Same exact thing happens here in Samplitude.

I've read so much conflicting information on the use of metering and I just can't get my head around the old-school style VU meters :(

With VTM in particular, if I drive the input by say just 2db (all calibration settings at default) and the needle on the meter is peaking just under 0, sustaining at -3 and tailing at -5 on an 808, in ITB mixing terms (i.e. using a peak meter), how much DB of coloration is the plugin actually adding? The original 2db value driven by the input dial?

Would really appreciate someone clearing this up for me

Thanks slutz

I've read so much conflicting information on the use of metering and I just can't get my head around the old-school style VU meters :(

With VTM in particular, if I drive the input by say just 2db (all calibration settings at default) and the needle on the meter is peaking just under 0, sustaining at -3 and tailing at -5 on an 808; using ITB mixing terms (i.e. using a digital peak meter), how much DB of coloration is the plugin actually adding? The original 2db value driven by the input dial?

I'm just not sure how I'm reading this dial. In particular when using compression on the mix bus, I may only want 1.5db in gain reduction but I can't tell how much that correlates to on a vu meter. Would really appreciate someone clearing this up for me

Thanks slutz

Do we get info on new updates? My version still has crackles on some material unless the W&F is at 0%.
I did try some new version about seven months ago or so but it kept crashing my DAW.

Lately I have tried to do more mixes without VTM. But almost always the results end up being much more flat, smaller and less impressive than with VTM. I did not even realise how big difference it made until I stopped using it for some time

Three years later it's still a great plugin. I still use it on nearly every mix and on nearly every track. I'll usually skip putting it on piano, bass tracks and sends but everything else gets the tape treatment.

What kind of settings do you use generally? I have never used it on sends. Only on individual tracks and mix buss.

He said he doesn't use it on sends.

I know I was asking generally.

I set it up like a real studio would.

Tracks:

2" 16-track machine, FG9 tape at 15 IPS. Normal bias 9 times out of 10.

Noise all the way down...I save noise level for mastering.

Wow and flutter at 40-50%. 25% if I am going for a super clean recording. Bass alignment at zero

Adjust input/output "until it sounds good".


Master buss:

I use VTM as my last plugin. I simulate recording my mixdown to tape and then sending that reel "to the mastering engineer" which is usually me. But that's how all my favorite music was mixed down/mastered and having some extra VTM doesn't hurt things.

1/2" machine
FG 9 tape
15 ips usually but if I am going for a pristine recording I will go to 30 IPS.
Bias ALWAYS on normal.

Bass alignment is on a case by case basis.
Adjust input/output "until it sounds good".

Then, I will mix down the files. I'll then take that file, drop it into a new "mastering session". VCC mix buss as my first plugin, VTM 1/2" tape as my second to last (usually with the meter at "0" this time around), set my VTM noise level (sometimes I won't have any noise...other times it will audible) and finally a brickwall limiter as the very last plugin.

The key for me is using this plugin in conjunction with the Virtual Console collection. I record my tracks very clean and use plugins to add the character. I'd love to have the fancy gear that plugins emulate but high end clients aren't my customers. Maybe one day...or if I win Power Ball!

I feel you. Unfortunately this was something to except when the move was to subscription model.

Thanks for the thorough explanation!

I find it a bit surprising that you use the VTM twice at mixdown/mastering. My process is quite similar as yours but I use 30 ips always. I tend to work on orchestral stuff so I want the results to be clean and definition to be good.

My process:

Channels:

FG9, 30 ips, Bias normal, input + 3db

Mixbuss:

FG9, 30 ips, Bias normal, input depending of the source.

Well, so what are the two plugins a new user should buy today ? It's only 1 day left...

I was thinking VTM + VMR. Am i right ?

Funny thing you asked, because just yesterday I was thinking what would be the two plugins I would recommend for a new user!

After thinking this for a quite some time, I would say VCC + Custom Series Bundle.

But this also depends what you already have.

Doh !

What to do what to do

I recommended VCC because it is less radical than VTM, but still effective. Also it is almost impossible to get bad sound with Custom series.

Glad to know its not just me then

yes... but the new guy has to KEEP paying that money. You don't.

You've already got the good stuff... or would you have preferred to be a subscriber ? So access to the new stuff comes in under the deal?

I wonder if Slate will address this.

Haven't used VTM for quite awhile until very recently.
Forgotten how good it sounds.
I'm now using it again as the last plugin in my chain on the 2-buss.

Yes, I'd like to subscribe for all the new stuff starting from october 2015. I do not wan't to pay twice for something I already have.

No love for 16 track?

Would you consider adding a power-stack button that duplicates the entire processing as many times as required, similar to duplicating a bunch of linked instances of the vst in a chain, but more stable. You could power stack maybe 20 of them on one track for a perfect 60s emulation on a very powerful computer. Vtm is the only one that stacks to sound vintage well, satin certainly cant!

The same happend to me. Last night while lying in bed, I thought, why not using a tape emu on my piano tracks as I did so often. The idea I had, was to achieve a really clear and deep piano sound, so I didnt use any tape emu, but the VTM with F9 and 15" speed , low bias, gives such a subtle deepness which is quite amazing, but still on the clean side.



Weiss Compressor, then VTM , then TVerb, really brilliant, even 7 years after it came to the market.


For jazz, boogie and blues piano stuff, I like J37 really much, also Kramer MPX.

Thanks for the tips !

For tape I currently use Softube Tape whose character and features I like more than I liked vtm.
Years ago I was both a slate subscriber for around a year and also bought vmr expanded, vtm and vcc.
At some point I found alternatives that sounded better to my ears and I gave my slate licenses away.

That was an idea I had too to sell it if I dont use it, but after this surprising experience in combination with the Weiss comp, I am pretty happy that I still got the VTM. The biggest problem is, that you can 't compare different tape machines 1:1. A modern Studer A80 is a complete other thing like an old J37 as used in the 60th and 70th in the Abbey Road studios. The Kramer MPX is emulating even an older machine from the 50ths. For shure that Softube will have a nice tape emu too. Also it depends on the material you are working on. If I had to mix a rock album, I d take probably the Waves J37, or Kramer MPX.