VHS Audio Degradation Suite
VHS Tape Noise and Flutter Simulator
DESCRIPTION
IMPORTANT NOTE: This requires you to own Reaktor 6 (full version), and will not work with Reaktor Player.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Open the .ens file with Reaktor 6 standalone, or the Reaktor 6 FX VST
2. ???
3. Profit.
Update 1.12: Knobs resolutions are now consistent. Smoother knobs!
Summary
An audio multi-effect combining saturation, pitch modulation and noise, to emulate the imperfections of VHS tape.
DSP Overview
Input > Chorus > Mic Emulation > Preamp > Slew Limiter > Compressor > 2-Band Saturator > LPF > Wow/Flutter > Noise > Wow/Flutter > Output
Chorus
Controls: On/Off, Chorus, Speed, Delay, Width
Adds some additional pitch variation the input signal. Can also function as stereo widener.
Mic Emulation
Controls: On/Off, Mic Select Menu, Gain
Simulates the signal being re-recorded on a microphone. From “The Mic”. Adds about 15% CPU usage.
Preamp
Controls: Tone, Drive
Tone and Drive controls from the “Tape Mate” ensemble. This emulates the input circuit of a VCR (somewhat)
Slew Limiter
Controls: Wear
An idea from Tape Mate. Knob is labeled as “Wear” to simulate the age or generation of the tape
Compressor
Controls: Comp
Provided to beef up input signal more and limit dynamic range
2-Band Saturator
Controls: On/Off, Lows, LoSat, Split, Highs, HiSat
When a generation is added to a tape, the highs get lowered and saturated (around 15khz down to 7khz). A crossover control (Split) lets you split the signal into low and high band, and saturate each separately.
LPF
Controls: HiCut
To control the high cut of the signal. 4-Pole Lowpass filter.
Wow/Flutter
Controls: Warp, RPM, Shape, Flutter, Hz
Emulate the tracking and speed imperfections. From “Simpler Vintape”
Noise
Controls: Hum1, Hum2, Hum3, Hiss, Crackle, Noise
Actual samples recorded from VHS tapes, and a regular white noise generator. Able to be inserted post or pre effects.
Wow/Flutter
Controls: Flutter2, fRate, Wow, wRate, LoCut, HiCut
A slightly different wow/flutter (from Tape Mate)- if a tape were re-recorded it would have additional pitch variation like this. Additional low and high cut controls.
Output
Controls: Mono On/Off
Option to sum to mono
Notes:
-No master Dry/Wet control, as that would induce phase nightmares
-Use chorus sparingly.. on transient heavy material it will cause flamming and phasing
-Be careful with noise levels when inserted pre fx and compressor is used. When no signal present, the noise will be very loud
-CPU Usage: approx. 5% no Mic Emulation
-CPU Usage: approx. 20% with Mic Emulation
-Created with Reaktor 6.0.4
Acknowledgments:
-Jonathan Tremblay for “The Mic”; used for the Mic Emulation Section and Audio Demo 3
-Stephen Reid for “Tape Mate”; used for Drive, Flutter2 and Wow
-Stefan Knauthe for “Simpler Vintape”; used for Warp and Flutter
Changelog
January 20th, 2019
Version 1.12
-Changed all knob resolutions to 256
April 10th, 2017
Version 1.1
-GUI tweaks
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