Lese has launched the second version of its Codec plugin, which uses internet compression algorithms to give your mixes a vintage, lo-fi quality.
Codec 2.0 introduced a smattering of new features designed to give you greater control over how your mixes are affected.
Essentially, Codec divides an audio file into individual packets, and users can drop some of them out using its Loss control. The plugin then attempts to conceal the packet loss, leading to a digitally degraded sound. Additionally, there’s a choice of three modes, with each affecting how the packet loss is handled by the plugin.
New to Codec 2.0, though, is a new Disorder control, which tweaks the order of the packets processed by the internal decoder to create a somewhat glitchy effect, and a new Noise function which adds noise to an audio file before it’s fed into the encoder.
Before the encoding stage, a Crunch control lets you turn up the gain on a frequency range and dials it back down once the plugin compresses the audio. This helps you to create more distortion artefacts on your track without any extra volume.
“Unlike other plugins that simulate degradation in “old school” ways like vinyl, tape or cassette, Codec degrades sound in the most common way we hear today, through internet compression algorithms!” Lese explains.
“Codec is essentially a container that holds an audio compressor (not that kind of compressor) so you can compress and then decompress your sound, in real time, in your DAW of choice.”
Codec 2.0 is available to both PC and Mac users in AU and VST formats. You can download it free of charge from Lese.
The post Give your mixes a lo-fi flavour with the second iteration of Lese’s Codec plugin appeared first on MusicTech.
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