Harmonic analysis of different plugins

This is a followup and analysis of plugins from the Harmonics page

Compressors

Frequency analysis is really interesting when looking at analog emulation plugins

Waves TG12345 Frequency Analysis

The TG12345 with the default settings, no compression, no noise, no drive, a little EQ

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Note the added harmonics

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Add 50% drive and see what happens

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Results in the frequency analyzer with 50% drive

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Add 100% noise

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Results in the frequency analyzer with 100% noise

TG12345 frequency analyzer

Waves HComp

Analog set to off.

HComp-AnaOff.jpg

Frequency response when analog is off

BC-HComp-AnaOff.jpg

Analog set to 100%

HComp-AnaOn.jpg

Frequency response HComp with Analog set to max

BC-HComp-AnaOn.jpg

Klanghelm MJUC

Mk 1

Klanghelm-Mk1-p.png

Frequency analysis, Mk 1 with some drive

Klanghelm Mk 1 frequency analysis

Mk 2

Klanghelm-Mk2-p.png

Frequency analysis Mk 2, no drive but ISTAGE engaged

Klanghelm Mk 2 frequency analysis

Mk 3

Klanghelm-Mk3-p.png

Frequency analysis Mk 3, no drive

Klanghelm Mk 2 frequency analysis

Vladislav Goncharov Molot

Molot with Alpha engaged

Molot-Alpha-p.png

Frequency analysis Molot with Alpha

Molot Alpha frequency analysis

Molot with Sigma engaged

Molot-Sigma-p.png

Frequency analysis Molot with Sigma

Molot Sigma frequency analysis

Tokyo Dawn Labs TDR Kotelnikov

TDR-Kotelnikov-p.png

Frequency analysis TDR Kotelnikov

TDR-Kotelnikov frequency analysis

Logic Pro X Compressor

It's easy to overlook what you already have in your stock plugin folder. I didn't realize the big difference in how the harmonic content was changed before doing this simple analysis

Compressor-Platinum-p.png

Frequency analysis of the Platinum Digital. Not much harmonic content added with this one

Platinum Compressor frequency analysis

Studio VCA (Red console?)

Compressor-Studio-VCA-p.png

Frequency analysis Studio VCA

Studio VCA Compressor frequency analysis

Studio FET

Compressor-Studio-FET-p.png

Frequency analysis Studio FET

Studio FET Compressor frequency analysis

Classic VCA

Compressor-Classic-VCA-p.png

Frequency analysis Classic VCA

Classic VCA Compressor frequency analysis

Vintage VCA

Compressor-Vintage-VCA-p.png

Frequency analysis Vintage VCA. Look at the added harmonic content both above and below the fundamental frequency

Vintage VCA Compressor frequency analysis

Vintage FET

Compressor-Vintage-FET-p.png

Frequency analysis Vintage FET. Look at the added harmonic content

Vintage FET Compressor frequency analysis

Vintage Opto

Compressor-Vintage-Opto-p.png

Frequency analysis Vintage Opto. Note the added harmonic content. If you are looking for vintage sound, have a closer look at the stock Logic Pro X Compressor

Vintage Opto Compressor frequency analysis

Waves dbx-160

dbx-160-p.png

Frequency analysis of the dbx-160

dbx-160 frequency analysis

Waves API-2500

API-2500-plugin

Frequency analysis of the API-2500

API-2500 frequency analysis

Waves PuigChild (Fairchild)

Without noise, 3 dB reduction

PuigChild-01-p.png

PuigChild 670 Frequency analysis

PuigChild frequency analysis

With noise 50 Hz noise

PuigChild-02-p.png

Frequency analysis with 50 Hz noise

PuigChild frequency analysis

Focusrite Red 3 Compressor

Red3-Compressor-p.png

Frequency analysis with 50 Hz noise

Red 3 frequency analysis

Waves Kramer PIE

Analog set to off (no noise), 3 dB reduction

KramerPIE-01-p.png

Frequency analysis, no noise

Kramer PIE frequency analysis

PIE with 50 Hz noise

KramerPIE-02-p.png

Frequency analysis, with 50 Hz noise

Kramer PIE frequency analysis

Preamps, EQ and other interesting plugins

Waves Kramer HLS

Analog set to off and noise to LO

Kramer-HLS-01-p.png

Frequency analysis, no noise

Kramer HLS frequency analysis

Analog to 50 Hz and noise to LO

Kramer-HLS-02-p.png

Frequency analysis, with analog noise

Kramer HLS frequency analysis

Waves PuigTec MEQ5

With these examples it's easy to see why certain plugins just "sound good" without changing any parameters, the secret is added harmonic content.

Plugin added with MAINS to OFF (no noise) and no gain or boost

PuigTec-MEQ5-01-p.png

Frequency analysis, without analog noise

PuigTec MEQ5 frequency analysis

Plugin added with MAINS to 50 Hz (with noise and 50 Hz hum), no boost or cut

PuigTec-MEQ5-02-p.png

Frequency analysis, without analog noise. Note the peak at 50 Hz

PuigTec MEQ5 frequency analysis

Waves PuigTec EQP1A

Plugin added with MAINS to OFF (no noise) and no boost or cut

PuigTec-EQP1A-01-p.png

Frequency analysis, without analog noise

PuigTec MEQ5 frequency analysis

Plugin added with MAINS to 60 Hz (with noise and 60 Hz hum), no boost or cut

PuigTec-EQP1A-02-p.png

Frequency analysis, without analog noise. Note the peak at 60 Hz

PuigTec EQP1A frequency analysis

Waves RBass

Note that this plugin adds harmonics above the fundamental frequency

RBass-p.png

RBass frequency analysis

RBass frequency analysis

Waves LoAir

Note that this plugin adds harmonics below the fundamental frequency

LoAir-p.png

LoAir frequency analysis

LoAir frequency analysis

Waves Scheps 73

Preamp set 30

FA-Scheps-p.png

Scheps 73 frequency analysis. Most of the harmonic content comes from the added gain in the preamp section.

Scheps frequency analysis

Waves NLS Channel

MIKE console with drive but no noise

FA-NLS-Channel-MIKE-01-p.png

NLS Channel frequency analysis, no noise

NLS-Channel frequency analysis

MIKE console with drive with noise added via the VCA tab

FA-NLS-Channel-MIKE-02-p.png

NLS Channel frequency analysis with noise

NLS-Channel frequency analysis

Waves H-EQ

Analog UK-Vintage output

H-EQ-UK-Vintage-p.png

H-EQ frequency analysis with analog output

H-EQ UK Vintage frequency analysis

Vitamin

Vitamin-p.png

Vitamin frequency analysis. Note how much is added, both above and below the 220 Hz sine wave

Vitamin frequency analysis

Softube Saturator

FA-Softube-Saturation-Knob-p.png

Frequency analysis of Softube Saturation Knob (adding both even an odd harmonics)

FA-Softube-Saturation-Knob-a.png

Shattered Glass Audio SGA1566 Saturator

FA-SGA1566-p.png

Frequency analysis

SGA1566 frequency analysis

Nick Crow Lab TubeDriver

TubeDriver-p.png

Frequency analysis

TubeDriver frequency analysis

Native Instalments Reaktor Saturation

It's quite easy to create your own harmonic distortion plugin with Reaktor

FA-Reaktor-Saturation-p.png

A realy simple structure

Reaktor-Saturation-struct.png

Frequency analysis, adding odd harmonics at 300 Hz, 500 Hz, 700 Hz, etc

Reaktor-Saturation-a.png

This is another Reaktor Ensemble that tries to emulate tape saturation

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/reaktor-community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/6617/

Reaktor-Tape-Machine-p.png

Frequency analysis of the Studer B67 preset

Reaktor-Tape-Machine-a.png

|•| – 2016-04-28

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