Two Must-Try VST Plugins For Recording Musicians!

I thought I would post something short and hopefully helpful to any fellow musicians (and guitarists in particular) out there who stumble upon my blog. There are two great VST plugins that I use for adding some character to guitar tracks that I think are outstanding.

Even moreso when you consider that they are free.

FreeAmp by Fretted Synth Audio

This is a modeled guitar rig by Fretted Synth Audio, complete with an amp that allows you to model all sorts of sounds. It also comes with a huge…and I mean HUGE array of presets to give you all kinds of great starting points.

One of the things guitarists will love is the intuitive way it is all laid out. The many effects you can add on are presented as effects pedals you can activate. Great touches include the ability to model compression pre and post and simulated noise gating on the amp that works pretty decently.

If you’re looking at something like Native’s Guitar Rig but are like many musicians…strapped for cash…then this is what you’ve been looking for. This also presents an affordable alternative to those who aren’t able to shell out for a reamplifier!

Simply record a clean guitar track and then duplicate it. Next, apply the FreeAmp VST plugin to the clean track and turn it into a distorted crunchfest…or add some dreamy reverb and a touch of compression. I find this cool little plugin can inspire creativity and let’s me look for unique approaches to arrangements. I hope you’ll give it a try!

Here’s a screenshot of it running in Cubasis vst 3.0. Yes, I’m still using it and have been since 2002. The newer Cubase products have changed the DAW interface and made it uncomfortable to work in, and Cubasis is so much more pleasant than ProTools, Cakewalk apps, and many others I have tried (and I’ve tried dozens of them…).

Click on the thumbnail to see a full-size image…

[NOTE: version 3 is out now, but I haven't had a chance to check it out and I am using version 2.1.1]

British Valve Custom by Studio Devil

The British Valve Custom plugin by Studio Devil is fantastic. It will take a recorded track and make it sound like you used a tube amp with EL84’s to record it—or close enough when you’re talking about using digital modeling.

While it is doubtful any plugin will sound just like tubes many do a great job of coming close these days. Speaking as a guitarist that loves the presence of glowing tubes, I find the British Valve Custom plugin very likable. It’s good enough to use in professional mixes. Really, it’s that good!

I find that if I record a guitar track with just a mild crunch to it, copying that track and adding this plugin to the duplicate track can add a really cool presence and bit of edge to it that I like. Doing so allows you to pan two exact takes hard left and right and get a good stereo image with clarity. The differences this plugin creates really make this possible, whereas a lot of plugins simply won’t handle nuances well enough to create audible separation without making your duplicate track sound like it was recorded at another tempo.

Studio Devil has a full-blown version available as well as the British Valve Custom plugin. Try out the free BVC version and you might find yourself splurging for the full Studio Devil Virtual Guitar Amp.

Here’s a screenshot. Again, click on the thumbnail to see the full-size graphic.

Oh, and I found both of these while checking out the downloads at HitSquad.com, which is a must-visit site for any musician recording digitally!

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Update 1, 04-06-2008: For some vocal plugins, check out the post over on HomeTracked entitled Great FREE vocal plugin chain.

Video: Richard Hart - Laying Low (live)

OK, so this is the first time I’ve done the whole embedding a video in a blog post thing. Actually this is the first time I have been inspired to do so.

This performance by Richard Hart at Inside The Bungalow in Mesa, Arizona was just really moving for so many reasons. I like his guitar tone, his voice reminds me of Bob Dylan—only clearer and more pleasant to listen to—and his tasty slide work adds such a distinctive vibe to the song. Just check it out for yourself and see what you think.

There are other reasons I like the song. I find empathy easy enough with this one…

Tunecore: Better Distribution And Royalty Management For Musicians

There is a great new service available to musicians that offers a way to permeate the digital marketplace with their music. It is called TuneCore.

What makes TuneCore so fantastic is the centralization of the distribution of digital music, making it much easier for musicians to market their songs and albums. Best of all, you get centralized payment collection and distribution to go with that.

What that means is that you can upload an album in once location and have it sold on iTunes, Rhapsody, GroupieTunes, Napster, MusicNet, eMusic, Sony Connect, and Amazon MP3. Payments from each service are consolidated through TuneCore.

It is not a free service, charges a tiny fee for hosting your album. You chose which services you want to sell your music on ($0.99 per song, per service), so you can sell through just one or through several. Check out the TuneCore FAQ for complete details.

The only negatives I perceive with the service are: (1) they do not offer Ogg Vorbis formats for your music and (2) a vendor might sell your music for a higher price and keeps the additional money rather than passing it on to the artist(s).

However, for those musicians who can be satisfied with the standard fee paid for their downloads, it is a fantastic opportunity to get your music spread through the digital marketplace and reach more potential fans.

You can sell music videos through the service as well. That, combined with the distribution and payment centralization may make this service an indie music standard in the near future. Check it out and see what you think. I would love to hear from any musicians who have tried the service.

Now, if you’ll excuse me…I think I’ll go record some music.

Unhealthy Search Dependency: Part III - The Pervasive Presence

Welcome to the third and final installment on search dependency. In this installment, I address the idea of creating a pervasive presence in order to insulate and protect your business from the negative impact falling in search rankings might have on it.

Better yet, I share some ideas on how you can create a better business, based on some sound principles that I have picked up from others, as well as some suggestions of my own. I use the term pervasive presence to describe—rather broadly—not only branding, but all marketing efforts and the conduct of business…

Unhealthy Search Dependency: Part II - Meaning And Moving

Welcome to Part II of a three-part series on search marketing dependency. You can read Part I here: Unhealthy Search Marketing Dependency: Part I - Business Safety

In this second part, I discuss how and why you can and should protect your business from dependencies. I also share some thoughts on steps you can take to make sure your Web presence is not a source of stress, but rather, a pleasant operating environment—at least from a marketing standpoint.

Unhealthy Search Dependency: Part I - Business Safety

I happened upon an article this morning about maintaining page rank when moving your site to a new domain. It is good source of idea fodder, but something about it bugged me. Actually, two things did.

In response to the nagging at the back of my mind, I have written a three-part series addressing the issue of search marketing dependency and why I think it is unhealthy.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Shame?

I see that now hip-hop is being admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

So, is this the result of cultural forces at work in American society? Is it the result of marketing failures? Is it an attempt to erode diversity and create a politically correct and homogenous broadcast in order to gain more advertising dollars?

On the one hand, it is a marketing failure. But there may be more to it than that…

Dell Finally Getting The Linux Message

It has taken long enough, but PC maker Dell is coming around. They received more than 100,000 requests for Linux on their PCs in the past three weeks. Maybe they should have put a ’suggestion box’ on their website sooner?

Marketing Dangerously (And Some Music Marketing Links)

I was thinking about the proliferation of music player widgets and a thought crossed my mind. Then several others did in rapid succession as well. So, I had to write down some thoughts on music marketing.

BY READING THIS, YOU AGREE TO HOLD THE AUTHOR NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS, CONSEQUENTIAL AND INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, FINES, INCARCERATION, UNDUE ANXIETY, OR MENTAL DURESS RESULTING FROM OR ARISING DUE TO THE USE OF IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, MARKETING TACTICS, OR THOUGHTS FOUND HEREIN).

Now that that’s out of the way…

Here A Widget, There A Widget, Everywhere A Widget

Who would have thought widgets would become such a presence in daily life? The word widget itself suggests that these curious oddities are unmemorable things.

Alas, Web widgets are not so easily forgotten. They are everywhere you go on the Web these days. You simply cannot escape them. Many of them are useful or fun, however, and this is partly the why of their viral nature.

I spent most of the day dwelling on widgets. But please, don’t try this at home without proper supervision.

I’m a trained professional…

iJamr And Terapad, Some Blogware Discussion

I discovered two interesting startups, thanks to KillerStartups.com. One is in the music industry, the other offers a new blogging platform that is loaded with features.

I also discussed some issues concerning web developers and why some might be ignoring blogware. Since it was on another site and such a lengthy reply, I’m being lazy and linking to it rather than writing another full-blown post…

Development Of Rural And Remote Communities Led Me To Scotland

I was doing some research on rural economic development, and came across some interesting websites. Before long, I noticed that several were concerned with the Scottish Isles.

It wasn’t long after that I found myself drifting from my original intent. As I’ve said before, I have a wandering mind. Somehow, I managed to take an incredible virtual trip and still come up with the resources and links I was looking for on rural economic development.

There was a pleasant and unexpected twist, however.

I discovered a fascinating community around the world devoted to economic, business, energy and community development—centered around and dealing with islands. It’s fascinating in the extreme, and I knew where it was leading.

My interests in community economic development points me in a particular direction, though the route it takes feels more overland than down some well-travelled path or road. I could, though, see my next stop ahead for once.

I just had to go to Scotland to get there…

Yet Another YouTube Addict

Hi.

My name is Sean, and I’m a YouTube addict…

Well, maybe not quite, but I’m dangerously close. I had spent time browsing the site and watching videos, but had avoided signing up for anything for a long time. Until last night…

Napster And AOL Honeymoon Begins, Music Industry Still Looking For The Next Big Thing

I read on BusinessWeek.com that AOL is making Napster the exclusive music subscription provider for its services. This gives a huge boost to Napster (and they need it). I’m not so sure this will be anything other than a dead end in the long run, however.

AOL has had its troubles for years. I don’t see those going away. Same with Napster. I give both credit for hanging in the fight, but both are companies that just don’t seem to “get it” about anything, as far as I can tell. They’re out of touch with people. Or perhaps, it’s just that they don’t understand them.