Julia recommended I posted here, after I sent lavish praise about SubLab — intriguing situation, as it’s quite a focused instrument and I don’t want it to become unnecessarily complex. I really like how it’s a straightforward solution-solver. Yet, I imagine there are myriad sonic possibilities, i.e., getting away from “subs” per se and using it as an effective impact one-shot player. That would be good ground to explore with add-on sound packs.
A few thoughts on things:
Solo/mute would be visually useful if muting a part also visually grays out that Green/Orange/Purple section in the UI.
Export processed samples would be very slick if you can drag and drop from SubLab onto your DAW timeline.
I’d to be able to easily assign mod wheel to one or more parameters. Not expecting a full-on mod matrix, but a simple way of just assigning a parameter and range it’s mapped to. This would make SubLab more distinct and nuanced. There are some very practical usages, for example, it’d be nice to use the mod wheel to drop the pitch 1-4 octaves for a sub bass drop. I’m glad pitch wheel is already mapped +/- 12 semitones, but on many controllers, mod wheel makes this more controllable as it’s not spring-loaded. Controlling filter cutoff, distortion drive, and crossfading in a part’s level are other practical uses.
Not to get too crazy here, but optional velocity sensitivity for the same reasons (more expressivity) would be great.
Guys, we’re aiming towards next week in having a macOS beta with the mixer solo button implemented. @TORLEY, that is exactly how we are doing it, greying out the mixer slider when muted.
@TORLEY, just on the export processed samples, do you think exporting at the root note in the sampler is good or is it helpful to allow setting of a different note?
With the exception of #1, my feature requests are the result of my evaluation of Sublab against NI TRK-01, U-he Repro-1, and TAL Mod (each seems very underrated for bass in my opinion, and Repro can lay down some deep kicks).
Some context:
My distortion of choice is Creative Intent Tantrum (again, very underrated).
Sampler is TAL Sampler.
For stereo widening I use Microshift and Mastering the Mix Animate.
Requests:
morphable waveshapes in the oscillator, morphable filter, controlled by
additional Lfo and env
modulation routing system like NI TRK-01 - very quick and easy
unison (or more effects like TRK-01)
frequency selector for stereo widening → see Mastering the Mix Animate.
Foldback distortion (like U-he Repro 1), with bias, bias Mod, and folds Mod envelopes. This is SO DOPE.
DAC emulation on the Sampler→ see TAL Sampler and TAL DAC.
Just a quick update, we’re working on the mute buttons for the mixer and also NKS right now and making good progress. Will get back with a beta as soon as we have it ready.
@abluesky, some serious feature requests there! I think what you’re requesting might work better in a full synth, rather than SubLab. I do think a powerful wave-table mono-synth would be cool for sure.
Maybe! Urs Heckman mentioned in a comments over at KVR that there’s no demand for monosynths, however, which is a pity because Repro-1 using one osc and that waveshaper can create some serious bass, with the bias mod acting as a pseudo - unison.
All my suggestions arise from comparisons I’m making due to the 30 - day return policy (I won’t be returning, I’m keeping). I suppose that since you’ll be releasing x-sub for free (!!! that’s VERY generous…why…??) one can link it to any synth. That being said, Sublab is more than just the x-sub. Laura demonstrates very well is how fast you can work. Frankly, more than anything else, that’s what sold me on Sublab.
Anyway, as far as my feature requests, I’m not a developer, so I don’t know the difficulty in making them. Re: morphable waveshapes: I’m imaging a little knob next to what’s already there, which could be modulated by one env (which you could make loopable such that you don’t need to add an additional lfo). The Repro-1 wavfolder is only 4 parameters (one extra than what you already have), and any distortion comes to life with a env. Unison is unison, and seems like ubiquitous feature.
Anyhow, I’m happy with Sublab now, just food for thought.
On the mono-synth, I think it depends on what you are going for. SubLab is a mono-synth and the demand has been through the roof thankfully! I think if you make something that fills a specific need that producers have and one that isn’t filled, then 100% a mono-synth can work great.
I think X-Sub as a free plug-in will raise our profile a good bit. Also maybe people will like it an then go check out SubLab who might not have gotten it otherwise.
Thanks a million of the feedback, you’ve got the gears turning here for sure!
@Gavin_FAW Re: “exporting at the root note in the sampler is good” yes I think this makes simple sense. If someone wants a different note they can just change the root.
I’m very mindful that so far, this is shaping up to be a powerful and focused tool, and it’s nice to have more flexibility, but I don’t want its design to become unwieldy… some of the more wild ideas in here would be useful being spun-off into another product or even standalone effects processor.
Also where are the PM buttons on here? Can’t find where to do send that to you for the private beta, Gavin.
to be able to easily assign mod wheel to one or more parameters. Not expecting a full-on mod matrix, but a simple way of just assigning a parameter and range it’s mapped to. This would make SubLab more distinct and nuanced. There are some very practical usages, for example, it’d be nice to use the mod wheel to drop the pitch 1-4 octaves for a sub bass drop. I’m glad pitch wheel is already mapped +/- 12 semitones, but on many controllers, mod wheel makes this more controllable as it’s not spring-loaded. Controlling filter cutoff, distortion drive, and crossfading in a part’s level are other practical uses.