Softube & Weiss: Making Modern-day Heroes

 

Back in 2008, when we were new to the game, a mutual acquaintance introduced us to Daniel Weiss, iconic founder of Weiss Engineering. It was exhilarating and inspiring to meet one of the trailblazers of DSP and spend time geeking out over the performance of different DSP chips, advanced filter designs, digital hardware production, and the challenges of fixed-point algorithm implementations. We parted ways that day and in the years to follow, Softube went on to become one of the most trusted producers of modeling plug-ins while Weiss continued to explore the frontier of Hi-Fi solutions.

In 2015, another acquaintance (we’ve got good friends) brought us together again, convinced that we had more to talk about than our enthusiasm for DSP. And, boy, did we. For starters, Softube and Weiss are both passionate about pushing the limits of what’s attainable in Digital Signal Processing while striving to achieve uncompromising sound quality. We decided then that Softube would develop the DS1-MK3 plug-in using Weiss’ proprietary code. Over the previous seven years, Softube had mastered SHARC DSP programming by working extensively with the UAD-2 platform from Universal Audio and the Marshall JMD-1 amplifier that we helped develop. Suffice it to say, we’d trained for this.

 

 

We began the complex process of porting—line-by-line—the Weiss code that runs on the five high-performance, 40-bit, floating-point SHARC chips found in the DS1-MK3. Three years later, in 2018, the development of the plug-in was finally complete and ready to run. Softube + Weiss DS1-MK3 was quickly and wholeheartedly embraced by the top producers and engineers in the field.

Last year, we expanded on that success—and our long friendship with Weiss Engineering—as we ushered into the ring the best of digital mastering by bringing the Weiss EQ1 and the Weiss Gambit Series For Console 1 channel strip into the DAW. Now we release the surgically-precise and ultra-transparent Weiss EQ MP, a high-fidelity mixing workhorse and a decidedly new take on the Weiss technology.

 

EQ MP: Pinch Hitter
 

For exacting mixing applications that require a surgical EQ and sound quality that's in a league of its own, Weiss EQ MP offers pro equalizing so uncomplicated and precise that it just can't help but knock it out of the park every single time. Weiss EQ MP gives you the transparency of the all-star EQ1, the sharpest accuracy achievable, and the perfect amount of features and bands necessary to hit a home run. Get stunning clarity in your mixes with Weiss EQ MP in your lineup.

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EQ1: Prize-winning Equalizing
 

The world champ of digital mastering equalizers is now in plug-in form. The Weiss EQ1’s triumphant sonic qualities and flexibility as a Minimum Phase EQ, a Linear Phase EQ, or a Dynamic EQ make it the most highly-prized equalizer in the game. Softube’s plug-in version is a line-by-line port of the original SHARC assembler code with a higher sample rate, improved ergonomics, and increased functionality. The EQ1 plug-in ushers into the DAW–and your studio–the cleanest sounding EQ on the market.

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Gambit Series Channel Strip:
One-two Punch
 

One of the most highly-requested Console 1 components is now available for the Weiss + Softube range. Gambit Series combines core processing elements from Weiss DS1-MK3 and Weiss EQ1 into a knockout channel strip. A 1:1 code port of the originals with exclusive features, such as below-threshold compression, it’s the precision channel strip engineers everywhere have been on the edge of their seats waiting for. The Weiss Gambit Series channel strip for Console 1: created for mastering, fine-tuned for mixing.

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Complete Collection: Winner Takes All
 

If you want it all and you want it all to be Weiss, we get you. And we've got you. The Weiss Complete Collection includes seven collaborative Weiss products: the all-new Weiss EQ MP, the prized DS1-MK3 and EQ1, plus MM-1, Compressor/Limiter, and Deess, and Gambit Series for Console 1. Developed closely with Weiss Engineering and fully endorsed by Daniel Weiss, the Complete Collection plug-in bundle gives you the indispensable, high-end Weiss mastering that houses worldwide want in their arsenals.

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DS1-MK3: Leader of the Pack

Unmatched mastering compression, limiting, and de-essing—no compromises. No legitimate mastering engineer can be without the first-class Weiss DS1-MK3 mastering processor. Softube’s plug-in is a line-by-line code port of the Weiss original, bringing unmatched mastering quality into the DAW-based studio. With bonus features and workflows, the top-of-the-heap in mastering dynamics is now more affordable than ever. DS1-MK3 makes the mastering engineer master of their own game.

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MM-1: Roaring out of the Gate
 

The future of fast, professional mix maximizing is here. The MM-1 Master Maximizer—based on the out-of-this-world Weiss DS1-MK3—flaunts the very same algorithms as the original digital hardware unit and offers five varieties of limiting: transparent, loud, punch, wide, and deess. You’ve got the amount knob to give you intuitive progression and the mix control that lets the range of limiters mingle. With the MM-1, you get just the right amount of influence over the feel of your masters combined with the ability to get really frickin’ loud.

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Compressor/Limiter: The Humble Champ
 

A serious mastering engineer can’t do without a first-rate compressor/limiter. For the Weiss Compressor/Limiter, we sussed out the specialness of the benchmark Weiss DS1-MK3 to create a plug-in with the cutting-edge features necessary to address the body of your sound. The Weiss Compressor/Limiter gives you control without over-complicating the process. A hidden side-menu, brilliant visualizations, and a super-clean faceplate belie the power of this expert tool. If you’ve got it, flaunt it when it counts.

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Deess: The Best in Class
 

A good de-esser can tame sibilance in a lead vocal or rein in a sharp-sounding hi-hat. But it can be hard to pick a top-tier de-esser out of the crowd. Until the Weiss Deess plug-in enters the race. An innovative design approach coupled with the blue-ribbon sonics of the Weiss DS1-MK3 makes for truly world-class de-essing. Uncomplicated and clean, loaded with hidden controls, featuring two bands of de-essing as well as low-latency mode—the Deess plug-in is first across the line every time.

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