Get with the programmers
JMG Audio have provided us with a superb update to Hyperspace CM this issue, so it’s time to catch up with the company’s Jason Gibbins…
How did you get into music software? JG “I’ve had a keen interest in plugins for a very long time. I followed the latest developer news and always wished I could one day make my own. Now that is a reality, and I spend a lot of my time (even when asleep) dreaming up some new concepts for plugins.”
What makes your plugins stand out? JG “When thinking up new ideas for plugins, I have two main goals. First I like to find a way to offer as many features and options as possible, while simultaneously making the plugin easy and fast to use. This balancing act is important to me. Secondly, I try to innovate in some way. Either with a completely new concept or a more efficient or interesting way to achieve an existing process.”
What are your most important plugins?
JG “My first plugin, Hyperspace, is still my favourite and most featurerich. It is an algorithmic reverb that does it all, from vintage to modern to outer space, with built-in mixing tools for spectral separation, transients, ducking and a total of almost 400 different algorithms. Expanse 3D is an enhancer that works in three dimensions to make the sound wider, deeper and bigger. There are a lot of advanced psycho-acoustic tricks at play while being super easy to use, but most importantly, it sounds great. Finally, Mirror is the world’s first reverse negative delay. It reverses your audio (with optional reverse reverb) and plays it back before the dry signal. This achieves the reverse snare or reverb effect in seconds and allows fine-tuning in real-time.”
“I like it to have as many features as possible but be easy to use and fast”
What are your favourite plugins made by other developers? JG “Soundevice Digital UniChannel has a beautiful analogue style mojo that adds warmth and glue to my busses. Muramasa Bassment is great for adding fire and beef to my Cyberpunk basslines. Minimal Audio Rift is the most powerful and flexible distortion I have ever used. Steinberg Backbone is a drum sample manipulation tool on another level, including resynthesis and noise separation. XLN Audio XO speeds up my drum workflow massively. I have a lot of drum samples and this tool helps me find the perfect sample, fast.”
What would you like to see developed in plugin technology? JG “Inter-plugin communication. When multiple instances of a plugin are aware of each other, it opens up a set of useful features and uses: separating elements in a mix, controlling multiple parameters at once, the ability to see analysis of a whole project from a single interface and more.”
What advice do you have?
JG “Take regular breaks. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself this before I damaged my hearing. Also, breaks help to keep you from getting too familiar with the sound and to make better decisions.”
What have you got planned for the future?
JG “My latest creation is Nanopulse, a transient tool like no other. It allows you to morph your transient’s sound character with the frequency profile of another. It also has a multiband attack shaper to balance the overall dynamics. Next, I have a concept for a new type of freezing effect.” unitedplugins.com