AudioThing Wires Captures the Sound of a 1970's Vintage Soviet Recorder
Anton Schefter — February 16, 2021 — Tech
References: audiothing.net
AudioThing's Wires is an enhanced digital recorder emulation plug-in, which provides authentic echos and lo-fi effects for both composers and producers. Wires allows for a convenient way to achieve the same unique and ghostly textures of the vintage device from the comfort of a virtual environment.
Adding to the plug-ins authenticity, Wires was modeled after the original hardware of a 1970's East German Army Stock Soviet wire recorder from the German composer Hainbach's personal hardware collection—the recorder was originally intended for the Soviet Union's military at the time. Wire recorders use a thin steel wire to record, which predates the mainstream magnetic tape recorders used for the standard delay emulation plug-ins today.
The Wires interface looks and operates similarly to the original hardware, even featuring a recreated reel that revolves while in-use. Surrounding the reels are multiple controls dedicated for mixing in and controlling the characteristics of the distressing, noise, and echo effects. Wires also dynamically reacts to the input signal, which imparts a texture from the modeled wire and vacuum tube that's noticeably different from competing magnetic tape alternatives.
Image Credit: AudioThing Ltd.
Adding to the plug-ins authenticity, Wires was modeled after the original hardware of a 1970's East German Army Stock Soviet wire recorder from the German composer Hainbach's personal hardware collection—the recorder was originally intended for the Soviet Union's military at the time. Wire recorders use a thin steel wire to record, which predates the mainstream magnetic tape recorders used for the standard delay emulation plug-ins today.
The Wires interface looks and operates similarly to the original hardware, even featuring a recreated reel that revolves while in-use. Surrounding the reels are multiple controls dedicated for mixing in and controlling the characteristics of the distressing, noise, and echo effects. Wires also dynamically reacts to the input signal, which imparts a texture from the modeled wire and vacuum tube that's noticeably different from competing magnetic tape alternatives.
Image Credit: AudioThing Ltd.
Trend Themes
1. Lo-fi Emulation Plug-ins - There is an opportunity to further enhance and refine the emulation of vintage hardware to create even more authentic lo-fi effects in the digital realm.
2. Wire Recording Revival - The resurgence of interest in wire recording technology presents an opportunity for companies to create new and innovative wire recorders or wire recorder emulators.
3. Virtual Audio Production Tools - There is potential to develop a variety of virtual digital tools for audio production, using unique vintage hardware as inspiration.
Industry Implications
1. Music Production - The music production industry can benefit from refining existing emulation plugins or developing new ones to optimize lo-fi effects.
2. Audio Equipment Manufacturing - The resurgence of wire recording technology presents an opportunity for audio equipment manufacturers to create new hardware that meets modern production needs while maintaining vintage sound qualities.
3. Software Development - Developers can tap into the growing market of audio production by creating digital tools that can integrate into virtual audio workstations and create unique audio effects.
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