OwnTHD is a harmonic distortion and coloration plugin offering nine classic equipment simulations and three ideal circuit modules, focusing on adjustable nonlinear behaviors and custom tonal shaping.
Purpose and Approach
OwnTHD simulates nine types of classic equipment, focusing on nonlinear behaviors rather than full signal-path emulation. This approach allows you to capture the tonal color of, say, a classic compressor without actually compressing the audio. The plugin provides basic tonal coloration based on the selected equipment, with additional adjustments to tailor the harmonic character.
Unlike simple waveshapers, OwnTHD models the complex distortion mechanisms of vintage gear and makes them adjustable. You can, for example, take the preamp simulation known as “N-Pre” and modify its harmonic content in ways the original hardware would not permit, such as using four drive knobs to control the amount of coloration.
Key Capabilities
The plugin offers controls for Bias, Feedback, and Depth, parameters common in audio equipment design but rarely user-adjustable. OwnTHD lets you increase or decrease bias, set positive or negative feedback, and adjust depth. These controls allow for fine-tuning the nonlinear response of the simulated equipment, providing flexibility beyond the original hardware.
Each of the nine equipment simulations has a unique “sweet spot,” representing its characteristic tonal balance. For example, the “4K” simulation reproduces the punchy low-frequency content of its original. The sweet spot can be adjusted, allowing you to shift the punchiness to other frequency ranges or enhance it further, offering creative tonal shaping.
Workflow
In a typical session, you first choose an equipment simulation as a starting point. Then you adjust the four drive knobs to set the amount of harmonic coloration, and use bias, feedback, and depth controls to shape the nonlinear behavior. The sweet spot adjustment lets you fine-tune the frequency balance to match the source material or your creative intent.
For more complex tonal designs, OwnTHD includes three ideal circuit module simulations: Solid-State, Tube, and Tape. You can set the proportion of each, effectively creating a chain of solid-state preamp, tube preamp, and tape machine in series. This combination is achieved without the noise, impedance mismatch, or other practical issues of real-world gear, enabling clean blending of different tonal characters.
Practical Applications
OwnTHD is suitable for adding harmonic richness to individual tracks or buses. For instance, you might apply the “4K” simulation to a bass line to enhance its punch, or use the tube simulation to warm up a vocal. The adjustable bias and feedback allow for subtle saturation or aggressive distortion, depending on the musical context.
The ideal circuit modules are useful for creating hybrid tones. You could blend a solid-state clarity with a tube warmth and a tape vintage feel on a drum bus, achieving a complex saturation that would be difficult to replicate with hardware. The plugin’s flexibility supports sound design and mixing, where precise control over harmonic content is desired.
Key features
- Nine classic equipment simulations covering different genres
- Four drive knobs for adjustable harmonic coloration
- Controls for bias, feedback, and depth
- Adjustable sweet spot for tonal balance
- Three ideal circuit modules: Solid-State, Tube, and Tape
- Proportional blending of circuit simulations
- Simulation without noise or impedance mismatch
Best for
OwnTHD is best for producers and mix engineers seeking to add vintage-style harmonic coloration without full emulation. It excels in sound design and mixing scenarios where precise control over distortion character and tonal balance is needed, offering flexibility to either emulate classic gear or craft unique hybrid tones.