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Time and Replace
To load a sound into the plug-in, you use a button labeled Update. There’s
no import track button, which, at first glance, is the only really confusing
thing about the interface. Select a region in Pro Tools’ Edit window,
hit Update, and the audio is sent to SoundReplacer. An associated button,
Auto Update, makes this entire procedure automatic. Turn Auto Update on
(its default setting is off), and every time you select a region, SoundReplacer
automatically imports it. I’m not sure what the point of this is,
but I guess it could come in handy for something.
Loading samples is a simple matter of clicking on a floppy disk icon beneath
the threshold sliders. (There’s one icon per slider for each of the
three samples.) After clicking an icon, a Load File window appears through
which you can search your hard drive for suitable samples. SoundReplacer
reads SDII and .WAV file formats. The addition of .AIFF would be most
appreciated; I have a lot of samples in this format, and I’m sure
other folks do, too. However, there’s no way to audition samples
from the Load File window, which is a disappointment. This is a big inconvenience,
because you often need to audition a bunch of samples in order to find
just the right one. Note to Digidesign: Add a way to listen to files before
loading them, please.
Because samples are an essential part of SoundReplacer’s presets,
which contain threshold levels, mix, dynamics, associated samples, etc.,
the program has its own Audio Files folder inside its Plug-In Settings
folder for storing samples. This is very convenient, as it helps keep
the presets’ sound bites from getting misplaced. If, for example,
you like to augment your kick tracks with a particular 808 kick sample,
keep that sample in the Audio Files folder for quick access. At install,
the sample storage folder is 324K (the program comes with a few samples
as part of its demo) but has the potential to grow to enormous size. In
order to avoid filling up your system drive, you may want to keep only
your most often used samples in the folder.
The final processed track is a contiguous file of all three samples, along
with the dynamics, mix and other parameter settings. It can be written
to any track in your session. No need to write over the original audio,
just open up another track and drop the new file there. This also gives
you the added option of mixing the processed track with the original track
to taste, in real time.
Replacer-Man
One of my favorite production tricks is to beef up weak recordings by
layering them with samples, but I find that traditional MIDI triggering
methods produce awful timing. My solution, which is to place each replacement
sample manually for spot-on timing, is way too tedious, although it does
yield excellent results. My kicks are always phat, and my snares totally
snap. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that SoundReplacer does in
the blink of an eye what used to take me hours—what a time-saver!
But there’s no reason that SoundReplacer should be limited just to
music production applications. You could get seriously creative with this
plug-in and cook up some killer sound effects by layering samples endlessly
atop each other. And, since replacement samples can be dropped back into
your session at exactly the same spot as the original waveform, it’s
perfect for replacing your tired old cues with one of your new humongous
ones. Be still my beating heart. At $395, it’s not a bad deal either—definitely
a worthy plug-in to keep in your audio production toolbox.
Digidesign Inc., 3401-A Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304; 650/842-7900;
fax 650/842-7999; www.digidesign.com.
Erik Hawkins is a musician/producer working in Los Angeles County and
the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit him at www.erikhawkins.com for more
equipment chitchat and tips on what’s hot for the project studio.
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Reprinted
with permission from Mix Magazine, June, 2000
© 2000, Intertec Publishing, A Primedia Company All Rights Reserved
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