Exploring the Selig Gain Rack Extension, what is it and what does it do? At almost six years old, does this feature-packed gem still deliver in the modern rack? We’ve got an overview and some usage tips to help you decide. Also, it’s currently included in the May madness sale over at Reason Studios central. Pull the trigger before the 31st May and you get a healthy 50% off. Nice!
What is Selig Gain:
Selig gain has a number of useful functions, but at its heart it’s a gain control for audio and CV signals. Its negligible CPU hit, and the fact that it doesn’t induce any sample delays means you can use it extensively in your sessions. Also, the fact that it collapses with most of its features still fully accessible is a great feature. Over the course of a project that can save you a great deal of fiddling time.
Selig Gain is a simple Rack Extension for gain control of audio and CV signals. It functions as a classic VCA, or as a handy volume control complete with Peak Hold meter, mute, and panning. Use it to measure and adjust levels anywhere in your signal path. Also included: mono, polarity invert, and independent left/right pan controls with selectable pan law, and of course there is full CV I/O on the back panel. Think of it as a portable gain stage for Reason’s Rack – use it anywhere you like!
You can get better acquainted with the technical aspects of Selig Gain from its user guide. There are also tips on its usage and details of the combinators that it ships with. Check it out.
- Selig Gain User Guide. (Selig Audio website is undergoing work, so this link is currently broken)
Usage Tips:
Layering Sounds In A Combinator:
If you like to layer and process synths within combinators, or even set up parallel processing within a single combinator, then the Polarity Invert button can be very useful. This is very handy when using things like the Scream 4’s Tape setting. See above pic.
In Place Of 6:2 / 14:2 Mixers:
I sometimes use multiple instances of Selig Gain, routed through a Spider Audio Merger, in place of a 6:2 / 14:2 Mixers in my combinators. I like having the individual volume controls in the place where they should logically be. Also, that they are still visible when Selig Gain is collapsed, is a huge usability bonus.
As A Device Volume Control:
Like using Softube’s Saturation Knob? Don’t like the surge in dB’s that often follow? Selig Gain is a great tool to help you manage this.
Volume Automation:
I have come to enjoy the benefits of using Selig Gain alongside the Reason Channel Strips Volume controls. I can put in volume automation at any stage and retain the use of the individual channels faders.
Panning:
You can use Selig Gain as a direct replacement for each Channels Fader section. You can create custom fade-outs using the Mute/Fade controls and you can make use of separate left and right pan controls, where you can also choose from a variety of different pan laws. There are also panning CV options, making auto-panning and pseudo-3D rotation set-ups possible.
Metering:
As well as the standard visual meter it also features a numerical readout that can help you zero in on problems. Due to the low CPU hit of this device, you can pop one after as many devices as you like.
To try it for yourself, visit Reason Studios. Until May 31st it’s a steal.