AudioThing Dials + Things - Voice Bundle

Dials

The Treasured Sound of 1950s Electronics Re-Created

Dials is a detailed digital translation of a unique combination of 1950s electronic music hardware from composer and YouTuber Hainbach's studio. It is made with the rich sound and experimental spirit of early electronic music studios in mind.

The basis of Dials is a re-purposed German vacuum tube radio broadcast device paired with a heavy-duty American bandpass filter. They form a channel strip like no other. The scientific and radio background of the equipment provides a tone that sets it apart, whether you are processing vocals, drums, or any other instrument. Due to the built-in compressor, it is perfectly suited to lend your voice-over the larger-than-life feeling of great recordings of the past or make your drums sound like they could get past the door at Berghain. Speaking of which: if you are feeling adventurous, feed it impulses and hear it roar like Stockhausen at a Gabber party. 

While its roots are in the past, this is a truly modern device with an unparalleled sound. It can be used to sweeten your music or to experiment and it can even become an instrument in your hands.

Hainbach’s Channel Strip

The sonic basis of the plugin is a combination of two units that serve as a channel strip in Hainbach’s studio. A modified German level transmitter from radio broadcast maintenance and a scientific high and lowpass filter. 

The Preamp

This 1950s/60s German measurement instrument was originally used to send a fixed level and frequency to a radio transmitter. On the receiver end it could then be checked how much of that signal came through and what adjustments had to be made. Analog specialist Wojcek Czern of Rogalow Audio  (PL) discovered that it could be adapted to be a high-quality mic preamp on par with studio legends like the V72 and V76. It is Hainbach’s main preamp for voice, acoustic mono recordings and processing synths.

One welcome side-effect of this massive steel-tubed amplifier is that it compresses the signal pleasantly. Singing into it is a joy in itself. AudioThing analyzed the effect and made it adjustable, so you get the wonderful overtone-rich gain of the preamp separately from the compressor.

The Filter

Allison Labs filters were common in science labs and early electronic music studios. Unlike their German stepped counterparts, they could be swept (at least I parts). That allowed much more fine filtering of frequencies. Passively built, they offered the height of precision at the time. But be it because of the age of the unit or the changed perception due to digital technology: to today’s ears, they don’t sound precise at all. They sing beautifully, as their peaks ripple across the cutoff frequencies. This is especially noticeable if you play with the resonance, the only new feature AudioThing added. One note: don’t take the frequencies inscribed on the front to heart – they might be off considerably.

Bonus Content

Drum Device

Soul-singer and Podcaster Jamie Lidell (Hanging out with Audiophiles) takes Dials further: he turned it into an 808-style drum machine. Download them here and experiment.

Dials 808 Drum Device (requires Ableton Live, especially Ableton Live Suite for full functionality).

Filterbank A+B

In this Ableton Live set, Hainbach rigged 2 x 8 instances of it in two devices, Filterbank A and B. A is a tight band set, and B makes use of wider filter settings. Use the macro control 1-8 on each to raise the volume of each instance of Dials. This creates a filter bank like they were used in early electronic music studios. There are two noise files from AudioThing's plugin 'Noises' to get you going, but feel free to process any material with it. If you rig up a fader set or knobs to it, you can play it like an instrument, which is highly recommended.

Dials HB FILTERBANK A+B Project (requires Ableton Live).

Hainbach

Based out of Berlin, Germany, electro-acoustic composer and “that guy with the sweaters” Hainbach creates experimental music that is both visceral and whimsical. Using esoteric synthesizers, test equipment and magnetic tape he creates one hell of a trip in his improvised live sets. He shares techniques on experimental music on his YouTube channel, which has attracted a regular audience of over 100000 subscribers. His music has been released on Seil Records, Opal Tapes, SA Recordings and misc. works.

Features

• Analog Preamp Emulation
• Analog Modelled Filters (HP, LP)
• Easy to use Compressor
• Trip Modulation
• Resizable Window
• Preset system with randomizer

Learn more about Dials.

Things - Voice

Voice-Optimized Compressor

Things – Voice is a simple one-knob “throw it on and it sounds good” compressor for voice-over and vocals. Based on our channel strip Dials it gives you everything you need to make your voice loud yet smooth. The compressor is an unusual and complex design from a German 1950 radio broadcast instrument. If you desire to get even closer to that unit’s vintage tone, add authentically modded tube gain with the saturation button. For an authoritative bass boost Audiothing have added a rather euphonic EQ that excites just the right frequencies. This is the seventh plugin in our ongoing collaboration with Berlin musician and video personality Hainbach.

The Hardware

This 1950s/60s German measurement instrument was originally used to send a fixed level and frequency to a radio transmitter. On the receiver end, it could then be checked how much of that signal came through and what adjustments had to be made. Analog specialist Wojcek Czern of Rogalow Audio  (PL) discovered that it could be adapted to be a high-quality mic preamp on par with studio legends like the V72 and V76. It is Hainbach’s main preamp for voice, acoustic mono recordings and processing synths.

One welcome side-effect of this massive steel-tubed amplifier is that it compresses the signal pleasantly. Singing into it is a joy in itself. We analyzed the effect and made it adjustable, so you get the wonderful overtone rich gain of the preamp separately from the compressor. 

Hainbach

Based out of Berlin, Germany, electronic music composer and performer Hainbach creates shifting audio landscapes THE WIRE called “One hell of a trip”. He has been fascinated with electronic sounds since he discovered the dial on the radio. Never losing his childhood wonder, he still searches for the sounds in between on modular synths, tape, and test equipment, making even the unmusical “music”. Through his YouTube channel, Hainbach brings experimental music techniques to a wider audience.

Features

• Vintage Radio Broadcast Compressor
• Tube Saturation
• Bass Boost
• Preset System with Randomizer
• Resizable Window

Learn more about Things - Voice.

System Requirements

Windows

• Windows 7, 8, 10
• 2GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM
• VST2, VST3, AAX, CLAP (64-bit)   

Mac

• OS X 10.9 – macOS 14 Sonoma
• 2GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM
• VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP (64-bit)
• Universal 2 Binary