Decoding the "Resa Wav File Trick" for FL Studio Masters: A Beginner's Guide
The "Resa Wav File Trick" touted on Producerspot.com aims to enhance the perceived loudness and punch of your tracks in FL Studio during the mastering process. It's essentially a creative way to add subtle saturation and harmonic distortion using a specially prepared WAV file. While the original article might seem a bit overwhelming to beginners, this guide breaks down the concept into manageable steps, clarifies the underlying principles, and offers practical advice to avoid common pitfalls.
What is the "Resa Wav File Trick," and Why Use It?
The core idea revolves around using a short, heavily compressed and saturated WAV file (the "Resa Wav File") as a sidechain input to a compressor. Instead of the compressor reacting to the actual audio of your track, it reacts to the rhythmic pulse of the Resa Wav file. This causes the compressor to "pump" in sync with the Resa file, adding a unique flavor of rhythmic compression and subtle harmonic distortion to your overall mix.
Think of it like this: imagine you're dancing, and instead of directly reacting to the music, you're reacting to a specific drummer playing a very intense, compressed beat. Your movements will be influenced by that drummer's intensity, adding a specific style to your dance. The Resa Wav file is that intense drummer for your compressor.
This technique offers several potential benefits:
- Enhanced Perceived Loudness: By subtly compressing the audio in a rhythmic way, the track can sound louder without significantly increasing the overall peak level.
- Added Punch and Groove: The rhythmic pumping can inject a sense of energy and movement into the track, making it feel more dynamic and engaging.
- Subtle Saturation and Harmonics: The Resa Wav file, being heavily compressed and saturated, imparts some of its sonic characteristics onto the track, adding a touch of warmth and grit.
- Creative Compression Effects: It's a non-traditional way to use compression, opening up possibilities for unique and interesting sound design.
- Over-Compression: It's easy to overdo the compression with this technique. Listen carefully for pumping artifacts or a loss of dynamics. If the track sounds "squashed" or lifeless, reduce the ratio, threshold, or Resa Wav file volume.
- Phase Issues: Using heavily processed audio files can sometimes introduce phase issues, leading to a loss of clarity or a "thin" sound. Use a phase correction plugin (if available) or experiment with different Resa Wav files.
- Inappropriate Resa Wav File: The wrong Resa Wav file can completely ruin your sound. Choose a file that complements the genre and style of your track. Experiment with creating your own Resa Wav files to find something that works well.
- Ignoring the Original Mix: This trick is not a substitute for a good mix. Make sure your track is well-balanced and properly EQ'd before applying this technique.
- Not Listening Critically: Don't just blindly follow the steps. Listen carefully to your track and adjust the settings until you achieve the desired result. Regular A/B comparisons (bypassing the effect) are essential.
- For Electronic Music (House, Techno): Use a short, punchy kick drum sample as the Resa Wav file. This can add a driving rhythm and energy to the track.
- For Hip-Hop: Use a heavily distorted snare drum or a short vocal stab. This can add a gritty, aggressive edge to the track.
- For Pop Music: Use a more subtle, less aggressive sound as the Resa Wav file. This can add a touch of warmth and glue to the track without being too obvious.
The 8 Steps, Demystified:
Here’s a breakdown of the 8 steps, making them easier to understand:
1. Obtain or Create a Resa Wav File: This is the foundation of the trick. You can either download a pre-made Resa Wav file (search online for "Resa Wav File" or similar terms), or create your own. Creating your own gives you more control over the final sound. A Resa Wav file is typically a short (1-2 seconds), heavily compressed, and often distorted loop. Think of a short, aggressive kick drum or a distorted synth stab.
* How to Create Your Own (Simplified): In FL Studio, use a kick drum sample, add a distortion plugin (like Fruity Waveshaper or Overdrive), crank up the drive and compression, and export a short loop as a WAV file. Experiment with different sounds and distortion settings to find something that sounds interesting.
2. Load Your Track into FL Studio: Place the track you want to master into FL Studio's playlist. This will be the track that the Resa Wav file will affect.
3. Insert a Compressor on Your Master Track: Add a compressor plugin (like Fruity Compressor, Waves RComp, or FabFilter Pro-C 2) to your master track. This is where the magic happens.
4. Set Up Sidechain Routing: This is crucial. You need to route the Resa Wav file to the *sidechain* input of the compressor on your master track. In FL Studio, this typically involves:
* Loading the Resa Wav file into a separate channel in the Channel Rack.
* Right-clicking on the Resa Wav file channel and selecting "Route to this track only."
* Then, right-clicking on the *master track* in the Mixer and selecting "Sidechain to this track." This creates a hidden connection.
* In the compressor plugin on the master track, select the Resa Wav file channel as the sidechain input source. The exact wording will vary depending on the compressor plugin (e.g., "Sidechain Input," "External Input," etc.).
5. Adjust Compressor Settings: This is where experimentation comes in. Start with these basic settings and then tweak them to taste:
* Ratio: Start with a moderate ratio (e.g., 4:1). This controls how much the compressor reduces the gain when the signal exceeds the threshold.
* Threshold: Adjust the threshold so that the compressor is reacting to the peaks of the Resa Wav file. You should see the gain reduction meter moving in sync with the Resa Wav file.
* Attack: A fast attack (e.g., 1-5ms) will clamp down on the transients quickly, creating a punchy effect. A slower attack (e.g., 10-30ms) will let some of the initial transient through.
* Release: Adjust the release to match the tempo of your track. A shorter release (e.g., 50-100ms) will create a tighter, more rhythmic pumping effect. A longer release (e.g., 200-400ms) will create a smoother, more subtle effect.
* Knee: A soft knee (e.g., a value higher than 0) will create a more gradual compression, while a hard knee will create a more abrupt compression.
6. Fine-Tune the Resa Wav File Volume: Adjust the volume of the Resa Wav file in its channel. This controls how much the compressor reacts to it. A higher volume will result in more aggressive compression. It's important to mute the Resa Wav file *channel* after setting the volume, as you don't want to hear it directly in your mix. You only want its influence on the compressor.
7. Listen Critically and Adjust: This is the most important step. Listen to your track carefully and adjust the compressor settings and Resa Wav file volume until you achieve the desired effect. Pay attention to the overall balance, punch, and clarity of the track.
8. Bypass and Compare: Regularly bypass the compressor to compare the processed and unprocessed versions of your track. This will help you determine whether the Resa Wav file trick is actually improving your sound.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them:
Practical Examples:
Conclusion:
The "Resa Wav File Trick" is a powerful technique that can add a unique flavor to your mastered tracks in FL Studio. However, it's important to understand the underlying principles and to use it with caution. By following the steps outlined in this guide, experimenting with different settings, and listening critically, you can master this trick and use it to enhance your productions. Remember that this is just one tool in your mastering arsenal, and it's not always the right solution for every track. Always prioritize a well-balanced and properly mixed track before applying any mastering techniques. Good luck, and happy producing!
