Journal

Read deeper into the sound.

Notes, history and workflow ideas around analog channel strip plugins, console saturation and pre-drive tone shaping.

History6 min read

The Other Console Sound: Why 90s Transformerless Desks Still Matter

Most vintage console plugins chase one mythology. There is another one — the workhorse desks that shaped a decade of records.

Mixing7 min read

What virtual analog saturation actually does to a signal, and how to use it without falling for marketing language.

Circuit5 min read

A look at differential input-stage behavior and how it colors the front end of a console channel.

EQ5 min read

8.83 kHz instead of 8 kHz. 515 Hz instead of 500 Hz. Component reality, not marketing, picked those numbers.

Workflow6 min read

Practical gain staging through a virtual analog channel strip, from input trim to drive to output.

Feature8 min read

Shaping the spectrum before the drive circuit changes what gets saturated. Here is how to use it on real sources.