The BEST DAW, Plugins, Mastering Tools, Whatever!

[dacalion]

So everybody has their favorite plugins, well I'm not looking for that...What I want to know is - what are THE BEST PLUGINS and what makes them "special". I'm not looking for things like "ease of use" or "more user friendly". I'm looking for cold hard facts that separate your choices from others! I'm also looking for information from those who have extensively used both programs that are compared. (I know this narrows it down a lot but I'm trying to provide a GREAT goto thread for those who are serious about having the "ability" to make industry standard music). So this is a chance for you REAL gear heads to shine.

This is what sparked this thread...As most of you know, I luv Waves, I've been using Waves for a very long time (about 10 years). I recently did a track using iZotope and I really liked it. I think both Waves and iZotope are more than capable of producing "industry standard" quality tracks so I will never "knock" either one of them again unless their company changes something for the worse (which is possible).

I'm looking for any and everything that you want to speak on from DAW's to freeware to the high end stuff. Remember to provide facts though. The facts will help those searching to make a judgement call. Because of the nature of a thread like this...please don't turn this into argument thread but be open to criticism. Thanks in advance!

 

[UNORTHODOX]

Oh boy! I'll be right back! btw. Everything I ever did Ozone 3 is the limiter, and Ozone 4 for everything else. Highly recommended. (Master and/or Drum/Instrument bus only)

 

[dacalion]

OK, It seems that everybody is reluctant to touch this so I'll start it off...

This is a few of the Top Ten FREE VST Plugins by (recordmixandmaster.kom) ofc, change the K to a c in the word kom.

Blockfish BLOCKFISH is a versatile compressor with countless ways to shape the incoming audio. Unlike many other digital compressors, BLOCKFISH has ‘soul’. It likes to bite, but it can be tamed easily once you’ve learned how to use its potential. You can remove the front plate and make further adjustments on the circuit board. Everything is possible: clean, transparent, loud, punchy, silky, subtle, fat. But still with a unique sonic character.
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SSL LMC-1
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PSP PianoVerb
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Im not sure how current this list is but I use Blockfish and it's a really good freeware.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

All of those are way old (07 or before if I can remember), but the VST game has leveled off since 08-09. I gotta get on my comp to give the real gems. These are cool but way better have come out since (except piano verb, thats a specialty piece).

 

[thedreampolice]

Man piano verb rocks. I used it on a mix back in the day. Here is a track I mixed and recorded for a band, gosh it was like 10 years ago now. Anyway the piano part is all piano verb!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3768673/07 Untitled.mp3

as far as plugins that I would not trade the SSL bundle from waves in fact the entire studio classic bundle. Voxengo Elephant is amazing, I agree on the iZotope stuff. Eleven from AVID is amazing if you need that kind of effect.

 

[LouBez]

I dont know about facts so please forgive me and advance...These suggestions are based off my taste.

I use the CLA 1176 on every track I mix... I like the color the "bluey" provides on main vox...

If im mixing rap vox that arent stacked and I wanna get that in your face Lil Wayneish presence Ill parallel the lead with the CLA 2...That combo is my goto and guys seem to love the way it sounds...I record vox on an SM 58 through that lil presonus blue tube whatever it is...

My drum bus either has the Puigchild comp or the waves API 2500...Puig for punch API for gooeyness

When I wanna make my synths sound not so vstish (i dont know how to describe it) Ill insert a Waves GTR pedalboard and drop the Overdrive pedal on...I use a very, very, very small amount like 1 - 5 on the drive knob and adjust the tone to taste.

My Reverb send is always a Lexicon plug...cause it sounds epic

For Delay i use Sound Toys Echo Boy...the reason why I love it is because you can tweak it in any possible way imagineable...I used to use the stock logic tape delay, then drop inserts below it to adjust the character to fit the track, with echo boy I can adjust EVERYTHING in the plug...Its the coolest delay if you want total control.

I'll use Ozone 4 for its stereo imaging tool but not much else...It is an extremely powerful tool and should not be slept on...I just tend to prefer the character of the Waves emulations for compression and eq.

My vox bus I always goto the SSL G channel cause the eq on that strip is just super sexy to my ears...especially the highs

For any other highs or mids I wanna boost I use the waves Puigtech eq's cause they just sizzle, I like the attenuation controls, and just that lack of a spectrum analyzer makea you close your eyes and listen..

I love the Vintage Exciter in the waves 8 bundle...it just puts this nice air on strings, pianos, and chiors...its not for every track but when you want something brighter this thing is awesome

My 2 bus gets the softube compressor inserted but I dont go crazy...just barley moving that needle, I love the way my mixes sound through that thing...

my goto limiter is that Oxford Limiter...its just soooo smoth and transparent...I never really cared for the L2

For corrective eq, believe it or not, the stock eq in logic works really well for me so I go with it...no complaints


As far as a DAW Im good with Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic, and Cubase ( I used this from 06 - 09)...

I dont like the limitations of protools so I dont use it to create, mix, or anything like that...I have a copy so I can open up sessions and bounce stems, that is all...I really like sampling in ableton but my linear mind makes it hard to do anything else but sample and make a drum loop in that daw...

I think the best DAW is Logic...it controls hardware, is linear, works well with all my vsts...its super easy to make a tape stop effect that EVERYBODY seems to want on their tracks lol! The contorl it lets you have on quantization is AMAZING ( youtube logic advanced quantize to see what im talking about! Go!). Templates load fast, there is a ton of learning info on it, it has great stock instruments ( that ep 88 is naaaaasty ) and it can be completly customize to meet your personal workflow.

Anyhow thats my take hope its useful

 

[UNORTHODOX]

For Delay i use Sound Toys Echo Boy...the reason why I love it is because you can tweak it in any possible way imagineable...I used to use the stock logic tape delay, then drop inserts below it to adjust the character to fit the track, with echo boy I can adjust EVERYTHING in the plug...Its the coolest delay if you want total control.

Soundtoys is not only unique, but sound creative and useful at almost anysetting. Very useful company of plugs. Cosign

 

[dacalion]

Good ish dp & LouBez! Everybody else, keep it going...

 

[Step Soprano]

UAD all day...

 

[dacalion]

Best Freeware

Voted Best Freeware PC/Mac - check them out.
Enjoy!


TAL-NoiseMaker
LINK


Tyrell Nexus 6
LINK


TAL-Filter 2
LINK

 

[Step Soprano]

Working at Grand Hustle now, and they have some STUPID plug ins/hardware. However, my favorites remain
- for r&b vocals, maserati vocal plug in(drawing a blank on the name).
- For rap vocals, waves R-Comp, SSL G plug in, then all the vocals bussed to a vocal track with an outboard api or uad(typically the la-2a or ll76) compressor to glue em.
- For overall tracks, API bus compressor(sorry won't give mine away, shit is my $3000 secret, lol) or the SSL G+ bus compressor).

As far as plug ins go, I also love the Uad- Manley Massive Passive plug(both mastering and regular version) the uad neve 1073 plugs, and the UAD Studer A800 tape simulation plug in. They go on everything.