Introducing Slate Digital, a DSP company that sets new standards in pro audio plugins.

Advanced Algorithms

The Slate Digital ADVANCED ALGORITHMS ™ are written from the ground up using revolutionary new techniques in DSP code, based on innovative new technology and science. Within the ADVANCED ALGORITHMS ™ is a complex communication system between the DSP modules, which allows the plugins to achieve new heights in audio processing.

All Slate Digital plugins are fine tuned by Steven Slate and chief algorithm engineer Fabrice Gabriel, and then thoroughly tested by some of the audio industry's top tier mixers, producers, and engineers. The result is some of the finest audio plugins that will help you achieve your musical goals in ways you could only dream about.

Slate Digital

Who knew digital could sound this good? ™

FG-X VIRTUAL MASTERING CONSOLE The Concept Imagine mastering your mixes without causing the lifeless, squashed, and over compressed sound that has become so common in modern music. We have all been at the mercy of the "loudness wars" for over ten years now. Masters have become louder and louder, at the expense of the music becoming harsh and lacking punch and dynamics. One of the main causes of this epidemic is the use of the Peak Limiter to achieve increased levels in the mastering stage. Peak limiters attenuate transients and often reduce punch, stereo imaging, can greatly alter mix balances, and cause a fatiguing result to the ears.

Some of the top mastering engineers have found ways to combat this sonic degradation by using techniques other then Peak Limiting. One of the more popular techniques is the use of saturation in both the analog and digital domain. Another popular method is clipping the front end of expensive A/D converters.

However, both of these methods, while better then peak limiting, have their downfalls. Static saturation curves are not universal in their ability to sound good on all transients. Clipping greatly reduces low end punch and is very poor at retaining sub bass. Both static saturation and clipping have a small window of gain maximizing before audible distortion. Enter SLATE DIGITAL.

FG-X  DYNAMICS RACK

Two years ago Steven Slate and expert algorithm engineer Fabrice Gabriel started working out the concept for a digital audio process that could increase the level of a mix without altering the punch and dynamic feel, or make the mix sound squashed and lifeless. They started by researching saturation curves and their effect on various types of transient material. After several months of study and hundreds of listening tests, they made some fascinating discoveries. What they found, was that in order to transparently add level to a mix, a dynamic and intelligent transient saturation system would have to be developed.

New ADVANCED ALGORITHMS ™ were created to execute the extremely complex communication system that would be needed to properly perform the new dynamic operations. A new algorithm was formed, and the process was named "Intelligent Transient Preservation", or ITP.

ITP

The ITP process uses a complex lookahead detection algorithm to analyze oncoming transients and groups of transients. It then optimizes a specialized set of saturation curves for that specific transient. For example, if the ITP algorithm's lookahead identifies a kick drum transient, it will optimize the algorithm so that it preserves low frequency energy. For a snare drum transient, it will optimize the algorithm to preserve upper mid range punch. The result is the most transparent means of level maximization the industry has ever heard, with extreme transparency, and no degrading artifacts common to peak limiters.

CONTROL

The FG LEVEL maximization plugin offers the user complete control of their mix, before and after the level maximization process.

The TRANSIENT function contains two controls to fine tune mix transients. ENHANCE allows you to transparently increase the level of the transients in a mix, increasing the punch and dynamics without altering other elements of the mix. DETAIL adds more clarity and focus to the transients, perfect for buried snares or kicks. You will find the TRANSIENT functions not only ideal for mastering, but as great tools for the mixbuss and even drumbuss.

After the ITP powered GAIN maximizer, there is a function called IMPACT. This amazing new process can make the final master sound more dynamic, open, and punchy, even though the master has much more limited dynamic range then the mix.

BE SAFE

In the rare case that a mix has poor frequency balance or small bursts of low frequency energy (such as a quick floor tom hit), the SAFETY slider prevents unwanted distortions or crackles, that until now have been extremely hard to prevent or tame. The dynamic multiband SAFETY algorithm reacts quickly and backs off quickly, allowing the FG LEVEL to remain transparent and create worry free masters without artifacts.

TRUE MASTERING QUALITY COMPRESSION

Some mastering compressor plugings try to emulate vintage analog units and add color, harmonics, and different filter sounds that change the way your mix sounds. In truth, most top mastering engineers use very little or no compression. When they do use compression, they use only the most transparent compressors that will not alter the tone or balance of the mix.

The FG Dynamics plugin is a true mastering quality compressor meant to control the dynamics of your mix in the most transparent way possible, not to color it with digitally modeled harmonics or distortions. The FG Dynamics compressor assumes that you have used your favorite color or tone compressor to achieve the sound on your final mix. It is the job of the FG Dynamics compressor to maintain that quality, not alter it. The advanced dynamics algorithm is so transparent, you'll wonder if its on!

QUALITY TESTED

In order to fine tune the FG-X Virtual Mastering Console, Slate Digital has had some of the top mastering engineers in the world help us test out the algorithms to ensure that they work in the finest and most accurate way possible. We are proud to say that the FG-X is the ultimate digital mastering solution, and will help you take your masters to new heights.

TRIGGER MULTI LAYER DRUM REPLACER Introducing TRIGGER, the next generation of drum replacement by Slate Digital. TRIGGER introduces new features and advancements not found in any other drum replacement plugin. At the heart of TRIGGER is a revolutionary new triggering engine with Slate Digital's ADVANCED ALGORITHMS. The engine also contains the AMG humanization algorithm. AMG is a physically modeled triggering algorithm that allows the triggered drums to play with an extremely realistic and natural response. Even ghost notes and complex drum fills can now be retriggered with ease, naturally.

FEATURES

TRIGGER has a MULTI LAYERED triggering engine. This means in ONE instance of the plugin, you can trigger a close mic'd sample, a stereo overhead sample, and a stereo room mic sample, all at once from a single drum track! This allows the user to recreate the sound of natural drums with real multitracked samples. Each sample layer has parameters for customization such as velocity and dynamic control, sustain, and independent levels. Other features include positional sensing, automation for all parameters, MIDI in/out, visual hit detector, and 127 different articulations per sample layer.

SAMPLE ACCURATE TRIGGERING

When using TRIGGER, you will hear tight, sample accurate drum triggering without unwanted mistriggers, flamming, or phasing. Kick samples line up tight with the original kick drums, snare drum transients align perfectly, and tom fills come out exactly like the original tracks.

TWO MODES

Trigger comes with two modes, LIVE and ACCURATE. LIVE mode is geared for live on-stage triggering and has a no-latency engine. ACCURATE mode is the professional studio setting, which enables TRIGGER's advanced engine to replicate the original drum track with the most precise detail and natural velocity response.

STEVEN SLATE DRUMS

TRIGGER comes stock with a library of the industry standard STEVEN SLATE DRUMS drum samples. Elite mixers such as Chris Lord Alge, Mike Shipley, Dave Way, Jeff Juliano, Jay Baumgardner, Ben Grosse, David Kahn, and many more top names have relied on STEVEN SLATE DRUMS to help enhance the drum sounds in their mixes for years. All the samples in STEVEN SLATE DRUMS are recorded to 2 inch tape and processed with the finest in vintage and modern analog gear. STEVEN SLATE DRUMS include three sample layers including stereo room mic samples from the famous NRG RECORDING in North Hollywood, California.

GO DELUXE

Included in TRIGGER Platinum are drum samples from the new STEVEN SLATE DRUMS "Deluxe" series. The DELUXE series of samples are recorded with an extreme attention to detail with multiple articulations, and include mono direct mics, stereo overheads, stereo room mics from NRG RECORDING, and stereo reverb samples from the Bricasti M7 digital reverb. With SLATE DIGITAL's TRIGGER, you can trigger all of these layers from one drum track, with one instance of the plugin.

IN TRIGGER WE TRUST

TRIGGER is the ultimate way to take your drum sounds to the next level without fuss or hassle. With its sample accurate engine, extreme detail, natural response, multiple drum layers, and professional STEVEN SLATE DRUMS sample library, you'll never have to worry about drums again.