New Music Gear Monday: Wavesfactory SK10 Subkick Simulator Plugin

It seems like every engineer uses a subkick mic when recording kick drum these days. Whether you buy one (there are now a number of them on the market to choose from) or build one yourself, they will enable you to add some girth to the kick drum that you almost can’t get any other way. Or can you? The cool new SK10 subkick simulator plugin from Wavesfactory can be as effective as the real thing.

The Wavesfactory SK10 subkick simulator plugin is basically a subharmonic generator that creates the low frequencies that you’d normally be recording with a subkick transducer. It’s dead easy to use, having just 3 parameter controls, and gives you pretty much exactly what you’d get from a dedicated subkick track.

The SK10 plugin has a large Amount knob that controls both the amount of the dry and processed kick signal. The balance between them is adjusted by the Mix control, and a LP (low-pass filter) control adjusts how much of the top end of the processed signal is added into the track. There’s also a VU meter-style indicator with an in/out switch. That’s it!

The SK10 doesn’t have to be used just on the kick drum either. Give it a try on a bass track to add some additional girth there without resorting to massive amounts of low-end EQ.

Here’s the best part though – it’s a freebie! Yes, it’s totally FREE and is available for Mac and Windows in VST, Audio Units, and AAX formats. It’s compatible for Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Studio One, Cubase and any DAW that supports AU, VST or AAX, which means just about any modern DAW currently available.

Check out the Wavesfactory website for more info on the SK10 plugin and to download it. You can also check out the video below for a live demonstration.

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