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Post by gravesnumber9 on Apr 11, 2024 21:04:08 GMT -6
I own about a billion plugins like most of us on this forum. But for the last year or so my usage has been shifting. In fact, I'm often pretty much done with my mix after using what I used to consider "mix prep" type plugs.
And now, testing Oeksound's Bloom I could see going pretty dramatic and retiring a lot of stuff. Anyway, here we go in no particular order.
Oh yeah, I'm going to cheat here and say that spatial effects don't count, way too style dependent and there's no tool that does all the styles well. And one other rule... let's assume that your stock DAW EQ is always available.
Sound Radix Align2 (I do a lot of recording with lots of spill, this is magic for that.)
Oeksound Soothe2 (how did I live without this?)
Oeksound Bloom (includes a basic HPF and LPF... after that Bloom and Soothe can really handle mid range and I mostly EQ on the way in anyway)
TDR Kotelnikov (I can barely figure out what the parameters even mean but it still always works)
Ozone 11 (kind of cheating cuz it does a bunch of stuff... whatever, it's my thread)
And I'll add a wild card since I don't own Bloom yet and may not be able to afford it just now.
Goodhertz Tilt (awesome filters and really easy to use just in general... it only does a few things but I only need a few things done)
I have enough color comps in my hardware racks to add some color if needed. And my two bus is also pretty much hardware only. The big change here is that I just never seem to go for the emulation plugins anymore. By the time I'm done with the type of shaping done with the above (and other plugins like it... I'd probably miss using transient designers) there's just not a lot needed.
So would I miss the tape emulators and all the cool color stuff (man... I'd sure miss Vulf, it's so fun), of course. But if all I had was stock EQ, some great spatial effects, and five plugins to choose from. Those would be mine.
What would be yours?
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Post by ragan on Apr 11, 2024 22:14:18 GMT -6
FF Pro-Q3
FF Timeless 3
FF Saturn 2
FF Pro-C2
Liquidsonics Reverberate 3
It's funny, I didn't mean to make this a FabFilter fanboi list. I was thinking of one line/type of processor at a time and kept going "ok, if I only have one...then, FF 100%..." Reverberate 3 because I have tons of IRs from all kinds of reverbs and ambiences and you can sculpt them or just use them like a 'normal' IR host. You could do anything with it.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Apr 11, 2024 22:30:23 GMT -6
FF Pro-Q3 FF Timeless 3 FF Saturn 2 FF Pro-C2 Liquidsonics Reverberate 3 It's funny, I didn't mean to make this a FabFilter fanboi list. I was thinking of one line/type of processor at a time and kept going "ok, if I only have one...then, FF 100%..." Reverberate 3 because I have tons of IRs from all kinds of reverbs and ambiences and you can sculpt them or just use them like a 'normal' IR host. You could do anything with it. You used up a slot on Liquidsonics that was a gift, spatial effects are free! So you still have one more slot. If I had to pick just one spatial or time based effect it would be tough but I guess I'd have to go with Seventh Heaven. Geez. Idk, hard to work without delay though. Really couldn't do just one, at least not with the plugins I have. |
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Post by ragan on Apr 11, 2024 22:52:00 GMT -6
what can I say, I don't think I need the extra slot!
now I want to go mix a record with only these 5 plugins. it's honestly not even like it would be hard or a stretch. it would probably be better. we have way too much shit at our fingertips these days.
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Post by notneeson on Apr 11, 2024 22:58:40 GMT -6
LTL Silver Bullet
UAD 1176 (find myself using it more than Pulsar lately)
CLA Epic
Fab filter ProQ3
Unfiltered Audio Triad
Oh wait, is spatial effects reverb and delay?
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Post by miscreantrecords on Apr 11, 2024 23:18:44 GMT -6
UAD1176
FabFilter Saturn
FabFilter Pro L-2
UAD Capitol Chambers
Standard Clip
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Post by niklas1073 on Apr 12, 2024 1:42:56 GMT -6
At the moment I think I only use 10-15 plugs in my workflow. I could easily pick these 5 and make a mix out of it …..
UAD fairchild
UAD LA2A
UAD Pultec
Arturia Rev140
Arturia 1176
Pro tools eq7 as stock eq.
I guess I could compress to final stage on the way in and drop the la2a and 1176 from the list. So I think I could start off with 3 plugs in case great front end is involved. But that is seldom the case when you start your journey.
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Post by chessparov on Apr 12, 2024 2:19:12 GMT -6
For utmost simplicity. The nice stock Plugs in Bremmers MultitrackStudio... MS Compression/Reverb/Limiting/De-Essing. MJUC Compression added for the 5th. Anything else I have already is for Pastime Fun/Learning.*  Chris *Occasional "Important Vocal" is sent out RAW anyway. |
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Post by christophert on Apr 12, 2024 2:30:38 GMT -6
My faves these days are: MJUC and SDDR Kotelnikov and Molot Orange and Gold Clip (sometimes Standard Clip) DMG Limitless, EQuick, Equality and Essence Sonnox Oxford dynamic EQ I can achieve almost anything with these I would like to try the Coil CA70s plug in, as I have 3 of the preamps and love them to death !
EDIT: 5 plug ins is not a great option for anything - maybe 10 could suffice.
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nas
Full Member
Posts: 20 
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Post by nas on Apr 12, 2024 4:30:56 GMT -6
API Lindell 50 series channel strip or Barinworx AMEK 9099 Chanel Strip
Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven
Valhalla Delay
Melodyne 5 (you can do a lot more than tuning and timing)
FF Pro Q-3
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Post by jaba on Apr 12, 2024 7:42:11 GMT -6
Molot GE
Slick GE
Fuse VCS-1
PSP 2445
Echoboy
I'd certainly miss having some options but there's not much I couldn't do with these five.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Apr 12, 2024 7:44:01 GMT -6
API Lindell 50 series channel strip or Barinworx AMEK 9099 Chanel Strip Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven Valhalla Delay Melodyne 5 (you can do a lot more than tuning and timing) FF Pro Q-3 Everybody says that about Melodyne but I'm not sure what they mean. Can you give an example? |
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Post by noob on Apr 12, 2024 7:59:05 GMT -6
I could easily do a full mix with these 5 plugins alone:
1) UAD API 2500 - swiss army knife of a comp, I can get whatever style I want out of it pretty much
2) BX SSL 4000 E - my go to channel strip, perfect for small EQ adjustments and adding THD to tracks
3) AMEK Mastering Compressor - on my stereo bus, perfect way to compress the living sh*t out of something and still have it sound good
4) Soundtoys Echoboy
5) Valhalla VintageVerb
For me, less is more. I don't need any of the "smart" plugins, although I do find them useful for specific situations. If I have them over my entire mix, I find them to do more harm than good a lot of times.
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Post by chessparov on Apr 12, 2024 8:03:01 GMT -6
API Lindell 50 series channel strip or Barinworx AMEK 9099 Chanel Strip Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven Valhalla Delay Melodyne 5 (you can do a lot more than tuning and timing) FF Pro Q-3 Everybody says that about Melodyne but I'm not sure what they mean. Can you give an example? As a Supplement it helps me get enough rest. (Which cured my insomnia) |
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Post by jeremygillespie on Apr 12, 2024 8:11:21 GMT -6
FF eq
UAD 1176
UAD LA-2A
Little Plate
H-Delay
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Apr 12, 2024 8:13:15 GMT -6
At the moment I think I only use 10-15 plugs in my workflow. I could easily pick these 5 and make a mix out of it ….. UAD fairchild UAD LA2A UAD Pultec Arturia Rev140 Arturia 1176 Pro tools eq7 as stock eq. I guess I could compress to final stage on the way in and drop the la2a and 1176 from the list. So I think I could start off with 3 plugs in case great front end is involved. But that is seldom the case when you start your journey. Interestingly as I get away from using most of the other emulation type plugs, I find myself reaching for the Fairchild a lot more. Maybe it's cuz I don't have a hardware varimu? For whatever reason, it really stands out next to the more utilitarian compression I've been moving towards lately. |
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Post by notneeson on Apr 12, 2024 8:19:46 GMT -6
FF eq UAD 1176 UAD LA-2A Little Plate H-Delay I probably use H-delay on every mix. Doesn’t get a lot of love, but it’s a great plugin. |
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Post by Dan on Apr 12, 2024 8:20:34 GMT -6
Limiter 6 GE
Molot GE
Tai Chi
Tupe
Weiss EQ1
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Post by bradd on Apr 12, 2024 8:22:24 GMT -6
Sound Radix Auto Align-a must for anyone who records drums
FabFilter ProQ3
Soundtoys Echoboy
Decapitator or PSP Saturator
FabFilter ProL
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Post by niklas1073 on Apr 12, 2024 8:26:52 GMT -6
At the moment I think I only use 10-15 plugs in my workflow. I could easily pick these 5 and make a mix out of it ….. UAD fairchild UAD LA2A UAD Pultec Arturia Rev140 Arturia 1176 Pro tools eq7 as stock eq. I guess I could compress to final stage on the way in and drop the la2a and 1176 from the list. So I think I could start off with 3 plugs in case great front end is involved. But that is seldom the case when you start your journey. Interestingly as I get away from using most of the other emulation type plugs, I find myself reaching for the Fairchild a lot more. Maybe it's cuz I don't have a hardware varimu? For whatever reason, it really stands out next to the more utilitarian compression I've been moving towards lately. I tend to use it BECAUSE of my vari-mu hardware comp  Since I mix itb and have the vari mu as hw in the mixbus, the Fairchild works great in the same aesthetics with my overall sound. I mainly use it in my drum bus, sometimes bass, rarely anywhere else. I could of-course print the drums first with my vari-mu, but this way I get more flexibility and can work the whole mix until final printing. I tried before to match the UAD Fairchild close enough to my vari-mu to be able to replace my mixbus temporarily and take the mix home and mix against it, then replace it again in the studio and make the final tweak with my hw mixbus. I got rather close and can make it work. When it comes to the mixbus, I can hear a difference in quality when I use the UAD Fairchild and UAD Pultec vs my hw mixbus. But as a drumbus comp, I can't say I would hear the difference in the end product when it blends into it all. The UAD Fairchild is a great plug I think. Also regarding other plugs I have began to gravitate towards similar unit's I have as tracking hw. I am working a lot at the moment to create a consistency in the sound scape with the character my gear and environment bends into. Kind of underlining the sound of my gear and building the layers from there. I guess therefore my plugin palette has diminished a lot. Streamlined in a way. |
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Post by jeremygillespie on Apr 12, 2024 8:33:38 GMT -6
FF eq UAD 1176 UAD LA-2A Little Plate H-Delay I probably use H-delay on every mix. Doesn’t get a lot of love, but it’s a great plugin. It’s easy to use and every studio seems to have it, so I always have it on my tracking sessions set up with a 1/4 and 1/8th delay to use for a little sauce when artists want it. Also throw it on before my Little Plate which every studio also seems to have so I can get a predelay going. Then while continuing to track and work on things I just massage the settings to do what I want, then when mixing I never seem to get away from it because the sound is basically baked in at that point. Unless I’m going for a special effect I don’t really need many other delay plugs for the straight forward things. Really under rated plug IMO |
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nas
Full Member
Posts: 20
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Post by nas on Apr 12, 2024 9:03:40 GMT -6
API Lindell 50 series channel strip or Barinworx AMEK 9099 Chanel Strip Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven Valhalla Delay Melodyne 5 (you can do a lot more than tuning and timing) FF Pro Q-3 Everybody says that about Melodyne but I'm not sure what they mean. Can you give an example? Better than me giving an example, you can check the Celemony channel on YouTube and browse all their playlists. There are a ton of examples of basic workflow techniques and creative applications for Melodyne. www.youtube.com/@celemony/playlistsCheers. |
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Post by ab101 on Apr 12, 2024 9:19:28 GMT -6
Molot GE
Kotelnikov
Line 6 echo farm
Silver Bullet
Crave eq
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Post by nick8801 on Apr 12, 2024 9:34:15 GMT -6
I honestly wouldn't buy anything! I did a mix recently that just wasn't happening. Plenty of UAD stuff on there. Some SSL plugs, FUSE ect....Wasn't bad, just wasn't coming together the way I wanted. Decided to give the mix a fresh shot on my work computer. All I have at work is Reaper and stock Reaper plugs. Also using a freaking mki scarlett and mki JBL305's. Obviously, I knew the song really well at this point, but I made a mix that sounded equal and better to what I was doing at home on my several thousand-dollar setup. Wish I could go back in time and just make myself learn how to mix better lol. It would have saved me lots of money. Of course, for certain projects, all my fancy gear and plugins come in handy, but for this particular track, simple was the way to go.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Apr 12, 2024 9:43:28 GMT -6
I honestly wouldn't buy anything! I did a mix recently that just wasn't happening. Plenty of UAD stuff on there. Some SSL plugs, FUSE ect....Wasn't bad, just wasn't coming together the way I wanted. Decided to give the mix a fresh shot on my work computer. All I have at work is Reaper and stock Reaper plugs. Also using a freaking mki scarlett and mki JBL305's. Obviously, I knew the song really well at this point, but I made a mix that sounded equal and better to what I was doing at home on my several thousand-dollar setup. Wish I could go back in time and just make myself learn how to mix better lol. It would have saved me lots of money. Of course, for certain projects, all my fancy gear and plugins come in handy, but for this particular track, simple was the way to go. I feel this way sometimes as well. But the catch is that I only learned how to mix better by building out all these tools and things. Working with real hardware and more complex plugins led me to the sounds and moves that I like... which I can now get pretty close to using pretty much anything as long as it's not straight up awful quality. |
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Since I mix itb and have the vari mu as hw in the mixbus, the Fairchild works great in the same aesthetics with my overall sound. I mainly use it in my drum bus, sometimes bass, rarely anywhere else. I could of-course print the drums first with my vari-mu, but this way I get more flexibility and can work the whole mix until final printing. 
