Review: KVLT Drums – It Might Get Loud Productions

Samantha SmithPluginsLeave a Comment

[Editors Note: This article was originally written before an update to KVLT, which now features an interactive GUI] The first thing I notice about KVLT Drums after unpacking it is the lack of installer. Thankfully, installing the plugin is as simple as dragging the VST file into your VST Plugins folder. However, looking more closely reveals an oddity. The file … Read More

How Much Headroom Do I Actually Have In The Box?

brandonshireConcepts, MixingLeave a Comment

(This article is not discussing how audio levels impact plugins, or what happens at an output leading to a d/a converter. This article is discussing the linear behavior of audio passing between channels within our DAW.) What you’re seeing in the picture: Going Up Taking a test tone, calibrated to -18dbfs Boosting that test tone to +762db of gain above … Read More

New (To Me) Plugins I’ve Been Using That I Recommend

brandonshireMixing, PluginsLeave a Comment

It’s not the tool, it’s the user. But as a blogger and content creator, I get to play with a lot of cool tools. Here’s a few of them that I highly recommend checking out. 1. The Plugins From My Walkthroughs. Obviously anything from my recent product videos, and not just because I did the product walkthrough. Boz Digital Labs’s … Read More

Task Delegation

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This is part 3 of a series dedicated to workflow strategies for audio engineers, with a specific focus on engineers who have ADHD (like me). In part 1, I outline the importance of automating repetitive tasks. In part 2, I discuss ways to consolidate your toolset for maximum efficiency. In this part, we’ll discuss delegation. But before we begin, I … Read More

What Happens At The -18 “Sweet Spot”?

brandonshireConcepts, Mixing, Plugins, Production, WorkflowLeave a Comment

Common advice is to “gain stage” your tracks by calibrating them to -18. People often leave out whether they mean -18 dBFS or -18 dBVU, both of which would yield vastly different levels depending on the source material. But why choose a calibration point to begin with? Here’s Matthew Weiss from The Pro Audio Files describing the differences between VU … Read More

Task Consolidation

brandonshireConcepts, Mixing, Plugins, Production, WorkflowLeave a Comment

In this 3 part series, I discuss ADHD friendly workflow strategies for audio engineers. But why the focus on ADHD? It’s been said that those with ADHD can be excellent at spotting ways to improve efficiency. As someone who lives with ADHD, I’ve often looked for ways to reducing the mental energy necessary to complete a given task. This has … Read More

Task Automation

brandonshireConcepts, Mixing, Plugins, Production, WorkflowLeave a Comment

This post discusses workflow strategies that are very ADHD friendly, devised from my own research into managing my adult ADHD. If you don’t have ADHD, you should stick around and read anyway. It can be said that the non-linear thinking of the ADHD brain is well suited at enhancing workflow due to the structures and systems we tend to put … Read More

Exclusive Noise Floor Discount On Room Sound: Blasting Room!

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Room Sound have extended an exclusive 10% discount to readers of The Noise Floor A/V for their latest “Blasting Room” library! I’ve been a user of Room Sound for years now, and there are few libraries with their realism and attention to detail. Blasting Room is another extension of this, and I’ve been using it a lot since I got … Read More