Tag: presets

  • What Are Audio Plugins?

    What Are Audio Plugins?

    Audio plugins are small pieces of software used inside a type of software environment called digital audio workstations (DAWs); their role is to create, edit, or otherwise process audio. In other words, these plugins extend the functions of the DAW by offering virtual instruments, effects, and utilities. Whether your line of work is music production, track mixing, or sound design, plugins will become your inseparable tool.

    Types of Audio Plugins

    Audio plugins come in several forms, each with its function in the process of music creation. Some of them involve virtual instruments, such as synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines, for the creation of sounds, while others play the role of effects, including reverb, delay, compression, and equalization, among many more. The Utility Plugins will provide spectrum analyzers, tuners, and meters, and it will be useful for workflow and precision in audio editing.

    Common Plugin Formats: AU vs VST3 vs VST2 vs AAX

    Different plugin formats have different strengths and compatibilities. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

    AU (Audio Units)

    AU is Apple’s proprietary plugin format for macOS, primarily used in DAWs like Logic Pro and GarageBand. It’s tightly integrated with the Apple ecosystem, making it the default format for Mac-based producers.

    VST2 (Virtual Studio Technology 2)

    VST2 by Steinberg – probably the most popular format of audio plugins on both macOS and Windows. Although its development has been discontinued in favor of VST3, this is still supported in many DAWs.

    VST3 (Virtual Studio Technology 3)

    VST3 is an enhancement over VST2, providing greater CPU efficiency, dynamic I/O management, and advanced functionality such as surround sound. Thus, VST3 is the much-preferred choice among plugin developers because it is more efficient and flexible in performance.

    AAX (Avid Audio eXtension)

    AAX is the format unique to Pro Tools, from Avid. It’s optimized for high-end professional use in the audio industry, including working with Pro Tools systems.

    Key Differences

    • Compatibility: AU runs exclusively on macOS, while the others – VST and AAX – can run on both macOS and Windows.
    • Performance: In terms of performance, VST3 and AAX are more CPU efficient and feature-rich compared to AUv2 and VST2.
    • Platform Focus: Evidently, AAX is for Pro Tools, AU fits best in Apple’s ecosystem, and VST formats offer cross-platform flexibility.

    [code_snippet id=33 format]

    Stock vs Paid Plugins

    Stock Audio Plugins

    You get stock plugins right in your DAW, which tend to be more CPU-friendly. That makes them perfect for getting started or when the project needs you to spare CPU resources. They offer very solid foundational tools such as EQs, compressors, and reverb.

    Pros:

    • Free and already included in the DAW.
    • Light, efficient, easy on resources.
    • Simple, easy to use, and accomplish basic tasks.

    Cons:

    • Lack many features found in professional-grade plugins.
    • Lack in some respects the quality and depth of certain paid-for plugins.

    Paid Audio Plugins

    Paid plugins tend to have better sound quality, more features, and flexibility, giving the producer and sound designer further control. Examples of Diva Synth, SERUM, and Pro-Q3 are industry-standard plugins giving producers and sound designers a high degree of creative possibility.

    Pros:

    • Better quality of sound and more developed features.
    • Often regularly updated, bugs fixed, and supported by their authors.
    • Specialized plugins for every production need.

    Cons:

    • Can be expensive, especially for premium plugins.
    • May use more CPU power than stock plugins.

    [code_snippet id=33 format]

    Free Audio Plugins: The Best Free Tools for Music Production

    Whether you are just starting out or simply looking to beef up your plugin library without cost, well, there are many excellent free plugins available. Here are some top recommendations:

    1. Spitfire Audio LABS

    The Spitfire Audio Labs interface features a sleek, modern design with a central area for selecting virtual instruments. On the left is a navigation panel for browsing sound categories. The right side has sliders and knobs for adjusting audio parameters like volume and effects.

    Spitfire Audio LABS features an incredible range of absolutely stunning free virtual instruments, from orchestral ensembles down to ambient textures. Of these, the Soft Piano is one of the most sought after for its delicate and subtle sounds, which find applications in film scoring and ambient music.

    2. SINE Player (Best Free Piano)

    /

    The SINE Player by Orchestral Tools encompasses some of the finest free orchestral libraries out there, including great pianos. This beautifully sampled piano is included in the Layers collection and offers very expressive, realistic sound, great for both classical and contemporary music.

    3. Kilohearts Essentials

    The Kilohearts Trance Gate interface features a grid layout with a central waveform display. On the left, there are buttons and knobs for controlling gate patterns, rate, and depth. The top includes a series of tabs for navigating different effect settings. The interface is sleek with a modern design, focusing on ease of use for rhythmic gating effects.

    Kilohearts Essentials is a suite of over 30 free effects and utilities, including EQ, delay, compressor, reverb, and lots more. It’s CPU-friendly but versatile enough to get the job done for most production tasks; hence, it’s ideal for all producers, both amateur and professional.

    Recommended Audio Plugins from Munchies Jukebox

    Once you’re ready to pay for plugins, here are some recommendations from Munchies Jukebox:

    1. Diva Synth

    The image shows the interface of a software synthesizer plugin called "Diva" by u-he. The interface is designed with a deep red and dark gray color scheme and various knobs, sliders, and buttons for controlling sound synthesis.

    Diva by u-he is a high-class emulation of an analogue synthesizer that gained high praise from all types of producers due to its warm, vintage sound and versatility. It’s great, be it punchy basslines or atmospheric pads, which explains why it’s among one of the favourite devices within electronic music makers.

    2. SERUM

    The image shows the Serum synthesizer interface with two waveforms for sound creation, a filter section on the right, and modulation controls below. The layout includes sub and noise controls on the left and a virtual keyboard at the bottom for note input. The design is sleek and visually intuitive for sound design.

    Serum from Xfer Records is a wavetable synthesizer that is recognized as one of the finest sound designs, and at the same time, is very intuitive and easy to work with. Perfect for complicated and modern electronic sounds, producers of EDM, trap, and dubstep take full advantage of the synthesizer. Looking for best SERUM presets? Munchies Jukebox’s SERUM presets, unique refreshing sounds.

    3. Pro-Q3

    The image shows the interface of FabFilter Pro-Q 3, an advanced equalizer plugin used in audio production. The display is primarily a frequency spectrum graph with various colored points indicating different frequency bands that are being manipulated.

    FabFilter Pro-Q3: High-end EQ plugin and greatly regarded, ‘great sounding controls’ with full transparency. It boasts features including dynamic EQ and is intuitively laid out, making this a go-to for both mixing and mastering engineers.

    Plugin Boutique

    Plugin Boutique is one of the leading online marketplaces for audio plugins. There’s an enormous array of virtual instruments, effects, and production tools hosted on it, while regular discounts, bundles, and exclusive offers make it perfect for both free and paid plugins.

    Find more at Plugin Boutique deals here

    [code_snippet id=33 format]

  • What Are Serum Presets? Knowing Presets & How to Load Them

    What Are Serum Presets? Knowing Presets & How to Load Them

    In music production, Serum presets play a vital role in shaping your sound. Whether you’re new or experienced, a solid library of presets saves time, sparks creativity, and enhances your tracks. But what exactly are presets, and why are they so important?

    Why Are Presets So Important?

    Loading presets within a synthesizer or plugin basically consists of loading pre-configured sound settings. You can load a preset to achieve a specific tone or texture, rather than creating it from scratch. Think of them as sound templates, a base to work from, with the ability to change everything to suit his or her needs. Presets have become especially popular in contemporary styles like EDM, hip-hop, and pop, where producers use specific sound characteristics to define a genre’s timbre.

    Serum Presets: Why They Stand Out

    In the wide world of synths, Serum has quickly become quite the popular figure in production. Its clear, powerful sound engine and intuitive user interface round out the go-to synthesizer for designing everything from sharp leads to lush pads. Serum presets are so flexible that they range over a wide span of sounds and almost fit into any genre.

    When you use high-quality Serum presets, like those offered by Munchies Jukebox, you’re not just accessing a random collection of sounds. You’re diving into a curated set of tones that have been meticulously crafted to inspire your next track. The right preset can be the spark that turns a simple idea into a fully produced hit.

    [code_snippet id=33 format]

    How to Import Serum Presets

    If you’ve just downloaded a bundle of presets and are dying to dive in, here is a really quick tutorial on how to import them to Serum:

    1. Load Serum within your DAW.
    2. Select the “Menu” from the top right.
    3. Pick “Show Serum Presets Folder” from the dropdown.
    4. Now that the presets folder has been opened, navigate to “Presets > User”.
    5. Now, drag and drop your downloaded preset folder into this directory.
    6. Close the folder. Your presets will now be accessible under the “User” section in Serum’s browser.

    Plus, Serum allows for easy loading of Presets. You’re able to drag and drop a preset right from the folder into the oscillator window, where the waveform appears. Serum does an automatic analysis of the preset, for all other tweaking and sound design.

    Simply drag and drop your preset on Serum Wavetable

    More than time-saving tools, presets are creative tools that both expand your sonic palette and push your productions in new directions. With a synth as versatile as Serum, high-quality presets can really change your whole workflow. So, next time you seriously need to add some new flair and be inspired, don’t shy away from Munchies Jukebox offerings, which are set to inspire all manner of new creations.

    [code_snippet id=33 format]