Silencer - choke reverbs

In this video, I recreated the Silencer plugin functionality using only native Bitwig Studio tools. The Silencer plugin is designed to reset or choke the reverb tail of another plugin, effectively giving you precise control over the reverb's behavior. While Silencer might have its own patented approach, I was able to achieve a similar effect in Bitwig with some clever techniques.

Overview of the Concept:

• The idea is to reset the reverb buffer whenever a note is played. This prevents the reverb tail from getting too busy or cluttered with overlapping sounds.

• In Bitwig, this can be achieved by modulating the mix or power of a reverb plugin whenever a new note is triggered.

Step-by-Step Process:

• Set Up Your Reverb Chain:

  • I started with Polymer Synthesizer sending audio into a Valhalla Supermassive Reverb.

  • I placed the reverb inside a Chain Container and set the container's mix knob to 50%, while the reverb plugin itself was at 100% wet.

• Use ADSR to Control Reverb Reset:

  • Add an ADSR modulator, which gets triggered by incoming notes.

  • Set the ADSR to produce a very short modulation burst.

  • Use the ADSR to modulate the mix or power of the reverb. When a note is played, the reverb briefly turns off or resets.

• Result:

  • Each new note chokes or resets the reverb tail. This ensures that the reverb tail only reflects the last note played, avoiding a busy or chaotic reverb.

Additional Refinements:

• Handling Clicks and Pops:

  • Sometimes switching the reverb on and off can cause pops or artifacts, especially with clean sine waves or muted sounds.

  • To smooth this out, I used Segments, a module that can fade the reverb on/off more gently.

• Preserving Note Attacks in the Reverb:

  • If the reverb reset happens too early, you might lose part of the note’s attack in the reverb.

  • I added a Time Shift device before the reverb to delay the audio signal slightly, ensuring the full note makes it into the reverb.

Triggering with Audio:

If you want to use audio signals instead of MIDI to trigger the reverb reset, it’s slightly more complicated but still possible.

• Using Replacer:

  • The Replacer device can convert audio into MIDI notes.

  • Adjust the threshold in Replacer to detect incoming audio transients, which then trigger the reverb reset.

  • Route the Replacer’s MIDI output to control the ADSR modulating the reverb.

• Custom Grid Setup:

  • You could also use the Grid to design a custom threshold-based trigger system for audio signals. However, the Replacer is a much quicker solution.

Alternative Reverb Plugins:

• This method works with any reverb plugin, not just Valhalla Supermassive. For example:

  • I also tested it with Native Instruments Raum, which worked well.

  • Modulating the power or mix of the plugin gives similar results across most reverb VSTs.

Key Takeaways:

• While this recreation might not match Silencer’s patented technology, it’s a functional and flexible alternative within Bitwig.

• You can precisely reset or choke reverb tails using MIDI or audio triggers with native tools.

• Combining ADSR, Time Shift, and Replacer ensures smooth, controlled results.

That’s it for this video! I hope this cleared up how you can replicate Silencer in Bitwig Studio.