This Smooth Operator Reverb Trick Will Change Your Life | Baby Audio

[@sub-jec-tiv]

They saw Soothe and said, ‘hold my beer.’ Good show. If i’d seen these tools 25 years ago, recording on 4 track & then ADAT, i’d have lost my mind.

[@themindbadger8]

Great, almost effortless way to polish a track and give it space in the mix at the same time. And one of the most intuitive plugins I've seen in a long time.

[@530Zeno]

What a great trick! Resonance suppressor, track spacer, signal shaper, dynamic EQ, mild multiband compression, this thing is well worth the $39. So glad I got in on it early. Now smart EQ and open source ARA time!

[@libla-music]

This is a great one. Solved many problems with harsh high-end without wrecking the sound.

[@jacksolarmusicmastering]

For me it's the quality of sound that sells me, there are multiple ways to do what this plugin does, but i feel like this plugin does it very clean

[@tamasgorfol6]

This plugin is now on sale. I bought it quickly. I got very good results on the reverb track. thanks for the tip.

[@sharpsetify]

Wow! That's butter. Yeah, I'm using it on every track sandwiched between two Sonible smart:EQs. I know it has potential in returns. This looks huuuuge.

[@MrClarkio]

I'm loving this plug-in, a little goes a long way with it. Thinking of that display as a threshold which varies by frequency is a really useful analogy. I hadn't thought of it but yes, when you combine that with a sidechain on a send channel gives you a really focused, un-harsh spin up reverb or delay. Nice trick, thank you.

[@msp420]

it's quite literally made it's way on to most of my tracks...mixed with gullfoss...can't lose

[@cmndzmusic1647]

So clean! ❤️

[@lance134679]

Good reverb tip. If you don't have Smooth Operator or something similar, you can also chain a delay and reverb on an effects buss to help create separation between the dry and effected signals.

[@Ascended23]

It's like a multiband compressor that has a zillion bands and you can set the threshold for each band using a single curved line tool in the UI.

[@shq1723]

Probably the best plugin of 2021, great stuff!

[@kevyriverside8082]

That reverb gave me chills. Ableton live is kinda dope huh?

[@PluginBoutiqueOfficial]

That reverb is Little Plate from Soundtoys. Currently on sale too :) - JC www.pluginboutique.com/products/4715

[@danabarnes4751]

niiiiice! useful, for sure! Such an interesting plugin. Many uses. Thanks for the tip!

[@DouglasComical]

So it basically does both the Soothe and the Trackspacer thing in one, also somewhat of an EQ

[@TjMoon91]

Unless I’m missing something Soothe 2 can do everything this can do?

[@DouglasComical]

@@TjMoon91 not sure, does soothe have a side chain function?

[@TjMoon91]

@@DouglasComical I could be mistaken but I’m pretty sure it does.

[@MrClarkio]

I've tried both, and they both can do this trick, but to my mind soothe2 has a lot of subtle and a little not so subtle whereas smooth operator has a more linear response. Soothe2 has a degree of mid side processing and you have generally a bit more control. Personally (to my bit deaf above 4k Guitarist ears) I think I prefer smooth operator and it's slightly broader brush which is ideal for this kind of ducking use. Trackspacer to my mind is more of a really easy to use multiband compressor focussed around a sidechain input. It certainly has less customisation of the frequency response curve than either of the other 2.

[@markpearcy9248]

how come you have ext input bottom left, I just have solo?

[@ST-fl5fy]

I’m confused. So for the reverb trick you have the plugin on the aux track behind the reverb. Then sidechain in the vocal us that right?

[@Jpetersson]

Super cool!

[@Gedagnors]

Thank you for the great video! I learn so much from you!! P. S.: I am sorry, is there an external input feature in the latest version of this plugin?

[@abrotherinchrist]

How would you say this compares to Smart:Comp's sidechain? Seems very similar, but this one is probably a bit more precise.

[@bluematrix5001]

You could use a Dyn EQ or Multiband Compressor! and you said behind it? I see Smooth Operator after the Reverb, also instead of the sidechain you could put Smootrh operator before the Reverb and see how it goes....

[@rishabhbose29]

Got this last month. Really happy with this simple but powerful plugin. Why spend 240 bucks on Soothe when you can spend 40 bucks and get this bad boy. And it is super friendly on the CPU as well Although it would have been great if they added a Mix knob/ level. Maybe on the 2nd Version they will coz this is gonna be really popular

[@ignacedhont9816]

Soothe2 is great too, but a different beast. I use Soothe and Smooth Operator for different tasks..

[@treys1695]

@@ignacedhont9816what do you use each one for? I'm deciding between the 2 right now

[@rspatel9655]

I hope future updates will have features like Wavesfactory Trackspacer 🤞🤞

[@hearmenow909]

Trackspacer is limited, not enough points to target different parts of the frequency. You have to use multiple instances of it to cover different frequencies. Definitely room for improvement with Trackspacer.

[@RutgerS.]

The reverb trick can be done with all plugins with sidechain functionality though: trackspacer, smart:comp etc. etc. Not really a unique selling point.

[@50CalBeats]

Yeah, not necessarily unique in how it operates, but the ability to shape the threshold for different frequencies is definitely better with this implementation. You can only shape so much with 2 filters in Trackspacer, but having adjustable attack and release is definitely nice in that plugin. This one is just TOO easy to use to pass up imo.

[@METHOD-DNB]

It also seems to have more bands, making it more accurate

[@RutgerS.]

@@METHOD-DNB more bands than smart:comp? Doubt that

[@METHOD-DNB]

@@RutgerS. More than trackspacer, haven't tried that one

[@_thevaporz]

Anyone know how we could get a breakdown of what all the presets do? Some names are obvious but it's hard to tell what most of them do exactly.

[@djkurtstudio]

Wow this can be used on all sorts of things! Excellent but do you still use return tracks for reverb? I just create a fx layer in Bitwig and do it on the channel I'm working on. Not used a send track in years now!

[@saxombie8614]

You can duck reverb directly now with Crystalline reverb ducking slider, no need to sidechain.

[@nolanmarshall3212]

You have more versatility if you do this trick with Waves Factory Track Spacer in combination with Soothe 2 side chained to your effects sends

[@CatraValentine]

Also interesting: what song is this? I like the singers flair and the piano makes for something really nice. Wonder how the whole song sounds like pls :)

[@CatraValentine]

a just seen it's possibly a sample pack named "SFTP". Does someone know which one that is?

[@PluginBoutiqueOfficial]

@@CatraValentine Here you go. You can find the vocal in this pack. Really great pack too! - JC - www.loopmasters.com/genres/95-EDM/products/6418-Sundown-Future-Pop-Tracks

[@CatraValentine]

@@PluginBoutiqueOfficial wow, thanks so much and for this lightning fast reply I already wrote to your support coz I didn't thought anyone would monitor this old video comments! haha, 1000 tak!

[@judson8441]

Amazing video!! Do you know what setting you had on the little plate reverb?

[@ApexArtistX]

Nova EQ free vst does this no need to buy

[@itsbruxyall]

This is clever. Anybody know the CPU hit this creates versus trackspacer's CPU hit?

[@deanbordignon]

Great video! What is this Ableton skin? I love it

[@PluginBoutiqueOfficial]

Hi there. I forget where I got it. But, I'm sure a search for Ableton 10 skins will get you there. If it helps, I believe it's called "Logic" as it's like the Logic color scheme :) - JC

[@riharrds]

Amazing thx )

[@bluematrix5001]

I wish the GUI have more contrast! the colors are so similar

[@matteogazzolo1]

How do you manage to have the "ext input" button where I have the "solo" button? Is it a different version of Smooth Operator?

[@hodgepodge2749]

there is a little chain link in the top right corner that does the same thing

[@matteogazzolo1]

@@hodgepodge2749 thanks! the sside chian button, yes...

[@TjMoon91]

Does this offer anything that can’t be done with soothe? Or pretty much just the same concept by a different company?

[@RJEnriquez]

Who is the singer?

[@MrMarcoGhonzx]

Hi, so for the vocal plate: sidechain from vocals into smooth operator, and smooth operator goes after the plate reverb??

[@RipCityMixes]

The routing has me confused too.

[@mrnelsonius5631]

I haven’t even watched the video yet, but this is an old trick you can do multiple ways with several tools. First, make sure your vocal reverb is on a send/aux so that it’s separate from your vocal track. Then insert this tool (or TrackSpacer) on the reverb track, *after* the actual reverb plug-in. Set it’s sidechain input to your vocal track and season to taste. You just want it ducking the frequencies of your vocals out of the reverb so that they aren’t competing in the mix. Gives you more clarity and presence to the vocals without sacrificing the space and 3D-ness the reverb adds :)

[@jacksolarmusicmastering]

Whats this track called btw

[@PluginBoutiqueOfficial]

I don't remember. I just made it for this video. The vocal is something I got form Loopcloud though. - JC

[@RickRockerMusic]

I’m still trying to figure out what makes this plugin so special :/ If you’re trying to get certain frequencies out, there’s EQ. If you’re trying to compress, there’s compression. If you want reverb to only be at certain points, automate. The reverb is the only part where it seems like a unique and usable function to me because it’ll only target certain frequencies in the reverbs tone. Is that basically what this plugin is good for then? 🤷

[@ignacedhont9816]

You're not getting it. Watch the gain reduction line in the video, so the top horzontal line. Thats's definitely not the action of a normal equalizer / compressor.

[@911truthfarmer]

Waves F6?

[@alejandrovarey679]

Just to clarifiy, Im not a Ableton user...this external audio function is a sidechain no?

[@hodgepodge2749]

yes

[@sirwanmusic]

Amazing. But it’s quite cpu heavy

[@GTSongwriter]

From y'all's website "44,100 times per second".... Does that mean it's limited to 44.1khz?

[@PluginBoutiqueOfficial]

That's just the normal sample rate of your DAW. I am not sure if you use 48k if the plugin will use that instead. You might email [e-mail] and ask though :) - JC

[@GTSongwriter]

@@PluginBoutiqueOfficial I tried to install thier app, but windows warned me that it didn't recognize their software company as legit. I downloaded it from y'all, so not sure what's happening. I guess thier windows certification is expired?

[@Superdelphinus]

Is this made by the same people as soothe, or does just look very very similar?

[@krispybowgod9656]

@@hazardmouth wrong. This plugin is by Baby Audio. Track spacer is from waves factory

[@hazardmouth]

@@krispybowgod9656 🤦‍♂️ haha I just bought them both and keep getting them mixed up haha 😅

[@krispybowgod9656]

@@hazardmouth easy enough to do. They both fire plugins

[@hazardmouth]

@@krispybowgod9656 can't argue with that

[@530Zeno]

Having a tough time routing this is FL. Can anyone help me not be a dummy?

[@530Zeno]

Nevermind, you literally just throw it on the next in after the reverb and it works perfect. Got confused because in my FL version the bottom left button just is for soloing as far as I can tell, no input button.

[@MrClarkio]

Afraid I didn't know how the routing works in fl, but to get the same effect as the video you really need the plugin on a send/aux channel. If you have it as an insert effect (i.e. On the same channel as the vocal) then you're going to be just using it as a "smart eq" on the vocal and reverb. Having it on a send channel, combined with the sidechain/external input allows you to quieten the reverb when the vocal is playing. Apologies if you know this, your use of the phrase "the next in" made me wonder if you quite had it right.

[@530Zeno]

@@MrClarkio Thanks, yea i have the reverb/SO on an aux! i meant the next in(sert) on that mixer channel (the aux). still not positive i'm getting it right though tbh

[@DJ_AKI_]

@@530Zeno Yo man! There's a sidechain logo in the upper right corner when you open the plugin, click that. Then go to the wrapper settings, processing, connection, sidecain, and choose the one you want from the ones that are sidechained to that channel. Hope that helps, cheers! =)

[@ettiennelane9173]

Why is Smooth Operator referencing white noise??? Gullfoss and Soothe reference the pink noise slope with good reason. Does Baby Audio know that the human ear prefers pink noise over white noise? Compare the spectral slope of any commercial mix with that of the pink noise slope. If you pull Smooth Operator down in its default setting, all sources sound thin. The reference is supposed to be the pink noise slope. Please fix this Baby Audio.

[@davelordy]

Worst interface ever, I bought it, gave up using it after a while, it just feels messy and difficult to control, the way the nodes move the threshold line is horrible, perhaps the most clumsy and awkward UI/UX in a plugin I've ever come across. Even when I managed to wrestle something out of it, it sounded no better than a standard EQ move. Baby Audio produce great plugins, this one is basically a difficult to use EQ.

[@SuperElmundo]

sorry to say that but the source material just sounds awful, the 'reverb trick' doesn't help much in that department

[@TheMicrofox]

No.