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5. Virtual retroisation with XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Color

1 Plugins like XLN Audio RC-20 ( xlnaudio.com) are great for adding an old-school flavour. We’ll use it here to process a simple Zebra CM synth sound. Keeping with the default patch, head to the Filter section, change the Env 2 dial to zero, then move the filter Cutoff to 60. Now increase the amplitude release time by moving envelope 1’s Release to 54.

2 Load in RC-20 after Zebra CM. Enter the preset browser and select the INIT patch to initialise all settings. Activate the Wobble section for some pitch modulation, and turn it’s dial to 50%. Move the Wow-Flutter slider to 15% and slow everything down by turning the wow Rate control to 0.2Hz and flutter’s to minimum. Now active the Distort module and turn its dial to 30%.

3 The Magnetic section modulates amplitude, mimicking degrading tape. Activate the module and turn its dial to 40%. Head over to the Noise section, activate it and turn its dial to 15%. For a more fitting noise background, change the Yype from Vinyl 1 to VHS. Finally, activate the Space module and turn it up to 50% to mix in a little reverb.