Which plugins to buy?

funkysam · Post by **funkysam** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:59 am

Hello,
Before testing them, I'd like to ask you which EQ/Comp/Rev. plugins di you like the most?
I hear P-100 at the back...

this one is on my list of "to-try" devices.
What about the others, any opinions?
Thanks,
Sam.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:42 am

you can't go wrong with any 3rd party stuff, it's just a matter of taste and imho all are worth trying at least.
A (very) few of the 'older' devices may have phase problems in true stereo applications, which was probably overlooked at design time (there's a learning curve for everyone...)
It's a consequence of dynamic DSP allocation and results in a few samples delay if code that 'belongs together' is spread over DSP boundary.
Since it came to attention, developers took care to prevent this - and not everything is 'true stereo' anyway...

Use the search function of the forum with 'phase' and the name of the device in question.

cheers, Tom

[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2005-07-30 05:44 ]

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:20 pm

My personal list:

Wolf Audio Matrix Delay

Phenomenal delay presets. I still haven't wrapped my head around this thing after using it for almost a year. The Matrix Insert (MIDI-programmable effects chain) is worth the ticket price by itself!

This is probably my favourite plugin right now.
Celmo Pultecator

Much better than the PEQ4 IMHO because it doesn't degrade at insane levels of boosting.
VINCO

Love this compressor on everything...
DADEV Master Compressor

A great complement / supplement to the VINCO. Much less "dark" than VINCO. Fun to play with the different knees, too (hard / soft / vari-mu).
And of course the P-100

Awesome plate 'verb.

Another device around which I still haven't wrapped my head, even after almost a year of use. Tweakbilly!
Shayne White's (free) switches

Just started using these and love 'em. Very handy, and MIDI-controllable.

YMMV! I need a *lot* more time to spend with the numerous other plugins available.

[ This Message was edited by: blazesboylan on 2005-08-02 23:22 ]

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:26 am

The Orbitone Impressor compressors are definitely worth a look... extremely smooth.

I also like the Sonic Timeworks CompressorX, although it's not as smooth as the Orbitone.

SPL Transient Designer and Vinco are great too

funkysam · Post by **funkysam** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:03 pm

regarding comp's, I've started trying them all

I really like orbitone's impressor, both the GUI and the sound.
I don't like slim jim's GUI too much, but it seems quite good too.
Need to try Vinco and compressorX too.
Any advices regarding EQ? I'd like something that can add color, like a british analog EQ

I've also tested P100 for a few minutes, and I think it's a must have ;o)
Let's go testing a bit more...

blazesboylan · Post by **blazesboylan** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:28 pm

I don't think you'll find much in the way of colour on Scope. I mean, there is a different character to each device -- maybe you could call VINCO coloured -- but compared to outboard gear... No, you're better off buying outboard, or one of those convolution or UAD thingies, for colour.

(Well, let's be honest. You're better off buying old outboard gear with crappy transformers and failing caps, if you want real colour!

Incidentally why hasn't anyone ever emulated the dbx 163?!? Oh wait, it's like $25 to buy the outboard version...)

That said, you can do some hella cool things with SCOPE plugins by using the sidechain along with some filters.

Wolf does claim to be able to emulate "vintage" EQs with his spEQtrum though. It's on my to-buy list for sure. I think there's a demo. Check it out: http://www.worldless.com/sfp/eq2.html

Edit: oh yeah, forgot to mention that Impressor has been added to my to-buy list...

[ This Message was edited by: blazesboylan on 2005-08-05 21:32 ]

funkysam · Post by **funkysam** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:25 am

I need to test Impressor a bit more (even if it's a bit annoying to play with the time limited demo - load, route, test, listen, unload, reload, reroute, etc...), but I think I will soon add it on my to-buy list too, along with the P-100.
Speqtrum seems nice, I'll request a demo to test it.
I'll have a look at Celmo's X-Machine too, seems quite good on the paper.
I really need a good Comp-EQ-REV combo, maybe Impressor-Speqtrum-P100, who knows?

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:57 am

The Sonic Timeworks EQ is pretty nice. De-Vice (same guy who did the Slim Jim comp) also does an EQ which seems pretty decent too, if I didn't already have the Timeworks I'd probably get it.