Get with the programmers
The two Gentlemen behind Tokyo Dawn Labs discuss their freeware philosophies and future plans
What’s the backstory behind Tokyo Dawn? And what’s the difference between Tokyo Dawn Labs and Tokyo Dawn Records?
FS “Tokyo Dawn Records’ beginnings reaches back into the early demo and tracker scene. We always had a strong technological focus – we were one of the first web-centric record labels. We shared tracker projects (MOD files), open-source.
“I began working on audio tools and processors – contributions to Renoise, little plugins for internal label use – and later I started offering some of our audio plugins free to the public (Feedback Compressor I and II), under the brand Tokyo Dawn Labs. Vladislav Goncharov, already well known for his Molot and Lim Nr6 plugins, joined me to work on an entry for KVR’s Developer Challenge 2012. This led to Proximity, a distance pan pot. We immediately felt a nice synergy, so we decided to keep it going.”
You put out free versions and ‘Gentleman’s Edition’ versions of your software – what are the advantages of doing this?
VG “We typically develop them more or less simultanuously. The free versions have the strongest impact, and often overshadow the GE on launch.
FS “Freeware is an incredily effective and deeply honest way to advertise. It’s also an excellent way to collect feedback, run market research and do quality control. It establishes a good name among the next generation of musicians, producers and engineers, and somewhat dwarfs the piracy problem. This allows us to put most funds into R&D rather than PR.” Most of your products are EQs and compressors. What is it that draws you to mixing plugins over other options? VG “We do a lot of basic research and spend a substantial amount of time in R&D –it’s intensive work. Our small team simply hasn’t had time to work through special FX processors, reverbs, and so on. We have a mountain of ideas, though, and will approach them step by step.”
“Brickwall limiting is not always about loudness, it’s about colouration, too”
Limiter 6 GE is a sort of modular compressor/limiter/ clipper – what are the benefits to these extra stages of dynamics reduction?
VG “Most modern maximisers and brickwall limiters internally combine compression, limiting and clipping – their action is automated to achieve maximum loudness at minimal audible distortions. But brickwall limiting is not always about loudness, it’s about colouration, too. With Limiter 6’s modular concept, all these hidden parameters become accessible, offering an enormous range of possibilities for colouration and fine-tuning.”
FS “It’s a ‘build your own limiter’. The operator can build his own collection of maximisers and mix processors. Limiter 6 also allows for ‘one-knob’ operation: Pick a factory or user preset and adjust the drive as needed.” What’s next for Tokyo Dawn? VG “For now, we’re already working on low-latency editions suitable for live audio; the usage of web services and machine learning to extend our ‘Smart Action’ features; and maybe a large update for Proximity. FS “No matter what comes next, we’ll definitely maintain the habits we’ve established over the years: an honest, no-nonsense communication, first-class support, good documentation and fair pricing.” URL www.tokyodawn.net