"Steven Wilson discloses his preferred plugin - a lo-fi cassette simulator, which he appreciates due to its ability to add a touch of authenticity to digital sounds, and it features on all the guitars in his recent progressive masterpiece."
Going Digital and Analog: A Balance for Superior Guitar Tone, as Suggested by Steven Wilson
The ongoing debate between digital and analogue sound for guitar tones is a never-ending saga, but maybe it's time to heed the words of visionary artist Steven Wilson. Wilson, who championed the harmonious coexistence of digital and analog gear, believes we can have the best of both worlds.
When it comes to his preferred guitar plugin, Wilson favors tape-inspired plugins that impart a lo-fi, cassette-like texture. Though digital, these plugins pay homage to analog equipment, making them ideal for adding character to sounds. It's these plugins, Wilson argues, that subtly infuse a much-needed imperfection, contributing to the overall character of the sound.
In an interview with Guitarist, Wilson lauded the Aberrant DSP's SketchCassette plugin, praising its diverse features. This plugin, which adorned most electric and acoustic guitars on his recent album 'The Overview', allows users to select various tape brands, add Ferric, Chrome, or Metal tapes, and adjust parameters like wow and flutter, saturation, hiss, and tape age. Wilson adores the plugin because it imparts vitality to sterile digital tones, transforming them with a hint of the grit and warmth associated with old analog tape.
Interestingly, Finneas also confessed his love for SketchCassette, employing it on Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?' from the Barbie soundtrack.
Aberrant DSP brands SketchCassette as "cassette-inspired degradation" and, in its second version (priced at $36), offers users a dozen different tape types, each adding distinct filters to the tone. Users can also bypass filters altogether, exclusively using options like wow/flutter, saturation, and NR compression. Additionally, a mix control allows users to adjust the intensity of the degradation effect. Wilson seeks a re-recorded tape vibe using SketchCassette.
"Frequently, I merely load up this cassette plugin and include a hint of flutter, warble, or saturation, or make it sound as if it's originating from a cassette that has been re-recorded three or four times, and suddenly it infuses the sound with character," said Wilson. "It imbues the sound with a little more grit and that organic quality typically connected with analogue tape."
This philosophy underpins Wilson's approach to marrying the best of digital technology with analog's cherished characteristics—a practice that is abundantly evident on 'The Overview'.
When discussing the album with NME, Wilson characterized 'The Overview' as an "outdated piece of conceptual rock" that encompasses the spirit of albums like 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' and 'Tubular Bells'. On the album, lead guitarist Randy McStine was tasked with reinventing the extended classic rock solo. "I told Randy: 'This isn't going to be a 'Comfortably Numb' solo,'" said Wilson. "I sought something with the same dramatic flair, but a million light-years away from it. What Randy crafted is one of the album's highlights."
If 'SketchCassette' appeals to you, v2 is available for $36, and it's worth exploring Aberrant DSP's Lofi Oddity—a free plugin they describe as a "degradation toy box". Embrace the symphony of the digital and the analogue, and let your creativity flourish.
- For Steven Wilson, the ideal guitar plugin is one that emulates the feel of analog tape while being digital, such as Aberrant DSP's SketchCassette, which he uses to subtly infuse a desirable imperfection into sounds and contributes to the overall character.
- In addition to SketchCassette, Aberrant DSP also offers Lofi Oddity, a free plugin that serves as a "degradation toy box," allowing users to experiment with the symphony of digital and analog technology, much like Wilson's harmonious coexistence of both worlds.
