STL Tones ControlHub: modeled effects chains by top producers
5,0 / 5,0 | 
UPDATE (May 27, 2022): STL Tones launched ControlHub today with 117 presets. These range from effect chains for single tracks (like guitars or vocals) to presets for drum or synths buses all the way up to entire mastering chains. All of the information below, which was available May 20, still applies.
ControlHub is the next step in STL Tones’ conquest for machine learning-powered gear sim domination. The developer’s amp and gear profiling tech is already established in the guitar playing world. STL ToneHub opens up access to an endless variety of tones served as mix-ready presets. Copping a guitar tone fix has never been any quicker. The developer wants to do the same for studio tones now. ControlHub will launch next week, May 27. Here’s what we know…
STL Tones ControlHub
By STL’s own words, ControlHub is a ‘mixing plug-in platform’ that lets you load entire signal-chains from expansion packs developed in partnership with renowned producers. We’re talking the likes of Neal Avron, Mark Lewis, Machine, and others.
Instead of a regular channel strip plug-in, ControlHub contains complete emulations of the original hardware or software signal chain. This is achieved via STL’s hybrid emulation engine, which combines proprietary Tracing tech with good old analog modeling.
The best-of-both-worlds approach delivers an accurate recreation of an signal chain, says STL. It goes from from preamps to coloration, compressors, equalizers and limiters – all with full control over every signal processing aspect. From the single screenshot published, we can get a preview of how ControlHub is shaping up.
Expectedly, there’s a chain of modules – EQ, Color, Compression, Master EQ, Effeects, and Limiter. I assume that the control knobs and processing order will be changing according to the modeled gear. To that, we can spot two Neve emulations (1084 and EQ). Also provided are a spectrum analyzer and peak metering.
As a developer, STL already has ToneHub and AMPHUB demonstrating its ability to deliver on all thesee claims. STL products have been available for a long time and went through tons of refinement. I expect ControlHub will make a significant impact in the production realm. Preset-oriented users will have a field day and the opportunity to study the signal chains of accomplished producer inside a highly realistic simulation is always worthwhile.
Price and availability data
STL says the ControlHub plug-in (with one free Expansion Pack valued at USD 49) will be available to purchase from May 27 at the special introductory price of USD 199. There’s no word on whether the product will be sold on a subscription basis like AMPHUB. I assume STL will work out some kind of monthly and annual pricing for the platform like it already did for guitar players.
Learn more about STL Tones ControlHub
- Developer website (information will be available at launch)
- More STL news
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