for GUI would be 3 times longer.

While I was making GUI for Aradaz Amp 2 Green (will be available soon), I recalled that all versions of Aradaz Amp 2 should have the same looks, that's why I chose colour to identify the version for every release.

So here it this, the new Aradaz Amp 2 White update list:
  • New GUI
  • Some internal codes added
Thanks for using my plugins everybody, don't forget that the latest Aradaz VST plugin download links is on the right side bar...
You could also make some donation if you like the plugins.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Aradaz Amp 2 Green Soon








I'm working on Aradaz Amp 2 Green for a week now. It has been 90 % done. Making GUI is still the longest part of the time. The GUI looks similar with the White version but the sound isn't. I hope you'll like it...

-Aradaz-

Electric Guitar Mixing

This meant to be a guideline to help you get started of mixing an electric guitar. But you should remember that there are no "one preset solution" for everything when doing mixing. So, keep practice...

  • Compression, attack 10 - 50 ms, release 0.3 s, ratio 4:1 and 12:1
  • Roll off below 80 Hz to remove rumble
  • Little boost 120 - 200 Hz to fatten up
  • Cut 200 - 300 Hz, depending on the song and sound
  • Boosting around 2 - 3 kHz to add some edge / byte to the sound or cut for transparancy
  • Make hole / cut 3 - 4 Hz (human voice dominant frequency)
  • Boosting around 5 - 6 kHz to add presence
  • Roll off gently starts from 6 kHz above
  • Boosting around 8 - 12 kHz to add brightness
  • Reverb, plate / room decay 1.5 - 4 s, pre-delay 30 - 60 ms
Cutting is better than boosting, try to cut more often than boost. For example if you want to boost frequency around 150 Hz, you should try to cut 200 - 300 Hz first.

Hopefully helpfull...

Related Posts:
Guitar Recording Techniques
Guitar Recording Preparation

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Guitar Recording Preparation

These are some preparation that we shouldn't forget before recording guitar:

  • Use new strings that fitted properly, it's important to get the best tone that your guitar makes. Don't let old strings hurt your fingers and sounds.
  • Check both tuning and intonation before every take.
  • Choose 10 - 15 feet long cables with least hum. Don't use very long cables, it can reduce your guitar signal strength.
  • Stay away from computer monitor and other interfering equipments. These can cause serious hum interference on electric guitar especially guitar with single coil pickups.
  • When you are miking the guitar cabinet, keep your mixer EQ flat. Find the best guitar sound by setting mic's distance, angle and position first and then hear the sound from the control room. Mixer EQ are adjusted on the mixing stage.
  • If you are willing to use amp simulator plugin, make sure the guitar dry signal has a good level match with audio interface's line input.
  • Play your guitar really hard to measure the signal which enters DAW. Make sure it doesn't peak.

Related Post:
Guitar Recording Techniques

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Impulse Response Modification

I have written a post that related with impulse response to use as a cabinet simulator. This time, I want to show you how to modify your existing impulse responses to make it more suitable for your audio needs.

In this case, I'm modifying cabinet impulse response for AradazAmp using KeFIR and reaeq VST plugins on Wavosaur as the audio editing software.

These are some steps of modifying impulse response:


  • Run your audio editing software and Import your dry audio file.


  • On the VST Rack, load AradazAmp, KeFIR and reaeq then turn off AradazAmp cabinet simulator and load cabinet impulse response (that you want to be modified) on KeFIR.


  • "Thick" Processing and then press play.

  • Start to modify the sound by setting reaeq appropriately.


  • Press stop and then mute or remove AradazAmp from VST Rack.

You're done for impulse response modification. Now, it's time for "stealing" the modified impulse response.

  • Create new file (File -> New / Ctrl N) and fill the text box. The length should be 2.0000 s and choose 32 bit float, press OK.


  • You'll see silence file. Click on the silence area (about 1/4 file length) and then maximum zoom in.


  • Press pencil button, then drag one sample (point) to the top.


  • Press apply then nomalize the sample to -1 dB.


  • Trim / remove silence samples (go to Tools -> silence remover)


  • Save the wav file. Done...


Hopefully usefull...

Thanx,

Related Posts:
Impulse Response Modification (2)
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Guitar Recording Techniques (3)

This is my last "Guitar Recording Techniques" post. My previous two posts explain you how to records guitar sound by using hardware and software seperately.

Maybe you really like the sound that your amplifier makes but you don't have any other cabinets or mics to find another sound's character or your cabinet are too good for your old amp or anything. Be creative, why don't you combine them? We can combine hardware and software to make some powerfull guitar sounds.

So here it is:

4. Hardware and software combination, there are lots of free cabinet simulator or cabinet impulse responses on the internet, we can use them to replace our "real" cabinet. Here is the schema:

guitar -> (input)amplifier(line out) -> DI-BOX -> DAW

CAUTION:
"If you are using a tube amp, it's very important to connect an impendance load preferably a speaker-to the direct link to cabinet output in order to prevent damage to your amp"


Records your processed (amplified) guitar signal to the DAW, and then use some cabinet simulator plugins on the DAW plugins slot. You can start finding your guitar sound from there. Don't forget to turn off your DI-BOX cabinet simulator feature and reduce the incoming signal before entering DAW soundcard to make sure you have a good level signal.

Plus:

  • Natural sounding amp with more cabinet options
  • We can do it anytime & anywhere
  • More sounds possibilities
Minus:
  • Need some CPU resource for cabinet simulator
  • We can't modify the "real" guitar tonal / gain character if it has been recorded
I hope you can find my three "Guitar Recording Techniques" posts usefull. Thanks for reading...

Related posts:
Guitar Recording Techniques (1)
Guitar Recording Techniques (2)
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Monday, June 16, 2008

Guitar Recording Techniques (2)

This is my second post of Guitar Recording Techniques. My previous post describes about recording guitar using hardware, so it's time to use software to process your guitar signal tracks. You can read Computer Guitar Amplifier and Guitar Cabinet Simulator that I've wrote before.

Let's continue counting:

3. Full software, this is the easiest way to record our guitar signal. We just have to record the dry guitar signal straight into DAW and do the process using virtual guitar amp plugin such as Aradaz Amps VST.
Schema:

guitar -> preamp -> DAW

As you can see above, we use recording preamp before DAW soundcard. It used to match guitar impendance with soundcard line inputs. You can use DI-Box if you don't have any preamp.

plus:

  • Cheaper
  • Easy settings
  • We can record anytime and anywhere
  • Lots of guitar sound possibilities
minus:
  • CPU consuming
See you tomorrow...


Related posts:
Guitar Recording Techniques (3)
Guitar Recording Techniques (1)
(Virtual) Guitar Amplifier
Computer Guitar Amplifier
Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Guitar Recording Techniques

This is my first post of Guitar Recording Techniques. I'll describe some of guitar recording techniques starts from hardware, software and combination from both hardware and software. Maybe you didn't realize some of the techniques that I'll share. I'll also write the "plus" and "minus" for each one of them.

There are various ways to records our guitar tracks to DAW. Our main goal of trying many techniques are to get the best guitar sound we want. Time, place and price should be our consideration of choosing which technique should be taken.

1. Full Hardware (1), this is the most common way of recording guitar. We need guitar amplifier, cabinet (speaker), mic and mic preamp as our main equipments. This technique is ussualy called "Miking Technique". It looks like this on the schema:

guitar -> (input) amplifier -> speaker <-> mic -> mic preamp -> DAW

Sound that comes from the speaker is captured by mic to records in DAW. We have to do a lot of experiments with mic placement when recording guitar amp's speaker. Placing the mic closer to the centre gives a more focused sound, while moving to the edge gives a more open, slightly warmer sound. Various positions and trying different mics may produce different results.

plus:

  • Great guitar sound will be produced
  • Natural sounding
  • Lots of guitar sound possibilities
minus:
  • We can't record at 3 in the morning because we need a sound proofed studio
  • More time to spend for trying several mic / cabinet placements
  • Expensive
2. Full Hardware (2), mic and mic preamp are replaced by DI-BOX that has cabinet simulator feature as full hardware (1). The schema would be:

guitar -> (input) amplifier (line out) -> DI-BOX -> DAW

CAUTION:
"If you are using a tube amp, it's very important to connect an impendance load --preferably a speaker-- to the direct link to cabinet output in order to prevent damage to your amp"


We have to turn on the cabinet simulator on the DI-BOX. "Behringer GI100" and "Hughes & Kettner Red Box" are some DI-BOX examples that have this cabinet simulator feature. The sound that will be produced by using this technique are limited because cabinet simulation is only depends on DI-BOX. Don't forget to find a good level match from DI-BOX, most DI-BOXes include a pad switch to reduce the level of the incoming signal.

plus:
  • Fast settings
  • We can do it anytime and anywhere
minus:
  • Limited guitar sound possibilities

The next post will be software, I'll continue tomorrow.

Thanks for reading...

Related Post:
Guitar Recording Techniques (2)
Guitar Recording Techniques (3)

Friday, June 13, 2008

Guitar Cabinet Simulator

Cabinet Simulator plays an important role in Virtual Guitar Amplifier. Impulse response is usually used to make a nice cabinet simulator. Impulse reponse is a short time signal file (.wav,.ogg etc) made by deconvolution. It uses to capture the characteristic of a sound that we want to be captured such as reverb, preamp, mic or other resources. Here, we will be focused on Guitar cabinet simulation.

There are lots of impulse responses that ready to be downloaded from the internet. KeiffersGuitarClips and www.noisevault.com are just some site examples that you can download impulse responses from.

We need a specific VST plugin to host this impulse. KeFIR, Voxengo Boogex or Freeverb3 are good to use as host plugins for this impulse response because they have a fast calculation algorithm to use in realtime appication.

Cabinet Simulation example using AradazAmp and KeFIR:

  • Put AradazAmp to your DAW VST slot
  • Put KeFIR right after AradazAmp

  • Turn off the AradazAmp cabinet simulator (red led)

  • Load an impulse response on KeFIR and find it in your PC

  • Set KeFIR mix knob to 100%
  • KeFIR will adjust gain and length knobs automatically

  • Ready to play


  • Thanks,


    Related Posts:
    Impulse Response Modification