Michael Kingston Productions Unveils RetroBand Distortion Plug-In
Michael Kingston Productions has released RetroBand and RetroBandLite, two new distortion VST effect plug-ins for Windows. RetroBand models several aspects of the interaction between gain stages and transformers of analogue gear, referred to as intra-modulation (IM), ie. Class A/B gain stage switching distortion. It also features several forms of transient shaping in-between the stages.
There are three different models in RetroBand using the IM process, allowing a wide range of sound shaping. No particular piece of equipment is simulated in any of them, but the combined flexibility can generate some of the desirable aspects of great sounding analogue gear. It could be said IM is one of the minor missing links to analogue sound in a digital audio workstation.
RetroBand is a distortion unit at heart, but this type and concept hasn’t been previously available as a digital model. Excuse the use of worn-out terminology, but it goes from warming, sharpening, roughing up, softening and smoothing – or all these combined. It may desirably enrich sterile sound sources. Failing equipment can be easily simulated and this allows plenty of creativity. With some luck, it makes things sound “larger than life”. The transient enhanced IM with mid-side stereo control can change or revive a stereo image, too.
Features:
• Digital model of interaction between gain stages and transformers of analogue gear (IM)
• Three flexible IM models with noise modulation
• Several forms of transient shaping within the IM models
• Mid-side stereo image control on all signal paths
• Efficient SSE optimised processing
Requirements:
• A host with VST plug-in support
• Windows 2000 or Windows XP
• A processor with SSE instructions
RetroBand costs €49 but is currently available for the introductory price of €35. RetroBand Lite is Free. More information on Retroband
