Freesound Forums

Hi there,

I'm looking for a software, that will produce vinyl-like scratches/crackle, but:

- I'd like to have a control over the intensity (how much cracling is audible, how dense is it),
- periodicity (rotating frequency of vinyl disk so to speak, but full range of the freq control),
- control over the hardness (wet/dry?) of crackling,
- perhaps some randomization parameters,

What I want to achieve is an effect of soft/gentle, yet shaprly outlined periodic crackling, rather relaxing and pleasant than disturbing.

All I found until now - is rather related to duplication of vinyl technology (with all it's aspects), while I look for something more raw.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

Try a hint of wah-wah on white noise ... http://www.freesound.org/people/Timbre/sounds/128509/#

alternatively search for "surface noise" ... http://www.freesound.org/browse/tags/surface-noise/

Depending on the amount of effort you are willing to put in, you could create something in Pure Data to do what you wish. Either create the scratch sounds from samples or, um, scratch and then create the random triggering you need, add controls to change the frequency, duration, timing, etc.
Probably any other modular environment would work too, such as Reaktor, Synthedit, Reason, etc.

I rather seek for a tool, that would allow to create quick "crackle patterns", in similar way like a software that offers binaural beats creation for brainwave entrainment (bwgen, neuroprogrammer). Using ready files for that will rather not work, because I need live adjustment possibility.

Some option is a gap maker like sony ExpressFX amplitude modulation (as a layer) or their gapper/snipper, but it produces regular pattern only. Other option would be Izotope Vinyl, but it rather reconstructs real vinyls than serves the purpose. The effect I look for - appears also sometimes on movies recorded by people (flash card or other electronics produces interference).

Right now I'm trying to do a small research on ready plugins that could offer me help, but I don't know yet to what extend my keywords list for google, to find something else than vinyl reconstruction plugins.

I have no experience with modular environments, working on standard multitrack audio editors with VST/directx hosting possibilities.

If you use NI's sampler Kontakt, there is a third party instrument made by Hollow Sun called the Interference Generator that produces what they describe as retro analog noise. It's fairly flexible, you can check it out at:
http://www.hollowsun.com/HS2/sli/interference/index.htm
Best of luck.

iZotope Vinyl!
http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl/

I would agree that iZotope vinyl is probably your best bet. You do not need to use all the parameters, for example set the date to 2000 and wear to 0 so the plugin only introduces noise (surface noise, pops and scratches). You can easily use automation or midi control to introduce more noise in certain parts.

Alternatively experiment with one sample of white noise, or preferably vinyl noise, that is long enough and you can loop. I am sure there are suitable samples at freesound.
Then, to overlay the desired amount of pops and scratches, use a vst plugin that allows random triggering of samples. There are a few out there. Some can go from fully determined (drum box style patterns) to fully random, or anyshere in between. This can be useful, as scratch sounds will introduce periodic pops and clicks.
I think xoxos does a plugin that does this...
You will have to provide the samples yourself... Again, plenty at freesound.
iZotope vinyl still sounds quicker and easier to control, but if you are not getting the effect you are after you could try this.

There's a LADSPA plugin in the swh-plugins pack called VyNil which tries to emulate scratchy vinyl recordings. If you feed it silence you get only the scratches.

One way to get that typical vinyl crackles is to feed white noise into a noise gate, and set the attack and decay ultra short. Then lower the threshold to add more crackles.

There's a plugin in Ableton Live that does exactly this.

Thanks for help and replies.
I check that a little bit later.

Unexpectedly I became involved in binaural-beat-based brainwave entrainment production techniques, so I'm working on a small explanation/manual on "what are binaural beats, and more than that".