Audio Restore Plugins, Acon Digital Acoustica Post Production Suite Sale(30%, ~1/2)

Hi! This is Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

Today, I’d like to introduce Acon Digital’s Acoustica Post Production Suite, which could be a replacement for iZotope RX bundles.

This plugins was provided by plugin boutique for review. If you buy through the link in the blog, I’ll get a little commission that which really helps me make a living (it’s really hard these days…).

Purchase Acon Digital Acoustica Post Production Suite at Plugin Boutique

Acon Digital makes plugins for audio restore, mastering, mixings.

The Acoustica Post Production Suite I’m introducing this time includes all of Acon Digital’s products except for Verberate Immersive and AudioLava, including Acoustica 7 Premium Edition, Mix & Mastering Suite, and Restoration Suite. The plug-ins included in this product are listed in the table below.

CategoryPluginFunction Description
DynamicsDeEss DialogueReduces sibilance
Basic DynamicsControls basic dynamic range
LimitLimits signal peaks and prevents clipping
Multiband DynamicsAdjusts dynamic range across multiple frequency bands
EQEqualize 2EQ with features like mid/side processing and linear phase
MasteringDitherApplies audio dithering
RestorationDeBirdRemoves specific interference noises like bird sounds
DeBuzz DialogueEliminates buzz and hum noise in dialogue
DeClick 2Removes clicks and pops
DeClick DialogueRemoves clicks and pops from dialogue
DeClip 2Restores clipped audio distortion
DeHum 2Removes hum noise
DeNoise 2Reduces stationary noises, including environmental noise
DePlosive DialogueRemoves plosives from dialogue
DeRustle DialogueEliminates clothing rustle and other extraneous noises
DeWind DialogueReduces wind noise
Extract DialogueExtracts dialogue signals and reduces background noise
Phono FilterApplies LP record filtering and correction
VitalizeEnhances high-frequency audio
DeVerberate 3Removes reverberation
DeFilterResolves resonance peaks and dips
ReverbConvolveProvides convolution-based reverb
Verberate 2Stereo reverb
ToolsRemixSeparates mixes and enables audio remixing

Acoustica also provides a dedicated program called Acoustica.

Let’s take a closer look at Acoustica 7 Premium Edition!

click image to purchase Acoustica 7 Premium Edition

Even if you only purchase Acoustica 7 Premium Edition, I believe it will be sufficient for your restoration tasks.

This edition includes everything except DeVerberate 3 for reverb removal and DeFilter for addressing resonance or comb filter issues.

The program’s interface is straightforward.

It features a large waveform display, a file browser on the left, a Processing Chain for applying effects, and various analyzers.

The loudness meter, which measures LUFS, allows you to set measurement parameters according to different standards.

The Processing Chain section lets you directly apply Acon Digital’s plugins.

Of course, the plugins included here can also be used in your DAW.

Similar to iZotope’s RX, you can view frequency-based volume changes over time.

This enables restoration work and even allows separate playback for the left and right channels, letting you apply different restoration processes to each.

Thanks to the advanced algorithms for separating vocals, piano, bass, drums, and other instruments, Acoustica also provides a tool called Remix for instrument separation.

iZotope RX offers more tools for noise removal, but the quality of Acoustica’s plugins is excellent.

At the current sale price of $153.89, Acoustica 7 Premium Edition is much cheaper than RX Standard’s discounted price.

click image to purchase DeFilter

You should give DeFilter a try and judge for yourself. I was blown away the first time I heard it.

While you might not use it often, it’s a great tool to have for solving significant problems when they arise.

It seems particularly beneficial for voiceover recordings.

click image to purchase DeVerberate 3

DeVerberate also delivers solid performance.

Personally, I hope more people learn about and use products from companies like Acon Digital, which create such well-crafted plugins.

Purchase Acon Digital Acoustica Post Production Suite at Plugin Boutique

Although it’s not the cheapest, it’s significantly more affordable than competitors like RX.

If you’re considering restoration tools, I recommend taking a look at this one.

That’s all for today. See you in the next post!

After Modifying My Stam Audio SA-2A

Hello! I’m Jooyoung Kim, mixing engineer & music producer.

Today, I’ll talk about what I did after the article, Record Before Modifying the Stam Audio SA-2A, and how sound changed.

First, let’s review the problems I encountered.

  1. Output gain is similar to input gain, when the GAIN knob is too low.
  2. Compression is started when PEAK REDUCTION knob is too high.
  3. It sounds so dull, like high frequency response is cut off

Otherwise, The Compress and Limit switch was positioned incorrectly. It was simply solved by wrench.

1) Potentiometer Changed..1

If you take off the cover of SA-2A’s knob, you could see a100k potentiometer at each parts. So, I thought that if I change a100k to a50k for gain knob, amount of change is more lower. Also, change a100k to a250k for peak reduction knob, compression would be change more earlier.

So I changed them first.

The green line is SA-2A hardware, the pink line is Waves’ CLA-2A.

It doesn’t seem bad at all! Otherwise, output gain is similar to input gain, when the GAIN knob is too low yet, I ordered A25K and A10K potentiometer too.

2) Vacuum Tubes Changed

I changed my 12AX7 tubes from jj electronics to mullard.

Frequency response and compression curve was not that different compared to jj electronics’. But it sounds much better than before. Harmonic distortion seems to have changed many aspects of the sound.

3) Changed Potentiometer Once Again..2

Upper image is a25k, The lower image shows the a10k potentiometer. You could see frequency response improved when the lower value of potentiometer is used! The problem isn’t solved but it sounds really good.

Red curve is UAD LA-2A Silver face, pink curve is WAVES CLA-2A, green curve is SA-2A.

Compared to UAD, it’s nice that it doesn’t add such an overwhelming saturation. And compared to Waves, I like that it doesn’t have that overly compressed feel.

I think it’s worth trying out more simple tools like this in the future. Next time, maybe an EQ or a Comp DIY kit…!

See you in next post! 🙂

Melda Production Analog Empire: Pads & Strings sales(~1/4, $9)

Hello! This is Jooyoung Kim, mixing engineer and music producer.

Today, I’ll introduce Analog Empire: Pads & Strings, virtual instruments by Melda Production.

I received this product as an NFR(Not for Resale) code from plugin boutique. If you purchase this virtual instrument through the link in this blog, I’ll earn a small commission, which helps support my work.

Let’s dive in!

Purchase Analog Emire: Pads & Strings at Plugin Boutique

First of all, some of you may be unfamiliar with the company Melda Production.

Melda Production creates a wide range of software, from virtual instruments to mixing and mastering plug-ins. You might think of it as similar to IK Multimedia. In particular, their free plug-ins are of such high quality that I always recommend them to my colleagues.

The only downside is the UI, but I believe it will improve over time.

Now, let’s see th Analog Empire.

Analog Empire: Pads & Strings runs on MSoundFactory, Melda Production’s virtual instrument engine. So if you want to use it, you have to download MSoundFactory and Analog Empire sound samples.

It’s easy to understand if you think MSoundFactory is Melda Production’s Kontakt.

After listening to the sounds in this video and trying out the presets, I think it works well for cinematic compositions and background music for dramas.

By slightly reducing the effects, it could also work well for pop music.

This product’s concept is simple. Mixing 2 different sounds with functions of sampler.

You can use various effects at FX tab.

Analog Empire is much cheaper than Native Instruments Play Series($49 per each VSTi) or Arturia Augmented Strings($9), with a similar concept.

Purchase Analog Emire: Pads & Strings at Plugin Boutique

If you purchase plug-ins at plugin Boutique in this month, you can get one of those plugins free(UAD Oxide Tape / Karanyi Sounds Vapor Keys / iZotope Nectar Elements / Pitch Innovations Rhythm Box).

$9 for pads and another free plugin? It’s really great deal.

See you in the next post! 😊

Introducing United Plugins DarkFire Plugin and 78% Discount (Until 1/5)

Hello! I’m Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

Today, I’d like to introduce a new product, DarkFire, recently launched by United Plugins, which I’ve been using quite often.

Purchase DarkFire at Plugin Boutique

This plugin was provided as an NFR (Not for Resale) license through Plugin Boutique. If you purchase it via the links in this post, I’ll earn a small commission, which helps me greatly. 😊
Let’s dive in, shall we?

DarkFire is a versatile all-in-one plugin that can essentially be categorized as a saturator.
Plugins with such multifunctionality are usually used on buses or the master channel.

At the top of the interface, you’ll find the OS (Over Sampling) button, which enables up to 8x oversampling.

  • AGC stands for Auto Gain Compensation, automatically matching input and output gain levels.
  • LIM acts as a limiter to ensure the signal doesn’t exceed 0dB.
  • ADV allows deeper parameter adjustments.
  • The headphone button lets you isolate and listen to only the harmonics.

In addition, the HP/LP (High Pass and Low Pass), EQ, and compressor functions operate as you’d expect.

The first image above shows when the Stereo knob is set above 0, and the second shows the Depth knob also turned up.

  • The Stereo knob adjusts stereo imaging by manipulating left-right EQ differences.
  • The Depth knob creates a sense of front-back space using short delays.

Personally, what stands out the most is the Type option that appears to the left of Harmonics Shaper when the ADV button is activated.
Here, you can select between Tube and Tape saturation types.
The default setting is Tape, but I personally prefer the Tube option.

The harmonic patterns differ significantly between the two.
The first image shows the Tube mode, while the second shows the Tape mode, which only generates odd-order harmonics.

You can also double-click on parameters to adjust them to exact values.
I believe you can never have too many saturator plugins, as each one offers unique characteristics that are hard to replicate!
At its current price of $17.60, this plugin is an affordable option worth testing.

Find Out United Plugins at Plugin Boutique

United Plugins also offers many cost-effective and practical plugins. With discounts running until January 5, it’s a great time to explore their offerings.

Click image to purchase Front DAW at Plugin Boutique

One plugin I highly recommend is FrontDAW, which emulates various console preamps. I’ve been using it regularly since 2019, and it’s been incredibly handy!

Additionally, Plugin Boutique is running a promotion this month where you can get one of the following plugins for free with any purchase:

  • UAD Oxide Tape
  • Karanyi Sounds Vapor Keys
  • iZotope Nectar Elements
  • Pitch Innovations Rhythm Box

Among these, I personally recommend UAD Oxide Tape, as it delivers decent quality for a tape emulation plugin.

That wraps up today’s post. See you in the next one! 😊