Airwindows releases ConsoleMC and ConsoleMD, two free situation plugins based on the MCI mixing console.
I will admit I’m not readily familiar with the mixer modeled by this suite of plugins. However, I do know that it sounds quite nice on various materials.
Those in the know with audio DSP are aware of AirWindows and the absolutely mammoth body of work the developer Chris released over the last few years. You can refer to the Airwindows Cheetsheet for more info about these legendary yet underappreciated plugins (thank you to BPB reader Easy for the link).
Now, the resident unsung hero of audio plugins is back at it again with a console plugin he claims has replaced his analog outboard.
I can’t speak with too much authority on the MCI console modeled, as my time in physical studios mostly revolved around Allen and Heath and well-worn SSL desks. This thing certainly has some mojo to it, however.
You’ve got two separate variants, ConsoleMC and ConsoleMD. These both contain identical controls, with the channel variant of each plugin having a three-band EQ, panning, and fader controls.
The EQs certainly have a fair amount of vibe to them, with the low shelf very heavily reminding me of the mixer on my own Portastudio 464.
The panning is also novel and is described as the “evil cousin” of LCR. It sounds nice, is all I know. The core differences I was able to ascertain between the ConsoleMC and ConsoleMD come down solely to the brightness of the overall sound quality.
The MC tends to skew a little brighter as a whole, but it isn’t like strapping an exciter across every track in a mix.
You’ll sum all of these together with the bus plugin, which I have always been a fan of seeing.
This one is fairly barebones, but it does make a perceptible difference in the overall sound once strapped across the mix bus or subgroups. I found it had a very pleasing and gooey warmth to it, with a little wooliness when pushed harder.
I’ve got a fair amount of use out of AirWindows tape saturation plugins in the past before investing in my own outboard. The same level of polish and care that goes into all of his work is very much present in ConsoleMC and MD alike.
All of Chris Johnson’s work with AirWindows is freely available for download. It is heavily suggested you throw a few bucks his way on Patreon to continue funding the stellar work he’s doing.
Download: ConsoleMC (FREE)
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Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by Tomislav Zlatic.
