The removal of mix-ruining resonance in music production has long been a careful balancing act, best left to those (often expensive) ears who can discern which elements of your track are negatively impacting each other. Developing the right kind of mixing finesse — or entrusting the job to an expert — is, thankfully, no longer necessary for these kinds of jobs. As we sit here, smug in space year 2022, we can rely on the super-fast resonance detection of algorithms, such as the one in Mastering the Mix’s latest plugin, Reso.
While previous plugins from MTM have included the likes of the frequency-tweak suggesting Mix room and track-comparison suite Reference, both serving as superb time accelerators in the mastering stage, Reso is handy from the get-go, particularly as mixes start to build out and track numbers start reaching into double figures. You may think that smoothening out conflicting track elements is just one of the core aspects to mixing, but ‘resonance’ is a different thing to just competing for space within a stereo image. It’s more akin to a build-up of energy at a certain point on the frequency spectrum, and while taming the transients of certain instruments with an EQ or compressor may lessen its effect, you might be surprised at how much harm quieter instruments or other elements are causing, too.
Sonuscore The Score $399 PC MAC
The Score comes up with a film soundtrack based on your stylistic choices, but that’s just the start of it. Andy Jones scores The Score
Baby Audio Humanoid $129 PC MAC
Humanoid brings the ‘extreme’ and ‘radical’ to the world of vocals, but is also one of the easiest plugins to use and abuse, says Andy Jones
The Synth Factory Horizen $129 PC MAC
A synth/sampler that packs in a lot of power at an almost silly price - despite its low profile, Andy Jones gazes at Horizen...
Flow Mastering Suite $15/month PC MAC
Mastering your music just got as easy or as complex as you want. But, Andy Jones asks, is it worth yet another monthly subscription?
Universal Audio LA-6176 $299 PC MAC
UA has bundled three of its classic emulations into one channel strip. Is this analogue dream your ideal plugin team? Andy Jones finds out
Rack'em up...
IK Multimedia has announced a comprehensive update to its mixing and mastering software, T-RackS, that brings some smart mastering additions
FX Collection 5 €499
Arturia's huge bundle of effects gets its regular update and it's still easily as essential as the company's V Collection
Make a pulsing bass with GForce Axxess
Get mechanical, with a garage-inspired bass patch, which gets right to the pulsing heart of the Axxess synthesiser
The software that shaped us
Computer Music has had a 25-year history, and over the life of this magazine, the technology behind music production has changed beyond recognition. Here are the products that set the stage for the modern world…
PERFECT VIRTUAL GUITAR!
Need a great guitar sound, but lacking any guitar-playing contacts, or the skills to play it yourself? Have no fear, your computer is here! With a few pointers, buying advice and hands-on tips, you and your PC or Mac can emulate the greatest guitarists in the world…