Noulakaz

The blog of Avinash, Christina, Anya and Kyan Meetoo.

Music

My Kenwood KRF-V7030D is (really) dead

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Once upon a time, I didn’t know anything about the concept of the home cinema. I started reading (paper) magazines, most notably Home Cinema Choice which was, at that time, the reference.

In 2001, Home Cinema Choice reviewed the then new Kenwood KRF-V7030D AV Receiver and praised it for its performance and value.

Of course, at that time, it was not possible to purchase one in Mauritius… Fortunately, some time later, my sister-in-law had to go on a business trip to Hong Kong and I asked her to purchase one for us. For many years, she would complain how heavy the Kenwood KRF-V7030D was and how we will in her debt for life :-)

I built my “home cinema” around the Kenwood and I wrote a blog post in 2005 to explain what equipment I had. The Kenwood KRF-V7030D worked great from 2001 to around 2007 until one day when I could not switch it on anymore.

I brought the amplifier to a number of technicians for a diagnostic and to see if it was possible to repair it. None could…

So we purchased another AV Receiver when we were in vacation in Thailand, a Pioneer, which was OK and completely forgot about the Kenwood KRF-V7030D.

Five years later, I stumbled upon a technician who told me he could revive anything. I left the Kenwood KRF-V7030D with him for about four months (with a very low level of expectations) and, lo and behold, he repaired it.

By that time, I had moved to a Yamaha AV receiver (and left the Pioneer with my parents) and I used the Kenwood KRF-V7030D as a stereo amplifier in my bedroom. It worked really great… until one month ago when it stopped working once more. I could switch it on this time but the audio level from my speakers was very low, nearly inaudible. Either there was a problem with the amplifier circuit or the volume circuit.

I called the technician which had revived the amplifer once and he tried and tried and tried… Today, he called me and told me the truth: my amp was dead. A microprocessor which controls the volume is faulty and this component is not made any more.

My Kenwood KRF-V7030D is finally and truly dead this time, 21 years after I bought it.

Thanks for the trip. We had a great time.

Moving towards native Apple M1 ARM64 audio plugins

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The Apple M1 processor, with its ARM64 architecture, was released two years ago and, since then, most Apple computers have transitioned to this processor (or one of its successors). At home, I own an Apple Mac mini with an M1, 16Gb of RAM and 256Gb of storage which I use for everything, especially for music production.

I have many software instruments and effects plugins which I have been purchasing for years now (thanks Christina!) and, fortunately, most of them now have native M1 variants. For the others, I can use them using the Rosetta 2 technology which Apple provides and which runs really well (it’s a x86_64 to ARM64 code translator). Rosetta 2 is, in fact, allowing me to use all my plugins.

But, to be honest, I would love having a 100% ARM64 music production system. At this moment, I do have about 50 plugins which are still not M1 native but here are the few ones I would really love to have in M1 format, either because I use them a lot or I have paid a substantial amount of money for them:

  • ADPTR Audio Metric AB (the beta versions are ARM64 now!)
  • ADPTR Audio Streamliner (the beta versions are ARM64 now!)
  • Elysia Phil’s Cascade (ARM64 now!)
  • Lindell Audio Lindell 50 Channel (ARM64 now!)
  • Lindell Audio Lindell 80 Channel (ARM64 now!)
  • SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 (ARM64 now!)
  • SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (ARM64 now!)
  • SSL Native Vocalstrip 2 (ARM64 now!)
  • SSL Native X-Saturator (ARM64 now!)

Let me know when they are M1 ready!

PS: On 27 March 2023, all the plugins I mentioned in this post are M1 native. Took only 176 days!

PPS: The only non-M1 plugins I have on my Macmini are now: AIR Music Technology DB-33 (Hammond B3), AIR Music Technology DB-33 FX (Leslie Simulator), AIR Music Technology Hybrid 3, AIR Music Technology Loom II, AIR Music Technology Mini Grand, AIR Music Technology The Riser, AIR Music Technology Vacuum Pro, AIR Music Technology Velvet (Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet), AIR Music Technology Xpand!2, DS Audio Thorn Solo, Exponential Audio NIMBUS, Exponential Audio R4, Focusrite Red 2 EQ, Focusrite Red 3 Compressor, Green Oak Software Crystal, iZotope BreakTweaker Expanded, iZotope Iris 2, iZotope Trash 2, Kia Move.ment, Lindell Audio PEX-500, Positive Grid BIAS AMP 2 LE, Schoeps Double MS, Soundslates Capsule, Stillwell Audio Bitter and Waldorf Attack. Most have simply been abandoned by the developers and I have excellent alternatives to them.

My quest to buy Plugin Alliance plugins

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I discovered Plugin Alliance in 2020 and, since then, I have been regularly buying plugins from their collection. As the name indicates, Plugin Alliance is a group of plugin creators who have decided to join rank and have one website to sell their numerous plugins. These companies include Brainworx, ADPTR Audio, Lindell Audio, Maag Audio, Unfiltered Audio, SPL, Ampeg, Elysia, NEOLD and Knif Audio. Since then, Plugin Alliance has joined Native Instruments and iZotope to create a mega company called Soundwide.

Here are the plugins I now own. I really would like to learn how to use all of them but there are so many… In fairness, I have received many plugins for free over the years but I is also true that I have put some decent money too (about $450 which is more than 20,000 of my hard earned Mauritian rupees). Mind you, the plugins are never ever sold at their recommended retail prices. Most of the time, they are on sale and Plugin Alliance is very very generous with discount vouchers and special deals.

But, I’ll confess that I am happy to own mythical plugins such as the bx_console AMEK 9099, the bx_console Focusrite SC, the bx_console SSL 9000 J, the Lindell 50 Channel, the Lindell 80 Channel, the Black Box Analog Design HG-2MS saturation plugin, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A, the AMEK EQ 200, the Knifonium, the bx_oberhausen, Phil’s Cascade, BIG AL, V76U73, BYOME, Metric AB and Streamliner. All of them are wonderful pieces of software and, as a software engineer who is a music fanatic, I am amazed by them.

Here is a chronological list of the various plugins I have purchased or obtained for free over the years:

On 14 Jun 2020, I obtained bx_tuner by Brainworx for free thank to their SUMMER 2020 promo.

On 29 Jun 2020, I purchased Metric AB by ADPTR Audio, and I paid $24.99 instead of the normal price of $199 (87% Off). I benefited from $25 which I got by doing a user survey.

On 29 Jun 2020, I obtained 7X-500 and PEX-500 by Lindell Audio for free thanks to a $20 voucher.

On 5 Oct 2020, I purchased EQ2 by Maag Audio, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $99 (90% Off) and I also benefited from another $20 voucher.

Using a new $20 voucher, on 28 Dec 2020, I obtained Sandman Pro by Unfiltered Audio for free.

On 28 Dec 2020, I purchased Transient Designer Plus by SPL, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $199 (95% Off) thanks to yet annother $20 voucher. I also got Instant Delay by Unfiltered Audio for free.

On 30 Dec 2020, I obtained Fault (Pitch and Time) by Unfiltered Audio for free thanks, again, to a generous $20 voucher.

On 30 Dec 2020, I obtained Fault (Pitch and Time) by Unfiltered Audio for free.

On 19 Jan 2021, I obtained SVT-VR Classic by Ampeg for free. It was being given for free to anyone asking. That’s cool.

On 3 Apr 2021, I obtained 6X-500 by Lindell Audio and Indent 2 by Unfiltered Audio for free thanks to another $20 voucher.

On 7 Apr 2021, I asked for and obtained ChannelX by Lindell Audio for free as I owned the three Lindell Audio plugins: 7X-500, PEX-500 and 6X-500. ChannelX is a channel strip combining the three plugins.

On 27 Jun 2021, I purchased SpecOps (Spectral Effects) by Unfiltered Audio, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $99 (90% Off) thanks, once more, to a $20 voucher.

On 28 Jun 2021, I purchased Dent 2 and G8 by Unfiltered Audio, and I paid $4.99 for each instead of the normal price of $49 (90% Off) thanks to a generous $20 voucher.

On 30 Jun 2021, I obtained bx_bluechorus2 (Boss CE-2 / Chorus) and bx_yellowdrive (Boss SD-1 / Overdrive) by Brainworx for free using another $20 voucher.

On 2 Jul 2021, I obtained bx_distorange (Boss DS-1 / Distortion) and bx_greenscreamer (Ibanez TS808 / Screamer) by Brainworx for free using another $20 voucher.

On 14 Sep 2021, I obtained bx_meter by Brainworx for free as it was being given to anyone asking. Cool. I love meters.

On 28 Sep 2021, I obtained bx_blackdist2 (RAT2 / Distortion) and bx_metal2 (Boss MT-2 / Distortion) by Brainworx for free using another $20 voucher.

On 1 Oct 2021, I purchased bx_rockrack V3 by Brainworx, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $149 (93% Off) using yet another $20 voucher.

On 3 Oct 2021, I purchased Karacter by Elysia, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $149 (93% Off) using another $20 voucher.

On 3 Oct 2021, I obtained Niveau Filter by Elysia for free.

On 11 Oct 2021, I purchased BYOME by Unfiltered Audio, and I paid $14.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (94% Off) thanks to a Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher of $25.

On 8 Nov 2021, I obtained bx_masterdesk Classic by Brainworx for free as it was being given to everyone.

On 24 Dec 2021, I purchased bx_console SSL 9000 J by Brainworx, and I paid $24.99 instead of the normal price of $349 (93% Off) thanks to a Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher of $25 and a XMAS21 promotion.

On 28 Dec 2021, I purchased bx_oberhausen by Brainworx, and I paid $14.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (94% Off) thanks to a $25 voucher I got by doing a user survey.

On 28 Dec 2021, I obtained bx_opto Pedal by Brainworx and Sandman by Unfiltered Audio for free thanks to a $20 voucher.

On 4 Jan 2022, I finally decided to download the free plugins given by Plugin Alliance: bx_cleansweep V2 by Brainworx, bx_rockrack V3 Player by Brainworx, bx_solo and by Brainworx, bx_subfilter by Brainworx, Double MS by Schoeps and Free Ranger by SPL. On the same day, I also took the plunge and purchased Alpha Compressor by Elysia, and I paid $14.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (94% Off). I benefited from a Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher of $25.

On 13 Feb 2022, I purchased the Plugin Alliance Mastering Bundle 3 at $14.99 instead of the normal price of $79.99. The bundle contains bx_dynEQ V2 by Brainworx, and I paid $5.00 instead of the normal price of $249 (98% Off), bx_hybrid V2 by Brainworx, and I paid $4.00 instead of the normal price of $199 (98% Off), bx_limiter by Brainworx, and I paid $3.00 instead of the normal price of $149 (98% Off) and Vertigo VSM-3 by Brainworx, and I paid $2.99 instead of the normal price of $149 (98% Off). It also contained two other plugins which I already owned.

On 8 Mar 2022, I purchased Streamliner by ADPTR Audio, and I paid $24.99 instead of the normal price of $199 (87% Off) during a flash sale and using a Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher of $25.

On 12 Apr 2022, I got the PA Soundwide Welcome Bundle for free which contained Black Box Analog Design HG-2 by Brainworx, bx_console Focusrite SC by Brainworx, bx_masterdesk by Brainworx and Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor by Brainworx.

On 28 Apr 2022, I upgraded to Black Box Analog Design HG-2MS by Brainworx and Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A by Brainworx, and I paid each $18.49 instead of the normal price of $329 (94% Off). I used a Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher of $25 and the fact that both plugins were on sale.

On 12 May 2022, I purchased Lindell 80 Series channel strip by Lindell Audio, and I paid $24.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (90% Off) thanks to a flash sale.

On 27 May 2022, I purchased BIG AL by NEOLD, and I paid $19.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (92% Off).

On 19 Jun 2022, I purchased Lindell 50 Series channel strip by Lindell Audio, and I paid $30.99 instead of the normal price of $349 (91% Off) benefiting from a sale where all plugins were available at that price.

On 26 Jun 2022, I purchased Phil’s Cascade by Elysia, and I paid $24.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (90% Off) during a summer sale.

On 27 Jun 2022, I purchased Vitalizer MK2-T by SPL, and I paid $19.99 instead of the normal price of $199 (90% Off) during the same summer sale.

On 29 Jun 2022, I purchased the iZotope Community Appreciation Bundle (aka the Soundwide Intro Bundle) containing Brainworx bx_console N, Brainworx bx_delay 2500, Brainworx bx_digital V3, Brainworx bx_stereomaker and Brainworx bx_subsynth (as well as other Exponential Audio, iZotope and Native Instruments plugins) and I paid $49.99 (98% Off) for the lot.

On 27 Jul 2022, I purchased bx_console AMEK 9099 by Brainworx, and I paid $30.99 instead of the normal price of $449 (93% Off).

On 9 Aug 2022, I purchased Vertigo VSC-2 by Brainworx, and I paid $19.99 instead of the normal price of $149 (87% Off) during a flash sale.

On 27 Sep 2022, I purchased Knifonium by Knif Audio, and I paid $20.99 instead of the normal price of $299 (93% Off) using a $10 voucher.

On 29 Sep 2022, I purchased AMEK EQ 200 by Brainworx, and I paid $15.98 instead of the normal price of $399 (96% Off) using a $25 voucher.

On 1 Oct 2022, I purchased V76U73 by NEOLD, and I paid $9.99 instead of the normal price of $249 (96% Off) using a $20 voucher.

On 4 Oct 2022, I obtained Bass-Mint by Unfiltered Audio for free as I benefited from a $20 voucher and the plugin was being offered at $19.99. Apparently, it is a great plugin to shape the low end and works wonders on bass drums and bass lines but also for sound design in general.

On 12 November 2022, I purchased DS Tantra 2 by Dmitry Sches, and I paid $14.99 instead of the normal price of $199 (92% Off) as the plugin was being offered at $39.99 and I had a $25 monthly voucher. I am working on my fourth album at this moment and I want it to be more house / techno oriented than my previous albums and a rhythmic plugin like Tantra can be very useful.

On 19 November 2022, I finally purchased EQ4 by Maag Audio (after having owned the EQ2 for two years), and I paid $19.99 instead of the normal price of $229 (91% Off). It was being sold at $39.99 but I got it during a 24 hour Flash Sale. The EQ2 and EQ4, while having a few similarities, are different EQs and both are well regarded by professionals, the EQ4 even more so.

During the Christmas period, I used multiple coupons ($50 and $75) for purchasing 6 plugins over three days. On 24 December 2022, I got Unfiltered Audio Needlepoint at $14.99 (90% Off). The next day, I used the $50 voucher to get ADPTR Audio Sculpt, ProAudioDSP DSM V3 and Unfiltered Audio TAILS at $29.97 only (95% Off). Finally, on the same day, I used the $75 voucher to purchase Deskew Gig Performer 4 UNLOCKED at $24.99 (87% Off).

In March 2023, over a period of three days, I got a $20 voucher which was reset three times. I used them to get Elysia Museq (a musical equalizer with two modes for both transparent and warm EQing), Unfiltered Audio Zip (a supercharged creative compressor) and Brainworx bx_bassdude (1960’s tone with authentic tube overdrive) for free. Normally, these plugins are sold at $149, $99 and $149 respectively.

On 23 Apr 2023, I succumbed and purchased what is arguably one of the best EQs on the planet: Three Body Tech Kirchhoff EQ. It is normally sold at $124.99 but Plugin Alliance was running a promotion discounting it to $99.99 and I had a fidelity voucher of $50. This means that I got Kirchhoff EQ at $49.99 (60% off). According to numerous reviews I have seen on YouTube, Kirchhoff EQ, in addition to being a perfect-sounding 32 bands digital EQ is also an EQ which provides the EQ curves of revered EQs of the past (think SSL EQs, Neve EQs, etc.) while also being an advanced dynamic EQ. My only question is where to use such an EQ in the effects channel? Should it be at the very beginning as a corrective EQ (as it does not provide the saturation / distortion characteristics of modelled plugins) then followed by a colouring channel strip and maybe saturation? Or should it be used at the very end of the chain? Or at both places? I don’t know but I am really looking forward to know!

On 30 July, during a “Any 2 Plugins for $49.99” promotion combined with a $25 Customer Loyalty Monthly Voucher, I purchased two software instruments, DS Audio Thorn and Unfiltered Audio LION, for $24.99. Both have a normal price of $199.00 which means that I have obtained them 94% off. I had a free version of Thorn before and I have upgraded to the full version because the plugin has rave reviews and features spectral / additive synthesis which I would like to experiment with. I purchased LION because I wanted to complete my list of Unfiltered Audio plugins with the view to learn them all. Another reason for purchasing these two software instruments is that both support MTS-ESP and I’ll be able to use them when experimenting with micro-tuning.

On the 1st of April 2024 (and this is not an April Fool’s joke), I used a “four plugins for $69.99” offer from Plugin Alliance to purchase the AMEK Mastering Compressor, Kiive Audio XTComp, Louder Than Liftoff SILVER BULLET mk2 and Maor Appelbaum Mastering & Hendyamps THE OVEN. I wanted the AMEK to complement my existing EQ 200. The XTComp is an emulation of the Distressor which is world famous for drums and vocals. As for SILVER BULLET mk2 and THE OVEN, both are emulations of existing hardware which are modern classics. I have been reading about them for some time now and I’m intrigued.

On 1st October 2024, I realised that Plugin Alliance had added a few more plugins which I don’t have in its PA FREE collection and I decided to install them just in case… They are Brainworx bx_boom!, Brainworx bx_megasingle, Brainworx bx_shredspread and SPL Attacker Plus. I also realised that these old plugins are not available for download anymore: SPL Attacker (replaced by the Plus version), SPL Transient Designer (replaced by the Plus version), Unfiltered Audio Dent (replaced by Dent 2) and Unfiltered Audio Indent (replaced by Indent 2).

On 3 October 2024, during an ADPTR Audio sale and using a Customer Loyalty Monthly Vouchers of $25, I managed to get ADPTR Audio Hype for $14.99. Hype is a $299 plugin and, therefore, I got it at 95% off. It is a powerful trio of tools for multi-band enhancement, starting with six compression modes, six kinds of harmonic generators and stereo enhancement. This plugin was being praised on Gearspace and is a collaboration of ADPTR Audio and UrsaDSP. I had to get it to try it. I am wondering whether I should not create a new category of plugins: those who are unlike anything before and need to be learned from scratch? Looks like it.

On 30 October 2024, during Halloween Sale where most plugins were being sold at $24.99, I grabbed Dangerous Music BAX EQ which is normally sold at $249 (which therefore means that I got 90% off). This EQ, which has been on my wishlist for some time now, is one of the smoothest sounding EQs and has rave reviews everywhere. Many top audio professionals consider the hardware BAX EQ to be an essential component of their arsenal and most agree that the software version by Brainworx is very close to the hardware. The EQ is a classic Baxandall EQ with very smooth shelving curves. It also has low-pass and high-pass filters. The EQ has two variants: one for mixing and one for mastering which can be used in stereo or M/S.

Yeah. I know. I am an addict.