| Roundtone Multitrack
Tape
emulation
Simple interface. Punch
and Tone.
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An
inside view of the multitrack tape machine emulation
Works
in progress
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Gain
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Attenuates or amplifies he
signal at the input of the effect.
Roundtone is a non linear
effect (its behaviour changes depending on signal level,
like with compressors, overdrive and such, and as opposite
to common equalizers, delays, reverbs and such).
The level of the signal
going to the input of the emulation (after the Gain knob)
affects the resulting sound.
Roundtone affects signal
spectrum and dynamics. Experiment with different signal
levels (through Gain) to get different results.
Use Volume knob to
compensate for resulting output volume while moving Gain
knob.
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Speed
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This ISN'T tape speed. Tape
speed is selected through algorithm menu (top) and is
shown as 30ips, 15ips ot 7.5ips (inch per second).
Speed parameter scales
the whole emulation affecting all time constants. This
means slowing down or accelerating all the behaviour of
the emulation.
Hardware devices contain
several parts with a "memory". Circuits require
finite time periods to increase, decrease, change their
voltage values, they have "inertia".
Speed control scales this
behaviour giving different results.
A good practice is to set
Speed at 20%, set the other parameters, then experiment
with Speed as the last parameter for fine tuning of the
overall effect.
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Action
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Action scales the amount of
processing done.
Even at lower value
processing is still done. At higher level, full range
signals can become too dark. It is a dynamic effect,
experiment with different signal levels (Gain control
compensated through Volume control).
Lower values of Action
(20%) are suitable for full range signals (lots of high
frequencies), while higher values are suitable for dark
signals like some basses, drums and such or background
tracks.
Set high values of
Enhance (below) if the signal is becoming too dark.
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Emphasis
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Emphasis applies
pre-processing and post-processing to the signal to get a
better response in the high-frequencies region of the
spectrum.
Use low values for
smoother high frequency processing, high values for a
brighter sound.
Set high values if you
are getting too dark sound from Action.
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Algorithms
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Roundtone contains several
algorithms, classified by tape speed, saturation
smoothness and amount of distortion introduced.
Tape speed affects the
spectral response. Experiment with 30ips, 15ips and 7.5ips
to get enhancement and saturation on different frequency
ranges. 30ips could be good for bassdrum, bass and mixes,
15ips for snare drum and some instruments and vocals,
7.5ips for some distorted guitars and some instruments.
Tape speed DOESN'T affect
sound quality in Roundtone. It gives different spectral
responses (mainly harmonics and saturation). 7.5ips doesn't
mean lo-fi.
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Some presets
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Roundtone is so simple,
presets can be written down on paper.
Being it a non-linear
effect (the result depends on signal level), presets are
just a starting point to get an idea of its best use.
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| Bassdrum
and Bass |
Input:
very high (a bit before saturation)
algorithm:
30ips, hard
speed:
50
action:
75
emphasis:
0 |
| Snare |
Input:
very high (a bit before saturation)
algorithm:
15ips, hard
speed:
25
action:
50
emphasis:
80 |
| Electric
guitars |
Input:
low (far from saturation)
algorithm:
7.5ips, hard
speed:
0
action:
30
emphasis:
100 |
| Mix
(vintage) |
Input:
low (far from saturation)
algorithm:
30ips, hard comp
speed:
15
action:
40
emphasis:
50 |
| Master |
Input:
low (far from saturation)
algorithm:
30ips, hard
speed:
20
action:
20
emphasis:
100 |
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