Biquad2
TL;DW: Biquad2 is the Airwindows biquad filter that’s more sweepable and synthy.
This time, it’s time for the impossible!
As in, there was a reason nobody was doing sweepable, ‘synthy’ biquad filters…
Turns out it simply doesn’t work. One uses a different type, like state variable filters, for the synthy stuff. The reason is that, while biquads can sound pretty great (especially implemented like I do ’em), they fundamentally can’t cope with changing the filter coefficients mid-calculation. They flip out: you’ll hear some of that, especially at the frequency extremes. Low Q makes low frequency motions flip out, and high Q (and boy do I have a high Q for you this time) makes ultra-high frequency motions flip out in a really wild. glitchy way.
So obviously I gave up.
:D
nope! Instead, I just kind of forced the filter into zones where it mostly is controllable. This is partly through REALLY smoothing the filter cutoff, especially at low Q and low frequencies. If you try and update biquad coefficients every sample (and I already changed the form from the more CPU-efficient to the more stable form: didn’t help much at all) the algorithm gets super twitchy, so part of what I’ve done is just stabilizing things. I tried for ages to come up with some bizarre hack to force the filter back into stability: no dice. So, the range has been limited a little, the Q doesn’t adjust below a Q of 1, and it reacts really slowly, because that was the only way I could get it to behave at all. (the original Biquad can sometimes be better behaved, because it’s only recalculating coefficients every new buffer. So, zipper noise. When you get rid of that your troubles get infinitely worse, with biquads)
I’ve also got the resonance (on low and highpass) working differently. I’m scaling back loudness, but I’m also applying a distortion, then averaging after that, to try and get an ‘overdriving filter effect’ not present in the purer original Biquad. You can go quieter into Biquad2 and avoid this, or not use as much resonance: I feel it’s kind of like the Roland Alpha Juno filter resonance distortion, not an everyday thing but when it pops up it has its own distinct quality that’s interesting.
Anyway here’s Biquad2 ;)
Patreon is how I’m able to stick around doing this stuff, and/or fixing up stuff that needed fixing. It’s become clear from the response to Monitoring (yes, I’ve got an update coming) that among the things that need fixing are ‘you make too many plugins!’ Since I can’t go and throw most of ’em away, I’ll need to do two further things: one, do more ‘combination’ plugins such as one that includes the MANY Airwindows distortion and saturation types. Two, come up with ‘sets’ of starter plugins meant to work together, which may include custom versions of plugins like Console, and three, get some more building blocks like basic EQs out there. Whoops, that’s more than two :) anyway, even if I can’t design a DAW directly, I ought to be able to tailor versions of Console and tone shapers and channel strip parts together and produce cohesive sets of plugins that are waaaay more approachable to the Airwindows neophyte. Since MV, I’d also like to do reverbs and really get a whole tapestry of mixing together.
We shall see. Enjoy the sweep-ier biquads :)
Hi Chris. For some reason the ‘Softgate’ video keeps playing instead of ‘BiQuad’ and Channel7′
Hi. Belay that comment, sorry:)
Awesomeness,
Masterly Brillant,
Bountly Gentlehood.
Happy autumn !
you make too many plugins!
– Agreed – but that’s a high quality problem to have. Nobody is mad at you for it but I think a lot of us would love to see what you can do with this next phase you outlined.
do more ‘combination’ plugins such as one that includes the MANY Airwindows distortion and saturation types
– Yes – your biggest strength IMO is your saturation repertoire you developed. Pop these together with multiple gain stages where you can select algorithms for each stage, input and output gain (please Chris I’m begging you for IO gain staging without having to use other utility plugins) maybe a lowpass filter for high smoothing (or whatever airwindows-y tool you made that I don’t understand) and a lowpass with a mid bump and you would have a really amazing plugin.
Two, come up with ‘sets’ of starter plugins meant to work together, which may include custom versions of plugins like Console
– Maybe? Depends on how you approach this. Do I want to see Console 8 next week? Nope. I would want to see that you made a diagram that shows how to set up all the cool console sim, summing and tapedesk/tape/loudness stuff you made to make a full setup for someone that produces music wants a great sound and loves airwindows plugins but isnt a super genius and doesnt have 12 hours a week to dedicate to reading all the forum posts.
three, get some more building blocks like basic EQs out there.
I recall using your EQs – I would hold off on that until later, whatever your have now is fine – I think most DAWs come with decent starter EQs but your real magic is within the console simulation/gain staging/saturation/summing voodoo as far as I understand.
even if I can’t design a DAW directly, I ought to be able to tailor versions of Console and tone shapers and channel strip parts together and produce cohesive sets of plugins that are waaaay more approachable to the Airwindows neophyte.
– Yes please don’t make a DAW – they require decent GUIs and that just ain’t you! :)
– Your plugins could be the ones that get used by default – the “goes without saying plugins”
this is going to be a rant sorry in advance. I just want to help.
“of course I use consolebuss and tapebump on my 2-buss – are you crazy? haven’t you heard the amazing tone you get?”
“yeah I heard you could set up your DAW with a few basic airwindows plugins to simulate a living breathing console and tape recording studio. they say that programmer uses AI or some deep machine learning thing to get that amazing sound.”
“nah not true…he’s just great at what he does. he approaches things differently”
“well yeah your mixes sound amazing after you started using them but I couldn’t find the instructions on the website so I gave up”
“oh dude he just made a great youtube video and put it on the front page of his website that explains the basic console summing setup that the pros are starting to use to make their DAW sound more polished. you literally have to do less mixing because the setup makes your mix sweeter from the start. check it out. it’s only 10 minutes long and has all the information you need. oh and Chris made some diagrams for us dumb people too that show the flow of sound through the DAW so it’s idiot proof.
Since MV, I’d also like to do reverbs and really get a whole tapestry of mixing together.
– I would wait on the reverb stuff. The console/gear workflow/summing buss/ tapeheadbump needs your magic touch.
I just confused the hell out of myself. Hopefully you got something from that.
Great work Chris!! Thanks.
Wanna dial it in asap.