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Mixbox: An FX Idiot’s Perspective TLDR, BUY THIS!
I know there is a great Mixbox thread, but I am concerned users like me, who are rather FX averse, will gloss over this beautiful new tool. I use very few FX generally, mostly cause I am FX illiterate and seemingly sonically challenged when listening to subtle changes in compression, EQ, etc. Also, the plethora of Deatheyes, MiRacks, Fabfilters et. al. Is daunting, discouraging, dissuading and damn expensive for a simple audio soul, like me, to embrace.
If I were newly born to iOS, and not 3 years down the path, and someone here said.... get this and forget about any other effects for a year... that would be sage advice indeed, IMO. After only ten minutes of fucking around with Mixbox it is ultra clear that this is just what a noob needs... especially an FX noob, like me, who is overwhelmed about what to apply, when and how.
This is, in addition to a damn flexible way of exploring FX possibilities, a warm and fuzzy teaching tool. If you load an overall preset for bass, for example, you are presented with varying arrays of Bass enhancers and modifiers. Several FX apps appear. You can see what is being used to create the overall effect, and then the fun begins. You can adjust each FX and see how it effects the overall sound. This gives the user the opportunity to really hear how each effect works in tandem with others. Invaluable, IMO.
A good array of effective presets. I loved the Bass enhancements. Tuning in a clear and deep bass is often a challenge with respect to the rest of the mix. Usually I just stick with the particular Bass app preset as is, maybe adding waves Ultramaximizer for some compression. Mixbox helps greatly to define the sound in real time. If I contrast Mixbox with something like Beatformer, it just makes more sense cause you are presented, in Mixbox, with a rack of effects that make up the end result. You are not adjusting a single app in a vacuum that does not take into account all the FX that go into making a solid sound.
A great GUI. As a full screen AU it is identical with the standalone and very easy to adjust with simple overall controls. Each individual effect is writ large and easy to adjust as well.
It seems, at first glance, to be pretty DSP effective in Cubasis3. I have often had overloads adding effects in CB3 and my reaction is just not to experiment with FX very much. Mixbox may change that.
I will probably never access more than 10% of the Mixbox potential (I don’t grok compression much less side chaining!), so experienced FX users will be able to delve deep, I imagine. Still, this is a huge help for FX averse guys like me to use and learn FX more EFFECTively.
The only con is the glitch noise between setups. IK says it is limited to more CPU usage prone effects, but it seems pretty constant.
If this had been available to me when I started, I do believe I would be much more FX savvy and would have gotten better results much earlier. I am curious to see the changes in my production as I use it more, but it seems like it will help a lot.
It does sadden me that this may crowd out a lot of small devs who have made great FX apps, but the deeper ones will still be used by the pros amongst us. Me personally, I doubt I will give up Kleverb, but who knows.
Bottom line: if you are a novice, or somewhat FX phobic buy this app on sale! 70 effects for $40 is less than 50 cents each. No brainer if you can afford it.
Comments
I agree with everything that you say - except that 70 effects for $40 works out at 57 cents each! 😁
I bought MixBox today. I a notorious for calculating my purchase and being on the cheap side. Last month discussion on AUM was fun. Lol.
But to me MixBox was a no brainer, I now have everything I need effect wise plus some sweet effects chain preset. I just wished it was available sooner in my app purchasing days.
I am pretty much done buying apps. Famous last words 😂😂
Were is EZ drummer for iOS?
I choose change my name to preset king. Lol 😎
@PhilW , right you are. @ecou, at least as far as FX are concerned, I agree. A SWAM Flugelhorn, however.... maybe. Hammond B3x at $50... could be.
I have a Hammond SK1 plus a ventilator so I am covered in the Hammond department. That B3x does sound sweet. I was debating selling my SK1 but I love the keybed too much.
https://hammondorganco.com/products/portable-organs/sk-1/
https://neo-instruments.com/ventilator-2/
@ecou’, an SK1. Wow, that’s great. Ventilator? What is that?I had a B3 in days of yore. A beast I never mastered.
It won’t eat indie developers piece of the cake 🍰. I think there’s another thread bringing up that very same issue. This have been talked about quite a few times throughout the years, as iOS have grown as a music production platform. FabFilter and PSPaudioware have been around since 2012, almost ten years. Exclusive to Auria for a long time but nevertheless available to everyone on iOS. I bought the whole enchilada back then but that didn’t stop me from buying other delays, reverbs or compressors (etc). A quality plugin is a quality plugin, a one man show can create amazing plugins/tools/synths. Some of the most popular plugins on the desktop are created by indie devs. So I think it’s been shown many times over that larger companies and indie devs can coexist inside this bubble of music:ing, in harmony with each other. Can’t find a reverb that fits your bill, head to the AppStore and find another one (you get the point). Anyway just chiming in with my view on that subject.👊
@ChrisG, I think we are in agreement. I think the deeper divers will want FabFilter and their ilk. But, for those like me, who will just forego serious FX commitment because of the complexity, something like Mixbox provides a middle ground where I can experiment on a single screen with many high quality options beginning with interesting chain presets.
For example, I fooled, for the first time with some different amps because they were easily accessible as another slot on the Mixbox GUI.
I am disappointed there are no chains for strings or brass. I guess I will have to attempt to build those from scratch, tho I could use some advice!
Well, yeah, actually, would be good if there is a patchstorage maybe where people can share their presets
You had a B3, that must have been great to play but not to move. I am sure you where a very good hammond player even thou it is very much different than a Piano to play.
I very much enjoy my SK1.I been a Hammond fan for A long time. Since I heard Jon Lord of Deep Purple play. The ventilator is the best Leslie emulation on the market. See Dr Lonnie Smith use it.
@LinearLineman RE: Strings and Brass.
Of the 70 FX choices, I think some EQ and Reverb can improve the sound... simulate a room, hall or cathedral.
~~You must try a Chorus to thicken up the sound. There an FX in Modulation called "Ensemble"... definitely a useful tool.
~~
EDIT: Forget the chorus/ensemble. It kills and heads straight to synthville.
All the rest will make strings/brass sound synthetic, in general. Maybe you want that too.
It's only 3 FX need for a good Preset typically.
2. Ensemble - optionally multiply the number of strings/horns for a fat expensive sound.
Then save and share with your friends.
You guys are really making me want to pull out my credit card for this one. $40 and like LinearLineman have no idea what I'll be doing with 70 effects. But if this one thing can replace at a high quality all the individual reverbs and compressors and everything else then maybe it'll be worth it.
Then again, maybe I should learn to use what I already have to its full capability. G-A-S.
Literally no one who is a forum regular and has bought a wide range of aforementioned apps already needs this. Is it useful and nice and fun though? Definitely.
Yeah so FabFilter is one of those things you might want if you need to get surgical with a sound or mix. Personally I’m a horrible mixer, always have been, if a track turns out decent sounding in the mix department, it’s pure luck. I do think that there’s always room to learn and grow here though, noob or black belt.
Orchestral sounds is typically not something you’d slap a chorus/flanger/phaser kinda thing on. EQ and reverb to taste, possibly some light use of compression if something needs different dynamics etc. Many years ago by now I made a lot of orchestral stuff, I’d typically just use EQ's to shape the various string and horn/wind instruments to taste, maybe add compression to some element I wanted brought out from the rest of the noise or the opposite, to tame something. Adding a dash of reverb is never wrong either, even if the orchestral sounds are recorded wet. We all love reverbs:-)
A lot of the effects are real simple layouts... a good thing for someone like me. Seeing the fx all in a row is the other advantage.
And you can easily save your chains. It lacks shimmer, but maybe that’s passé anyway.
I’m in the same boat. I already spent waaaay more than I was planning on with Black Friday.... But $40 for 70 effects.... Hmmm..... Maybe my brother can go without a Christmas gift this year 😜
Do t forget you can get those free presets by registering, which include some for mix bus
Has anyone registered for the extra presets?
I hear that, I’m trying to ignore this but it seems unignorable. Translates to AU$60+ which makes it bit more of a stretch mentally. Worth it no doubt.
Suspect I will cave tonight after a vino or two and justify it with money saved by WFH or some such BS.
@Jefe0820, yes, got them. When you register IK sends instructions. It seems you have to export them from files to Mixbox one at a time. Lots of drum presets and vocal. Some keys and guitar.
I was able to do it in one straight from the zip file.
I caved.... Figured I’m getting paid next week + a holiday bonus from work. I’ll just skip out on ordering delivery one day next week when I want don’t wanna leave the house. Ramen will suffice. Hoping it’s worth it! Excited to try it out!
Seeing each module detailed reminds me of when I first saw Gadget.
GAS!
Yeah, use the zip file not the folder, then you can do it in one go!
This app is incredible!! it’s got great lofi/tape modules that sound * chefs kiss *
Steps:
1. Download the zip file from IK Multimedia in the "My Products" area after creating an account and registering your MixBox CS purchase.
2. The zip file will land in "Downloads" on your iPad.
3. Use the Files app and go to the Downloads folder.
4. Touch and hold the "Signature Presets - John Potoker".
5. In the pop up menu select "Share".
6. MixBox should appear as an app you can pass this zip file to.
7. Touch "MixBox" and it will open and have the new presets in a "Signature" folder.
Personally, I think experimenting with the various Modules against a looping audio input
can pay big dividends as you find and investigate your favorite FX modules and make some
FX chains.
I like this order on most acoustic stuff.
EQ to capture a specific sound spectrum
Dynamics to get some tube-based compression (similar to Magic Death Eye for extra colors)
Optional Saturation
Reverb/Delay
back to Dynamics for a Limiter
For a synth there's a ton of extra stuff to crush, slice, filter, phase, flange and sauté.
I fully agree
MixBox does sound nice but has a ‘dumb everything down to 0-10 values’ approach that will annoy users who are used to setting compression threshold and ratios manually as examples.
It’s more ‘go by ear’ rather than precise tweaking of levels thus a limiter after MixBox is almost a must to avoid clipping. (I just lower the output). I mean AUM peaks at >+20db which is audible when rendering/recording the output but not during playback...
It’s loads of fun though and the presets are very well crafted.
Cheers!
One of the 70 FX is a Limiter. It's in the "Dynamics" category. Seems to work well for me.
But since I use AUM generally or Cubasis I can also consider using another AUv3 or IAA FX app after MixBox like ToneBoosters Barricade of Fab Filter Pro-L or... (you get the idea).
NOTE: These modules are hardware simulations in the GUI but some of the knobs offer a pop-up to enter a text value, I noticed. But using my ears works well for me since I tend to be the only one that ever hears the stuff I make. I'm still learning the Tricks of Mastering but these FX sound pretty good... I hope my mastered final works improve with more experience.
I absolutely love this app, I cant believe the tone shaping you can do with it. It would have some of the best cleans I think I have heard on ios
I wish they would sell it as a Universal app... I know the UI would be hard to use on some phones but I just want to get access to a preset for my portable guitar sessions. Oh well...
TH-U works along with a lot of great FX choices in AUM on my iPhone 5S. But the is an excellent clean guitar processor with a lot of great FX options.