FabFilter Tips & Tricks

If you think you know everything there is to know about FabFilter, think again! Join veteran Groove3 instructor, Larry Holcombe, for an entertaining and informative FabFilter video tutorial series on using FabFilter plugins creatively. From mixing and sound-sculpting to mastering tips and more, you'll learn several new ways to accomplish many desired effects and solve troublesome issues.

Videos

• Re-Shaping the Kick: Pro-Q3 & MB (15:39) - In this first video, we examine techniques for tweaking a kick drum using Pro-Q3 and Pro-MB. This allows us to shape the envelope of the kick in different ways.

• Side-chaining the Bass: Pro-MB (08:31) - Next up, discover how to add frequency-specific side-chaining to enhance the pump of the kick and bass. This involves some trickery with the external side chain trigger to use the upper range of the kick and only compress the mid band of the bass, leaving the sides unaffected.

• Unlinking Stereo Channels to Control Dynamics (05:05) - Explore the use of limiting specifically on the left- or the right-hand channels to catch some unruly transient information.

• Bringing Sounds to Life: Saturn 2 (11:30) - We cover some fairly advanced applications of Saturn 2 next. Learn how to add richness but also groove and vibe by changing parameters dynamically using the plugin's modulation sources.

• Side-chaining Dynamic EQ: Pro-Q3 (05:45) - This video focuses on the kick and snare. We use Pro-Q3 to dynamically reduce frequencies in the kick when the snare plays, which allow us to create clarity and slightly increase our available headroom.

• Creating Width: Pro-Q3 & Volcano 3 (09:50) - We switch our focus to mono-compatible width next, using Pro-Q3 to create pseudo stereo width before using an advanced application of Volcano 3 to create a delayed filtered channel. These two processes are enhanced by Saturn 2 in mid-side mode.

• Mid-Side Processing (16:49) - Explore a creative use of Saturn 2 and Volcano 3 to create a mono-compatible stereo width on the snare in this video. Then we enhance the stereo information in the bass to create some extra thickness and also isolate the side bands, working with Pro-Q3 to create a specific mix for the side frequencies.

• Advanced FabFilter Mastering Techniques (06:29) - We add in some mid band, mid-side compression next to enhance and thicken the midrange while keeping the low and high frequencies open and groovy.

• Advanced Limiting Techniques: Pro-L2 (14:44) - We finish up by investigating Pro-L2 in a bit more detail so we can understand how the attack and release controls allow you to control the overall envelope of the track and maintain transparent loudness as much as possible. We also use multiple limiting across the mix to maximize loudness.