Plugins

[RustyMetal]

Plugins - whatcha got? (Screen shots)







All it takes is a next to free daw, a little searching of this forum, and listening to people that know. (I sure don't mean me.) All of this is on the recommendations of the good people in this forum. Cost, $60 for Reaper + ZERO dollars for all these extra plugins.

[nakedzen]

Edit: Actually not so bad amount:

I've highlighted the ones that actually see any kind of use out of these

[RustyMetal]

Impressive list knowing that you pay money for plugins. How much do you have invested in that list?
I use the ones that come with Reaper first, 'cause I know they're the best quality, although they all take a little while to learn how to use correctly. Then I go to select other ones that I didn't think about hilite'g.


Ozone 5 is a whole separate Mastering Suite. By all accounts, the one to have. What does that plugin do, or is that how Ozone runs?
My mastering software is a whole separate deal with no connection to the mixing software, so your plugin sticks out. I guess when you drive a Cadillac...

[Loins of Fire]

I have a ton but only actually use a few. Most of the time for mixing I'm using stock pro tools eq and compression, Satson console emulation, superior drummer, and Alloy 2. For mastering it's Ozone 5, G clip and u-he Satin tape emulation. I find it's better to have a couple plugins that you know really well than to have a bunch of useless ones that you're constantly learning.

[RustyMetal]

I have a ton but only actually use a few. Most of the time for mixing I'm using stock pro tools eq and compression, Satson console emulation, superior drummer, and Alloy 2. For mastering it's Ozone 5, G clip and u-he Satin tape emulation. I find it's better to have a couple plugins that you know really well than to have a bunch of useless ones that you're constantly learning.

That's sort of true. What do you do when you are trying to do something not in the realm of what your current common use plugins do?
But you're right about it'd be stupid of me to try to learn every plugin I have. There's no need for that until I start trying to tromp into new ground and skills, then I sample 2 or 3 plugins that should be in the 'hood, and start playing with them. - Like getting bored with the couple of boobs next to me, then just reaching over to another chick in the orgy.

[nakedzen]

Impressive list knowing that you pay money for plugins. How much do you have invested in that list?

Well only the Stillwell, Apulsoft , Slate, Izotope and Fabfilter ones are commercial, rest are free. So I'd guess around $800? But it has been worth it, especially the Slate VBC, really nice sound.

I usually use only these types of plugins:
Eq: exclusively 1973 and ReaEq
Compression: can never have too many
Delay & verb: mostly Freeverb and Tal Dub-II
Saturation: the Saturn, TesslaPro and FerricTDS
And a bunch of synths.

[RustyMetal]

Cool. You're on a much higher level than me. And doesn't that Ozone cost $300 or $500 also? I've heard echos of greatness about the Izotope, but it's too rich for my blood. My Drummix and DrumCore are good enough for me. The 808's are great for a classic twist. That satin tape plugin Loins of Fire has must be a great finishing and polishing plugin.

What's the deal with the Boss DS-1 & SD-1 plugins? I didn't know there were such things out there. I own both those pedals, so are they available to customers, general public, or what & where?

[Loins of Fire]

I have a ton but only actually use a few. Most of the time for mixing I'm using stock pro tools eq and compression, Satson console emulation, superior drummer, and Alloy 2. For mastering it's Ozone 5, G clip and u-he Satin tape emulation. I find it's better to have a couple plugins that you know really well than to have a bunch of useless ones that you're constantly learning.

That's sort of true. What do you do when you are trying to do something not in the realm of what your current common use plugins do?
But you're right about it'd be stupid of me to try to learn every plugin I have. There's no need for that until I start trying to tromp into new ground and skills, then I sample 2 or 3 plugins that should be in the 'hood, and start playing with them. - Like getting bored with the couple of boobs next to me, then just reaching over to another chick in the orgy.

I haven't really crossed that bridge yet. The plugins I listed are usually more than enough for what I need to do. I could use a good reverb plugin though. I've heard good things about Valhalla room. I also plan on picking up izotopes nectar when it comes time for me to start mixing vocals.

[nakedzen]

And doesn't that Ozone cost $300 or $500 also?

It's $289 last time I checked. Thankfully the exchange rate is beneficial to me now, and with plugins I don't need to pay VAT and customs.

The Boss pedals are a part of SimulAnalog GuitarSuite, a free amp sim collection:

http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm

[RustyMetal]

$289 or + is not that bad if I was getting some money for my work somehow. I feel I might have some actual talent on this side of the fence, as opposed to no natural talent on the guitar, but it's all just talk right now.

Grassy azz for the link.

[Loins of Fire]

$289 or + is not that bad if I was getting some money for my work somehow. I feel I might have some actual talent on this side of the fence, as opposed to no natural talent on the guitar, but it's all just talk right now.

Grassy azz for the link.

It's completely worth it if you compare the cost to how much you would be spending going to an actual studio.

[EndTime]

I can just type all the plugins i use
kjaerhus Golden EQ
Kjaerhus Golden Modulation
Kjaerhus classic chorus

Cubase Double delay
Cubase Multiband compressor (i often use this as my quick mastering plugin all by itself. Its got a good limiter and you can adjust the eq by raising or lowering the bands .. crazy powerful.. came stock.with cubase sx2, which is what I'm still using 10 years and going.

Cubase Reverb
Steinberg Q(hi quality eq)

Steinberg magneto (tape emulation)

Digitalfishphones Blockfish

PsP Vintage Warmer

Voxengo Curve EQ, Harmoni-eq, Elephant 2.0 , SPAN, tapebuss

Waves Renaissance Comp, Raxx, EQ and Rbass, linear Multiband

Sir 1.08 impulse reverb
Dasample Glaceverb

CLAS exciter

Autogate

KT drumtrigger. Free audio to midi converter

TLs-pocket limiter. (My main weapon on bass guitars)

Frohmage


Battery 1 drum sampler
Steinberg Groove Agent 2 drum machine

Bunch if free synths and one i paid for-Z3ta


That is pretty much it. With some random fx like TapeStop(emulates a 24 track tape stop. Such can be modulated to stop real.slow and gradual. Actually an awesome effect that i haven't really utilized in a final version, but one day! Lol. H have had it for 12 years and always want to find a place to use it

[RustyMetal]

$289 or + is not that bad if I was getting some money for my work somehow. I feel I might have some actual talent on this side of the fence, as opposed to no natural talent on the guitar, but it's all just talk right now.
Grassy azz for the link.

It's completely worth it if you compare the cost to how much you would be spending going to an actual studio.

Oh I agree without even ever crossing that bridge. But I don't have the guitar talent to ever be an addition to any band, so my only real option is to do small studio work for others.

That's a pretty impressive list also EndTime. Are you in your wallet pretty deep for those plugins? I've heard people talking about many of those. And something I've noticed on most of these lists, are the Fish plugins. That speaks pretty loudly. I need to sample them further in the future and see how they do. 'specially the BlockFish Compressor, I don't think I've even tried it yet. Oops.



What else would be cool is if some people could also post screen shots of a plugin in action with the best settings showing. I mean just a snapshot of the plugin/setting box, not all the other stuff. That would be some trouble, but I think the newbies would really find that helpful as a general starting point for some of these plugins. What do y'all think?

[EndTime]

I haven't bought a plug in in 10 years..

Only the Voxengo, Kjaerhus and PSP vintage warmer are ones i remember spending money on.. Each were around $100.. so really 6-700 bucks.

Rest of them are free plugins..

I admit, the Waves is a cracked version..but again that was 10-12 years ago. Not saying its still not stealing, but Waves were essentially insanely overpriced. . Thousands of dollars for some average above average plugins.

[nakedzen]

'specially the BlockFish Compressor, I don't think I've even tried it yet. Oops.

but I think the newbies would really find that helpful as a general starting point for some of these plugins. What do y'all think?

Blockfish is great for screaming metal vocals. I don't really use it for anything else.

Most of these plugins have presets that you can use as starting points. I don't believe you seeing settings without hearing what they do in the context of the particular mix would really tell anything.

But once again I'll mention the "5 Minutes to a Better Mix" and "Pensado's Place" series on youtube, they'll tell you more about mixing than any amount of reading forums can since you can actually see and hear what something does.

[RustyMetal]

'specially the BlockFish Compressor, I don't think I've even tried it yet. Oops.

...but I think the newbies would really find that helpful as a general starting point for some of these plugins. What do y'all think?

Blockfish is great for screaming metal vocals. I don't really use it for anything else.

That's what it was. I haven't done any "screaming metal vocals" so that's why I haven't tried it.

Most of these plugins have presets that you can use as starting points. I don't believe you seeing settings without hearing what they do in the context of the particular mix would really tell anything.

There's a lot of truth in that, but I think for newbies (I've been there) the other option is trial and error that is always mostly error, with one plugin at a time. That can get really frustrating.

But once again I'll mention the "5 Minutes to a Better Mix" and "Pensado's Place" series on youtube, they'll tell you more about mixing than any amount of reading forums can since you can actually see and hear what something does.

I remember you mentioning the 5 minutes... uTubes in another thread or two, and you're right, they're awesome. I still have them bookmarked. But have you or anyone else ever mentioned the Pensado's Place YT's? If so I missed it or forgot about it. I'll be checking them out and bookmarking them also.


EndTime, I can't say anything about cracks. When you're poor... Edit: $3000 ? Jeezus!!! Fork that! I mean Fist Fork that! You're right, that is absosnobly insane!

I have several free Voxengo plugs until I know for sure I need a specific one for a certain project, then I may have to part with some cash. Does Kjaerhus have any free versions? ( * ) Those are some of the ones I've heard good things about. I'll have to check into that further.
*Edit: I misspoke, and didn't even look good enough at my own list. I've had the Kjaerhus free Classic plugins all along. {It's the dain bramage I tell ya.} But I googled and downloaded what I think are updated versions plus the free Limiter for a Mastering addition before feeding into my separate Mastering Suite.*

[EndTime]

Lol.. it haa nothing to do with being poor, but when someone has it and you know it's legit and there is No way i would ever spend the $3,000 the bundle cost, then the crack was a good Option..

The only ones really worthwhile is the Raxx, which is just a simple one knob style comp for guitars. Rbass, again another similar effect adding lowend harmonics. . and the linear multiband is a real clean and effective mastering comp. The rest of their plugs offer nothing above many free ones and or cheaper ones..


For Blockphish, thay developer went on to week for Logic and many of the stock logic plugins are based on his early digitalphishphones stuff..

Somr other free stuff of his is Endorphin(a 2 band compressor, limiter, exciter..) its useful plug.

And Dominion,Which is a transient exciter.. Useful for drums and such.

Which is actually when i use Blockphish. Its on my snare, kick and Toms. And for bass guitar when i want a little softer compression. Even though it can get quick and bold sound, i find for bass guitar, when setting it up.for heavy compression with slower attack/release times it works well..

For snare and kick, again its quick enough to work on transient tracks, such as snare, but its got enough feel and give to really keep the punch . Some comps are too.clinical and its hard to dial it in to where its fast, but not too fast and abrupt, that it squashes the body and punch.. Its definitely a character compressor..

I used to have a vintage analog DBX 165 compressor. And blockphish kinda gave me similar results.. The dbx was king of smooth and heavy compression that still sounded super musical and was transparent. Meaning even with heavy compression, when setvto the auto "over-easy" compression, you could get 10-12 dbs of compression and hear no artifacts like pumping or hearing it clamp down noticeably. Honestly, i still haven't heard any comp that has ever got as close to that kind of feel, analog or digital.. Shit is near 50 years old and still king...Some things cant be beat. But i was able to sell it for $850 . And for 1 channel of outboard compression, it just wasnt Worth keeping at the time, but i kinda wish i still had it or 4!!! At least 2.. If i had 2, i would use that on my guitar buss and bass guitar on every song, for sure.

Anyway, Blockphish at least reminded me of it, even tho it still cant match it..

[RustyMetal]

Freakin pure gold. Feel free to keep adding to that, even if you are just thinking out loud.

By "transient tracks", do you mean tracks like a snare drum that (for you) just help fill the low to high spectrum space? ...so a recording doesn't sound like it has a big hole at a certain frequency, or how do you mean?

[EndTime]

Not sure what you are asking/sayung..

But ttransient material or tracks is referring to audio that has quick and pronounced dynamics.. like drums, or a slap bass player, etc.. Its easy for people to "kill" the transients by having a compressor improperly setup and it loses the dynamics. For a plug like Dominion its basically the opposite of a compressor, instead of compressimg the peaks its accentuating the peaks to.create a more powerful transient and bring back.dynamics. In the case of using a compressor on a snare track, you most likely need to use a compressor to level out the hits.. So, you want to set up a comp that keeps that initial hit clean and so it has punch, but you also need the compressor to do its job and compress the snare hits so they all have a similar volume. So, even though you need a quick attack setting, something like the Overeasy function adds the bit of lag, that works well to.let the initial impact thru, but clamp down on the decay of the hit without sounding like its pumping ot any other undesirable artifact. Although on snares i typically use a hard and fast setting, but just dial it in right.. But for a vocal or bass track it works realwell,because you can really get a dynamic track with emphasis on certain notes like the singer/player intended, but also compress it all so its level throughout.


That's why the dbx165 was so great. It did exactly what a compressor was designed to do. Sound completely natural and transparent. Preserve dynamics, all while its actually compressing the hell out of the material to make sure every note level and heard...

[RustyMetal]

Not sure what you are asking/sayung..

But ttransient material or tracks is referring to audio that has quick and pronounced dynamics.. like drums, or a slap bass player, etc.. Its easy for people to "kill" the transients by having a compressor improperly setup and it loses the dynamics.

Ahh, ok. I didn't know exactly what you meant by it, or obviously what it meant in general. Thanks. Now I understand better. And thanks to you expanding so fully on it, I understand it and the related plugins much more thoroughly.

[RustyMetal]

I've highlighted the ones that actually see any kind of use out of these

Zen, going through all of y'alls posts and doing some homework, I came across something that might interest you. I'm not sure if this is the one that you use, but have you checked for a BitterSweet update?
http://www.fluxhome.com/products/freewa ... ersweet-v3

I don't think I'm going to use it, at least not yet, because it seems like even the freeware requires an iLok license manger and install. But it does sound good.


HTH

[nakedzen]

"Neither Flux or iLok dongle, nor registration is required."

I'll look into it thanks! But I don't really use Bittersweet that much anymore, I like the Sleepy Time Transient more.

[RustyMetal]

"Neither Flux or iLok dongle, nor registration is required."
I'll look into it thanks! But I don't really use Bittersweet that much anymore, I like the Sleepy Time Transient more.

Yessir. I'm on it! http://sleepytimedsp.com/software/str-bundle/

[fretless]

I use that classic delay on just about every lead gtr track . Such a great sounding delay.

[nightflameauto]

I use AU (Audio Units) plugins, so they may or may not be available as VSTs.

Lots and lots of the stock Logic plugins go into my mixing. The EQs are fine so long as you don't use them to increase levels much. The stock compressor actually has some really varied settings and can be anything from smooth to brutally harsh. Stock chorus and delays can be worked with provided you aren't afraid to aux-track them and do some EQ tweaking on them.

I use a few of TRacks plugins, though for the most part stick to the reverbs and a couple of the mastering plugins. Stock Logic reverbs seem to all be on the cheesy side. The clipper/maximizer is pretty cool, though I'm sure there's better available if you're willing to spend for it.

I dig the Ignite Amps bass plugins if I'm trying to get a singular gained up bass tone. Their bass tubescreamer + bass amp run into a 8x10 Recabinet instance is pretty special sounding, though the sound you get during recording is completely different than the sound you get during playback. That's my only real complaint about it. It sounds clean when you're recording. Playing back you can go all the way from clean to buzzed out super-distorted. I would guess it has something to do with read-ahead, but it's workable.

That's about it as far as what I actually use, though I've got tones of freebies and cheap plugins I never use or use so rarely they just as well not exist.