Getting the Most Out of the Salisbury Tonebox Plugin

Introduction:

Note: This post was originally written for Tonebox 1.0 but the concepts are still applicable with Tonebox 2.

As a producer or engineer, you may want to add the warmth and character of analog equipment to your digital recordings. The Salisbury Tonebox plugin offers the perfect solution, allowing you to infuse your audio with vintage vibes and musicality. In this guide, we will explore how to use Tonebox to harness the power of saturation, EQ, filters, and non-linear processing to enhance your recordings.

Getting Started:

To begin, download the Tonebox plugin from the Salisbury Plugins website and unzip the file. Inside, you will find separate folders for MacOS and Windows. Manually place the plugin file into the appropriate VST3 or AU plugin directory for your operating system. Once installed, open your digital audio workstation (DAW) and add Tonebox to a track or bus. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the plugin’s interface and controls.

Tonebox Interface Walkthrough:

The Tonebox plugin features 12 knobs and 5 buttons. The knobs control frequency, gain, Q, low pass filter, high pass filter, and tone tilt. The buttons act as toggle switches, allowing you to engage or bypass specific features. Each knob has a small label indicating the current value, and engaged buttons light up in bright red.

Using the Saturation Modeling:

Tonebox’s authentic saturation modeling system accurately emulates the harmonic richness and saturation of classic amplifiers. Experiment with different sound sources and adjust the input stage to gradually add saturation. For example, apply subtle saturation to a clean guitar track to enhance its warmth and vintage character. For a more aggressive effect, push the saturation further to achieve gritty distortion on a vocal track. Use the -15dB trim button to increase headroom, or consider adding a separate trim plugin before Tonebox in your plugin chain.

Gain Staging:

Proper gain staging is essential for achieving optimal results with Tonebox. Use the -15dB trim control to adjust the internal gain staging. By setting the input levels appropriately, you can ensure that the saturation hits the sweet spot without excessive clipping or distortion. Consider using the -15dB trim control to increase headroom and prevent any unwanted distortion.

Using the 3-Band EQ:

Tonebox offers a versatile 3-band EQ for precise frequency adjustment. Experiment with different settings to shape the tone of your audio and make instruments sit well in the mix. For example, boost the low frequencies around 80Hz to add weight and presence to a bass guitar. Cut the midrange frequencies around 500Hz if vocals sound too nasally or honky. Gently boost the high frequencies around 3kHz to add sparkle and definition to vocals lacking presence or clarity.

Using the Highpass and Lowpass Filters:

Tonebox includes highpass and lowpass filters to attenuate frequencies above or below a certain point. Use these filters to clean up muddy lows or harsh highs in your audio. Additionally, try creative filter sweeps and transitions to add interest and movement to your tracks.

Using the Tilt Control:

The tilt control in Tonebox is a tilt equalizer that adjusts the overall tone of the audio signal. By turning the knob clockwise or counterclockwise, you can make the audio brighter or darker. Experiment with different tilt settings to find the perfect balance between lows and highs in your mix. For example, turning the knob clockwise can add clarity to a mixing bus by brightening low mids, while turning it counterclockwise can help tame harsh highs.

Using Tonebox’s Saturation as a Primer for Other Effects:

Consider using Tonebox’s saturation as a primer for other effects in your mix. Apply saturation before compression or limiting to add warmth and character to your audio. For example, apply saturation to a vocal track before adding chorus to enhance the richness and depth of the chorus effect. Similarly, saturating a guitar track before applying delay can add character and warmth to the delayed sound. Explore different combinations and experiment with the order of effects to achieve the desired sonic result.

How to Know When There Is Too Much Saturation:

While saturation can greatly enhance your recordings, it’s important to use it judiciously. Listen for any signs of distortion or unclear sounds in your mix. If you find that your mix sounds better without saturation, don’t hesitate to leave it off. A good practice is to bypass plugins towards the end of your mix to assess any improvements in transients or contrast between different parts of the song. Trust your ears and make decisions based on what sounds best for your mix.

Wrapping Up:

The Salisbury Tonebox plugin is a powerful tool for adding vintage warmth and precision to your recordings. By understanding its various features and controls, you can shape your audio with unparalleled precision. Remember to experiment, trust your ears, and let your creativity guide you in finding the perfect balance for your mix.

Additional Tips and Resources:

For further guidance and inspiration, visit the Salisbury Plugins website for tutorials, demos, and user forums. Engaging with the community will help you discover new techniques and applications for the Tonebox plugin. Always trust your judgment and prioritize the musicality and clarity of your mix. To hear the effects of Tonebox, apply it to different tracks in your mix and compare the results. Listen for the warmth, character, and vintage vibe that Tonebox can bring to your recordings.

One of the toughest challenges in mixing is getting the vocals to sit properly in the mix. Here’s a useful trick that can help:

– Set up a Vocal Bus: Send the vocal track to a bus in your DAW and insert a compressor with a high ratio of around 10:1 or more. Set a low threshold to control the dynamic range of the vocals. Use a medium attack and release time to smooth out the vocal performance.

– Add Warm Distortion: In the next slot of the vocal bus, load a distortion plugin with a warm sound. Adjust the distortion amount to taste, being careful not to overdo it. The goal is to add a subtle warmth and character to the vocals.

– Shape the Vocal Bus with Tonebox: Utilize Tonebox’s high-pass and low-pass filters to refine the sound of the vocal bus. Set the high-pass filter around 200Hz to remove any unnecessary low-end rumble. Set the low-pass filter around 5kHz to tame any harsh or sibilant frequencies.

– Blend the Vocal Bus: Mix a small amount of the processed vocal bus back in with the lead vocals. The added warmth and subtle distortion, combined with the filtered sound, can help the vocals fit seamlessly into the track without overpowering other elements. The key is to keep the effect almost ‘subliminal’ to maintain a natural and cohesive sound.

These tips and techniques will assist you in achieving a balanced and professional vocal sound in your mix. Remember to trust your ears and make adjustments based on what sounds best for your specific project.

Additional Tips for Mixing With Tonebox:

Acoustic Drums:

– Use the low-mid EQ to add body to the kick and weight to the snare drum. Cut muddy lows with the high-pass filter.

– Slightly boost highs to add shimmer to cymbals. Be careful not to overdo it.

– Add subtle saturation to fatten up the drum bus.

Bass Guitar: 

– Boost around 80-100Hz to reinforce low-end punch. Attenuate below 50Hz to control muddiness.

– Saturate lightly to warm up the low tones. This adds richness and vintage vibe.

– Cut the high-pass filter around 300Hz to remove rumble.

Electric Guitar:

– Sweep the midrange EQ to find the sweet spot for your guitar tone. 

– Add saturation to give distortion/overdrive sounds more grit and character.

– Use the tilt control to shape brightness/darkness to taste.

Vocals:

– Attenuate sibilance between 4-8kHz if vocals are harsh. 

– Saturate subtly to add warmth. Use trim control to prevent clipping.

– High-pass filter below 200Hz removes unneeded lows.

Mix Buses:

– Use Tonebox’s saturation to glues elements together for a cohesive sound.

– Tilt control helps balance lows/highs of full mixes.

– High-pass filter out rumble/low-end buildup below 30Hz.