Retroband
Retroband lite
Click the thumbnails for screenshots
MP3
Acid demo. RetroBand is first introduced on the 303 and the drums separately. (Thank you Legend for creating this)
RetroBand-Acid.mp3In the examples below RetroBand is first bypassed, then switched on and played with.
RetroBand-Bass.mp3 RetroBand-Drums.mp3 RetroBand-Vocal.mp3The next example is RetroBand virtually circuit bended into generating rain and thunder. No source audio is necessary for this.
RetroBand-ThunderAndRain.mp3The Concept
RetroBand models several aspects of the interaction between gain stages and transformers of analogue gear. It mostly generates distortion called intermodulation (IMD). It models crossover distortions present especially in Class A/B gain stages. RetroBand also features several forms of transient shaping.
Throw a spanner in the perfect digital engine
As opposed to sterile but perfect digital sound, IMD is a distortion that can sound good. It is present in all vintage gear.
There are three different models in RetroBand generating IMD for a good range of sound shaping. No particular piece of equipment is simulated in any of them, but the combined flexibility can generate some of the desirable aspects of great sounding analogue gear. It could be said IMD is one of the missing links to analogue sound in a digital audio workstation.
The sound
RetroBand is a distortion unit at heart. It does warming, sharpening, roughing up, softening and smoothing - or all these combined. It may enrich sterile sound sources. Failing equipment can be easily simulated. With some luck it makes things sound "larger than life". The transient enhanced distortion models with mid-side stereo controls can change or revive a stereo image.
Features
- Digital model of interaction of gain stages and transformers of analogue gear
- Three flexible IMD models with noise modulation
- Transient shaping within the IMD models
- Mid-side stereo image controls
- Advanced noise modes to imprint effects of noise on signal without the hiss and rumble
- 64-bit signal path with highly optimised algorithms
- Support for OSX Universal Binary or Windows XP/2000
Requirements
- A host with VST plug-in support
- Windows 2000, Windows XP or OSX Tiger (preferably 10.4.8 or newer)
Although there is no AU or RTAS support for RetroBand yet, it has been tested to work well with VST-to-AU and VST-to-RTAS adapters on OSX.
Download Free RetroBandLite v1.5.7 for Windows or OSXRetroBandLite is a free cutdown version of the commercial RetroBand. There are no time or preset usage limitations, but quite many of the advanced features of the full version are missing and RetroBandLite processes everything as mono.
Download RetroBand v1.5.7 full trial for Windows or OSXThe trial of the full version of RetroBand silences audio output every 40 seconds or so. Preset saving is not limited in any way.
Purchase RetroBand
RetroBand is available for purchase now for EUR19. Click the PayPal link to order your copy.
You will receive download instructions to the email address you specify on the PayPal form. This happens within a day or two, usually on the same day you order. You don't need a PayPal account for the purchase by the way, just a credit card.