Free! SPL Attacker...

[elxicano]

SPL is giving away Attacker for one month (Oct 15th - Nov 15th). Normally sold for 59 euros.

More info can be found here (including where to download): http://www.spl.info/index.php?id=460

EDIT... quick note.

Copy protection is Challenge/Response. You do not need an iLok, but you will need to install the iLok drivers in order to do the C/R authorization.


New EDIT... This is among the worst C/R processes *ever* so thankfully this thing is free. If you've never downloaded iLok drivers before, the note that it will require a reboot. Make sure you do this BEFORE you open Live to check for this plugin. I had the old drivers on my system, so after getting a message to update the drivers, SPL Attacker would not show up until I had installed the drivers and then this process: had to remove the dll, rescan the vst folder and then add back in and rescan again.

To get your C/R response, you need to enter the challenge on the same page you request the download, and the wait up to 10 minutes for the response to be emailed.

Again, while waiting for the response, do not cancel the authorization process, or Live will not show this plugin in your folder until repeat the process mentioned above.


Anyway... Like I said... this is free (for one month).

[8O]

Cheers, thanks for letting us know! Downloaded and C/R no problem on my Mac, and I don't think I have any iLok stuff on here...

[@ndy]

Nice one +1

[nuxnamon]

stupid question but what does it do.. what is a attacker?

[elxicano]

stupid question but what does it do.. what is a attacker?

Not a stupid question... I didn't know either before today (and I still haven't put it to use). Anyway, here's the blurb from the site:

Applications

The following examples are given as suggestions and examples. The described procedures with specific instruments can of course be transferred to others which are not mentioned here. The processing of drum and percussion sounds is the most typical Attacker application, but it is in no way limited to that.

Drums & Percussions

Emphasize the attack of a kick drum or a loop to increase the power and presence in the mix.Adjust the apparent “distance” of the microphone by simply varying the ATTACK values.Enjoy an amazingly simple integration of drum sounds into a mix. If the acoustic level of a snare is expanded to approximately +4 dB by increasing the attack value, the effective increase of peak levels in the overall mix is merely about 0.5 dB to 1 dB. If your drums happen to sound as if they have been placed in a shoe closet, the Attacker can immediately get them out of there. Just crank the ATTACK control to emphasize the first wave.

Guitars

Increase ATTACK for in-the-face sounds, which is very useful and works particularly well for picking guitars. Or blow life and juice into quietly played guitar parts.Distorted guitars usually are very compressed, thus not very dynamic. Simply increase the ATTACK to get a clearer sound with more precision and better intonation despite any distortion.

Keyboards & Sampler

Sounds in keyboards and samples usually show a lot of compression, not maintaining enough of their natural dynamic. Increase the ATTACK values to re-gain a more natural response characteristic. The sounds occupy less space in the mix and appear more identifiable even at lower volumes.

Post Production

When dealing with overdubs in movies you can easily add more punch and definition to effect sounds from any sample library.The same applies to outdoor recordings that suffer from poor microphone positioning—simply optimize them afterwards.

Mastering

Like with any good thing, you also have to know where not to use it. For example, using the Attacker in mastering a summed signal usually is not recommendable, as it is rarely a good idea to treat a whole mix at once. Instead, treat individual elements within the mix.

[stonee]

soooo... its a compressor?

[leedsquietman]

It's half of a transient designer, which can compress or expand depending on how you set it.

It sounds to me more like the expansion side of the deal.

Personally, I think SPL's transient designer software is not all that great (compared to the hardware) and in fact, I prefer Cubase's transient designer 'envelope shaper' plugin, especially on drums and double especially on toms. I also dislike the De-Esser that SPL license to Steinberg for Cubase, it's one of the worst de-essers I've ever heard. I won't diss the company's hardware which is very good, but their software has yet to convince me.

Digitalfishphones have a good transient shaper too called 'Dominion' which is freeware, although he (Sascha Eversmeier the designer/dev) stopped developing it years ago as he now works on plugins for Magix Samplitude/Sequoia.

[elxicano]

^The Digitalfishphones stuff was (is) great stuff.... but sadly no longer being developed.

I think most of the stuff is still compatible (for now) and worth checking out: http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.p ... &subItem=1

[Parametex]

iLok drivers over my dead body ...

Yet I have to say that on UAD (which is a one big iLok I know ...) the transient designer is simply a killer plug ... especially the sustain knob ,)

[steff3]

There are other interesting and good transient tools ...

Voxengo TransGainer and Schwa transient monster. I think TransGainer from Voxengo with all the flexibility it has, it really nice ...

And there is another free 'attacker' plugin that does not need any response code, supports surroud and everything ... Flux bittersweat ...

best