AUDIO PLUGINS: MIDI

Audio plugin MIDI effects process MIDI messages and route the MIDI data to other audio plugin instruments or to hardware devices. It manipulates MIDI messages or notes and routes the resulting MIDI data to the audio plugin instruments. MIDI processor plugins can be used in any DAW that supports audio instrument plugins (with MIDI routing).

Most DAWs have the feature of using your typing keyboard to generate the sound of the plugin instrument. To go a step further and gain total control, MIDI controllers, which are hardware devices, have keys similar to that on a piano alongside a couple of knobs. MIDI allows you to assign the sound to the designated positions on the keyboard.

With effects, the control knobs on the plugin are routed to the hardware and you designate which knob controls each function. This means that while playing in real time you can then create on the fly and apply effects as you go.

The MIDI signal fed back into your DAW can be routed to a mixer track and recorded or overdubbed into your mix.

AUDIO PLUGIN INSTRUMENTS

Audio plugin instruments, also called generators, generate sound. They are most typically a sampled instrument, instrument emulator, or algorithmic.

Sample playback instruments are prerecorded sounds from live instruments such as a piano or drum kit which can be triggered to play as an instrument.

Algorithmic is synthetically computed using the PC’s processor.

Audio plugin Instruments can range from a synthesizer, drum kit, guitar, and other stringed instruments, brass, woodwinds, and yes, even a kazoo. Let’s take a look at the some of the audio plugins that are at the top of their game and trusted by top recording artists, producers, and DJ’s.

Nexus by reFX

Nexus is a Rompler or “ROM synthesizer”. A Rompler is an electronic musical instrument that plays prefabricated sounds based on audio samples. In contrast to samplers, romplers do not record audio and have limited or no capability for generating original sounds.

Created with electronic dance music in mind, Nexus is one of the most Commonly used audio plugin instruments. Nexus is one of the best-sounding synthesizers on the market. The huge selling point is that it doesn’t sound like synthetic software. The interface is user-friendly and it provides flexible control and an extensive expandable sound library.

Nexus is used by the following artists :

DaRude, Scooter, Brian Transeau (BT), Zedd, The Crystal Method, Armin van Buuren, Marshmello, Junkie XL, and Tiësto.

Nexus is available on both Windows and Mac O/S for both 32 and 64 bit systems and is available in VST/AU/ and AAX format.

Sylenth1 by Lennar Digital

Sylenth is a virtual analog synthesizer that emulates an analog subtractive synth. Since its release in 2006, it has been a trusted go-to for EDM producers.

Sylenth1 is not just another synth. It was built from a producer's point of view. It was built to produce superior quality sound and music. It was built to perform. A lot of research has been invested in order to achieve unheard warmth and clarity. The graphical interface ensures the highest level of usability so you can fully unleash your creativity.

Most notably there is an artist's sound bank which contains 512 presets designed by well-known artists like Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz and more. The factory sound banks now contain over 2500 presets.

Sylenth1 is used by the following artists:

Sander Van Doorn. Nicky Romero. Avicii. Skrillex. and Alesso.

Sylenth is a VSTi plugin. It is available on both Windows and Mac O/S for both 32 and 64 bit systems and is available in VSTi, AU or AAX formats.

Massive by NI

Massive is a commercial wavetable software synthesizer plugin. The software can be used as a VST plugin within a digital audio workstation, or as a standalone program

Massive is a sonic monster. The ultimate synth for basses and leads. The virtual-analog concept belies the contemporary, cutting-edge sound it generates. Clearly laid out and easy to use, Massive gives you earth-shuddering sounds from the very first note. Massive contains over 1300 sounds, all crafted by leading artists and sound designers. The efficient search and intuitive filter functions let you find presets according to specific characteristics and attributes.

Massive is used by the following artists:

Joshua Harvey, Mouse on Mars, Junkie XL and Davey B (LMFAO).

Massive is a VST or standalone plugin. It is available on both Windows and Mac O/S for both 32 and 64 bit systems and is available in VST, AU, AAX format.

Serum by XFer Records

The dream synthesizer did not seem to exist. A wavetable synthesizer with a truly high-quality sound, visual and creative work flow-oriented interface to make creating and altering sounds fun instead of tedious, and the ability to “go deep” when desired - to create, import, edit, morph wavetables and manipulate these on playback in real-time.

An effects rack with 10 effects modules lets you get your sound all the way to the finish line inside Serum. Effects can be re-ordered to any configuration you want. Virtually all effect parameters are also available as modulation destinations. Serum also comes stocked with over 450 presets and 144 wavetables all ready to be fined tuned and customized to your perfection.

Serum is used by the following artists:

Deadmau5, Skrillex, Nick Romero, Audien, Kill the Noise, AU5, BT, Kanye West, The Chainsmokers, KSHMR, Marshmello, and Daxx.

Serum is available on both Windows and Mac O/S for both 32 and 64 bit systems and is available in VST, VST2.4, AU, AAX format.

Quick Mentions

Some of the other audio plugin instruments that are turning heads and pleasing ears come from Native Instruments and Spectrasonics. Both companies offer versions for both Windows and Mac O/S and work within the most popular DAWs. Let’s take a quick look at their best plugins.

Native Instruments

Native Instruments is not only responsible for bringing you Massive but also have several audio plugin instruments that are leading the market in the creation of electronic music.

FM8 - Native Instruments has harnessed the power of FM synthesis. The strengths of digital are manifest in FM8’s powerful audio engine which generates breath-taking, brilliantly dynamic FM sound in pristine quality. Load patches from classic FM hardware units or use over 1200 presets, including the full library from former product 'Transient Attacks'. Innovative features raise FM based synthesis to new levels.

Absynth - Absynth is a synthesizer with exceptional sonic potential. Its specialty is unusual, evolving sounds created using a powerful, hybrid synthesis architecture and sophisticated modulation and effects. Dig into more than 2,100 presets or start building your very own sound worlds.

Absynth 5 is also a powerful effect plug-in for treating audio using its unique effects bank.

Reaktor - Reaktor’s trademark sound quality is unmistakable. From anti-aliased oscillators and ZDF (zero delay feedback) filters to granular synthesis engines, a team of leading developers built every component in Reaktor from the core level up using the most elegant algorithms. Their relentless pursuit of DSP excellence keeps this sonic toolkit at the head of its class. And everything inside is organized for immediate use in Reaktor’s macro libraries for fast, creative building sessions.

Artists who use Native Instruments audio plugins include:

Pegboard Nerds, The Chemical Brothers, Afrojack, KSHMR, Zedd, and many more. 

Spectrasonics

Building on many years of accomplishments and creativity, the company has become one of the world's leading music software developers. Through it all, Spectrasonics' success remains the result of its original philosophy: Create "powerfully simple" products that are truly inspiring and unique.

Omnisphere - The first software synth in the world to offer a Hardware Synth Integration feature, which transforms over 30 well-known hardware synthesizers into extensive hands-on controllers that unlock Omnisphere’s newly expanded synthesis capabilities. Omnisphere is the flagship synthesizer of Spectrasonics. An instrument of extraordinary power and versatility. Top Artists all over the world rely on Omnisphere as an essential source of sonic inspiration.

Keyscape - An extraordinary virtual instrument featuring the largest selection of collector keyboards in the world. From “holy grail” pianos to stunning keyboards you didn’t even know existed, this is a keyboardist’s dream come true. The richly detailed keyboard sounds of Keyscape have been dramatically transformed using Omnisphere’s deep synthesis capabilities. These truly amazing patches offer an extremely wide variety of incredible sounds for modern music producers.

Stylus RMX - Stylus RMX Xpanded is an award-winning, industry standard groove-based virtual instrument plug-in. Stylus RMX Xpanded is the first product to offer the combined power of Groove Control with Spectrasonics Advanced Groove Engine (S.A.G.E.) technology giving users dramatic control over groove production and performance. Users can create their own customized multitrack remix grooves and kits, save them into the plug-in, and even share them with other Stylus RMX Xpanded users on different platforms and hosts. RMX now even comes with 500 Multi grooves.

Artists who use Spectrasonics audio plugins include:

Adele, Kashif, Berklee College of Music, Nintendo, Butch Vig, Enigma, Daft Punk, deadmau5, Trent Reznor and many more.

AUDIO PLUGIN EFFECTS

Audio plugin effects process audio and perform the same functions as hardware audio processors. The purpose of the plugin is to manipulate audio signals. They don’t generate sounds by themselves, but rather transform it. You can find effects in most music recording software packages. DAWs such as Ableton, Logic, Cubase, and ProTools all come with audio effects built-in.

*The same format, compatibility, and host rules apply to effects that apply to instrument plugins.*

How audio plug-in effects work?

Depending upon your DAW there are a couple of ways to use instrument plugin effects.

• If you use a plugin as an insert, it will be placed directly in the audio chain of a particular track, and affect the track before it is sent anywhere else.
• If you use the plugin in a send channel, audio from any of your tracks can be sent to that channel and processed.
• If you wish to apply an effect to multiple audio channels or blend the audio output of a channel with processed output, sends are more efficient.

Just as in a physical studio with hardware, effect plugins offer the same if not more options. Below we will review the most commonly used types and summarize their function.

AUDIO PLUGIN EFFECT - COMPRESSOR

Master Buss Compressor

Master bus compression is the use of a compressor on the master or mix bus. It can make a large difference to the overall sonic quality of a mix, bringing its individual components together into a professional-sounding whole.

Multiband Compressor

Multiband compression allows one to affect the dynamic range of multiple frequency ranges independently of one another. If you want to compress a kick without affecting the low end, then this is your tool. Simply choose a frequency range then set threshold, attack and release just as you would with a normal compressor.

Parallel Compression

Parallel compression (sometimes referred to as New York compression) is great for keeping the original, natural sound of a recording, while still enjoying the benefits of a compressed signal. Simply route your signal to an aux track (via the sends, not output) apply compression, and blend in the aux track. Be aware of delay compensation settings in your DAW to avoid unwanted phase issues.

Analog

Analog modeled compressors emulate the circuity and musical personality of their classic hardware counterparts. These types of dynamic processors are used to add warmth, presence, punch, and character to your music while still giving it the classic analog result.

AUDIO PLUGIN EFFECT - EQ

There are 2 main reasons to use an equalizer.

1. To boost good frequencies
2. Eliminate bad frequencies.

The most common reasons to use an EQ are that your mix sounds muddy, aside from vocals there seems to be some other noise in the mix, your individual tracks sound amazing but when they all play together at the same time, some get lost in the mix.

Graphic EQ

A graphic equalizer is a high-fidelity audio control that allows you to see graphically while controlling individual frequency bands in a stereophonic system. Most graphic equalizers have two identical sets of filter/amplifiers, one for each channel.

Parametric EQ

Parametric EQ plugins have more detailed control compared to Graphic EQ plugins. A parametric equalizer can control three aspects

• level (boost or cut)
• center or primary frequency
• bandwidth or range of each frequency.

Filters.

Filters work by letting certain frequencies pass while blocking others. They allow you to remove everything above or below a certain frequency called the cutoff frequency.

•  Low Pass

•  High Pass

A good rule when using any EQ, Is to cut out the unwanted frequencies first. Get it all to sound good and then, go ahead and boost or increase the ceiling on the mix as a whole.

AUDIO PLUGIN EFFECT - TIME-BASED

Time-based effects are defined by an effect that manipulates the time of the signal. This includes delays and echoes, chorusing and flanging, phasing, reverbs, and pitch-shifters. These effects all change the timing of the signal in one way or the other.

Reverb

A reverb plug-in analyzes an input sound, creates a series of echoes from it, then blends the resulting echoes with the input sound.

Delay

Delay effects push a portion of the input sound into the future by delaying its playback. With delay, it is possible to hear each individual echo produced by the delay.

Chorus

A chorus effect produces a very short, tight delay, then modulates the pitch of the delayed sound. Using a chorus effect can make your track thicker, fuller, but without the sound of an obvious delay.

Flanger

A flanger, which is very similar to a chorus, delays the left and right audio channels by very slightly different amounts. This puts the two channels just out of phase with each other, creating a slight whooshing effect. A flanger is very similar in effect to a phaser (which, however, modifies the frequency spectrum rather than the timing).

AUDIO PLUGIN EFFECT - DISTORTION

Distortion takes the signal and warms it up by applying large amounts of gain. This causes the level to clip which causes various effects, such as added harmonics and a smaller dynamic range. The wrong amount of distortion can sound like a wall of noise. The right amount, however, can make your mix sound a little warm or nasty(in a good way).

Distortion isn’t just for guitarists in heavy metal bands. Distortion is a great way to add crunch to a synth or bass line, give your vocals a megaphone effect, and even make your drums sound harder.

Native Instruments not only provides great plugin instruments but also a realistic approach to distortion. Let’s take a look.

GUITAR RIG 5 PRO delivers 54 meticulously modeled stomp boxes and effects, from legendary foot pedals to complex studio tools. Use them on anything. Vocals, synths, drums, organs, or whatever else is in your mix. Whether it’s classic guitar tones or avant-garde soundscapes, these effects deliver.

Guitar Rig 5 offers you the ability to pick your amp, they offer 27 different models that are based on the original hardware version, as well as speaker cabinets, down to how it is mixed. Allowing you to control and customize to create the exact type of distortion you want.

Available for both Windows and Mac OS for 32 and 64 Bit systems and comes in VST, AU, AAX, and standalone formats.

AUDIO PLUGIN PRESETS

Are audio plugin presets considered a form of cheating?

That’s the greatest debate in the world of audio production. Hey, I’m neutral here man.

However I am here to provide factual information, and that I will. Then you can decide. 

Presets are designed by the creator of the plugin. Who knows the plugin better than anyone? The creator. Factory presets are designed to show you the best ways to achieve the most common sounds or effects using that specific plugin.

Presets are essential in music production, both for beginners as well as advanced producers in search of new sounds. Besides the practical side of a preset, they have the opportunity to learn what parameters or settings are behind a certain sound.

Presets are sold by the software designer and experienced audio producers. Packs are instrument and effect specific and come in the form of Expansion packs, Refill Packs or as part of a Construction Kit.

Preset Packs come in a variety of themes:

By Label or Producer - Audio producers that own or work for a label are professional sound designers. They typically offer an array of products that are geared towards audio production. This can include audio sample packs, beat loops, DAW templates, Construction Kits Presets and Patches for specific plugins. As they grow in popularity, similar to other brands, they develop a “brand loyalty” type of customer base.

By Genre/Style - By offering instrument presets by genre you will know exactly how a specific sound was generated.

By Function- Not sure how to master your track or mix your tracks? Presets exist for this sole purpose.

Not only will you be able to instantly select the preset option, you get to take a look at the settings and learn the functions of your plugin based on preset settings.

Learn from the Pros- Top artists and producers that record today's top artists also work with production companies to release there own custom presets. This gives you an inside look at the settings used to create your favorite songs, or obtain the sound used by your favorite artist.

Presets are a great way to learn, expand, explore and keep your creative juices flowing.

AUDIO PLUGIN PATH EXTENSIONS

When you download your awesome new audio plugin instrument or effect it should come with installation instructions. However, 80% of audio plugins that are 3rd party are made by smaller companies who are either not charging at all, or charging a minimal amount. Those typically have zero instructions.

“So, how do you install audio plugin instruments and effects?”

Everyone has a different system. So this is the most basic way to locate the file path on your system by O/S and your DAWs file path extension so that you can copy and paste the audio plugin file in the right directory and start making music.

With VST being the most commonly used format, I will be using it as an example. Most plugin file types are .dll files.

In order to get the plugin to work, if it does not come with its own installer, you must place it in the corresponding directory on your computer that your DAW has access to, or place it in the correct directory inside of the DAW itself. It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t.

For Windows

Format: VST

Path Extension: C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VST\Plugins

VST on 32 Bit Systems: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steinberg\VST\Plugins

For DAW Specific

C:\Program Files\DAW Name\

Then locate the folder that should be named “plugins” or the plugin format type such as VST, AU, AAX

For MAC

Format: AU           

Path Extension: Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components

Rarely used: Users/your username/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/

For DAW Specific

Format: AAX

Path Extension: Library/Application Support/DAW Name/Audio/Plug-Ins

This basic path explanation can be used when installing plugin effects and presets.

Once you locate your DAW, you can then locate the proper folders to place your plugins.

Presets work very similar, just locate the instrument or effect within your DAW, or locate the folder assigned for presets.

Another way to do this is from within your DAW. Check for an add option in the settings menu. For more in depth information on this topic check out the website of your DAW, most offer a support, tutorial, or FAQ page.