Recommended (paid-for?) plug-ins

[Drax]

Had a hunt but couldn't find this answered elsewhere - what (paid-for or otherwise) plug-ins do you swear by?

I'm a big fan of Sausage Fattener, can work miracles in the mix.

Do you have any go-to plug-ins you always use, or anything interesting worth checking out?

(FWIW running Live8 / Mac)

Edited November 1, 2014 by DanR

[lowdown]

Kick start.
It's for side chaining and making space around instruments.
Very little CPU hit, and really easy to use.
Oh, and it's cheap.
I use it all the time on anything electronic,
but I found it useful in other situations as well.
http://www.kickstart-plugin.com/

Also a couple from a company called 'Cableguys'.
Volume Shaper, again very cheap.
http://www.cableguys.de/volume-shaper.html

And the 'Free' Pancake 2 for Pan modulations.
http://www.cableguys.de/pan-cake.html

All above have demos and worth a try.
Other than mentioned, pretty much anything stock
in Cubase 7.5.

Edited November 1, 2014 by lowdown

[Drax]

Excellent, thanks, will give that a whirl

[Skol303]

Good suggestions by Garry above.

I use a lot of plug-ins that are specific to Propellerhead Reason (my DAW of choice) and aren't available outside of that particular 'box'.

The cross-platform ones that do use frequently include...

Softube for truly stunning (yet expensive) vintage emulations:
http://www.softube.com

iZotope for master bus FX:
https://www.izotope.com/en/

U-he/Uhbik for unique-sounding dynamic FX, especially the Uhbik-A reverb:
http://www.u-he.com/cms/uhbik

I'm also a sucker for Rob Papen's various synths:
http://www.robpapen.com

...and Native Instruments' Massive:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths/massive/

[paul_5]

Waves RBass and IR Convolution reverb.

Oh, and EZDrummer.

[JamesFlashG]

Waves - very good use all sorts from them mainly reverbs, compression, EQ, vocal mixing but other things as well

Fab Filter - EQ & compression and some great filters delays also some good synths

I second Skol on Izotope i use Ozone 5 its an amazing tool!

Also a big fan of massive, absynth & fm8 by NI

anotherr great synth is Sylennth1 - lenar digital

[Mornats]

For virtual instruments (which I'm a sucker for) I have:[list]
[*]EZdrummer 2 (essential IMO) - I have an unhealthy amount of EZX addon packs, midi packs and third party midi grooves.
[*]Komplete Elements (grab their free players for a starter).
[*]Session Strings (nice arpeggiators but not as orchestral as Miroslav).
[*]Miroslav Philharmonik (fantastic all round full-on orchestra - can quite often be picked up cheap or in a bundle).
[*]SampleTank 2L (I prefer Kontakt for usability and sound but check out SampleTank 3 which is looking good, they do a free starter version too).
[/list]
For effects I actually get great results using the Rea effects in Reaper (my DAW and highly recommended). Otherwise I use:[list]
[*]Guitar Rig 5 Pro - great for guitar sounds and some nice effect that I can use on other instruments. Little Reflektor (reverb) is particularly nice and I quite often use the stereo control and an LFO to bounce sounds around the stereo landscape. Quite limited for bass though. It suffers from the usual "here's 50 amps for guitar and one generic sh*tty bass amp" syndrome.
[*]Ampeg SVX - got this dead cheap and has some much much nicer bass sounds than Guitar Rig. I do find myself recording the bass clean these days though but this is nice for some headphone jamming.
[*]T-racks standard (again, as with the other IK Multimedia stuff (Ampeg, Miroslav, Sampletank) I got this cheap in a deal. It's a mastering plugin that I usually fail to use properly as I don't understand the clipper or limiter much and I prefer other eq and compressor plugins. Still, the compressor has a nice stereo enhancement effect but I could always get that elsewhere.
[*]Supercharger - this is a rather nice compressor from Native Instruments. I got it for free but I'm considering upgrading it. It's got a nice warm sound that sweetens up our singer's vocals quite nicely without getting in the way and shouting about itself.
[*]Izotope Nectar Elements - the cut down version of Nectar, a vocal processing suite. It's a bunch of presets mainly that never seem to do what I want but it was around £30 in a deal (I like my deals!). Some nice settings for fixing bad recordings though.
[*]EzMix 2 Lite - again, a bunch of mixing presets that never seem to do what I want. I get better results by listening to the adivce of Graham from the Recording Revolution (look it up, it's great) where he says to balance your mix using the volume controls, then use only eq and compression to further balance the mix rather than looking to enhance the sound. That works much better for me than anything in EZMix. I've only just figured this out though but it's working on the one or two tracks I've remixed.
[/list]
That's mostly it. I've got a tonne of free plugins though. What I really want/need is a very good reverb plugin that can go from adding subtle mix-glueing to ethereal soundscapes but has a load of really nice room sounds and complete control over which frequencies get 'verbed. Free or cheap is my usual price range so any recommendations would be great!

I did try a demo of a Waves plugin but it never authorised as the process was a complete pain the ass so I'll never buy any of those.

I'm not a fan of the custom shop stuff from IK Multimedia where you get a few things for free (which is always nice actually) but then have to dodge around an interface full of stuff you don't own to try and find a preset that matches your current set of owned products. Their T-racks product is like this but thankfully my standard version stands alone from the custom shop one and their Amplitude guitar one does too. On one hand it's good that you can mix and match but they charge too much for individual components compared to the deals they do on the complete package sometimes. But then you've got a dropdown of 100 amps you don't own and you're trying to pick out one of the two that you do. It's bad usability to try and get a purchase out of frustrating someone IMO. But hey, you do get a couple of things for free so can't complain too much.

I'm hoping someone does a deal on Ozone 5/6 as I do like it but it's a little pricey for how much I think I'd use it. £50 would be nice

[Drax]

Thank you thank you - damn this forums got some helpful people on it! I've got my studio engineer contact booked in for next week, loading up a stack of these. I'm working through all your Soundclouds too - really interesting - will post a link to mine shortly.

[jensenmann]

Since I have tons of hardware I´m not very interested in plugins. But from time to time I check what´s going on in softwareland and there are a few pearls which I consider as good tools. I like the softube CL1B plugin a lot. From my UAD card I´m only using the 33609 compressor. I might be using more of the other plugins but I have many of the hardware originals, so I simply don´t need these, even didn´t check them all out (sorry, this sounds a bit snobbish...). Another great tool is the Lawo plugin collection.

[pantherairsoft]

NI Massive is a big win.

Sonnox (Sony Oxford) Inflator is pretty incredible, as is their Limiter. Actually everything they make is frigging awesome, but not cheap!

Waves RBass is an electronic producers bass-dream on a budget.

EZ Drummer can't be argued with.

[dannybuoy]

It's been several years since I dabbled, but the PSP Vintage Warmer was one of my favorite plugins, I'd check out what they've put out since then!

And for synths, I liked NI Absynth and the Rob Papen stuff.

Edited November 15, 2014 by dannybuoy

[lowdown]

My favourite two Vsti's are both from Spectrsonics.
A great Synth called 'Omnisphere' and an awesome Drum & Percussion module called 'Stylus RMX'.
Been using them both for five or Six years now.
RMX is terrific for on the fly programming , take any supplied groove and with the use
of Midi learn, turn it into your own.

They me seem pricey, but you get an awful lot with both.
http://www.spectrasonics.net/index.php

[ironside1966]

I use the Duende SSL bundle, and the slate VCC+ VTM, PSP Vintage Warmer is great and I am very tempted to buy the new Eiosis Aireq, I am trying it now and I am very impressed.
Valhalla reverbs a great a bargain at that price

[ras52]

A word about Waves plugins: don't pay the list price! Like DFS, there's a permanent sale on and products rotate on a regular basis. So unless there's something you MUST have RIGHT NOW, wait a while and get it for up to 80% off.

[funkle]

NI Komplete 10 (not Ultimate) is blowing my mind, especially in Reaper. It comes with many sample libraries, synths, and also some useful effects - Driver (distortion), Supercharger (nice compressor which is 'warm', works nicely for drums), Solid EQ/Solid Compressor/Solid Dynamics. The Solid compressor seems best to me on group submixes and master channel; the EQ is fine for single channel use and Dynamics I need to get more to grips with. The reverbs in Guitar Rig (Reflektor), which is also part of the package, are really nice.

I love Massive and Rounds, and Polyplex is a really good sounding 8 pad drumkit synth. All part of the package also.

I think Guitar Rig itself for bass is less exciting than Ampeg SVX, which sounds simply great to me. More tweaking needed.

I paid £389 for Komplete because I didn't want to faff too much with loads of different sample libraries and Fx from different manufacturers. So far it seems good value.

Edited December 19, 2014 by funkle

[Mornats]

I only use the very much cut down Komplete Elements and there's still a tonne of stuff in there. I'd love Komplete 10 but I have several products already and it's a bit pricey for the use I'd make of it. I'd love Absynth and Reflektor though. Hmm, maybe I'll find it on a massive sale sometime in the future if I'm lucky!

[lowdown]

[quote name='funkle' timestamp='1419005952' post='2635670']
NI Komplete 10 (not Ultimate) is blowing my mind, especially in Reaper. It comes with many sample libraries, synths, and also some useful effects - Driver (distortion), Supercharger (nice compressor which is 'warm', works nicely for drums), Solid EQ/Solid Compressor/Solid Dynamics. The Solid compressor seems best to me on group submixes and master channel; the EQ is fine for single channel use and Dynamics I need to get more to grips with. The reverbs in Guitar Rig (Reflektor), which is also part of the package, are really nice.

I love Massive and Rounds, and Polyplex is a really good sounding 8 pad drumkit synth. All part of the package also.

I think Guitar Rig itself for bass is less exciting than Ampeg SVX, which sounds simply great to me. More tweaking needed.

I paid £389 for Komplete because I didn't want to faff too much with loads of different sample libraries and Fx from different manufacturers. So far it seems good value.
[/quote]

NI are giving away a free (Replika) Delay FX VST for Kontakt users (or maybe even non registered customers).
Just download and register through the service centre.
Downloaded today, and it is very good.

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/specials/happy-holidays-2014/

[funkle]

Nice one lowdown. I got an email about that and will be downloading. Can't wait. Also got a couple of NI vouchers worth £44 I need to spend...what to pick...

Edit: Replika sounds great. I can see a use for this, and I think the download is open to all until end Dec.

Edited December 19, 2014 by funkle

[lowdown]

[quote name='funkle' timestamp='1419022927' post='2635877']
Nice one lowdown. I got an email about that and will be downloading. Can't wait. Also got a couple of NI vouchers worth £44 I need to spend...what to pick...

Edit: Replika sounds great. I can see a use for this, and I think the download is open to all until end Dec.
[/quote]

A really good Guitar library has just landed - It's free (not pirate).

Demos here.
http://major7th.jp/kontakt/kmg7/demo.html

Download here. It's a Japanese/Asian site, but it is clean.
I know a few folks from another site who have downloaded and given the thumbs up.
http://major7th.jp/kontakt/kmg7/downloads.html

This might be of interest to you.
The best site for all things Composing and Sample/DAW related.
Full of absolute gents, with a ton of tips/videos/advice.
You also get a lot of deals and heads up on new releases and free stuff.

http://www.vi-control.net/forum/portal.php

[ironside1966]

This is very useful plug-in, if you get it before midnight today it cost about £22 a bargain
[url="http://www.meldaproduction.com/plugins/product.php?id=MCompare"]http://www.meldaprod...php?id=MCompare[/url]

Edited January 3, 2015 by ironside1966

[Stephen Houghton]

The Tokyo Dawn Records stuff is awesome and there's a free version of most stuff, really good gear. They do a slick EQ as well that is great, its on the home page at the bottom, really nice and smooth EQ.

[url="http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-feedback-compressor-2/"]http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-feedback-compressor-2/[/url]

[url="http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-vos-slickeq/"]http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-vos-slickeq/[/url]

Edited January 9, 2015 by Stephen Houghton

[Twigman]

Kontakt 4 and Evolution Electric Guitar Strawberry [url="http://www.orangetreesamples.com/products/evolution-electric-guitar-strawberry"]http://www.orangetre...itar-strawberry[/url]
Being seriously lacking in my ability to play 6 string that library is a godsend....I also have the steel string acoustic for kontakt that they do too.
[url="http://www.orangetreesamples.com/products/evolution-acoustic-guitar-steel-strings"]http://www.orangetre...r-steel-strings[/url]


Here's a little ditty i wrote using both libraries - it almost sounds like a proper guitar even the electric strumming from 2.09 !! [url="https://www.reverbnation.com/sadloversandgiantsiangibson/song/13162094-cranes"]https://www.reverbna...13162094-cranes[/url]

Ampeg SVX is a great bass amp sim...it gets my vote every time.
Superior Drummer 2 is my goto drum kit

Edited September 25, 2015 by Twigman

[ras52]

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1443197259' post='2873075']
Kontakt 4 and Evolution Electric Guitar Strawberry [url="http://www.orangetreesamples.com/products/evolution-electric-guitar-strawberry"]http://www.orangetre...itar-strawberry[/url]
Being seriously lacking in my ability to play 6 string that library is a godsend....I also have the steel string acoustic for kontakt that they do too.
[url="http://www.orangetreesamples.com/products/evolution-acoustic-guitar-steel-strings"]http://www.orangetre...r-steel-strings[/url]


Here's a little ditty i wrote using both libraries - it almost sounds like a proper guitar even the electric strumming from 2.09 !! [url="https://www.reverbnation.com/sadloversandgiantsiangibson/song/13162094-cranes"]https://www.reverbna...13162094-cranes[/url]

Ampeg SVX is a great bass amp sim...it gets my vote every time.
Superior Drummer 2 is my goto drum kit
[/quote]

Oh yes, those Orangetree Evolution libraries are great - I got Stratosphere when it came out, and snapped up Steel Strings when it was relaunched with the new strumming engine.

The other thing I've just done is upgrade from EZDrummer to EZDrummer 2 - a massive leap! I've only scratched the surface but I love the way that once you find a pattern you like it can recommend other compatible patterns and fills.

[Mornats]

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1443198026' post='2873082']
The other thing I've just done is upgrade from EZDrummer to EZDrummer 2 - a massive leap! I've only scratched the surface but I love the way that once you find a pattern you like it can recommend other compatible patterns and fills.
[/quote]

It was a great upgrade. I like how you can select any of the drums used in a midi beat and turn up or down the amount of hits to customise the beat to your liking.

[lowdown]

A great deal on at the moment over at 'Spitfire Audio' for the Albion Library.
If you want EPIC Cinematic/Orchestral, this is a great buy.
All the essential articulations, ready to go straight out of the box.
Everything recorded in correct seating positions with hall verb.
Minimal production needed.
Offer ends October 1st.

£149.00 + VAT
[size="2"]http://www.spitfireaudio.com/albion[/size]