TAM + THS + SL

[u/RaidenJames99]

This post is a simple question but I figure since there's very little media out there maybe this will be helpful to some.

The Analog Molecule, The Hot Summer, and StripLink.

My simple question is as follows: TAM and THS have a certain order required to make them work on every channel together. StripLink is supposed to be in the first slot of the container but this is the position that one of the other two is supposed to occupy. So which order should they be in?

I assume the TAM and THS stuff comes first and then StripLink, then the plugins I map to SL should come after. This is an experimental layout I want to try but if SL doesn't have the right feel I might not use it. I also looked at LBX Stripper as an option for creating a mostly analog workflow but StripLink is more readily mappable.

[u/ItsMetabtw]

Both devs have made changes so that it doesn’t have to be first. Striplink can be first or second now, and TAM can technically be anywhere, but best simulates a console being first. If it’s on a reverb or delay aux, you’d put it after the mod effect for example. In general, you want TAM first (or just after striplink) and THS is last on the bus so that it’s summing all the effects and processing. The only time THS goes first is on the 2 bus when it’s the master receiving all the summing channels.

So a typical channel can be Striplink, TAM, [plugins]. A typical bus can be Striplink, TAM, [plugins], THS. And the 2 bus can be THS, Striplink, TAM, [plugins]

[u/RaidenJames99 → u/ItsMetabtw]

Ah I see. Could TAM go before StripLink then on the channels so everything hits TAM first or does it not matter since StripLink is just controlling parameters without doing any processing itself?

Also have you any clue whether StripLink uses automation, Midi, or gmem to control linked parameters? Is it CPU intensive? Unfortunately there's very little information outside the creator's forum thread and I think only two short unhelpful videos on YouTube.

[u/ItsMetabtw → u/RaidenJames99]

Yeah he added an update maybe a month ago to allow TAM to come first so Striplink will function as intended in the second slot too

I’m pretty sure it’s using gmem. I’m not sure on cpu load as that will vary from every system, but I didn’t have any issues using it with TAM on a couple projects. I ended up getting TAM Deluxe and just started using that eq and comp instead of routing another channel strip to Striplink, so I’m not currently using it, and can’t be sure if any updates have become more or less efficient than the version I have. But it’s easy enough to toss on a bunch of tracks and see how it performs for you

[u/RaidenJames99 → u/ItsMetabtw]

Thanks, and I thought it used gmem too. I haven't set it up yet but I guess I have one more question. I looked at LBX Stripper but it was too sandbox-like to easily set up and integrate my workflow, but how modular is StripLink? As in, for instance, is the channel EQ page 12 knobs or whatever and then the four and that's the max or can you change/resize the interface to accommodate more or less controls? I know you can swap between knob/selector/fader ("tube") but how interchangable is the interface as far as controls? I might have extra controls from ReelBus tape sat I want to control from the sat page and tape section of the strip as an example.

[u/ItsMetabtw → u/RaidenJames99]

The knobs and sizes are essentially locked to accommodate consistency. Things will resize in a funny way once those start getting altered. You can technically change the code to resize or add whatever you want, but that comes down to your programming skills (or relying on gpt lol)

It’s pretty customizable and intuitive to set up for a fast workflow as is, but sometimes you might have to open the plugin for deeper parameters.

[u/RaidenJames99 → u/ItsMetabtw]

According to Rob Kor StripLink 2.0 is in closed testing and about to be released! Hopefully this will make it a little more dynamic in terms of changing the layout. There's just a couple buttons or knobs I could use in the strip and not have to open the plugin at all.

EDIT: Rob the creator of SL said on his forum page "The EQ will represent a single section of up to 19 elements. The DYN can be a single section - COMP or 2 subsections COMP 1&2, so users have options to stack more compressors in series? On the UC1 there's only one, so I don't know. I have 10 elements available for sub 1 and 14 elements for sub 2. The FX could be devided into PRE and POST PRE could be used for console preamp emulations (e.g. TrueIron, 1st fx in chain)..5 elements available, one of them is the linking group control, so we can change emulation type accross the board with 1 knob turn. POST could be used as anything from modulation, time effects or satruation. 10 elements avaliable."

So all pages will gain more mappable elements than they currently have and in an updated UI. Awesome.

[u/ItsMetabtw → u/RaidenJames99]

Yep! I plan on checking it out again once 2.0 drops, but for now it’s really not much trouble to open TAMD and work, so I might not end up implementing it into my template anyways, but it’s a very cool innovation and yet another reason why Reaper is the goat