Wanna ask what your fav plugs are and why :)

Hi Logic world

 

i work for several clients and provide services in the areas of VOs, film scoring and pop music, some heavy metal as well, we have a drum room but never used it (yet).

 

With so many plugs going native from the ugly digi world i was wondering what other logic users have added to their list.

 

Can anyone with some time list their fav plugs, strip settings and why, i really appreciate your help, i am trying to decide what plugs sound as authentic as their mark, i was very impressed by the WAVES SSL channel and Comp, especially used on mono vocal strips in logic, made the mix sound like a platinum record.

 

Thanks again

Sky

wow i guess everyone is out on vacation

 

well so far my list includes:

EQ 37-Band

API-550A (very cool for hot levels)

API-550B (very cool for hot levels)

PuigTec EQ1A

Oxford EQ

SSLEQ (nice SSL eq sounds)

API-2500

CLA-2A

CLA-3A

CLA-76

Fairchild 660

Fairchild 670

L316

Rcompressor (nice on fem voices)

RdeEsser (nice on all voices)

RVox (nice on all voices)

Sonalksis SV series (great eq)

SSLComp (very cool for hot levels)

Oxford RVB

IR1

Echoboy (fun)

Powr Dither

Sonalksis TBK series (very cool)

AVOX series

 

For guitar i use Amplitube and Guitar Rig (Fender is pristine, metal, xgear)

For bass i still use Amplitube SVT (has a subtle low) great for pickers.

For everything else the above.

Edited December 22, 2010 by Sky Studios

OK, my favs (although it heavily depends on the nature of the project)

 

Inserts:

 

(underlined = freeware)

 

AdLimiter, MultiPressor, SpaceDesigner, AUMatrixReverb (much better than you might expect)

Event Horizon (one of the better Loudness Maximiziing plugs imho)

Ozone

Freeverb

SPL Vox Ranger and SPL Full Ranger (passive EQ, nice & warm, without overdoing it)

TT Dynamic Range meter (Brainworx)

KR Reverb FS (Plate reverb sim)

Studio Devil British Valve custom (ampsim)

TAL Chorus

TAL Phaser

TAL Reverb II

 

Instruments:

 

EXS24, Sculpture, ES2, EVP88, Ultrabeat (thanks to the sidechaining option)

Anything Linplug/Rob Papen, but especially:

Albino

Blue

CronoX

AAS stuff:

Tassman

Lounge Lizard

Ultra Analog

Camel audio's Alchemy (truly awesome)

NI Kontakt

Vokator

Battery

Prosoniq Orangevocoder

Crystal

 

Probably forgot a few...

Love all of the universal audio plug ins. The dsp from their cards allow me to do way more than I could just native. They sound fantastic and I prefer the GUI since it is just the same as the old analog gear. I find it a lot easier to dial in sounds vs using plug ins where you can adjust every single parameter.

 

For more interesting stuff beyond just eq, comp, etc.. I really like sound toys native suite.

 

For any precision or side chain type stuff I usually use the logic plugs.

I like to have the analogue stuff that sounds authentic as well as some of the latest plugs that pass on the pro level and handle instances well.

 

waves/ssl very like the real deal/API/neve/puigstuff/PAZ/L2 for roughs

Ni Komplete.basic all around everything in case stuff for writing

esx24 wish it did some of the things Kontakt could, still my main though

EZdrummer i like this allot, takes secs to find some grove

Ueberschall Elastik & Liquid instruments plugsthey have some ok stuff

Lexiverb is great and very lexi, i also like the PS delay etc.

Logic's compressor, adlimiter, multi etc and especially the enveloper, i think its great for tightening up drums for r&b kits

Eddie Krammer[/b]plugs.

Ozone i depend allot on this and it has been on target for mastering, wonder what everyone else thinks about the Ozone

Melodyne !!!! a must for vocalist (anyone suggest better please do let me know)

Vanguard this rocks if you need gated arps

Artura their stuff is pretty punchy

Korgi like their bass synth sounds, m1 etc

Focusrite Sapphire plugs, especially eq and comp, sounds great

URS CSPro, Chandler EMI comp and Echoboy+ TL Space as an alternative to waves

Everyone raves about the Massey plugs, i am sure their are some deer experts on vintage gear, waves claims some of their re creations never clip and behave exactly like the originals., hard to believe.

Aren't the Massey Plugs PT only though?

 

I love the Sonnox Plugins...eq, compressor, inflator, reverb and limiter I use in every project (mixed with Logic's own plugins).

 

On the mix bus I've recently started playing around with the Steven Slate (Slate Digital) FG-X Mastering Processor and have enjoyed some really good results.

 

I love the sound of my hardware but the convenience of plugins is just fantastic.

Aren't the Massey Plugs PT only though?

 

I love the Sonnox Plugins...eq, compressor, inflator, reverb and limiter I use in every project (mixed with Logic's own plugins).

 

On the mix bus I've recently started playing around with the Steven Slate (Slate Digital) FG-X Mastering Processor and have enjoyed some really good results.

 

I love the sound of my hardware but the convenience of plugins is just fantastic.

i do like the Slate myself, tempted to buy it but with the Ozone covering so much its been hard to beat., the SSL's sound fantastic on bused groups, especially drums and vocals., and yeah the Masseys are PT only, thats crap.

and yeah the Masseys are PT only, thats crap.

He did make one free AU.

 

TapeHead Medium (Audio Units) v1.0.0

My workhorses for basic track shaping and sweetening duties have been these two:

 

Fab Filter Pro-C compressor

Aether reverb.... astoundingly gorgeous 'verb!

 

On the instrument front I really like the Zebra II, Sylenth 1 and Alchemy synths.

 

But I'm soon to be installing Komplete 7 and that will be a whole new universe for sure. I've been using Kontakt 3 for some time and it's a great sampler.

I'm soon to be installing Komplete 7 and that will be a whole new universe for sure. I've been using Kontakt 3 for some time and it's a great sampler.

funny, i just installed the IK multimedia bundle and K7, took forever!!

 

i guess i will trim down plugs as well, removing un wanted or useless plugs

i almost never use Battery, Massive and some of those IK synths, yuk

and yeah the Masseys are PT only, thats crap.

He did make one free AU.

 

TapeHead Medium (Audio Units) v1.0.0

as soon as they port into audio units massey is gonna take over, they really sound great!

Nexus 2 & izone izotope 4

For Processing:

All the UAD plugs...... The new SSL E & G series are awesome.

I no longer choose to support waves due to their awful customer service and the absolutely ridiculous WUP.... Although some of their plugs do sound good, but F them.

PSP Vintage Warmer - It just does "something" that I haven't found in any other plug

IK Multimedia - T-Racks plugs

 

For FX

All the Sound Toys plugs

Audio Damage plugs--- very cheap and sound great

Camel Space & Camel Phat

NI Guitar Rig - Endless possibilities

 

Instruments: (really depends on what style you'e doing, but...)

Camel Audio Alchemy - Best synth I've ever used (hard or soft) PERIOD

All 3 Spectrasonics instruments... Especially Omnispere

U-he ACE - So analogue, so cheap... F'n brilliant!!!

U-he Zebra 2 (my first port of call when writing, but it doesn't always end up in the final track)

Synplant- so fun to use

NI FM 8

NI Massive

NI Reaktor - aslo used for "over the top" FX unachievable from anything else

 

Mastering

IK Multimedia T-Racks

Slate Digital FG-X ( keep an eye out for their upcoming Virtual Console Collection )

 

My 2 pennies

gotta go with the Nexus2 & izotope ozone 4

December 2010

 

Equalizing

Logic Channel EQ (ye olde minimum phase digital EQ)

Flux Epure (same as the above but with added functionality, especially M/S)

Logic Linear Phase EQ (when I have to use LP, and I prefer this over Waves LP)

 

Not really using my Sonalksis SV-517 anymore.

 

Compression

Waves Renaissance Compressor (Electro/Warm is phat, the Opto mode is great for punch on bass lines)

Flux Solera (excellent for mastering or advanced tasks)

Flux Syrah (creative comp, I mostly use it for parallel/de-expansion)

Logic Compressor (for sidechaining and effect compression)

 

Not using my other Waves compressors or Sonalksis SV-315 anymore.

 

Limiting

Flux Pure Limiter (loud & proud, with flexible min-max rel/velocity settings)

Waves L1 (ok, you can kill me now but I still use it on channels when I'm lazy)

Logic Bit Crusher (used for intentional clipping in 24bit mode)

 

Just got the FabFilter Pro-L which is a nice and clean sounding limiter. Not quite able to get the sound or levels I can with the Flux (but very close). Not using my Sonnox Oxford Limiter anymore.

 

Multiband Processing

Flux Alchemist (best overall multiband processing)

Waves Linear Phase Multiband (when I have to use LP)

 

The Sonalksis DQ-1 dynamic EQ is still great but the workflow and interface is a little too fiddly, so it's not getting a lot of use. Besides, I can achieve what I need with the Alchemist.

 

Saturation/Distortion

Sonnox Oxford Inflator (nice on some things, beware of 5k to 9k/sibilance)

Slate Digital FG-X (limiting/saturation/shaping, not your standard limiter)

 

Occasionally I use the Logic Overdrive effect, it's great for smashing clean hi hats.

 

Imaging

Sonalksis StereoTools (M/S widener/pan/balance, zero width below x Hz for controlling the low end image)

 

I don't remember when I last used an artifical stereo spreader, so they don't get any use here.

 

De-Essing

Waves Renaissance De-Esser

Eiosis E2 (on trial right now, lemme get report back on that)

 

Flux Alchemist or Sonalksis DQ-1 can double as de-essers.

 

Pitch Correction

Antares Auto-Tune

 

I had Melodyne until recently but I don't use it because of the workflow.

 

Reverb

IK Multimedia CSR (Hall and Room)

Relab LX480 (Various)

Logic Space Designer (for effects)

 

Delay

Logic Tape Delay

Logic Stereo Delay

Logic Delay Designer (rarely, but it's nice to have for special stuff)

 

If I want weird delays I achieve the effect by adding creative plug-ins to the delay return, e.g. Auto-Filter, etc.

 

I have a wide variety of plug-ins from Waves, Flux, Softube, Sonalksis, Sonnox Oxford, etc. so I think my list is a testament to the quality of Logic's plug-ins.

 

Some plug-ins I don't have but think are quite close to the real deal: Waves SSL 4000G (almost, but not quite), UAD SSL 4000G (even closer, but still not quite there and the knobs suck) and UAD 1176 LN (very close).

this is really funny. I also just installed the IK multimedia bundle and K7, took forever!!

EXS24. Integrated, efficient, sounds good, easy to use. Probably one of my absolute favorite things in Logic and one of the main reasons why I switched. I could work w/ only Logic and EXS24.

 

EZ Drummer. Amazing songwriting tool. Sounds great, very easy to use and configure, light on CPU.

 

Waves GTR Solo. In terms of interaction, the next best thing to a real amp, IMHO. While you may want to adjust it, you don't need to tweak it. It doesn't lose its distinctive tone no matter how you set it - pretty much like a real amp.

 

IK's Pultec and Fairchild. There are countless models of these for a reason. Those things just work. I chose IK as they sound good, do not require additional hardware and are reasonably priced. Also planning on buying their 1176 and 2A.

 

Currently demo'ing Nomad Factory's Magnetic. Next on my must-have list. Brings me back 15 years ago. Awesome when it comes to sweetening tracks. Can also add some serious drive and punch. Pick it up over Waves due to the friendlier copy protection scheme (no iKey required).

 

These are my favorites of the moment.

Compressor: DMG Audio Compassion. Totally unbelievable comp from the guy who built the Sonalksis comps as well as others. Using the mod section you can completely turn it into any kind of compressor you can imagine and it's FET mode is outstanding. Even better than the Softube FET. If not this The Glue by Cytomic.

 

EQ: DMG audio Equality. Again, I don't know why more people aren't using this, by far the most outstanding digital EQ I've ever seen. M/S, various modes (linear phase, digital with no latency, analogue model), totally insane EQ.

Logic Compressors, Channel EQ

Space Designer reverbs with various third party IR files

Logic Guitar Amp Pro and Amp Designer

ReValver Mk III.V with Redwirez impulses - awesome tones

Amplitube 3 Free (love the Soldano amp, picked it up in Custom Shop)

Guitar Rig 4 (and the rest of Komplete 7)

Recabinet 3

Studio Devil

BFD2.3 - 64 bit finally, love it for programmed drums

Kore 2

Ozone 4

Nectar

Melodyne

IK Multimedia Vintage Tube Compressor/Limiter Model 670

Nomad Factory Magnetic

SPL Attacker

Slate VCC

 

I've tried a lot of other plug ins but this is what I have decided to focus on now as I like the results. I have found it's very easy to spend more time trying different plug ins than actually making and finishing music!