Reaktor 6 Effects : VHS Audio Degradation Suite [FREE]

DSP Overview
Input > Chorus > Mic Emulation > Preamp > Slew Limiter > Compressor > 2-Band Saturator > LPF > Wow/Flutter > Noise > Wow/Flutter > Output

Chorus
Controls: On/Off, Chorus, Speed, Delay, Width
Adds some additional pitch variation the input signal. Can also function as stereo widener.

Mic Emulation
Controls: On/Off, Mic Select Menu, Gain
Simulates the signal being re-recorded on a microphone. From “The Mic”. Adds about 15% CPU usage.

Preamp
Controls: Tone, Drive
Tone and Drive controls from the “Tape Mate” ensemble. This emulates the input circuit of a VCR (somewhat)

Slew Limiter
Controls: Wear
An idea from Tape Mate. Knob is labeled as “Wear” to simulate the age or generation of the tape

Compressor
Controls: Comp
Provided to beef up input signal more and limit dynamic range

2-Band Saturator
Controls: On/Off, Lows, LoSat, Split, Highs, HiSat
When a generation is added to a tape, the highs get lowered and saturated (around 15khz down to 7khz). A crossover control (Split) lets you split the signal into low and high band, and saturate each separately.

LPF
Controls: HiCut
To control the high cut of the signal. 4-Pole Lowpass filter.

Wow/Flutter
Controls: Warp, RPM, Shape, Flutter, Hz
Emulate the tracking and speed imperfections. From “Simpler Vintape”

Noise
Controls: Hum1, Hum2, Hum3, Hiss, Crackle, Noise
Actual samples recorded from VHS tapes, and a regular white noise generator. Able to be inserted post or pre effects.

Wow/Flutter
Controls: Flutter2, fRate, Wow, wRate, LoCut, HiCut
A slightly different wow/flutter (from Tape Mate)- if a tape were re-recorded it would have additional pitch variation like this. Additional low and high cut controls.

Output
Controls: Mono On/Off
Option to sum to mono

Notes:
-No master Dry/Wet control, as that would induce phase nightmares
-Use chorus sparingly.. on transient heavy material it will cause flamming and phasing
-Be careful with noise levels when inserted pre fx and compressor is used. When no signal present, the noise will be very loud
-CPU Usage: approx. 5% no Mic Emulation
-CPU Usage: approx. 20% with Mic Emulation
-Created with Reaktor 6.0.4

Acknowledgments:
-Jonathan Tremblay for “The Mic”; used for the Mic Emulation Section and Audio Demo 3
-Stephen Reid for “Tape Mate”; used for Drive, Flutter2 and Wow
-Stefan Knauthe for “Simpler Vintape”; used for Warp and Flutter