Sonnox have really smashed it on this one (as always). I love how it just adds a crisp warmness to the master but doesn't clip unlike other plugins such as 'Radiator' by soundtoys might do. Great video, thanks for an in-depth look, hopped from Plugin Boutique to here.
Although this video is 8 years old you did an excellent job at reviewing the Inflator. I just purchased it. They are having a great November sale. Also, it is so pleasing to hear you review this on some Jazz. Nothing against EDM or Hip Hop as I am a fan of both, but this really demonstrates how it is used in a genre that generally does not "squash" its transients. Great job! This video convinced me to purchase.
Since the wet/dry comparisons in the video don't use makeup gain to account for the exact increase in perceived loudness in the wet signal, it's hard to tell how much of the difference is in how the effect is coloring the sound, and how much of it is just the louder-is-better fallacy at work. To more fairly judge the difference the effect makes, I recorded the dry (3:13) and 73.6% wet (3:41) versions of the loop's first bar from the video into my DAW, measured the perceived loudness of each, turned the wet version down by the exact amount to make both versions equal in perceived loudness, and listened to both versions back-to-back. The difference that the effect makes is much more subtle than the video makes it seem like. I can barely hear a difference between the two versions. And that's not to say that it must not be useful. It just looks like its usefulness is mainly in its ability to transparently achieve more headroom.
@@DavidRead91 I believe his point is, the effect is the same as turning up the volume on the track. If I turn down my monitors as demonstrators turn up the effect, keeping the volume the same, I literally hear no effect at all. I think most of this plugin's punch lies in the fact it increases the output by 3-4 dB. I guess as a form of a blind test in letting a mixer turn up a channel without thinking he's turning it up, it works - but all it does is increase the volume. One could just push the master fader up and hear all the same "effects". (more detail, more bass, etc.)
@Freshold It's been a while since I watched this, but do you mean at the 7:00-8:00 range? I believe he is only adjusting the output in order to drive the input, not attempting to level match via the output dB meter. At the end when bypassing and turning on - there is a HUGE jump in volume. (and level meter doesn't work in the plugin when bypassed) Look at 15:20-15:30 - the Horns track which is playing, to the right of the plugin, jumps up 3 dB in its max when it's put back in. -12 to -14 dB bypassed, goes above -10 dB when turned back on. The thing is, it's easy to not hear a slight volume change as a volume change, but more as "definition, clarity, etc." - it's just how hearing works. If someone speaks louder, they surely sound "clearer", right? But that doesn't mean their voice has more clarity in terms of EQing - just better signal to noise ratio, essentially, if they're in a crowded and noisy environment.
Thanks ... got it. Just one more little wrinkle. I assume that the proper way to follow your method would be to make sure you are metering and matching RMS levels on the channel, not just the typical channel peak level metering ... as it seems to me peak level metering would also tend to create the 'louder sounds better' phenomenon.
I've been using it for years now. It does just that, gives everything a little lift. I use it on my stereo drum mix, vocals and Master, but very subtly. I need to try that band split on the drums and experiment with pushing it on some tracks more. I'm always worried I'm using too much effects, so I tend to back off on them. Definitely a cool plug to have in your arsenal and it won't break the bank
But i think the plugin acts like a saturation!! Because if you put it after a tone generator and analyze the spectrum you can see that by adding Effect option, you are adding harmonic frequency , and curve makes more harmonic frequencies after the fundumental, by setting it properly in your projects, it can help your mixes to sound full.
great review, i use this plugin a lot, I have only one remark: the "curve" is more like a transient shape control, higher settings for higher attack and vice versa.
One thing that puzzles me ... I can't separate out the sound of the Inflator from the increased volume when it is in or out, i.e., bypassed or not. Couldn't you set this up with doubled tracks, alternating muting one of them so that the output through the channels was identical and you could just listen to the sound of the effect without having your volumes so different? Or, is it the point that output from the plugin only affects the perceived volume due to the limiting?
...pushing CURVE more (higher values) make sound more "brighter" pushing less (lower values) make sound more "darker" (nice for drums low end). I am using Inflator long time and work nicely on certain sources...
does walk well with additional Satuaration? Or if i put the inflator infront of the oxford limiter are they effecting each other when the Oxford limiter is used with the enhance function? thank you
Briefly, why would you only recommend it for the UAD DSP platform? Isn't the algorithm for the Native and UAD DSP the same? Is this because you think it is better than the Precision Maximizer on UAD, but that there are better Native choices? I think I do need to do a little homework to get clearer in my head the distinction between a 'maximizer' and a limiter.
Hi there, That Sonnox Oxford Inflator is useful only for master track?, or there is more possible ways. I guess it's more advanced plugin than AVID MAXIM, by the way....how much will I pay for it?
Gotta watch it as a lot of instruments only need subtle use of inflator. That saturation warming effect can make things sound fizzy and loses focus within of the whole track. To my ears anyway. Good review.
What you would do is use the output fader and push that down to meet the original signal. Then bypass the plugin and you won't have an increased volume and you can merely listen to the effect of inflator on the sound. Can do this with compression, etc. :D Hope that helps.
I wouldn't recommend this particular plugin for people who don't possess a UAD DSP accelerator card (Effectively a professional sound card). You can buy the native version (non-UAD) from Sonnox themselves but if your looking for a limiter/maximizer the Sonnox Limiter is the best at maintaining a distortion free sound even though you push it a lot. Waves has the L1 and the L2 as other options (L2 I find more useful but L1 is good to get a little character in a sound).
![Wiz Khalifa - Khalifa's Home [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnrLCTe0Nz4/mqdefault.jpg)
Sonnox have really smashed it on this one (as always). I love how it just adds a crisp warmness to the master but doesn't clip unlike other plugins such as 'Radiator' by soundtoys might do.
Great video, thanks for an in-depth look, hopped from Plugin Boutique to here.
I kept thinking usb devices were being plugged in because of the one bass riff. haha. nice vid. thanks
+Keith Williams Haha, yeah I'm hearing that too.
Didn't realize that until I read your comment, now I can't get it out of my head lol
hahahahhhha
hahaha
Brilliant video, brilliant plugin.
You could do entire mixes with a good EQ, the Waves RVox and the Inflator.
I love simple plugins.
What makes me surprise even more is the fact that the video is now 7 years old. Awesome! Thanks for posting this.
Although this video is 8 years old you did an excellent job at reviewing the Inflator. I just purchased it. They are having a great November sale. Also, it is so pleasing to hear you review this on some Jazz. Nothing against EDM or Hip Hop as I am a fan of both, but this really demonstrates how it is used in a genre that generally does not "squash" its transients. Great job! This video convinced me to purchase.
Since the wet/dry comparisons in the video don't use makeup gain to account for the exact increase in perceived loudness in the wet signal, it's hard to tell how much of the difference is in how the effect is coloring the sound, and how much of it is just the louder-is-better fallacy at work. To more fairly judge the difference the effect makes, I recorded the dry (3:13) and 73.6% wet (3:41) versions of the loop's first bar from the video into my DAW, measured the perceived loudness of each, turned the wet version down by the exact amount to make both versions equal in perceived loudness, and listened to both versions back-to-back. The difference that the effect makes is much more subtle than the video makes it seem like. I can barely hear a difference between the two versions.
And that's not to say that it must not be useful. It just looks like its usefulness is mainly in its ability to transparently achieve more headroom.
"It just looks like its usefulness is mainly in its ability to transparently achieve more headroom." That is literally the point of this plugin.
David Read My comment is in reference to the video, which basically says that the plugin is an effect that makes things sound better.
@@DavidRead91 I believe his point is, the effect is the same as turning up the volume on the track. If I turn down my monitors as demonstrators turn up the effect, keeping the volume the same, I literally hear no effect at all. I think most of this plugin's punch lies in the fact it increases the output by 3-4 dB. I guess as a form of a blind test in letting a mixer turn up a channel without thinking he's turning it up, it works - but all it does is increase the volume. One could just push the master fader up and hear all the same "effects". (more detail, more bass, etc.)
@Freshold It's been a while since I watched this, but do you mean at the 7:00-8:00 range? I believe he is only adjusting the output in order to drive the input, not attempting to level match via the output dB meter. At the end when bypassing and turning on - there is a HUGE jump in volume. (and level meter doesn't work in the plugin when bypassed) Look at 15:20-15:30 - the Horns track which is playing, to the right of the plugin, jumps up 3 dB in its max when it's put back in. -12 to -14 dB bypassed, goes above -10 dB when turned back on. The thing is, it's easy to not hear a slight volume change as a volume change, but more as "definition, clarity, etc." - it's just how hearing works. If someone speaks louder, they surely sound "clearer", right? But that doesn't mean their voice has more clarity in terms of EQing - just better signal to noise ratio, essentially, if they're in a crowded and noisy environment.
That's a magical plugin. Adds lots of depth and movement
Track is called "Stick it to me USB style" haha
Thanks ... got it. Just one more little wrinkle. I assume that the proper way to follow your method would be to make sure you are metering and matching RMS levels on the channel, not just the typical channel peak level metering ... as it seems to me peak level metering would also tend to create the 'louder sounds better' phenomenon.
Love the plugin. What is the title of this track??
I mean, just listen to 13:20 - sure the bass sounds like the microphone is closer - the output meter is going up to 10 dB higher!
Super excellent walkthrough!
Have had this forever, but never quite took the time to figure it out. 😧
Thx for this vid 👍
Hymn
I've read that this is the professionals' secret plugin
im noticing it an quiet a few of their streams
Thanks for all the insightful tutorial Russ, you rule!
I've been using it for years now. It does just that, gives everything a little lift. I use it on my stereo drum mix, vocals and Master, but very subtly. I need to try that band split on the drums and experiment with pushing it on some tracks more. I'm always worried I'm using too much effects, so I tend to back off on them. Definitely a cool plug to have in your arsenal and it won't break the bank
But i think the plugin acts like a saturation!!
Because if you put it after a tone generator and analyze the spectrum you can see that by adding Effect option, you are adding harmonic frequency , and curve makes more harmonic frequencies after the fundumental, by setting it properly in your projects, it can help your mixes to sound full.
great review, i use this plugin a lot, I have only one remark: the "curve" is more like a transient shape control, higher settings for higher attack and vice versa.
One thing that puzzles me ... I can't separate out the sound of the Inflator from the increased volume when it is in or out, i.e., bypassed or not.
Couldn't you set this up with doubled tracks, alternating muting one of them so that the output through the channels was identical and you could just listen to the sound of the effect without having your volumes so different? Or, is it the point that output from the plugin only affects the perceived volume due to the limiting?
He could have just bypassed the plugin. The way he was using the internal "effect bypass" was pretty dumb.
Why weren't you using the actual bypass so you could actually volume match?
Excellent video! I LOVE Sonnox, they are astronomically expensive, but I think worth every penny! Any chance you could do a vid on their Pro Codec?
...pushing CURVE more (higher values) make sound more "brighter" pushing less (lower values) make sound more "darker" (nice for drums low end). I am using Inflator long time and work nicely on certain sources...
Do you have Band Split button on or off when using Curve on low values for drums?
man that track is seriously seductive!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is ozone isotope maximizer for their mastering suite a good alternative or better than the L2 by waves?
does walk well with additional Satuaration? Or if i put the inflator infront of the oxford limiter are they effecting each other when the Oxford limiter is used with the enhance function?
thank you
Anybody use this in post?
Briefly, why would you only recommend it for the UAD DSP platform? Isn't the algorithm for the Native and UAD DSP the same? Is this because you think it is better than the Precision Maximizer on UAD, but that there are better Native choices? I think I do need to do a little homework to get clearer in my head the distinction between a 'maximizer' and a limiter.
Hi there, That Sonnox Oxford Inflator is useful only for master track?, or there is more possible ways. I guess it's more advanced plugin than AVID MAXIM, by the way....how much will I pay for it?
Gotta watch it as a lot of instruments only need subtle use of inflator. That saturation warming effect can make things sound fizzy and loses focus within of the whole track. To my ears anyway. Good review.
Nice to hear the birds chirping in the background Russ lol.
i use this plugin when things are flat and low very good distortion plug, i only use two my fave sonnox inflator and spl twin
As a single plugin maybe the inflator isn't worth its price (depends) but you can get Sonnox Bundles and the Dynamics and EQ are pretty nice.
Nice jazz track.
Thank you sir
What you would do is use the output fader and push that down to meet the original signal. Then bypass the plugin and you won't have an increased volume and you can merely listen to the effect of inflator on the sound. Can do this with compression, etc. :D Hope that helps.
The "cannot do without" plugin
Sounds like something out of Oceans 11
I wouldn't recommend this particular plugin for people who don't possess a UAD DSP accelerator card (Effectively a professional sound card). You can buy the native version (non-UAD) from Sonnox themselves but if your looking for a limiter/maximizer the Sonnox Limiter is the best at maintaining a distortion free sound even though you push it a lot. Waves has the L1 and the L2 as other options (L2 I find more useful but L1 is good to get a little character in a sound).
The mids sound harsh and distorted. I have all of these plugins.
agreed
split band make it loss the clarity & definition
Thoughts on Sonnox Oxford Envolution?
I still think the waves L2 sounds smoother.
L2 is a limiter, Inflator is a Wave-shaping harmonic exciter. These don't compare.
VSM-3 easily kills this plugin.
no
@@BukanIbuMu Best to have both.
nope, sorry.
Although how it works is different, it kinda has the effect that BBE does on the sound.