Plug-in modeling has come a long way. Not that long ago many people felt the DAW required some ‘analog goodness’ to make a proper mix.
Some of these workflows include:
1. Using the DAW as a digital tape machine while mixing on a console.
2. Hybrid mixing. Mixing into analog hardware busses, analog hardware inserts on individual channels, or some analog processing on the mains.
3. Summing Mixer. Which nowadays comes in many different variations and designs. The basics of using a summing mixer is routing all channels out separate interface outputs to a piece of hardware that sums in analog, and the mix is routed back into the DAW and recorded to a track.
All of these workflows suggest that the DAW is lacking analog vibe. They’re all used by top mixing engineers. More and more big name mixers are now mixing completely “In the box”, meaning entirely in the DAW. If you asked top tier in the box mixers why or how they mix in the box I believe you would get a common response, “the modern plug-ins we have available.”
Analog modeling keeps getting better and better. It’s not just one or two plug-ins anymore that do a really good job of modeling analog compression. We now have many different options to choose from. This also applies to modeled analog EQ’s, delays, reverbs, and FX. We also have preamp modeled plug-ins that pair nicely with all of the modern ultra clean interfaces. We have several options of modeled console summing, and many console channel strip plug-ins. Let’s not forget the tape machine plug-ins. You can even wow and flutter sources in your DAW if so desired.
Needless to say, we now have many options when mixing in the box. What’s really great about this is you don’t have to use any of it if the song or the mix isn’t calling for it. For example, sometimes a tape plug-in emulation is just what a guitar track needs, and sometimes its not.
So, we have preamp plug-ins, tape plug-ins, console channel strip plug-ins, console summing plug-ins, classic and modern analog hardware plug-ins. So is there anything left to model? In my humble opinion, Yes, there is. Classic samplers. The lower bit rates of 16 bit, and 12 bit conversion and the built in processing was a big part of those classic tracks created with samplers. In fact, many producers still use old school samplers largely because of this.
I think a plug-in that accurately emulates the sonic impact of the classic samplers, that doesn’t necessarily sample, but effects the audio as if it were created with vintage samplers would be a great addition to all the other choices of analog modeled plug-ins today.
So now for the next question, who’s up for the challenge?
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