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Author Topic: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...  (Read 34022 times)

bblackwood

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School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« on: February 09, 2011, 06:49:35 PM »

Every year or so I look around at what the plugin world has to offer and while I still haven't found any normal processors (EQ or compressor) that are better than my analog counterparts, they're always getting better. That said, the market is so flooded with products now I've no idea where to begin looking for the 'good stuff' to try out.

So those that are more plugin savvy, tell me what you love and why - everything from the standard EQ/compressors to the more creative stuff (like the Sonnex Suppressor, for example) is welcomed...

Hit me!
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Brad Blackwood
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domc

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2011, 09:02:43 PM »

http://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-l.php
I really like this - simple tweaks for different sounds.

http://www.uaudio.com/store/special-processing/studer-a800-t ape-recorder.html
UAD 2 platform I aslo love - and this one is fun every now and then.
and of course
http://www.uaudio.com/store/equalizers/manley-massive-passiv e.html

Other than that I dont tend to use many plugins these day.  I have been playing with Gclip a bit lately as well.
http://www.gvst.co.uk/gclip.htm


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Domc
 
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Bonati

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2011, 09:18:39 PM »

I actually bought one last year - a stereo width + elliptical equalizer plugin I use for cutting purposes:

http://www.sonalksis.com/stereotools.htm

Occasional use in CD mastering sessions, but mostly cutting. I only use the width + EE features, none of the other stuff.
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Josh Bonati
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mcsnare

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2011, 09:36:09 PM »

I can tell you one thing: think about upgrading to Seq 10 or 11. They are both very stable (as in never crashed on me), and Seq 7 doesn't handle plugs very well. You'll have all kind of headaches opening sessions that worked fine before you closed it.
When I started using more plugins was when I went to a separate computer to only handle that. An instance of Wavelab on live input, or whatever they call it now in WL6.
If I'd had Seq 10 or 11 then, I probably wouldn't have done the second computer. As a side benefit the plugins you get with Seq 11 are pretty rad.

Dave

bblackwood

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2011, 09:51:50 PM »

mcsnare wrote on Wed, 09 February 2011 20:36

I can tell you one thing: think about upgrading to Seq 10 or 11. They are both very stable (as in never crashed on me), and Seq 7 doesn't handle plugs very well. You'll have all kind of headaches opening sessions that worked fine before you closed it.
When I started using more plugins was when I went to a separate computer to only handle that. An instance of Wavelab on live input, or whatever they call it now in WL6.
If I'd had Seq 10 or 11 then, I probably wouldn't have done the second computer. As a side benefit the plugins you get with Seq 11 are pretty rad.

Dave

I was hoping you'd weigh in, and that's great advice - I've been thinking about moving into the latest version for a while now...
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Brad Blackwood
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masterhse

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2011, 09:56:44 PM »

The Sonnex Suppressor is very nice though I favor the Weiss DS-1 more often. The  Suppressor tends to be more fidgety but has a nice interface for finding a problem. In general I use the Suppressor when I just want to de-ess a vocal in an M/S configuration and use the Weiss for overall duties.

The Crane Song stuff is always nice I have to give Heat a try, but both this and Phoenix are Pro Tools only so I don't think that these will work for you. Likewise I like the McDSP limiters, but again PT only.

Of course now that PT 9 is native, ah nevermind ...

There's a boatload of different limiters.  A lot of folks like PSP Xenon, the Sonnox limiter can be a good aggressive sounding limiter. Not really new, but if you haven't checked 'em out worthy of a trial.
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Tom Volpicelli
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bleen

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2011, 11:06:58 PM »

masterhse wrote on Wed, 09 February 2011 18:56

 Likewise I like the McDSP limiters, but again PT only.


Au contraire! The McDSP stuff is now also running as AudioUnits:

http://www.mcdsp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=a rticle&id=662&Itemid=100025

Not that that really helps Brad, but just for the sake of clarity....
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domc

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2011, 12:58:44 AM »

I just got my copies of the sonnox stuff - have not played with them yet.
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Domc
 
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Viitalahde

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2011, 01:48:52 AM »

I use relatively little plugins, EQ and limiting, mostly.

The Sonoris EQ's (SMEQ and Parallel EQ) look cool, I need to order them.. Actually I might just order them right now.

Voxengo Elephant has been my to-go limiter for a good while. But the new version is now too damned complicated for my taste! It sounds better than ever, but all the tweakability puts me off a little.

DomC's recommendation on the Fabfilter Pro-L is right on. Much simpler, and seems to match the way I usually "handle" transients prior digital limiting. Pro-L might become my new to-go limiter, and it also seems to complement the Elephant well.

Other plugins, although not the latest: Spitfish gets regular use here, I just like it. GClip from time to time.

That's about it, really.
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Jaakko Viitalähde
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lowland

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2011, 03:50:43 AM »

+3 on the Fabfilter Pro-L limiter which I bought recently. For me as well as the sound its simple set-and-forget-ness is a winner - you can tweak if you wish, though.

Algorithmix Blue PEQ is an older favourite and supports my analogue EQ well; I've tried others but have stayed with Blue as it's unfussy. Would like to investigate the Sonoris EQs.
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Nigel Palmer
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Thomas W. Bethel

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2011, 06:38:58 AM »

Fabfilter Pro-Q. Pro-C and Pro-L. Surprised . Also PSP Xenon Surprised

Not really a plug in but Wavelab 7 seems to handle plug-ins well.

I almost don't use any of my Waves stuff anymore. There are sooooooo many good plug-ins that just work and sound, IMHO, better.

We are running the latest Samplitude and it has some wonderful plug-ins.

Voxengo's plug-ins have always been a good value for the money.

Biggest thrill in software plug-ins has to be the latest version of RX by Izotope. IMHO it is the BEST software when it comes to noise reduction and being able to get rid of problems without affecting the sound of the material.

I still prefer my Weiss EQ and dbx Quantum for most mastering chores but plug-ins are becoming really good

I will check out what others have suggested.
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-TOM-

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SafeandSound

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2011, 06:47:31 AM »

I have used RX for 3 years now, it's great.

Voxengo always has it's place for DSP with character of it's own.

There is no point in cutting of your nose to spite your face when it comes to DSP, be open minded, just listen and get happy.
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ThomasE

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2011, 07:39:58 AM »

I find EQuality from DMGAudio to be very good, both sound- and usability-wise. I really like the "Analogue Phase" mode for those wide, low-q adjustments that I for some reason find hard to get right when using 'standard' min-phase digital EQ:s. The Auto-listen feature is great too!

+1 on Izotope RX2 and Voxengo Elephant.
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masterhse

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2011, 08:21:16 AM »

bleen wrote on Wed, 09 February 2011 23:06

masterhse wrote on Wed, 09 February 2011 18:56

 Likewise I like the McDSP limiters, but again PT only.


Au contraire! The McDSP stuff is now also running as AudioUnits:

  http://www.mcdsp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=a rticle&id=662&Itemid=100025

Not that that really helps Brad, but just for the sake of clarity....


Cool! The page also says that a Windows version will be available in Q1, so not too far off.
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Tom Volpicelli
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Jerry Tubb

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Re: School me on the latest-greatest plugins...
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2011, 09:38:44 AM »

Lemme see, I'll echo what Tom V and others have posted;

Sonnox SuprEsser for DeEssing

Flux Epure II for ITB EQ

Crane Song Phoenix for some analog color

PSP Xenon as a limiter

That's about it, and I rarely use plug-ins, they don't have the Mojo of real analog processing.

JT

p.s. And of course Sonic NoNoise II, but it's not really a plug-in.
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