Introducing Shen, a powerful and versatile plugin from Samsara Cycle Audio, which combines noise reduction and equalizer functions in one convenient tool. This VST effect is designed specifically for musicians and sound engineers working in a Windows environment, providing them with effective means to clean up the audio signal from unwanted noise and simultaneously shape its tonal balance.
In the world of music production, there is often a need to get rid of background noise, amplifier hum, or other unwanted sounds that can spoil the final mix. Shen solves this problem with its integrated noise reduction. But what makes Shen truly unique is the combination of this dynamic processing with a full-fledged equalization section. This allows you not only to remove the noise, but also to immediately adjust the timbre of an instrument or vocals, achieving perfect sound without the need to add a separate equalizer to the effects chain.
Whether you are working with guitar recordings where you need to tame the noise of a tube amplifier, or processing vocals whose recording contains unwanted background sounds, Shen offers an intuitive set of controls for fine-tuning. Let’s take a closer look at its features.
Key Features and Controls
Shen gives the user full control over the noise reduction and equalization process through a series of parameters.
- Threshold Level: Defines the signal level below which the noise reduction starts to work, suppressing or completely muting the sound. This is a fundamental parameter for controlling background noise.
- Attack Level: Adjusts the speed with which the noise reduction “opens”, allowing the signal to pass after its level has exceeded the threshold. Fast attack is suitable for percussive sounds, slower for smoother signals.
- Fade Level: Determines the speed with which the noise reduction “closes” after the signal level has dropped below the threshold. This helps to avoid abrupt sound cutoff and make the transition more natural.
- EQ Balance Level: Allows you to mix the equalized signal with the clean one, providing flexibility in the application of EQ.
- Output Level: Controls the overall signal level at the plugin output.
- Midi Learn: A function for assigning plugin parameters to MIDI controllers, allowing them to be automated or controlled in real-time during performance or mixing.
In-depth look at the equalizer section
The built-in equalizer in Shen is not just an additional feature, but a full-fledged tool for tonal correction. It offers three types of filters, each covering a certain frequency range:
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Low Shelf Filter:
Operates in the range from 120 Hz to 800 Hz. This filter is designed to cut low frequencies (cutting to -30 dB is available only). It is ideal for reducing “muddiness” or unwanted low-frequency hum in instruments that have a significant energy drop in this part of the spectrum.
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Notch Filter:
Covers the mid-frequency range from 800 Hz to 2 kHz. This filter is extremely flexible, allowing both boosting and cutting frequencies within +/-30 dB. The presence of the bandwidth selector allows you to precisely adjust how narrow or wide an area of the frequency spectrum the filter will affect. This makes it ideal for removing resonances, feedback, or other problematic frequencies, as well as for creatively shaping mid-range frequencies.
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High Shelf Filter:
Operates in the upper range from 2 kHz to 20 kHz. Like the low-frequency shelf filter, it is designed to cut high frequencies (also up to -30 dB). Helps remove excess “brightness”, sibilants in vocals, or high-frequency noise, making the sound softer and warmer.
The combination of these three filters with the noise reduction function makes Shen an extremely effective tool for processing a wide variety of audio materials. You can use it to clean up guitar parts before distortion, to control the dynamics and timbre of the bass, to tame noises in vintage recordings, or to shape the sound of synthesizers. The ability to perform dynamic and frequency correction in one plugin significantly simplifies the workflow and saves system resources.
Shen by Samsara Cycle Audio is more than just a noise reducer. It’s an integrated solution for cleaning and shaping sound, offering flexible options for both technical correction and creative sound design. If you’re looking for an effective way to control noise and at the same time have a powerful equalizer in VST format for your Windows system at your fingertips, Shen definitely deserves your attention.
Overall, Shen is a valuable addition to the arsenal of any producer or sound engineer who values clean sound and an efficient workflow. Its unique combination of noise reduction and equalization in one plugin makes it a convenient and powerful tool for achieving professional results in your audio projects.
Don’t miss the opportunity to optimize your mixing and mastering process with this versatile effect. Try Shen and see how much easier it can be to achieve a clean and expressive sound for your tracks.
The plugin is available for users of the Windows operating system in VST format, which provides wide compatibility with most modern digital audio workstations (DAW).
Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your journey in the world of recording and mixing, Shen offers an intuitive interface and powerful features that will help you achieve the desired sound with minimal effort. Add Shen to your toolkit and discover new possibilities for working with sound.
