Review of Little Endian SpectrumWorx 2: SpectrumWorx builds upon the old Delaydots and works by processing the incoming sounds on separate frequencies rather than the signal as a whole. Is SpectrumWorx a tool for the most extreme of sound pushers, or can it also satisfy the needs of producers who want something different but doesn't necessarily want nuke the whole incoming signal? The answer, my friends, is a bit of both.
 
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SpectrumWorx.
Not long time ago, I was very close to sell my Virus TI and the only reason why I didn't was because I - by accident - routed it through my old Ensoniq DP/4 - it was like a door swung open in my face. What a sound! What possibilities! So let there be no doubt that a good effect can turn something meh into something hot. In some respects a good effect is more inspirational than a new sound library. A good effect can transform your old sounds, synthesizers and samples into something totally different.

But an effect can also complicate things and ultimately create a mushy soup of the material. It all depends on the usage and the effect. More complex effects are by nature more versatile but also more difficult to master. Yes, Native Instruments Reaktor. I am looking at you. I cannot think of any more advanced sound mangler than Reaktor and although I've had my share of fun with it - I honestly can't say much of the insane effects of the user library have ever ended up in any of my productions.
 
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Review of Audio Damage Ronin: in contrast to the majority of the plugins from Audio Damage, Ronin is not an effect with a specialized use, but is rather a modulation toolbox aimed for the black belt audio ninja with a degree in audio pyrotechnics and sound mutilation.

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Seen from a technical point of view, Ronin is a multi effect built around two independent delays, two filters and two saturators. There are two LFOs and one envelope follower that can be used to modulate your sound in various ways. Although Ronin isn't really a difficult plugin, this was the first time I had to really read the manual for an Audio Damage product.

The reason for this is that the signal path in Ronin is not fixed, but open for the user to decide. This radically expands the use of the plugin but also it's complexity.
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Sonalksis TBK3 review: The TBK3 is a compressor unlike any other. If you have a fetish for anything that sounds hard this compressor is exactly what you are looking for.

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From a structured point of view, creating music is a two-stage process. We have the creative phase where the actual material is created, and there is the production phase, where the material gets shaped and improved.

In my opinion one of the keys of successful music making (and here I use the word successful as in creating material of good quality) is to have a clear distinction between the two phases. There is nothing more effective to kill a creative session than spending time looking for that perfect setting for the compressor – or that perfect kick drum. It's an instant sleeping pill. The gourmets should hold their horses until the production phase. Creating is about generating new material.
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