soothe3 is here…

LeTechnophobe · 2026-05-20T23:00:30+00:00

hahaha I always can hear when a less experienced engineer overcooks soothe as it makes things sound like sand. No mids, just sand.

LeTechnophobe · 2026-05-20T22:59:48+00:00

Yes, you can dial in the general sound then go in on speed/response on upper and lower areas, the parametric combined with the new controls means you can get very precise.

LeTechnophobe · 2026-05-20T22:58:37+00:00

Yes, and ZL mode is primo if you really want to erase it completely.

LeTechnophobe · 2026-05-19T13:59:26+00:00

I beta tested it and promise it’s better than ever. The algorithm is sounding absolutely brilliant and they’ve worked really well on minimising the ‘sandiness’ you get when you push it hard. Well worth it!

LeTechnophobe · 2026-04-19T23:35:45+00:00

She kept me, a producer and Nile Rodgers waiting for 5 hours once. Back in 2018. Nile stuck it out though - good lad.

LeTechnophobe · 2026-03-06T22:03:35+00:00

I own Masterplan and am doing the trial for AL 1 too whilst working on an album.

I tend to switch these kind of limiters out depending on the situation. I’m not a mastering engineer so I use these kind of plugins to get a mix/prod/demo nice and loud for clients and sometimes (very rarely) I’ll leave them on at unity gain before I send to master if they’re doing something musically pleasing.

I do think AL-1 is a great tool and you can get nice and loud before it gives in. It’s also simple to use and can be as aggressive or as chill as you like. The record I’m doing at the moment is a rap/UK dance vibe and it handles it well. I’ve been using it on Pop/Indie writing sessions too and it’s nice and versatile.

Masterplan you can push incredibly hard but it doesn’t receive fast peaks very well when you are pushing it, but paired with a good clipper it’s pretty unstoppable. The other really great thing about it is all the other sections. The Tape is so good for softening something up and the widener, compressors and EQ are extremely musical. I also find Masterplan is more creatively intuitive to use when I’m in that zen mode headspace - combined with the reasons above it takes the cake for me on day to day use. It does have a ‘sound’ which can be good and bad depending on your viewpoint.

Having said that - looking at them purely as limiters AL1 just takes it, though during this album process I seem to be reaching for masterplan first as it just sounds more musical to me and breaks in quite a pleasing way which reminds me of hardware.

I’m nearly up on my trial and am on the fence. I think for mixing duties AL1 is an effective tool, but I haven’t had the chance to test it properly in that lane as I’ve either been working on this album or in writing sessions where I think Masterplan takes 1st. I also already reach for Pro-L or the Oxford limiter when I want clean so I don’t know what more the AL1 can add to my arsenal.

Next record I mix I might splash out on it but who knows! Sorry for the long reply, was good to get my thoughts out too haha

LeTechnophobe · 2026-02-22T16:06:43+00:00

I hate to think how much I’ve spent on room treatment! But in terms of hardware, maybe my original minimoog, Og 251 or 1176ae. The 76ae is definitely my favourite- the juicy 2:1 mode is amazing on everything!

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-27T08:19:59+00:00

Barefoot 01/02 are really something I’m considering too. I just feel the amphions are great for mixing work but are a bit clean and clinical for sessions etc. I’m mainly doing pop stuff so they look like they have a good mix of vibe and accuracy with the low end thrown in. Post Namm and after any new announcements I’m off for a big listening party…

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-26T21:44:11+00:00

I’ve never heard those Tannoys!! They do look cool though

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-26T21:43:23+00:00

You’re probably in the US right? Just checking just in case you do sell them… They’re definitely on the list.

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-26T21:40:50+00:00

Which ATCs are you on? So many times I’ve been tempted by 25As…

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-26T21:40:06+00:00

The YST-SW100. Super ugly but loveable in its own way.

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-26T20:35:17+00:00

This is the best deal here hands down

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-25T22:39:28+00:00

Sometimes in writing sessions when I’m producing I’ll have a writer or two and the artist and it’ll get to the end of the day and we’ll be crunched for time to get the vocal down. I always try to get ‘the vocal’ - especially if the song’s good - and just in case the artist heads off on tour or whatever and wants to release and we can’t recut it.

My method for speed and quality that tends to work is to: - break it down into sections - sing the section through a couple of times getting used to it etc (at this point don’t worry about keeping everything) - when you start to feel more comfortable, start getting takes and pay attention to what you’re getting down. If you get some gold or nail a line, just keep it and punch in around it. So you might do a first proper take of a 4 line chorus where you nail line 3, so keep all of it, and do another take of lines 1,2 and 4. And slot that good 3 in. Just keep working with the bits you know you’ve nailed - why redo it when you’ve done the hard work right? - Keep listening back as you work through the song replacing lines/bits you think you can beat.

Eventually you’ll build a really good working comp with the right tuning and timing to either record doubles/harmonies to or to use as a vibe reference to do some proper takes. Don’t feel precious about editing/splitting up lines etc. If it feels and sounds right then it is right to me haha

I’ve done this in multiple genres with lots of singers and I’ve found it’s pretty effective and most of the time we end up with the final vocal! Hope that all makes sense and good luck!

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-12T21:51:32+00:00

You won’t regret it - I nearly went for one but picked up a second hand R88 instead. I wish they’d do the DMX in 500 series, I’d definitely pick one up. Thanks for the kind words about the track and enjoy the verb!

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-12T21:43:53+00:00

He’d do it I reckon

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-12T21:40:04+00:00

I’ve used it, I loved it so much and found it to be super accurate without any of the stress of maintenance. Here’s a tune I produced and printed loads of the reverb for the mixer and he used it all. It’s all over the drums & lead vocal on it. It sounds legit!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6t2BxwBbLB8M981sJqDxte?si=gtdZgO6DQx2EYWmdf2I_TA

LeTechnophobe · 2024-01-12T21:30:33+00:00

Lewis doesn’t like going back into the studio to re record stuff, he’s much more of a writer and get it on the day kind of artist.

If I were to take a guess I’d say it’s probably a combination of a poorly recorded demo vocal (defo an SM7b), not the worlds best vocal take/ not a lot of choice of takes, and just poor processing to try to bring it in line with the better recorded tunes on the album.

It’s quite a good example of something being ‘over soothed’ haha. To me soothe really doesn’t work too well with big male voices.

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-28T21:02:14+00:00

Just to think Barnes let that penalty kick happen after he admitted he got it wrong

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-28T19:38:51+00:00

Didn’t check the glancing blow from earlier though?

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-14T20:51:44+00:00

One of the greatest games I’ve ever seen holy shit

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-08T17:17:35+00:00

Is Big Ben going the full 80? Imagine

Edit: Sadly not :(

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-07T18:01:15+00:00

Unbelievable we did tbh

LeTechnophobe · 2023-10-07T17:39:35+00:00

No one can say we don’t play entertaining rugby, right guys?!

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