SILENCER by Wide Blue Sound: Everything you need to know [Review]

Reverb, delay, and chorus effects are staples in every producer’s arsenal, offering versatile ways to shape and manipulate sounds within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Familiar techniques like ducking or gating are commonly employed to control these effects, ensuring they complement rather than overwhelm the dry source. But what if there were a different approach altogether? SILENCER by Wide Blue Sound, offers a fresh perspective on sound manipulation and innovation in the realm of music production.

SILENCER by Wide Blue Sound

How it works

SILENCER by Wide Blue Sound presents an alternative method for sidechaining or shaping your reverb and delay effects. Rather than employing compression-based ducking, it utilizes a time-gating technique to reset decay and re-trigger when a fresh note is introduced. It’s essential to note that this approach isn’t intended to supplant the ducking technique but rather to provide a novel avenue for manipulation. Be noted that this is not a reverb/delay plugin, but you can import any type of reverb, delay, and other plugin effects into SILENCER. After scanning and importing your plugins, simply select them from the menu to indicate to SILENCER that you intend to utilize the reverb plugins in the Plugin Manager. Wide Blue Sound has stated that if your preferred reverb plugin isn’t currently supported in SILENCER, you can reach out to them, and they’ll liaise with the reverb’s manufacturer on your behalf.

Triggering Time-Gate on SILENCER

SILENCER offers two primary methods for triggering its time-gating feature. The first method, the plugin automatically syncs your sound to the beat. You have control over the TRIG and Hold knobs for precise adjustments. Moreover, you can fine-tune the MIX and Send/Reverb settings to tailor the effect to your preferences. MIDI-Triggering is also an option for those who prefer this approach with SILENCER. Similar to other plugins, you simply route MIDI triggers to initiate the time-gating function. If you wish to bypass SILENCER and hear the sound without time-gating, simply press the disable button. Moreover, should you wish to adjust the mix of your dry and wet signals, you won’t be able to do so directly within the reverb plugin itself. Instead, you should adjust the Dry & Wet using the MIX knob on SILENCER.

Effects Rack

On the left side of the plugin is the Effects Rack, offering a versatile array of options. Once you’ve selected the time-gated reverb, you have four additional modules to complete your signal chain. First up is the Focus EQ, empowering you to finely tune the reverb’s frequencies to your exact preferences. Following that is the Sidechain module, facilitating precise ducking of the reverb in response to the dry signal. Then, there’s the Strip, a remarkably handy tool for adding weight or air to your mix. Notably, the Strip also features a Gating function, enabling you to mute the reverb by adjusting the threshold. Along with that, a spread knob for panning the dry and wet signals in opposing directions.

Finally, the fourth option allows you to integrate any third-party VST plugins. Encompassing a wide range of tools such as compressors, EQs, saturators, and beyond. This comprehensive Effects Rack provides unparalleled flexibility in sculpting your desired sonic landscape.

Demo

Here’s a small demonstration of an Arp from Sounds of KSHMR Vol. 4.

You can get the Silencer by Wide Blue Sound on their official website right now for a discounted price of 79.99$.