AudioThing and Hainbach present Gong Amp: historical and experimental plugin
Gong Amp uses a mixture of convolution processing, physical modelling and feedback systems in an experimental amplifier plugin inspired by the early days of electronic music.
Gong Amp
Well, this is going to get interesting. In 1932, Maurice Martenot developed a number of ideas to push amplification beyond the horns and loudspeakers of the time. One idea was to put a gong behind the amplifier circuitry that resulted in some exciting resonances and brilliant overtones.
In 2011 Eowave created the Resonator Metallik based on Martenot’s invention which was a device that Hainback enjoyed a great deal. AudioThing enjoyed his enjoyment and they decided to capture the soul of the original machine as their third plugin collaboration after Motor and Wires.
Hainback’s Metallik Resonator built by Eowave · Source: AudioThing
How best to describe the effect of this thing? Well, Hainbach will be presenting a full demo on YouTube which should be live by the time you are reading this. The link is below. But it sounds very much like you’d imagine it would. The gong and various elements like chains and pillows create a metallic backdrop to the sounds running through them. Listen to these sound demos and you’ll get it immediately.
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There are shimmers of resonating surfaces, and clangs of noise, dampened rumblings and long sustaining sounds. In the plugin you can add thin or thick chains for added sympathetic clang or a pillow to dull things down to more of a thud. You can select three different microphone positions and dial in a unique “resonator” effect designed by Hainbach. The sound can be tweaked in the Performance section with control over the dynamics, pitch, modulation and “Howl” which is when things get a bit crazy. The Trip Mode brings in some automated crossfading between the three mic positions for rhythmic shifts.
Gong Amp is a fascinating and unusual plugin that will entertain sound designers everywhere. It’s available for macOS and Windows for an introductory price of €39.
- Gong Amp webpage.
- More from AudioThing.
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One response to “AudioThing and Hainbach present Gong Amp: historical and experimental plugin”
I always get Hainbach mixed up with Laidbach. I wish I’d never taken so much LSD in my youth. Or was it TCP, I can’t really remember. Nice plugin anyway.