Slate Digital has made three of its common Digital Combine Rack (VMR) modules accessible without spending a dime and enabled iLok Machine License help, eliminating the necessity for an iLok USB Dongle.
As an alternative of the iLok USB Dongle or the iLok Cloud, now you can use iLok Machine licenses on as much as 2 computer systems (due to BPB reader PureFire for the clarification).
The free modules—The Monster, Revival, and The Trimmer—at the moment are included with the VMR set up through the Slate Digital Join app. Whereas the app installs the total suite of VMR modules, solely the free ones are activated except you buy extra licenses.
Personally, I discover it irritating when software program teases you with locked content material.
Once I first launched VMR, I needed to sift by means of a cluttered interface filled with inaccessible modules to entry the free instruments. It’s an comprehensible technique from a advertising standpoint, however not the smoothest expertise for customers who solely need the freebies.
But it surely appears I took the unsuitable steps throughout set up. As our reader Rodyx (thanks!) explains within the feedback beneath:
“There’s a separate installer you should use for VMR; you don’t want to make use of the Join App. And throughout the installer, you’ll be able to select which modules to put in. Ther’s no want to put in all of the modules both.”
So, for one of the best set up expertise, obtain the VMR installer as a substitute of the Join App and solely choose the free modules.
That mentioned, the three included modules kind a surprisingly succesful mixing and coloration toolkit. Let’s break them down.
The Trimmer is probably the most primary of the three, providing a acquire trim management (±24 dB), a VU meter, and a part reverse swap. It’s not flashy, but it surely’s helpful for balancing ranges or fixing part points in multi-mic setups like drum recordings.
Revival is the place issues begin getting attention-grabbing. It emulates the harmonic richness of analog gear with two easy controls: Shimmer and Thickness.
These one-knob-style enhancements are perfect for rapidly including presence and weight to a combination.
In case you’re into plugins like Softube Saturation Knob or BPB Saturator, Revival is true up your alley. It’s particularly good at injecting life into dull-sounding recordings and (my favourite) including analog mojo to digital synths.
The Monster is an aggressive compressor impressed by the basic “all buttons in” mode of the 1176 {hardware}. It’s wonderful for smashing drum loops or including punch to percussive parts.
With just some tweakable parameters (Assault, Launch, Combine knob, and filters), it strikes a pleasant stability between simplicity and management. It’s not a surgical compressor, but it surely will get the job accomplished quick.
In my expertise, it excels as a “smashing” compressor. You’ll be able to actually crunch the enter sign and the use the Combine knobs to stability issues out and produce again the transients. You find yourself with a full, thick sound with loads of dynamics.
Put all three collectively, and also you’ve acquired a helpful mini-suite for including character and taming ranges. In case you already personal a bunch of compressors and saturators, this gained’t be a game-changer, but it surely’s a terrific deal should you’re trying to broaden your toolkit (and scratch that GAS itch) with out spending a cent.
The free Digital Combine Rack modules run on macOS and Home windows and can be found in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX codecs. You’ll want the Slate Digital Join app and an iLok Cloud account to authorize and use them.
It took me round ten minutes to put in and activate the software program. The licenses at the moment are activated in my iLok Cloud account. Clearly, should you’re not into iLok, this one is a tough move.
But when you have already got it operating in your machine, you may as nicely give these Slate Digital freebies a strive.
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