Black Salt Audio - SILENCER - Too Good To Be True?!

[@spinlightstudios]

Make sure you use the link in the description above and grab Silencer while it is $29! What an absolute steal! Using the link above helps support my channel too, I will only ever give you my honest opinions on plugins and for $29 you literally can't go wrong with this one!

[@spinlightstudios]

Had to upload again sorry! Let me know what you think of Silencer?!

[@edwardkenemorales]

Much better than pro mb indeed for snare 🎉

[@Fanafranky]

Is it the best sounding option? Well, almost. It's comparable to a lot of very good options, but it's definitely the fastest I tried so far! And the ghost button is a really cool standout addition. In my tests I actually ended up semi-accidentally chaining it to other gate/debleeders it wanted to compare it to, namely sonible's smart gate and the drum gate from the Slate Virtual Mix Rack and wow. It complements smart:gate very well rather than replacing it, both on their own would get me like 95% there on the kind of hard session where the ride is physically touching the floor tom or whatever, but together they got me like 98% or so? Very cool!

[@blacksaltaudio]

Great video Rhys, thank you. You're a legend!

[@spinlightstudios]

Cheers BSA! Thanks for letting me take it for a spin pre-release! You've made a killer plugin!

[@jaredthenuhn]

I’ve been so excited for this and already downloaded the demo. It’s so much better than everything I’ve tried in the past! I also wish I had it years ago.

[@spinlightstudios]

I think they’ve done a good job on this one!

[@jaredthenuhn]

The Oxford drum gate works well but it doesn’t have a side chain like this Silencer does. So if the Oxford misses a hit it’s really annoying to get it corrected. Silencer’s side chain eliminates that problem.

[@AlexPapadopoulosMusic]

If you're looking for a gate I'd suggest looking up drum key spikes hands down the best way to gate something but it does take a bit of time !

[@spinlightstudios]

I’ll have to check that one out, never heard of it!

[@AlexPapadopoulosMusic]

@@spinlightstudios I think it's the closest you can get to "perfect" gating, it's pretty simple and it would be cool if you made a video about it so that other people can learn it too.

[@gastonjabaly]

This by far the best i have tried so far

[@stephsandman5473]

man i've been hearing about this plugin everywhere. pretty awesome

[@spinlightstudios]

It does a great job at killing that cymbal bleed!

[@musicatto1]

Your channel has become my favorite...it's just awesome mate. I know you often use FF ProMB for similar cymbal bleed issues....am wondering if you will grab Silencer more often now? (BTW - I use Oxford Drum Gate, generally happy with it...but am always looking for drum gate options, so this video was helpful...and I will check Silencer out!)

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks mate! I think I will be using silencer instead of ProMB for my cymbal bleed needs now. I still think ProMB is a great option though. I like the simplicity of silencer and the built in gate. All in one package is nice 👍🏻

[@alexbaumy]

I've been using it for a few months. So good!

[@spinlightstudios]

Works great on hard hitting drums!

[@edunogues23]

Amazing stuff and great tutorial/showcase! Thanks mate!

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks man!

[@dannywaker4870]

Hey man, i want to buy the silencer today, so i was checking some videos, like yours. thanks for that, but theres another thing in your video. That Drum Room - Which plugin and preset do you use. It sounds awesome and I felt in love!

[@spinlightstudios]

Hey man, do you have a time stamp so I can listen and see what was going on

[@lesliedecesare1622]

Hi, May I ask what is the drum reverb you are using for this example? Thanks

[@keith_hudson]

Dude, coming in so freaking clutch!! I was just looking at this.

[@spinlightstudios]

I think it’s going to be a popular plugin!

[@darylross]

Great content!!! Please...can you tell us what reverb's used on the snare??? 🙏🙏🙏

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks!! Ahhh I can’t remember sorry 😅 most likely relab l480 essentials or Valhalla vintage verb!

[@restlessnoisestudio]

Best drum gate yet!!!

[@spinlightstudios]

Definitely up there with the best 👍🏻

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Question... What would you recommend for separating kicks & snares from drum loops?

[@zachromanoff3933]

Question: My "Ghost" function doesn't show up in my automation menu...any thoughts? thanks

[@spinlightstudios]

That is strange. Are you using Logic? Maybe an email to Black Salt Audio support?

[@danielperson]

Hi Rhys, thanks for the great review. I use Yamaha EAD10 for home recordings - could this plug in possibly allow to split the snare / bass drum / toms / cymbals from the single wave recordings generated through EAD10? Thanks a lot!

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks Daniel. Ooo I’m not so sure mate.. you would have to try it out - I believe there is a demo period on the plugin. But I think the cymbals would be the hard thing about what you’re asking!

[@danielperson]

@@spinlightstudios much appreciated Rhys - thank you!

[@briankruesi6484]

The cymbals sound so much better.

[@spinlightstudios]

Gets rid of all that nasty cymbal bleed! - which means you can EQ those close mics like crazy 😜

[@collinscassel]

Wait was it getting rid of the snare ghost notes?

[@spinlightstudios]

Did you watch the full vid?

[@spinlightstudios]

Just like any gate, you can lose ghost notes, but they have included a ghost note button - it’s an interesting feature. Alternative you just don’t use any range on the gate, and set the threshold to pick up the ghost notes and then dial in as much debleed as needed and as sounds good.

[@danymalsound]

It's really hard to best Sonnox Drum Gate, but it also does a lot more than this piece

[@spinlightstudios]

I’ll have to investigate sonnox drum gate! I mean, there are plenty of ways to remove cymbal bleed and gate drums, this is just nice and simple!

[@davidcotestratton]

Just stumbled apon your videos and your snare sounds killer i was wondering what samples you're using on kick and snare! Going to use your link 😄

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks David! I actually use my own samples in a lot of my mixes! You can check them out in my description link above! I run trigger 2 most of the time to blend them in with the real drums.

[@Arden7one]

Phenomenal review broski 🙌 thank you for the in depth variety of example and contexts you've used it in. And on your last question I'd like to take the middle way - why not use both MB & Silencer? 😏 Why compete when they can compliment each other? 😉 Much love Rhyse 🙏

[@spinlightstudios]

I agree, ProMB still gets plenty of good use for debleeding still. It really depends on the track as to whether silencer is best suited for it or ProMB. Thanks mate!

[@Naindurth]

What reverb are you using on the snare? really nice!

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks! Can’t remember off the top of my head, but most likely Valhalla vintage verb or relab lx480 essentials.

[@AlexShourds]

This is great. What is the plugin latency like? CPU Usage? Would love to have this on my broadcast template if the latency isnt too high!

[@pinkpenguinpoopoo]

also interested

[@spinlightstudios]

I’m not sure man, I didn’t notice any cpu strain, but I’m also running a high buffer while mixing so it’s not an issue. I think you can download a demo and try it out?

[@blacksaltaudio]

Silencer loaded in a 48kHz will show 72samples, in a Session with 44.1kHz will equal 66samples -> in both cases it will result in a 1.5ms latency.

[@mikeweiser2210]

@@spinlightstudiosin a case like that, you could always make a backup copy of the untouched audio and put it in a folder. That way when you do use the de-bleeder and any other processing, bounce and commit the tracks and turn off all plugins. Best way to save CPU, plus if you messed up anything, you can always fly a copy of the untouched tracks back in, turn your plugins back on and adjust from there

[@spinlightstudios]

@@mikeweiser2210 yes that’s a great way if you have cpu issues, he was asking about latency for using in a live setting. When mixing it’s pretty standard to run your session with a higher buffer so you don’t need to bounce tracks in place as the computer can handle it better.

[@mattelder4269]

Kind of looks like it acts somewhat like Oxford drum gate. I may be way off the mark. What do you think?

[@jaredthenuhn]

I don’t think you’re off on that but my issue with the Oxford drum gate is that it doesn’t have a side chain feature. So when the Oxford misses a snare hit, it’s really annoying to get it corrected. Silencer eliminates that by being able to side chain a sample.

[@spinlightstudios]

I haven’t used sonnox drum gate, but I’ll have to check it out and see for myself!

[@guscarter5918]

Just bought it ✌🏽😎

[@spinlightstudios]

Awesome man, it’s gonna be very useful on live drums!

[@udntknwwhoweare]

it can work to live vocals?

[@spinlightstudios]

I’m not sure, haven’t tried it for that application 🤔

[@udntknwwhoweare]

@@spinlightstudios I want to try but I cant use the free tryal version, they say that they will send me an email but it soent happen

[@kunoramirulzaidi2202]

Novaclip vs silencer . Which better ?

[@spinlightstudios]

Hey! Novaclip is a clipper and silencer is a drum gate - very different applications!

[@diamikan5376]

what drum plugin do you use ?

[@spinlightstudios]

What do you mean?

[@khalilroukoz]

Is this focused mainly on live drums?

[@spinlightstudios]

Yeah. Absolutely!

[@khalilroukoz]

@@spinlightstudioscool ill keep it for live ones, thanks

[@VagendaAdnegav]

After seeing their video opinion piece on Auto-gain, oversampling and plugin doctor, it's fitting their company is "BS Audio". This plugin tries to be a cheap alternative to Sonible's SmartGate, without the engineering required to do what SmartGate does properly. Just facts. Even Sonnox's Drum Gate does actual bleed separation without resorting solely on EQ ranges and timing alone. If you want something for $29 though, and are ok with the compromises therein, great plugin I guess. The interface suggests that it does stem separation like AI driven plugins like those I mentioned, or like RipX and Serato Sample - but it simply doesn't. To that end, I do find this plugin dishonest.

[@spinlightstudios]

That's fair mate, I guess I don't know too much about all that stuff, I think the plugin does a good job of isolating close mics and killing cymbal bleed, better than a standard gate. Nothing on their website suggests anything to do with A.I. so I'm just not sure where they are being dishonest? I watched a comparison just now of Sonible smart gate and wasnt really impressed with it on drums personally. Sonnnox sounds pretty great, but a big price tag. I would definitely grab Drum Gate if it was $29 haha Appreciate your insights though. I personally think Silencer is a good plugin and everyone Ive talked to who has tried it is happy with it so far too

[@VagendaAdnegav]

@@spinlightstudios They don't mention AI, but they use the same interface elements for AI Stem Separation that Serato Sample uses - exactly. Anyone familiar with products that use image/icons depicting specific instruments could easily & fairly think that this plugin would also do that, and the design intent on this plugin distinctly suggests it - but it doesn't do it. In effect, they use that interface for presets on timings+EQ filters for said instrument. I think that a traditional preset presentation would have been more honest, and not give anyone a chance to expect an "over promise" of function. Of course, that is just my opinion. I would be a lot more favorable to this plugin at its existing price point as a value proposition if they were more honest about what it actually is doing, rather than miming plugins that do a lot more, and respectively, cost a lot more. Thank you for not attacking me over my thoughts. I mean no ill will, I just try to call it as I see it as best I can in case it benefits or interests anyone. I appreciate your channel.

[@spinlightstudios]

Of course, not looking to cause any trouble here! Appreciate the comment and you sharing your thoughts on it! For me, I just picture something similar to the settings I use in FF ProMB going on under the hood. High frequency expansion etc. I think it does that well so I’m happy to use it as it’s simpler to dial in and tweak.

[@adithyasatheesh127]

Wow another gate.

[@spinlightstudios]

Haha 😂 yes, but it has a debleeder that works well and is only $29 currently. So it’s a great option for people who don’t have anything to deal with cymbal bleed yet.

[@studio42.thelivesessions38]

Hi! Thx for the review! Speaking of ghost notes.. I'd always recommend treating them with the Snare bottom mic as normally there isn't any bad cymbal bleeding, especially from the HiHat which mostly causes problems in the mix when the drummer hits the hihat as strong as the snare (or even harder)... so you avoid automating a whole performance like you suggest with the BSA thing... I mean..there are things like Silencer for years like all the transient designers or plugins like DrumLeveler, which generally does the exact same thing like the Silencer. I guess the options for the specific drums like tom, kick and snare is nothing more than a sidechain filter that defines which common frequencies are the ones it is "looking for" ... and to be honest... every modern gate plugin can do that. maybe a few knobs more but hey... it's no rocket science. just my 2 cents :) maybe I'll try out the demo (if there is one) and compare it to my usual workflow and come back saying..."I was so wrong!" LOL Greetz from Germany.

[@spinlightstudios]

For sure man, there are plenty of options out there that do a similar thing, but the beauty of this is the simplicity! I don’t usually gate my snare bottom - I didn’t use silencer on the bottom in this video for that reason. But even ghost notes from the snare bottom don’t have the thickness of the top head, so it’s kind of a nice feature with the ghost button.

[@In10city]

Well I was actually interested until you deleted all the snare ghost notes in the first demo. 😔

[@spinlightstudios]

Well, keep watching and learn how to use the ghost button 😂

[@In10city]

@@spinlightstudios Thanks, will do

[@d.r.dmedia2481]

But you lost all the ghost notes

[@spinlightstudios]

There is a ghost note button, keep watching and you’ll see how it works.

[@JohnWuMastermind]

Talking in the middle and in between the bypassed audio and when the plugin is active doesn't help us understand the difference. Try bypassing and activating straight away so we can feel the difference and talk after the demonstration

[@spinlightstudios]

Fair enough John, plenty of instance through the video where I do it that way too

[@JohnWuMastermind]

@@spinlightstudios Just a suggestion for more successful reviews

[@spinlightstudios]

@@JohnWuMastermind appreciate the feedback! Typically I do this, think I was just enjoying the plugin haha