Dead Guitars: Rubber Bridge User Manual

Welcome to the user manual for Dead Guitars: Rubber Bridge by Fine Classics Plugins. Dead Guitars is a virtual software instrument designed to emulate the unique sounding tone associated with a fingerpicked rubber bridge guitar. This manual will guide you through the installation process, getting started, parameter descriptions, and more.

Table of Contents

  1. Installation
  2. Getting Started
  3. Parameter Descriptions
  4. Presets
  5. Troubleshooting
  6. Support
  7. Attribution

    Installation

    To install the Dead Guitars plugin, follow these steps:

    1. Download the installer file from the Fine Classics Plugins website.
    2. Choose the appropriate plugin format (VST, AU, AAX) based on your digital audio workstation (DAW).
    3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
    4. Downloaded the included samples directory. Move/extract the samples directory out of your downloads folder to any directory where you want the samples to be stored. For more information about sample storage best practices, click here. Take note of the location as it will be important to remember when choosing the appropriate samples directory once the plugin is open.
    5. Restart your DAW if necessary.

    Getting Started

    Once Dead Guitars: Rubber Bridge is installed, follow these steps to start using it:

    1. Open a new MIDI track or use an existing one.
    2. Insert the plugin onto the desired track.
    3. Open the plugin. A dialog box will appear, telling you to locate the samples folder. Choose the location of the samples folder that was downloaded.
    4. A re-instancing of the plugin is required the first time it is opened. This is only required the first time it is downloaded as it will remember the sample location until it is changed. To do this, simply delete and add the plugin once the samples folder is selected.

    Parameter Descriptions

    Mixer

    In order to provide the most tonal flexibility, Dead Guitars is a multi-mic'd instrument. This means that various mic positions can be blended together. The volume of each mic can be adjusted by raising/lowering the gray faders. the position of each mic can be adjusted via the pan knobs above the faders. Below are brief descriptions of mic positions available:

    1. Phone: An iPhone placed near the guitar.
    2. Mic: A Neumann KM184 Condenser microphone.
    3. DI: A direct signal from a mic pickup mounted inside the guitar.

    ADHSR

    The ADHSR on Dead Guitars can be controlled by clicking and dragging the corresponding blue dot on the ADHSR graph.

    1. Attack: Controls how quickly the sound reaches its maximum level.
    2. Decay: Adjusts the time for the sound to decrease from its peak to the sustain level.
    3. Sustain: Determines the level the sound remains at while the key is held.
    4. Hold: Sets the duration the sound stays at the sustain level before moving to the release phase.
    5. Release: Governs how quickly the sound fades out after the key is released.

    FX

    1. Reverb: Controls the amount and characteristics of simulated reverberation. The smaller knob located at the bottom left of the reverb amount knob controls the size of the virtual room.
    2. Compression: Controls the level of compression applied to the instrument for consistent volume.
    3. LoFi: Introduces lo-fi characteristics such as saturation and filtering to the signal.

    Settings

      1. Streaming Mode: Activates a mode optimized for real-time streaming, minimizing latency. SSD streaming mode should be the default.
      2. Max Voices: Sets the maximum number of concurrent voices the plugin can generate, influencing polyphony. Less voices utilizes less CPU.
      3. Clear MIDI CC: Resets MIDI Continuous Controller values to default positions.
      4. Change Sample Folder Location: Allows users to specify a new directory for sample storage. This will initially be set the first time the plugin is loaded.

              Presets

              The Dead Guitars Plugin comes with a variety of presets to get you started quickly. Follow these steps to use a preset:

              1. Open the preset menu or browser.
              2. Select a preset that suits your desired rubber bridge guitar sound.
              3. Load the preset to apply the selected settings.
              4. Make further adjustments to the controls if necessary.

              Troubleshooting

              If you encounter any issues, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

              • Ensure your DAW and operating system are up to date.
              • Verify that the plugin is installed correctly.
              • Verify that the samples directory file path has not been modified/deleted.
              • Check your MIDI controller settings.
              • Consult the plugin documentation or contact our support team for assistance.

              Support

              If you need any further assistance or have any questions regarding the Guitar Amplifier Plugin, feel free to reach out to our support team:

              • Email: ryan@fineclassicsplugins.com

              We hope you enjoy using Rubber Bridge and find it to be a valuable asset to your creative arsenal.

              Stay tuned for more updates and features!