AudioThing Dials: Hainbach's test equipment channel strip for your DAW  ·  Source: AudioThing

AudioThing has once again teamed up with Hainbach to create Dials, a channel strip plugin based on vintage test equipment for broadcasting. Based on two separate devices from Hainbach’s studio, Dials combines a tube preamp, a compressor and a couple of filters.

AudioThing’s collaboration with Hainbach already brought us several unique plugins like Things Motor, Gong Amp, and Noises. All of them draw inspiration from the artist’s love for rare or unusual analog equipment from the electronic studios of the past. And with the new plugin Dials, you can now run your signals through two devices from the 1950s that Hainbach uses as a channel strip.

First is a tube preamp and compressor based on a 1950s measurement instrument for broadcasting. According to AudioThing, the device was originally intended for calibrating radio transmitters and later modified into a mic preamp by Wojcek Czern. In addition to boosting the signal, it also compresses it. Besides the preamp gain and volume, you can adjust the amount and envelope for the compressor section. The compressor can also be bypassed if it isn’t needed.

Next is a filter section based on a scientific high and low pass filter made by Allison Labs. AudioThing says that although the device was originally made for precise scientific filtering, it doesn’t sound precise at all by modern standards and the frequency scale only provides a rough orientation. The developer claims that the filters “sing beautifully” instead. The high pass and low pass sections each offer a stepped frequency switch and a multiplier knob for fine tuning. AudioThing has added resonance to make the filters more useful in a musical context.

Furthermore, Dials includes a Trip section that lets you apply modulation to the filters and volume. You can choose different waveforms and adjust the speed and intensity of the modulation.

Like AudioThing’s and Hainbach’s other collaborations, Dials offers plenty of ways to get creative. If you’d like to impart an unusual flavor to your tracks by running them to a unique channel strip comprised of vintage broadcast equipment, this plugin should be worth checking out.

AudioThing Dials is now available at Plugin Boutique* for an introductory price of USD 49. The regular price will be USD 79. Prices may vary slightly depending on your location. A demo version with some limitations is also available.

Dials runs on macOS 10.9 or higher (including native support for Apple Silicon processors) and Windows 7 or higher. It’s available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and CLAP formats (64 bit).

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