How (Not) To Test Your Plugins

[@ethai1]

A one hour Dan Worrall video? Hell yes!

[@matdan2]

This is real treat

[@CharlesK441]

Comfy chair 💺 popcorn 🍿 headphones 🎧 READY 😊

[@prx877]

Yuppp

[@smujohnson]

Find his Amek 9099 null video. I liked how relatable it was, talking about how he bought a plugin or two that he kind of regretted from a PA sale. (I’ve been there. Masterdesk Pro).

[@delucatone]

So very satisfying that the first sine wave test tone was in tune with the key of the song that preceeded it. Serious game.

[@DanWorrall]

It wasn't actually planned. But the music was in D, and the test tone defaults to A=440Hz, and yes that was satisfying :)

[@raphaelkuttruf]

@@DanWorrall The unconscious competence of pro engineers

[@Intimatycal]

@@raphaelkuttruf good point

[@inthemix]

The section from 18:00 onwards is such a good way to represent the problem of folks "analysing" plugins. I'm going to be linking that section to many people!

[@davidriesmeyer248]

goat

[@rickythethird]

SO is plugin doctor any good?'

[@Whiteseastudio]

You’ve literally saved me a lot of hours about things I still wanted to study 😊🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@TraxtasyMedia]

just came up and thought of mentioning your channel :D

[@tonruscan]

Oh, it's Wytse who banned me from his channel because I said he wasn't independent anymore and that he just does adverts for his affiliate links... how's that going?

[@InFiNiGhTe]

@@tonruscan Some things are just not what you think it is.

[@TraxtasyMedia]

@@tonruscan dude, I'm not his social affiliate manager, so I can't tell, because I haven't used any of his links tho. So why do you cryout at random people about his business?

[@ableton-i3d]

Why does White Sea paint his nails?💅 Does he have a daughter who does it?

[@gh0stransist0r]

I'm in the middle of mixing and saw notification for this vid, glad I know my priority, mixing can wait.

[@trushreitsam5802]

Already switched the All-Pass-Filter in and out behind the scenes... Dan is really getting tired of too many people trying to bs themselves XD Love it! Always staying two steps ahead ;D (Careful dumb audio Joke incoming) Sounds Like Dan got his own Lookahead setting dialled to the max XD

[@anteshell]

You got the smile out of me with that joke. ;D

[@trushreitsam5802]

@@anteshell thanks! That's all I wanted. This is a good day!

[@natus49]

That was a good one

[@TheMetalShed]

Eagerly awaiting the Fabfilter Pro-DW, with up to 32000ms of lookahead 😂

[@natigrinkrug]

That's a good one, made me smile 😂

[@Podcastage]

Thank you for all that you do. Your channel is incredible and I really appreciate you sharing your expertise with all of us.

[@David_Logr]

funny seeing you here, and yes, I absolutely agree!

[@noisemodule]

"magick audiophile pebbles aligned with ley lines"... the woo-woo audiophile razz in this scroll is next level. thank you always for being a voice of reason, I used to work in the 'High End' consumer audio industry and some of the shit that came out of people's mouths, from both electro-mechanical engineers and lay-person customers alike, was so eye watering-ly stupid it was actually exhilarating.

[@TValoy]

I love the saw tooth recreation, Dan! A simple and elegant (yet immensely powerful) demonstration of basic audio principles.

[@DanWorrall]

It was surprisingly difficult to generate sine waves that didn't drift out of phase as I was talking!

[@TValoy]

@@DanWorrall I'm glad you pulled it off. I feel smarter after watching the demonstration of your hand made phase shift causing increased peak levels

[@basroos_snafu]

@@DanWorrall Very interesting. Do you know why the drifting took place? Is it because of the processing internally, perhaps enumerating the channels very fast, but still introducing some latency of a couple of samples? Did you have to align the peaks manually? Thanks for your effort, it was worth the educational bonus.

[@DanWorrall]

@@basroos_snafu I think just tiny inaccuracies in frequency, which would never matter except in a case like this. My solution was to generate them using Reaktor's sine bank module (I think that's what it's called) which is specifically designed for additive synthesis. Then set it to produce one partial at a time.

[@basroos_snafu]

@@DanWorrall Thank you for your answer, and effort again and again. Nice you came up with the solution as well. Enjoy your weekend!

[@gurumajuindonesia]

finally a one hour video that i have been waiting from Dan Worrall! these tests are mind blowing

[@JoeyFTL]

What makes these videos truly be in a class of their own is that they give me the feeling that Dan has just as much fun talking about these topics as we enjoy listening

[@TokyoSpeirs]

This was one of the best DW videos so far. Pure gold from start to finish. Do not underestimate how much effort went into this video.

[@SoCalPatriot]

Made it all the way to end Dan! And I will watch it again. You’ve taught more here in 1 hr 11 mins that an entire “audio” school. Thank you!

[@sanketkulkarni7854]

This is basically my 2 years of Masters degree learning in Music Technology in 1 hour.

[@MrPete0282]

And there 're other annoying digital non-linearities to account for like freq delays... Music mixed by musicians, often it kinda suffers , trying to do everything yourself and have no one to learn from, unlike in a pro studio, it's much more difficult than you thought it was! Deleting comments & hacking existing ones , nice channel! Job insecurities.

[@noahleach7690]

@@MrPete0282 i love when boomers just ramble, what a mess of paragraphs

[@XiyuYang]

@@MrPete0282 hurr durr damn the millennials because they mix their own music on a laptop! Get over it, there are people who swear by hardware and consoles and there are people who wins Grammy using only Waves.

[@MrPete0282]

​@@XiyuYang So one idiot calls me a boomer all of a sudden i need to let millennials do their thing with laptops and whatnot... lmao yeah very boomer much anti-millennial u triggered or waves spam bot? I'm sure i did not mention age. Sure buy waves.. buy 2 plugins get 1 Grammy for free, offer stands only if you 're under 38 years of age (or whatever the definitive threshold of generations the experts seem to disagree), forbidden for boomers who mix only in analog consoles like me. Thanks for the laughs!

[@Mdjagg]

School is for a piece of paper, you can do it all on here.

[@pennycool5670]

This is brilliant and helpful stuff - and even though I try to make really simple testing of plugins available on my website, it is always to encourage people to do their own testing and evaluations. His section about how nonlinear modeling will totally mess with linear analysis is such a worthwhile and easy-to-understand explanation! Tests always have their own limitations to be aware of, but they also allow you to quickly determine which plugins are masquerading as "analog" or where there are flaws. One of the few things on youtube I wish I would have created!! Thank you, Dan!

[@blcsmith9080]

Glad to be back Dan. Hope you're good.

[@theswedishmusicstudio]

Perhaps THE best video ever in the entire audio community! I wish everyone just watched this (including the plugin devs)!! I would love a detailed video on hearing as well, as that is something i’ve been wondering about for a long time. How the decoding works, how we should prepare for a mixing session, what biases we have, and mostly just a lot of demonstrations on how easy it is to fool the ears. So that the next time we end up in a debate with an audiophile or ”believer” engineer we can just link the video. :) amazing work Dan! Thank you!!! ❤

[@HappyFamilySingers]

The only thing I like about your vids better that the clear logic of the analysis presented, is the the bone dry wit and the dripping wet sarcasm you frost the delivery with so well. I am always in the mood to get the most out of what I have been working on by any and all means when I watch your vids. Thanks.

[@nickmarkham3743]

Great song title for his one, Dan. And hugely validating video as well. This is all stuff I've picked up slowly over the years, either from you, or from my own tests working on my own DSP. Realizing what is and is not a valid result, and how to do blind tests, as well as the all important "but do I like what I hear in context" tests.

[@nickmarkham3743]

@@mal2ksc Is that a play on words or a song title of Dan's that I missed?

[@ApexErich]

I learned more in the last hour than I have learned in the last two years of my music mixing journey. THANKS FOR THIS!

[@Tom-tv4ok]

The depth of information in this video is beyond amazing

[@wsakundi]

I watched a video the other day by a bafflingly popular KZbinr that had me pulling my hair out when he loaded up Plugin Doctor. Thanks for this video. It’s helping all of us become better informed engineers and hopefully more selective in who we choose to devote our time and attention to.

[@reddmusiclab]

Proud student of DWU! Dan Worral University. Awesome video. While this was a FF sponsored video, DDMF should’ve pitched in since you taught us how to properly use Plug-In Doctor. Many thanks Dan! Will watch again and again.

[@minde1337]

Upcoming music producer here, this video is simply amazing! This is a life saver for people out there like me who self-teach... I was not aware of many of the issues plugins could have been doing to my mixes before this video. Thanks Dan!

[@XRaym]

I love Bertom EQ analyzer (which is free), it is a VST and analyze the FX chains. It do have less feature but it is a good alternative. Also for null testing, I have made a JS effect to detect silence, which is cool to be sure there is absolutely no difference at all. JS: Silence Meter it is called. Thx for the video! All the harmonics analysis in PD seems indeed very cool!!

[@eegoal]

Plugin doctor can run inside your daw.

[@XRaym]

@@eegoal right, corrected !

[@XRaym]

@@eegoal Ok but it doesnt analyze the chain, it still works with the Load VST button. Bertom EQ analyzer works withthe FX chain in the DAW (it need two instances, one to geenrate sound before FX, and one for analysing the modified sounds post fx)

[@_DRMR_]

@@eegoal It doesn't run on all operating systems, where Bertom EQ does.

[@GingerLeftyGuitar]

Dan returns, and it’s an hour plus video. Hell yes 🙌!!

[@MrTheog1989]

Love your work Dan, it's always a good day when I get to wrap my eyes and ears around another one of your videos :)

[@Mr.Bucket-san]

Thank you for making this Dan. Definitely a must watch for any audio engineer, upcoming or otherwise.

[@rickythethird]

SO is plugin doctor any good?

[@booganaga123]

This is an incredible video. As someone who, in the distant past, got a master's degree focusing on signal processing and recently has gotten into writing and mixing music it's such good info. Thanks for approaching the material from both the mathematical/scientific side and from the musical side. Amazingly high-quality content.

[@cmd_f5]

The work you put into these vids is incredible. I always learn something new. PS: Reaper's Delta solo is a real treat, I use that all the time. Cheers

[@DomSigalas]

This was a delightful video. And the conclusion at the end is right on the money. Thanks Dan!

[@drauncj]

Thanks for the validation that I never once fell down this rabbit hole, and have forever used the blind bypass switch method. I mainly watched this video because you are entertaining.

[@AuroraBPolaris]

1 hour of knowledge bombs and fact-checking. Love it. Everyone should know about your channel at this point. Congrats Dan!

[@peruibeloko]

Amazing work as always Dan! I loved that the video is essentially a one hour long prelude to the classic "if it sounds good, it is good", which in the end is truly the only rule there is

[@FreddieFevens]

Such a great video. I have to be somewhere in an hour but I'm glued watching this. Fantastic Dan thank you so much!

[@marcan42]

One minor correction: Using a linear phase filter is *not* a guarantee that you will not increase peak levels either. Try EQing a (gently band limited to round off the corners and avoid true peak excursion) square wave to cut off all but the fundamental with a linear phase EQ. Depending on exactly what filter you use, you can wind up with a +2dB increase in peaks. Peak level just doesn't mean anything once you introduce EQ in any form, even without phase shift. The peaks are, after all, a time domain phenomenon, and there's no telling what will happen to them when you introduce frequency-dependent processing.

[@isaac10231]

Woah, MARCAN is here? 😮

[@TallAlex1]

Hour long deep dive, even allowed both ads to play without skipping! Thanks

[@mihneazoican2479]

DAN PLEASE DON’T DO THIS I HAVE WORK TO DO TODAY😭

[@chadmichael_]

I laughed so hard just now at this comment because it’s so relatable. 😂😂😂

[@BeatsAndMeats]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Luckiky I’ve got a decent drive home in a bit so I. An live it up. I’ve always wondered how well my car’s auto braking system works anyways.

[@cwahlbrink]

I lost it at this comment hahahaha

[@Tomydeclerqueplus]

I watched the video after I read your comment ... agree ...

[@adithyasatheesh127]

Popular opinion: learned more in 1 hour than in my last 10 years of pondering. Only complaint? The video wasn't long enough.

[@jimimaze]

Thanks Dan. I'll be back to watch this again. I love the blind test. I think I will be asking audio techs to take the test in front of me often, from now on.

[@moatazlashine]

The only trustful source of audio knowledge on youtube, I've learned a lot from you Dan. Thanks for taking the time to produce such as video

[@steveshadforth]

hahahaha

[@banterbanter]

After listening to this on a loop for 3 days, I can now speak fluent Russian and have mastered nuclear fission using only stock plugins.

[@Twongo]

Another fine set of considerations. Thank you for all your contributions to the legacy of excellent audio for music. Also, I never tire of dunking on audiophiles. Now that I think about it, Dave Rat rather gracefully didn't shit on them in a recent video and I was actually inspired by his approach. He said something along the lines of, "Not everyone is going for studio accuracy in their speaker or listening space. Sometimes it's cool just to own a piece of art that goes with the room." I'm not saying this to criticize your tact. I was simply reminded by my original comment and really do like that I hadn't heard it stated like that before. In my heart of hearts, I align with your sentiment perfectly. A null test would produce complete cancelation.

[@foketesz]

This channel clears out most of the clutter. Priceless.

[@critterpurush2684]

The way you explain such complex issues in such simple ways is absolutely mind-blowing. Thank you so much for helping us beginners! ❣️

[@LesonDeson]

Insane work as always. Thank you for what you do to educate people.

[@synthshoot1026]

3:10 two files that null perfectly can’t sound different. But two files that don’t null perfectly can sound perfectly identical. Thanks for the video. Great content. Very informative

[@alexeyayzin8512]

So excited. One hour+ !!

[@SyeSound]

Dan is the only one I trust on KZbin! Keep up the great work!

[@b130610]

I can't believe this video is available for free. Incredible presentation and information.

[@edgriggs3544]

A full hour (plus) of balls-to-the-wall nerding out! I'm all in! I enjoyed the science, the math and the off-the cuff humor (as always). The magic pebbles and ley lines comment was priceless. But most of all, I enjoyed the proper way to compare compressors and the only test that matters.

[@JDarkooJDarkoo]

Dan, wonderful work. And also thanks to FabFilter, who did the whole audio industry a service by sponsering this vid. Yes, debunking myths help them of course, but it also helps all the other honest plugin makers. I don't have their plugs, so I'm not speaking as a fan boy, just respect where it's due.

[@higltypig]

ah I was dangerously close to going out for a run. Thankyou for the procrastination opportunity!

[@rpgaleksy]

Stay focused bro, listen to the video on your run or in the gym, there‘s no excuse for not doing both haha

[@MarkusKaarlonenMusic]

OK, I gave this a like already at the 3.5 minute mark. You really got me with that crystal healing and homeopathy remark. Brilliant!

[@IZNT-0]

sir i am immensely thankful for your effort and kindness in sharing your knowledge with us.

[@TheNewFlesh]

Great video, bold of you to try and fight the cognitive bias. Hope this reaches the "cable elevator" crowd and isn't just preaching to the choir

[@stewie3128]

I had never heard of cable elevators before. I feel dumber now, having acquired that knowledge.

[@mixphantom0101]

School is out! Thanks Dan... the internet needed this. (love the Kirchoff burn 😎)

[@CaseyConnor]

Tickled and proud to see my humble ABX software in a Dan video - thanks for the video and the link!

[@OKFCPrez]

Please keep producing great content like this, I really appreciate this.

[@Zet237yt]

Notification for a new Dan Worral video pops up. 🙂 It is over an hour long. ☺ It is sponsored by FabFilter. 😀

[@bastienhfrug1870]

Null test on oversampling can always be done, no matter if it is linear-phase or not. Create two tracks, with both an instance with oversampling and an instance without oversampling (4 in total). Apply the effect on oversampled instance in track one, and on non-oversampled instance on track two. Phase shift are compensated. And supernatural clean mastering mode on pro-c2 happens when compressor use some hidden hold function or an equivalent release filter with at least 4-pole lowpass structure. You can see its hold-like behaviour on transient test with long release (and boost volume for easier observation).

[@korkenknopfus]

Well, I wanted to watch two or three minutes tonight and tomorrow watch the whole video with calm. But here am I, at 3:40 am finishing this jewel.

[@zouyia]

Whenever a new Dan's video comes up I always learn new things but I have a real question.........WTF do you know all these!!!!!!😅I am truly gobsmacked and jealous of your deep knowledge💙

[@DanWorrall]

30 years of not having any other hobbies ;)

[@Super-id7bq]

Great vid Dan. I feel like every studio engineer or producer would benefit from doing some FOH or monitors engineering. Unless you're on a console with a display like an M7 or Midas (which most small venues won't) you're never gonna get bogged down by the numbers and even if you are on a console with more plugin style effects and a digital display, you're generally watching the band not the board. Really forces you to be more listening focussed and also fast (sound checks last minutes, not weeks). Anyone can basically sign up to most venues as a Cazzy (Casual Technical) which is basically a zero hour contract and you'll probably get some work after shadowing for a while. I've worked at dozens of venues and done countless tours and there's always noobs on the crew. Because it pays so poorly they're generally desperate for extra hands and if you're on the list you'll definitely end up getting a call once someone inevitably has a sick day. I wouldn't advise it as a career though lol. Not unless you want to be permanently knackered and skint.

[@thevi_olin]

oh, this one is going on repeat for a while! thanks Dan & FabFilter team!!!

[@w.7258]

"that sophisticated, complex, powerful tool in our heads" Dan Worrel then proceeds to destroy mine with ultra-brain knowledge and insights. you sunk my battleship. :( owie. great content as always, Dan. Now i have to sit and process all of this for a couple of months.

[@creativecraving]

Just found your channel today, and you're really helping me learn how to analyze audio, and how to model it inside my head. Thank you!

[@helmanfrow]

Dan's first feature-length film. Love it.

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

I always learn something useful and interesting watching your vids. And, when I return, I learn a bit more, probably because the first time I watch, I am out of my technical depth. Slowly, however, more of it sits in place. So I want to thank you for these vids, and this one must have taken some time to make.

[@supercompooper]

I pitch shift my audio up into the Ghz range and route it through an amethyst geode for the best separation of church and state.

[@vincentvangraite4485]

i love this sentence

[@ardkok9483]

Every video just nails it. Such great work, dan! I learn a lot every video!

[@sword-and-shield]

ALWAYS something to learn with Dan testing.

[@nikolasb8313]

The movie I didn't know I needed to watch tonight. Great review and I learned so much too! Thank you!

[@briancase6180]

Amazing! Another video I need but didn't know! Thanks for reading my mind! ☺️

[@TwoScoopsOfTubert]

The timing of the music/voiceover/topic at 10:58 is superb

[@Beatsbasteln]

I know why you made this video. After some of your most popular videos were released you confronted a bunch of people with their ignorance and it started a bit of an anti-nulltest-movement, so now you explained what it is good for and what it isn't good for to show them that you don't believe that it solves everything. that's nice, but i'd consider making a shorter version of this video, so that when people wanna drop it in comment sections of such posts they don't get reactions like "you don't expect me to watch an hour video, do you?"

[@eprotz]

The amount of work in this great video should make youtube implement OverLiking OL, and I would switch mine to x32 OL.

[@darkenergymusic]

Great video Dan! Nice guitar track as well!

[@rafriley6993]

One thing worth noting is that even though two bits of audio can be identical and null perfectly, there can be an audible difference based on how speakers react positively/negatively. Try this on a kick drum, the difference can be pretty obvious

[@fftunes]

If they null perfectly then they are not identical 😉 but yes i get what you mean.

[@NamelessSmile]

Can you elaborate?

[@Pinkybum]

Nope. Unless you mean the kick drum will sound different on different speakers - which is obvious.

[@GaryNorthants]

Excellent work. Thank you for taking so much time to do this and I look forward to the next

[@JoeyFTL]

I'm only 4 minutes in and the savage burns are already hitting legendary levels. Dan Worrall was made different that's for sure.

[@pompeysie]

Very happy to hear you are back, Dan. Where have you been?

[@damianelloway]

@danworrall YES! You remembered my question about Rea Eq and the All Pass filter! Altough you did mention that in order to recreate the allpass one must use timeless, and not vulcano... Oh well, ill have to buy Volcano. Great video as always!

[@bradleypower4803]

Love the plugin doctor discussion here, I don't know how to use it like I should a year later ... thanks!

[@rickdomina]

Hi Dan, I don't test my plugins. You do it for me. Thank you!!!

[@eugeneondasound]

Insanely useful tips thank you although the bias shots at ummmm Kirchhoff obviously was hilarious 😂

[@isaacwinter665]

Thanks for this! Lots of things to take in and try out.

[@tarkaron8]

Dan, I'm truly thankful for your video ❤

[@Stormsurf001]

Thanks Dan! - You cleared up so many of my previous misconceptions. Great work as always.

[@patovega]

Outstanding video! im gonna need to watch this a few times as i doo with all your videos.

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Great video! long over due as well! I definitely learned a little bit more about testing thanks!

[@francobuzzetti9424]

who wouldn't watch everything? thank you for sharing!

[@hyperactivists9390]

HOORAY and thanks for the detailed explanations i’ve missed you

[@andreifilip]

Thanks a lot Dan! Really helped a lot! Keep them coming! Cheers (Already watching it the second time)

[@trayoibry8246]

Well watched the whole video, watched the part with "why eq cuts get louder" twice... Very nice video again learned a lot but also have to watch sections again at least 3-4 times...i still don't get the part with harmonic anaw and Hammerstein...i use harmonic dist. Frequently And I like what it does but the way it was displayed by doctor confused me...aliasing also have to watch this really again because I think this is the best video in KZbin for people mixing on there computer...thanks a lot Dan❤️👍

[@kennyglod7]

I made it all the way to the end of the video! Thanks again Dan! Have a question: Should we manually calibrate everyone of our plugins before mixing, and if so, how would you recommend we go about doing this task?

[@peterpiper0815]

perfect education and entertainment. Thank you Dan.

[@Bronwyn031]

Dan, I learn so much by watching any of your videos. 💖

[@adwind3055]

Wow! A great video that makes quite a few things mighty clear. Thanks 🙏

[@soups1337]

Another amazing video, thanks for your knowledge!