Sonimus releases A-Console emulation plugin
by The Press Desk   27th October 2022

They hit it out of the park! It's the kind of tool that makes you think "how did I mix without it before". The saturation is pleasing, not obvious (so like it should be), a real gem. And the GUI is neat.

Can't wait to see the N and S consoles updates!

Fantastic sounding emulation. There is something more open and "cleaner" about this particular "A" console emu. You are getting that A character overall without it being over the top, like a mere saturator with a pretty console skin. I think the layout and ease of use makes it a nice processor to park on channels and bus in the DAW. Then again, I only expect quality from Sonimus so...

This looks interesting but I don't really understand what it does! their website only has a picture, no information.

i've been beta testing this one - it's very nice to see it out in the wild.

I have been a long time satson user and occasionally britson. I really love this one, really nice tone to it, the filters are ofc lovely as with the earlier consoles. The new buss system with the faders is really fun.

does something really nice to the lows and the buss module imparts a nice open feel to a mix.

How is anyone other than beta testers using this now?
No links on the site, not even for the manual.

Is there a VU meter for each track/channel or only on the bus as per the picture in the first post?

I think you have to own the other consoles they make, I got an email saying if I buy those I can get access to the pre-sale.
I have a number of their plugins, but none of the console emulations. *shrug

Odd.

I own Satson and Britson. Had to stop using both due to their odd behaviour in Logic with Monterey. Shame as I really like both. Hoping they get updates rather than get abandoned.

Work in progress, the new generation for Britson is in its assembly stage. Soon news. In the meantime let's welcome A-Console

Would love to compare with Britson and Satson but fearful of the resultant mouse arm syndrome.

Once the updates are done, please consider one console to rule them all — switchable between models from the bus & you can charge triple.

Nice...I am a long time Britson and Satson user, but as my plugin arsenal slowly grew out of control I have wandered a stray. I can see myself returning now!

You will have the chance to try the demo version in order to evaluate it

So, "coming soon" is the right forum section for this, right?

Bought but haven't had a chance to try yet. I'm guessing this might be a really nice companion to the Waves API stuff.

(also) confused;
When does the 'exclusive pre sale for Vintage Console owners start?
I have Satson & Britson so that should be me too?
I see nothing on the website nor in my email except "By getting the Vintage Console Bundle (Britson & Satson included), you will get access to A-Console's pre-order sale!" but i already have Satson & Britson, right?

Also some ppl already bought this?
:-)

I'm in the same situation. I sent an email to the support and they sent me the pre-sale email. Apparently, I switched off from the newsletter (didn't remember that, but who knows).

In order to be able to buy the plugin, you need to connect to your user space on the sonimus site, then search for the A-console page in the searching window (it's not accessible from the main page), then enter the password they gave you in the email they sent you...

On paper, it looks amazing, but I'm a bit reluctant to buy without trying...
I know it has always been like that with Sonimus, but...

Yes, worked as announced.
My spam filter does what he wants, that silly cow ... same on yours perhaps?
An email to them should get things sorted.

Please give us some feedback if you can.
I'm still unsure A-Console will add something if one already own Satson and Britson.

On paper, I'm completly sold with the punchy/clean-but-not-sterile/rock'n'roll API sound, but it's the API hardware console sound.
Does this plugin deliver compared to Satson/Britson ?
Does it add something if you already own Satson/Britson ?
Or is it just a very tiny difference with a nice GUI...

Until now, I was using Satson for almost everything, and Britson on vocals or if I needed a more vintage/saturated sound... They were quite complementary.
So, is the API a welcome addition ?

Absolutely. I think it definitely adds something you won't be able to get with Satson or Britson although the sonic differences between the different consoles is by nature, relatively subtle. API has a bite on drums and guitars that the others just don't do. I'm a heavy user of Lindell 50 series API which I think is fantastic and I can confidently say that this holds it's own against the Lindell taking into consideration that this lacks the eq and dynamics. The Bus sections sound very similar but the Sonimus bus is more flexible and to me sounds better than the Lindell when both are not oversampled. Lindell sounds better when both are oversampled, ever so slightly to me.

Nope. It's too close to the launch date to bother with that. These things are down to admin's discretion.

If it gets delayed or whatever then we will reassess

I never really got into the whole "console emulation" workflow. I assume you want to use it to add slight saturation / color to the signal? But does it even add any meaningful amounts before driving it into the 0 dbvu range and above? I assume that unless you drive the gain hard, there wouldn't be much noticable effect? Just asking out of curiosity.

Very similar experience here. I just got it a couple of hours ago, so this is a very initial impression. But I've been a big fan and user of Sonimus for years and I own everything except the SonEQ2. I also could distinguish the Britson VS UAD Luna on a blind test done here a while ago, so I guess I recognize the Sonimus sound in general and I like it. I also own the Lindell 50 & 80. I've recently reduced the use of Britson/Satson due to the lack of oversampling. For example I liked the Britson better over Lindell 80, but I used the latter because I feel I got a cleaner soundstage and less smearing with OS X4. But without OS I prefer Britson. I am eagerly expecting the OS implementation on it so I can put it back on my signal chain.
In a similar way, I also prefer A-console over Lindell 50 without OS. With OS X4 they get really close in quality, and the differences are so delicate I need more time to understand them and it will still be a matter of taste. Overall I always find the Sonimus algos more round and pleasing over anything else (compared to Lindell & Arturia mostly, but also Luna that one time). They have an incredible way of clipping pleasantly. I tried the A-Console on rock drums and I could clip my transients up to 8dB without them breaking in a bad way and I could still retain the feeling of punch, but I also saved a significant dynamic range. The low end beef was very obvious on the kick and it also gave more body to the snare and toms. I remember the Britson acting in a similar way in dynamics control, but with the transformer character sounding different as it should. However I need to check them all with OS. I just remember Reaper implemented internal OS recently. So maybe I'll check Britson VS Satson VS A-Console with OS when I have the time, and return with my impressions.

Anyway, it's another high quality release from Sonimus and I wish them good luck with it

i also own the lindel 50 series and don't find one better than the other - the buss that is - they are just a bit different.

i also tend to lean to the sonimus house sound, it's got something very pleasing to it - that's why i like testing for them and supporting the company

i actually really look forward to having sweetone on M1 - those 6db filters are like butter

thnx sent an email

will this oversampling added to current plugin?

On individual tracks it’s fairly subtle (though certainly still audible), but it adds up across a full mix and will make for a rather obvious difference in sound.

i would say, as with most things music the answer is down to the individual

for me - it's not the workflow i've used these for it's the sound.

more cohesion between elements - better front to back separation - this particular one has a really nice effect on the lows/low mids

i would say yes without driving them, the difference is meaningful.

if you use the filters then even more so ofc.

I got it and tested in different mixes and it sounds great!

The effect on individual tracks is subtle but when added throughout a mix the change is meaningful in a really good way. Mixes become punchier and with more attitude.
I would say that the Buss instance is the one with the most character.

Britson was my go-to console emulation to get more body and cohesion in the whole mix but now after trying A-console i can't get enough of it.

Now with A-console and API Vision i got the perfect itb API console emulation!

I commented something similar in another thread this was mentioned, but I really love this new console. It’s replaced the Satson CS module in my template. The drive on A Console is more midrange-y and has a lot more punch than the Satson. I feel like it pulls the best parts of Britson (warmth and saturation) and Satson (punch and depth) while still sounding like it’s own thing.

I own and use all the Sonimus stuff but in the few days I’ve had this now it’s probably my favourite!

The GUI is gorgeous too.

I've been beta testing it for a while and I'm a VERY long-time Satson user.
I think still underestimate the importance of gain staging, filtering unwanted frequencies and subtle saturation. A-Console is an AMAZING tool in both cases.
It could be the fact that I have oversampling always ON, but this console does sound better (to my taste and ears) than Satson (I also own Britson but it was never my cup of tea)
I can't recommend this one enough.
I also can't stop recommending a tool like Satson/Britson/A-Console to newbies in the audio world. Gain staging is everything!