AIR Soft Clipper - Here's what it does

[@teftymusictech]

Quick note: Akai sent over a review code a few weeks ago. Per usual, they have no say as to what goes into this video. Also I didn't do a drum test because I feel like it's really close with AIR Tube Drive already, so if you're really curious about it just get the trial and test it out your self on your own drums. That way you'll pick up on all the differences better than a KZbin video. Lastly, if you are planning on buying it, using my affiliate link helps out the channel: air-affiliate-program.sjv.io/MmrW2o

[@Vivre-os3ht]

nothing to do with tube drive. fl studio users use the fruity soft clipper on the master. it can go deep into the red and sound great. that's why all this time fl studio hit harder than the other daw.

[@sundalo916]

@@Vivre-os3ht where in the mastering chain do fl users typically put the soft clipper?

[@sawssman965]

great video as usual. 1 question: What is that oscilloscope youre using? and how do you have it connected?

[@YanivhmTube]

You right. It should have been a free update. we don't really need yet another clip fx. We need things we don't have. How about a Proper Reverb ? 😉

[@jaypkock]

THIS! A proper reverb would make my life so much easier with my synthesizers

[@yoosooh_wav]

Been waiting for that for YEARS

[@famosguider205]

Always a fan of your technical explanations. You’re both factual and opinionated. I wish I saw ur affiliate link before purchasing. I suggest mentioning in the beginning of the video, because as soon as I saw it on KZbin, I went to purchase it! I like to follow along as you sample. Thank you for all than you do to help with your videos. They’re very well produced as well as informative.

[@kvmoore1]

The MPC does come with a free clipper. It's called "Diode Clipper." I think this premium "Soft Clipper" may bring something interesting to the table that it does differently sonically than the Diode Clipper and I'm willing to give it a try. I think it will add a different type of harmonic distortion/overdrive compared to the other available effects options, and it would probably be monstrous on drums!

[@teftymusictech]

Good catch on the Diode. I forgot to include it. It's worth trying on drums, but I felt it just distorted quickly and gave me nearly the same result as Tube Drive. Just my 2 cents though.

[@kvmoore1]

@teftymusictech Yeah, I actually went on and purchased it. I think it's good, especially on individual drums, at subtle settings. I like the extra harmonic content the Soft Clipper adds, but just like anything else, you have to be careful not to overdo it.

[@Mumbojumbo20]

Useful tool for popping a ‘bass’ signal through small speakers

[@drillgirl718]

this will be perfect for my trap 808 bass driven beats

[@5starstudiomedia]

Thanks so much for reviewing this plugin. Much appreciated.

[@Trioptic3D]

Sounds cool but i'm good with tubedrive. Thanks for the thorough and technical explanation. I wish they'd develop a visual parametric EQ, I'd gladly pay for that! I see people mention a reverb also, i have no issues with the current reverb yet. Seems pretty good to me.

[@ThaRebeliouZ]

We definitely need our own version of FabFilter's Pro-Q 3 for MPC

[@ThaRebeliouZ]

Why don't Akai/AIR Music Tech just include visual feedback on their plugins like your Oscilloscope to see how alot of these plugins are affecting the sound? Sure using your ears is always the way to go but having visual feedback, always helps with fine tuning adjustments

[@Harlem-Instrumental]

An Oscilloscope will make the MPC/Force feel like a grown up. Make it happen #Akai

[@pelvinsjamz]

Great visualisation thanks 🙏😎👍

[@rafelswing]

Nice review so graphic, thanks for share with us 👏🏽

[@Harlem-Instrumental]

Great honest review!

[@Trioptic3D]

I'm curious to know how sonically different this is from the stock soft clipper under drum efx 🤔

[@Chyuuch]

Id personally probably use it to sound design 808s and basses. I think basically made it for the new FL users who've been buying mpcs. apparently the FL soft clipper is how they make their beats "loud" (and distorted lol)

[@Byronic19134]

It just has cheap clipping algo that everybody ears have grown accustomed too. Its closer to the parabolic option on this clipper. MPC hardware tho is still and always what pros have used to get that knock bcuz of the way it clips going through the converter.

[@didierbouville4335]

Très efficace pour s'approcher du mastering.

[@bullet1218]

Great video on this plugin...💯👍

[@BrandonBLysticLee]

I think they brought this over to compete with FL Studio and other Soft Clippers people use mainly for drums… (preset even had Fruity in the name) you did test it the logical way but it probably shines when crushing Kicks and 808s to make them louder without clipping

[@teftymusictech]

Definitely competing with FL Studio toolkit. When I tried it on drums I just didn't hear that much difference from something like AIR Soft Tube, which is technically doing similar stuff, slightly different (also on different SHAPES, didn't hear much difference with drums). It's WAAAYY more obvious with a sine wave because you can pick out the different harmonics produced. And by definition, the soft clipper gently 'clips' the signal to produce harmonics that sound louder at the same signal level. Again, same stuff as Soft Tube but with different algorithms. I highly recommend testing it though to make the call, because another producer might hear a larger difference on the drums between the different shapes (and AIR Soft Tube).

[@BrandonBLysticLee]

@@teftymusictech Gotcha, I think I’m going to mess with it tomorrow or later this week. It’s a surprise and I’m curious lol Been a fan of the channel too man since the beginning. I’m also debating on starting a new channel or pivoting my current one. I got sucked into the MPC niche and there’s so much more I want to do videos on (but the algorithm hates it lol). Keep ‘em coming though 👌🏾

[@teftymusictech]

Hey thanks Brandon! Just saw the reply now (and dropped a sub to your channel). I hear you on the YT algo stuff. It seems like YT wants people to lean hard into niches for growth, so it 'MIGHT' be worth starting a new channel. However, sometimes things you think drop in overall viewership can suddenly get a big push a few months down the road because of search engine results and/or algo changes. I wish I could offer more advice but I'm still learning and adjusting as I go as well 🙏

[@BrandonBLysticLee]

@@teftymusictech No problem and appreciate it. You're likely right and I'm gonna start another for camera work and tech. Have a good one 💪🏾

[@DanielIvan707]

How does it sound compared to Orange Clip?

[@inlinescreamer]

Nah, I snagged the apogee clipper for free recently amongst the dozens you have for free or come with bundles, ie. Kilohearts free Transient Shaper with clipper or Transient Designer with NI which I use 99% of the time. Wouldn't pay for a clipper ever unless perhaps AKAI modelled the early mpc's output stage in which case would probably pay just out of curiosity if it didn't have a demo

[@dja.selekta]

Had it for a week now. Definitely worth the small change.. Each to their own though. Ps… Akai, modern music production requires LUFS measurements…. If Koala can throw a meter in, what’s the hold up???? Asking for Standalone producers (My workflow and quality would increase drastically )

[@SonicVibe]

Great 👍 stuff

[@ray_maestro_]

What oscilloscope is that?

[@josh_ari]

What was that oscilloscope you were using showing the harmonics ?

[@Byronic19134]

Melda

[@teftymusictech]

www.meldaproduction.com/MOscilloscope

[@8bitBarry1]

I think if you’re using it for mastering, Air Maximiser is better and more interesting to use… oh and it’s free with an MPC

[@jaypkock]

I kinda feel like i wanna pick it up but... Kinda only because it is in standalone.. I need the juno-plugin and the Flex Beat before i even think of this somewhat questionable plugin though - and idm spending on these plugins either - i feel like i give em money so that they can make more plugins that will or won't be useful. My aim is to work completely standalone since i dont own a computer if im honest... But at this point i SHOULD just save up for a laptop so i atleast can run Arturia V Collection X and Arturias FX Collection 5 which i also rent-to-own - feels silly that they drop this1 and not more VSTs if im going to drop abit of criticism... Although they have the essentials already i guess

[@mxsesbeats]

What metering plug in is that?

[@teftymusictech]

Free one by Melda. Here's the link: www.meldaproduction.com/MOscilloscope

[@mxsesbeats]

@@teftymusictech 💥💥

[@philippebackprotips]

Not demoing the actual soft clipping is a bit weird tbh. That's where it is different from a Tube Drive...

[@teftymusictech]

Honestly, I was not planning on making a video on the Soft Clipper because I didn't hear much of a difference on drums. As final curiosity I opened up the scope on a sine wave. This is legit the best way to see what the processing is doing to the signal. Because on drums, it sounds very similar to the tube drive when pushed (albeit a bit brighter). And the different shapes of the Soft Clipper have almost no difference on drums. But yeah you're right, I could've included some real world examples.

[@philippebackprotips]

@@teftymusictech Coming back to the video after a while, noticing that the harmonics control using the release is much cleaner than with TubeDrive. Now, there is the Akai Custom Distortion that would be worth a look the same as what was done in the video. This because Custom Distortion is a true clipper w soft possibilities. Akin to what Hornet Planer would do for example (as it has positive and negative clip + soft control). Need to get the level proper on the input but definitely worth a check. Never ceasing to be amazed on how much there is in that box.

[@Byronic19134]

You should have test the Limter because all this is just a cleaner clipper for the MPC which already has a limiter that you can set to no lookahead. Kind of a waste of $20 honestly. They must need money. They should port over something like XPand2 for Standalone bcuz that would fly off the racks.

[@bulletheadbeatz2296]

I suggest watching Bolo's video... He compares it to their limiter and shows how you can achieve loudness with less db's using the soft clipper than with the limiter. Also the drums "sound" snappier using the soft clipper as opposed to the limiter.

[@Harlem-Instrumental]

@@bulletheadbeatz2296 I know what I'm watching next...

[@teftymusictech]

My experience with drums was very similar to the Tube Drive effect. The Soft Clipper was snappier because it felt like it distorted faster. Personally I'd rather 'limit' with better VSTs like Ozone. When you heavily limit drums it sucks the dynamics out of them and you start getting flat mixes really fast. Just my 2 cents though! I highly recommend testing out the plugin inside the MPC with your drums so you can make the call yourself.

[@boomboombaby9140]

Definitely not worth paying for , I think they should pay us for downloading it 😮

[@Teppichflieger76]

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