STL Tones is best known for their guitar amp modeling software, AmpHub, ToneHub, Tonality, and Libra, which bring signature amp models, pedals, and cabinets, to user’s fingertips. In addition, they’ve modeled the rigs of the biggest names in rock and metal to provide unparalleled accuracy in allowing the weekend warrior (or studio pro) to sound just like their favorite artists or producers. STL Tones’ newest release is ControlHub, which brings the same modeling concept to the studio. It delivers entire signal chains from leading rock mixers and producers (with more genres planned) as a single, intuitive plug-in.
ControlHub’s GUI is pretty straightforward; your signal chain flows from left to right, where you have a preamp EQ, a tone module, a Compression module, a Master EQ, Effects, and a Limiter. On the far left is a menu with ControlHub’s presets and Artist Packs, where you can browse the various signal chains, and individual pieces of gear that have been modeled – and there are many. For example, in one Artist Pack, they’ve modeled a crazy amount of gear from Castle Recording Studios in Franklin, TN: over 50 channels from their SSL 4000 G+, Altec 1567A, Amek 9098, API EQs, Gates Sta-Level, Neve 1063s (and 1095s), Valley People Dynamites, and more (check out their website for a complete list). This pack includes presets from Castle’s engineers to get one going. In addition, you can purchase other expansion packs from rock stalwarts like Atrium Audio, Machine, Mark Lewis, Neal Avron, and Will Putney, with more inevitably on the way.
So far, so good; this sort of thing sounds incredibly useful, right? Well, yes, but it needs to be emphasized that the point of this plug-in is to bring the user predetermined signal chains based on how the aforementioned pros would mix, then allow tweaking from there. This plug-in isn’t meant to provide a sandbox of profiled gear and presets to use as you like – that already exists elsewhere. So, it’s important to note that when you pick a preset, it’s assumed that you’re familiar with the sound of the producer whose expansion you have purchased, and that your base-level sound is similar to what they would be using. For example, let’s say I want the Castle Recording Studios’ vocal chain. I simply select the preset, and I can see that it’s added the color of an API 3124 preamp, the compression of a Tube-Tech CL 1B, and an API 550A EQ, which I can tweak as I see fit. Then, I can continue down the line for all instruments and scenarios, including Buses, Master Bus, and Effects. However, as an example, on the Master EQ module, the knobs don’t really move from preset to preset. That’s because the producers aren’t using the plug-in to achieve their sound in the same way you may be used to experiencing with other plug-ins. Instead, their sound is modeled from their own chains, and baked into the preset, which you can then tweak. Conceptually, ControlHub takes the idea of browsing through guitar profile presets and applies that to mixing in a new and innovative way.
For those modern metalheads who may already be trying to emulate some of these producers, ControlHub is heaven on Earth. After all, it’s not every day that I can browse through the inventory of Castle Recording Studios and simply slap a highly detailed model of an Altec 1567A on my master bus. For those interested in other genres of music, STL Tones promises hip-hop and country options soon.
ControlHub is unquestionably exciting – the same convenience you’ve known for years with amp profiling has finally come to your mixes! I’m very interested to check in when STL Tones branches out into other genres, as signal chain modeling on this scale would appeal to mixers and creators in other commercial genres. There’s no questioning that what STL Tones is doing with ControlHub is very, very interesting – and worth paying attention to. You can download a free trial of this plug-in from their website to see if the workflow it offers is right for you!
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