February 20, 2020 - IK Multimedia announces the immediate availability of T-RackS Sunset Sound Studio Reverb, the newest effect plug-in within their industry-standard T-RackS® 5 mixing and mastering software line. It brings the unique acoustic ambience and other iconic audio characteristics of Los Angeles' legendary Sunset Sound recording facility to musicians everywhere, and is suitable for use both as an individual plug-in and inside T-RackS 5. Using a combination of IK's unique Volumetric Response Modeling (VRM™) technology and advanced physical modeling to recreate Sunset Sound's custom consoles, T-RackS Sunset Sound Studio Reverb offers a powerful sonic experience that lets users add a distinct sound from many hit songs recorded at Sunset Sound to their tracks as if they were at the studio themselves.
IK worked in collaboration with current studio owner Paul Camarata, multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning producer/engineer Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Doobie Brothers) and many of Sunset Sound's engineers to give recording engineers unprecedented access to the ambient sound and vibe of the studios in this landmark facility, where a who's who of music has recorded for 60 years, including the Doors, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and countless others. Decades of session sheets were studied at the studio to recreate specific mic positions and placement used on countless hits, with a high level of collaboration between IK and the studio to achieve accuracy and realism when emulating these distinct sounds in software.
Iconic consoles and deep authenticity
This new plug-in carefully captures each space, recorded using Sunset Sound's high-end mic collection, to deliver not just the acoustics but also the unique vibe of the space. IK recreated them using its unique Volumetric Response Modeling (VRM™), an advanced hybrid convolution technique, to deliver the highest-quality reverb effects possible and ensure the results of T-RackS's processing were virtually indistinguishable from recordings made in the real rooms.
IK also used its award-winning physical modeling techniques to recreate each studio's vintage customized consoles (an API-based Sunset Sound custom, a Class-A-Discrete Neve® 8880 and an API/DeMedio® Sunset Sound Custom), preamplifier and signal path, to add the perfect harmonic elements and sonic signature. All together, this results in a faithful studio quality reverb that adds a very special warmth and tone while also offering the same signature ambient sound as the timeless records that were recorded at the studio for decades by top artists and bands. All of this is complemented by an array of flexible control options for further tone shaping.
Studio owner Paul Camarata notes, "For 60 years, the sound of our studios has been heard on hit records around the world. Now, we're proud to be working with IK Multimedia to bring our famed sound to everyone's recordings. Sunset Sound Studio Reverb really nails the essence of our distinct character."
A wide variety of reverbs
Users can select from among the various vintage reverb options accessible from each of the three studios found in the facility, including an Echoplate® and EMT® 140 plate reverb, and an AKG® BX-20E spring reverb.
The choices are:
- Live Room: Studio 1, Studio 2 or Studio 3
- Iso Booth: Studio 1, Studio 2 or Studio 3
- 3 Live Echo Chambers from Studio 1, Studio 2 or Studio 3
- 2 Different Plate reverbs and 1 Spring Reverb
In the control room
An intuitive GUI provides a realistic experience, offering information and insights about each particular room, as well as additional controls to help users shape the sound to suit their tastes.
The additional controls include:
- Adjustable decay time and pre-delay
- High-pass and low-pass filters
- Low and high shelving EQs
- Stereo image width
- Wet/dry mix
- Plus famous mic position options in studio 2, dampening options, and more
Flexible use
Like all T-RackS single modules, Sunset Sound Studio Reverb can be used as an individual plug-in within any recording software, or inside the T-RackS 5 shell for even faster workflow both as a plug-in or stand-alone mastering software.
Try before you buy
Like all T-RackS series processors, customers are able to try T-RackS Sunset Sound Studio Reverb before purchase via T-RackS Custom Shop. T-RackS CS is a free download offering a high-quality analog-modeled EQ plus metering section, available as both plug-in and stand-alone software. The Custom Shop also lets users try out T-RackS Sunset Sound Studio Reverb or any of the other 44 processors in the T-RackS line, for a full 14 days, and can be found at www.ikmultimedia.com/trcs
