While chatting to Korneff Audio about their latest release, it became apparent that they’ve actually launched three new products since their last appearance in the pages of SOS. So, here’s an overview of what the company have been up to since our review of Pawn Shop Comp 2.0.
Puff Puff Mixpass
The latest addition to the company’s line-up, Puff Puff Mixpass, aims to increase the perceived loudness of a source, but by adding harmonic content rather than applying dynamics processing, meaning that tracks don't suffer the significant reduction in dynamic range and fatiguing sound that can be caused by excessive compression and limiting. The plug-in achieves its effect through the use of waveshaping, and is equipped with a simple set of parameters that allow users to control the behaviour of its algorithm.
The bulk of the work can be carried out using Dynamics and Amount (mix) sliders, while Sonic Integrity and Emphasis controls make it possible to determine how dramatic the processing is, with the plug-in capable of everything from subtle enhancement to all-out distortion. Input and output trims are joined by large level meters, and there’s also an Output Clipper section, which Korneff Audio say has been designed with the aim of tackling digital artifacts such as clicks and pops.
El Juan Limiter
Inspired by Waves’ popular L1 plug-in, El Juan Limiter has been designed to provide a wealth of creative control over a track’s loudness, and introduces some new features not found in the original software. The company say that the plug-in remains as simple and intuitive as its inspiration, but goes further in terms of features thanks to expanded stereo processing options, extended release settings, waveshapers and customisable tone-shaping options. It also includes options for oversampling and new dithering capabilities.
The GUI will be a familiar sight to those who’ve used L1: Input, Threshold and Ceiling parameters are still provided on vertical sliders, but the Release control is now a rotary dial that ranges from 0.01 to 1000 ms with switchable Manual, Auto and Sync modes — the last mode allows the release time to be influenced by the host DAW’s tempo. You also get Stereo and Dual Mono operating modes, a wet/dry mix control and a stereo width parameter.
The Wow Thing
The last of the three new plug-ins recreates the SRS Labs Wow Thing, a consumer device that was, according to Korneff Audio, designed to make cheap speakers sound more appealing though the use of “radical equalisation and some bizarre psychoacoustic processing using delays and phase”. It did, however, become a go-to guitar processor of recording engineer Randy Staub, making its way onto records such as Evanescence's 'What You Want', which we covered in an Inside Track article in SOS January 2012.
Another owner of the original device is Dan Korneff, hence the software emulation! The plug-in replicates the layout of the hardware, with most of the work taken care of by WOW and TrueBass knobs. As you might expect, company have taken the chance to implement some new features, and clicking on the device’s nameplate in the GUI ‘lifts off’ the cover and reveals some additional settings including two different WOW settings — taken from the desktop and rackmount unit versions — and a selection of options for tailoring the low end of the TrueBass processor.
Compatibility
The plug-ins are supported on PCs running Windows 7 and above, and Macs running macOS 10.14 or higher. VST3, AU and AAX versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
All three plug-ins are available now, and are currently (7 May 2024) being offered at the following prices:
- Puff Puff Mixpass: $24.99
- El Juan Limiter: $29.99
- The Wow Thing: $15.99
