The True Iron plugin promises to emulate cool, vintage transformers. But do they really?!? Check the True Iron here: kazrog.com/products/true-iron/ Support me by becoming a Patron: / whiteseastudio Check the studio: whiteseastudio.com
You should should make year end videos that compiles all the plugins that were snake oil and all the ones there weren't for each year. Starting with your first year you started your youtube.
Awesome, love your review! Have six more mixes to do this week and it's going to be all over them. Stuck this on the mix bus, then the vocal channel and was very impressed with the warmth. Very glad I found your RU-vid channel 🙂
I've owned this software since the first day it was available..actually, think before that. This version is the 3rd iteration (2 updates)...subtle but sonically even better than the original. Awesome you displayed some visual documentation, but as you said, the proof is in the hearing. BTW, use this as your 1st plug in , as it's designed to energize everything that comes after. Thus, subtle setting often work best. Your presentations are unfailingly informative..and entertaining. Good stuff, sir.
In my opinion this plugin sounds "best" when it's used on "everything" - take every analogue-modeled EQ and compressor and place it just before to fake a proper input transformer and it really makes a digital mix shine in a way that is very pleasing. If you have Mixbus 32 (obviously for the gorgeous summing and excellent EQs and compressors) and you place an instance before each EQ and each Compressor on all channels/Busses you'll end up with something you didn't know you could get digitally...the mix will come out about 1.5-2.2db louder so keep that in mind and compensate for it when you judge the two (and judge from a "digitally pristine"/uncolored DAW like Logic). This is one of the very few plugins I have used where I was just as impressed after matching levels as I was before. With all that said I must also confess that I didn't like the sound when just placed on every channel - it "hollows out" the sound when used like that and when used solo on the master buss I found it mostly forgettable.
BrettMerrill MusicProducer I like your way of thinking. Doing some serious comparisons between Logic and Mixbus and trying to get more analog with Mixbus, so willing to give that a try.
Nooo you gave away one of my “secret” weapons! Kidding haha, Kazrog deserves all the recognition they can have. Kclip is also amazing and thermionik too. But, if I had to ask to review another plugin, I’d say MJUC from Klanghelm for sure. Gem compressor, super cheap as well.
I use it a lot to distort 808 basses. The sound is great with this Plugin. There is so much snake oil out there it's refreshing to have something like this
Yeah it's amazing what transformers can do for sound. I haven't tried this plug-in but have been working with real ones for a radio station's signal path. Of course mainly to solve technical issues that transformers will solve, like hum loops. But then they end up colouring the sound. And usually in a real cool way.
Really appreciate the honesty in your reviews. Makes when you recommend a plugin more genuine. I have been a fan of Kazrog's stuff since his Recabinet impulses years ago. They are still my go-to ones. All of his plugins are top notch.
I wondered why I hadnt seen a virtual transformer plugin til now. Can't believe I hadnt heard of this! This plugin is awesome! Finally, I'm able to get that warm low-mid distortion/saturation on my subs without having to re-sample through breadboards populated with random transistors til I find one that sounds good. My way works... but this way is a hell of a lot easier! lol
the real question is.... does this sound different than normal saturation plugins? how would it compare to saturn's tube saturation, to native instruments dirt or decapitator (considering it's being used on a high samplerate ofc)?
Cool man. I look forward to trying this with my Fishman pickups, which are spectacular but sometimes need some added body because they handle infinite amounts of gain too cleanly. Also, buy Fishman pickups. And buy this. Edit: Thanks for the review...
I bought this in their sale with the EQ 252 as, if you’re impressed with the sound it must be great 😂! After demoing it, I was impressed too! Happy New Year to you! Hope it’s a happy and prosperous one!
Have you tried the Omega transformers from Kush Audio? I absolutely love how they sound, though there are three separate plugins vs. this with multiple choices all in one.
I like distortion on bass guitar and room mics but anything else I like it to stay pretty clean. Using this to knock off some transients is a form of compression though it can be subtle.
This plugin sounds great. It’s also kind of proof of point how difficult it is to model old analog gear digitally and get a faithful reproduction. EVERY stage of those devices is effecting the final sound. From the transformers to the AD/DA converters etc etc. Synergistic mechanical minutia is adding up to the final sound. I have a Rupert Neve direct box, it’s not supposed to color the sound... but SOMETHING is happening with the harmonics that aren’t happening with a Radial DI (which are great, just different) haha. All this stuff is important and they’ve knocked this one out of the park IMO
The Eleven Rack from DigiDesign (now Avid) is an older unit now, but still my favorite and the only one that I've ever seen with a proprietary input impedance that is NOT ONLY modeled for each module in the signal chain, BUT ALSO actually changes the input impedance for the guitar input jack as you change the signal chain!
Selectable Input impedance... For example, with the Focusrite ISA-424, you can change the input impedance. It can make a huge difference in sound if you use vintage mics, specifically ribbons. Nowadays the input impedance of mic preamps is standardized to + - 600 Ohm, depending on the design.
Ups I did it again. I finally bought a new plugin. Thank you very much for revealing this little budget treasure. This tool is amazing and without your video I probably would never have stumbled over it. I'm not a master engineer, so would you recommend it on the master channel or more on single track channels?
A cool follow up of this input impedance discussion would be a UAD Apollo test video. I am planning to make my own test, but if you have some of the unison enabled gear, here is the idea : We play back some vocal recordings , drums, strings or a full sandstorm from a device you trust, then record that through the unison enabled inputs and try some of the input impedance dependent plugins UAD provides (Avalo, Neve, SSL etc...) I think no one did such a test yet and some people are still not sure if it's snake oil or the perfect way to emulate vintage equipment.
Good point. I am demoing the plug and am having a tough time hearing any difference when the level is matched properly. It is veeeery subtle to my ears. 1db or 2 level difference can really be deceiving. I thought it sounded great in the video above but after level matching myself not sure I am sold. Need to do more testing.
@@jfranciskay You can use it as a nice saturation tool for instruments like Bass or Drums and if you crank the crush its not subtle anymore but for my taste not really usefull on the mixbus. For the price its actually a very good saturation tool. If you looking for something thats also nice in the mixbus for some analog flavor then I would recommend you Satin from U-he if you do not already know it. Its a really good tape emulation.
Volume matching is too advanced skill for this guy. He "forgets" it in EVERY VIDEO, its pretty pathetic at this point. But even "professionals" dont know how to volume match. Its not enough to watch for peaks (or worse yet, compensate by the exact amount you see on a gain reduction meter...), if you measure the input LUFS and output LUFS (as true uniform loudness to the human ear) you'll realize that you need to compensate with much less than you'd think. I set up an SSL the other day for that standard 3db gain reduction and only had to use the makeup for 1db addition to match the real loudness. Now THAT is how you can compare input/output by ear and dont get fooled by extra volume changes
@White Sea Studio Hi there, I really enjoy your videos. Particularly these "Snake Oil" ones. I have a request, though... Is there any chance you could attenuate your mic by a couple of dB so I can turn up my monitors to hear the music + Dry/Wet effects without needing to turn it down every time you speak in to the mic? Probs sound like a doc but im sure you catch my drift!!!! Many thanks by the way!!!!
I have a question, if I have the VCC Channel / VCC Mixbus and a virtual transformer. Do I need the virtual transformer when I insert the VCC? Or the VCC does the work of the transformer simulation.
I really like, that you reviewed a plugin from one of the smaller companies. I'l love to see more of that. TDR, Klanghelm, Kuassa, Audiothing to name a few in no particular order and I know there are many more. For me, totally subjective, Outer space by AudioThing was a great surprise. A kind of Space Echo.
I recall he did do AOM Invisible Limiter, which is well liked, but not a big time name. To be real, Acustica Audio is not a big time name for most creators.
@@alexbreyer6921 absolutely. Since Acustica managed to get Greg Wells for their El Rey on board, I cannot say, if they are still that small, but I really don't know. Klanghelm is one guy and personally I think, that the SDDR and MJUC are fantastic and very affordable. I'm not rooting for him, there are many great small companies. The main reason for me to say so was, that you easily find reviews for any Waves, Plugin-Alliance, IK, etc release. I like some, if not most of their stuff as well and for the sake of his channel he certainly can't ignore them, but again, smaller companies without a huge advertising budget, but some gems under the hood, should be covered as well.
Input impedance adjustment is what makes the UAD hardware/software combo so amazing. I don't know how they can actually do that without hardware, though. The plugin can't actually change the impedance the way the UAD interfaces do. Right of the top, I'm thinking "buzz word"=snake oil. [Edit-Wow! Was I ever wrong about that one! It sounds great. Have you reached out to Tony who makes the Klanghelm plugins yet? They are really impressive. They'll blow you away like this one, but they also do compression and the saturation plugin has a lot more control. I think I definitely prefer the Klanghelm plugins to this one.]
Hi! White Sea Studio. I was pretty excited seeing your video. So I tried the plugin, and wow actually it brings something to my sound! BUT, by compensating the volume (about -2db) I hear nothing that I can not correct with an eq (ok, there should be some harmonics, but it's very light). I obviously do not talk about saturation, and other plugins do it very well too, but everything else, at equal volume, I don't hear any difference. So, I know, it's hard to go back on his own opinion, but this story really disturbs me, what is your opinion considering an equal volume with/without the True Iron?? Thanks.
100% agree. Love your vids White Sea! BUT- after watching this this morning, I got super excited to buy this plug. Bought it, and when I got to the studio I did a careful A/B making sure there wasn't just a "volume bump"...and sure enough...there is a 1.5-2 db gain with the plug instantiated. When i turn down to match gain for true a/b...there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in the signal whatsoever. Bummer. In fairness, I'm not sure this is a "linear" thing...in other words...maybe if you crank up the strength, or any of the other parameters and then match volume, maybe then it does something, but overall, smells like Snake Oil that you missed White Sea! :)
@@lukeadams7878 It has a knob at the bottom to compensate for an loudness gain. In fact, every preset has a slightly different negative value at the bottom.
Hi, have you not fallen a prey to good old loudness trap? I found that with STRENGTH set to max you need to set OUT to -2.0 to maintain the same loudness level, and then the working of the plugin has very subtle effect on the sound. Its still useful, and nice for some sounds but it my opinion definately not a "WHOAAA" nice ;D
I also tried out that plugin and found out what makes it really "impressive": the unity mode is not perfect, if you have it on, it still boosts about 1-2db :(
UTC LS 10 X transformers on a DI bass or synth is my dream. It's the bass sound of Bruce Sweden and the sound of 70s Sigma Sound Studio basslines as well. I need to check that so bad!!! thanks
I bought this plugin based on your video and I must say I really like it. How would suggest using it? I saw one video where a guy placed it as the first plugin in all his tracks he used it on.
Just got TRUE IRON but having problems downloading to my MacBook Pro 10.15.6 running Logic Pro. All my other plugins download fine. Called Kazrog and they said Apple did "something" that impeded this type of download and they were trying to explain some kind of work around which did not seem to work. Perhaps a brief video showing how to get this done.
Kazrog LLC makes some quality plugins, you should check out KClip as well, that one is fairly nice. I'm pretty sure if you contact them they'll send you a license for the entire product bundle for you to check out, Shane is a nice dude haha.
