One other thing… someone mentioned in an earlier post that the Classic EQ is good. I agree, I use it all the time, but I wonder about the validity of comparing EQs. I mean, it’s just EQ right? We’re not trying to impart any “classic” tones here because there really isn’t any such thing as far as EQ goes, or is there? Should I be looking at spending money on an EQ when it is such a basic plug and there are so many (including nTrack’s) that are readily available and do a good job already?
Thanks
i’ve read glowing reviews about the plugin version of the SSL channel processors bundled by WAVES.
the bus compressor is notoriously famous for that “hit” sound.
im impressed with the reviews but all that “classic” stuff would be wasted on me 
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| the bus compressor is notoriously famous for that “hit” sound |
There’s an ssl compressor kicking around free.
edit: Found it: http://www.solid-state-logic.com/resources/lmc1plugin.html
Haven’t had much luck finding a spot for it, myself.
Willy.
| Quote (tempus @ June 09 2006,23:45) |
| One other thing… someone mentioned in an earlier post that the Classic EQ is good. I agree, I use it all the time, but I wonder about the validity of comparing EQs. I mean, it’s just EQ right? We’re not trying to impart any “classic” tones here because there really isn’t any such thing as far as EQ goes, or is there? Should I be looking at spending money on an EQ when it is such a basic plug and there are so many (including nTrack’s) that are readily available and do a good job already? Thanks |
Ah, no, unfortunately. Just stick up a couple of the EQs you have, and A/B them, you will find distinct differences. Some plug in EQs are designed to be as “transparent” as possible, some are designed to emulate the distortion effects of famous hardware EQs, but it is not the case that any 2 plug in EQs sound alike, b/c there are several ways to do the math. Get some of the demos of expensive EQs, try the Spin Audio, the PSP, the kjaerhaus, waves, whatever, and try them all out; then get some freebies, get several so you are sort of guaranteed to hear something awful. Actually, one that I thought sounded really superior was mad by A0 Digital Audio, but they seem to have disappeared. The GUI was awful but the sound is really good (to me, today, YMMV, etc.).
CM had the SSL bus compressor 2 issues ago, BTW. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet.
Voxengo Voxfomer is a phenomenal plug…comp, eq, exciter
I have a an old waves bundle…good, but way too much $$…I do like their L1 limiter…I also bought the Ultrafunk plugs (I don’t think they are around anymore)…It is hard to beat SIR or Pristine Space for convolution verbs…I will check out Ambience since Bubba reccomended it…(I like his mixes!)…
Ray
I just wasted a couple of promising recording/mixing hours this weekend installing and registering T-Racks EQ and Amplitube LT - those two plug-ins are definitely not worth buying IMHO. Re. the EQ: I have that - and more - in Ozone. Re. Amplitube LT: I have that - and more - in my old, trusty POD.
I also tried Ableton live LT - utter waste of disk space. I couldn’t do anything with it! Well, the demo track ran like a breeze, but one hour fiddling with it and ploughing through the manuals did not enlighten me a bit regarding doing stuff myself. Any function I tried wasn’t available until I got the ‘full’ version. If they (EMU, who made the soundcard) bundle demos with their hardware, they should denote teh software accordingly.
Long live n-Track! (including plug-ins)
regards, Nils
Hi rsolinski and Bubba:
That Ambience plug sounds interesting… Who’s got a link to where it might be? I was on the verge of buying that Pro Limiter when that P-4 DAW failed… IT was really close. The mainboard ate up my cash… IT was on “Special” when IT all happened…
I have the FREE one but the Pro version has seperate Channel controls…
[EDIT]
You’re right Nils K… I could never get anything out of that T-Racks stuff…
Bill…
Bill, the Ambience reverb is to be found on the Garritan website here.
Although it has an official home elsewhere, the version there requires payment/registration. The one hosted by Garritan is free for the taking… - great plugin, too. I prefer it to Glaceverb
regards, Nils
Thanks for that link… I don’t know why I didn’t have that plug… I checked my VST folder… Not there, anywhere… I know there’s been lots of talk regarding IT… Anyway, I have IT now…
Willy: I’m gonna register on that Page for that SSL plug… I think if you don’t have this stuff you may need IT sometime for that “Magic Track”… If you haven’t got IT you can’t use IT…
Bill…
[EDIT]
I registered and downloaded that SSL LMC-1 plug… We’ll see what IT does…
I’m Back:
Gentlemen… That Ambiance Plug is “Great” … I got a feeling that IT’s gonna see some use around the setup I have here… I’ve played with the “Parlor Voice” on a track… It has very short reflections… IT has lots of control over the MIX of Wet-and-Dry. Just add it to the track… No- Aux. Send-and-receive… IT looks to me like IT has lots of potential…
Bill…
I really like the Ambience reverb too…the only problem (albeit a big problem) is that is sucks all of the CPU power. One instance takes about 35% of my 1.5 Ghz machine 
Other than that, it sounds great
Hi Katau:
I’m looking at the plug here with a stereo track on this 1.2 mhz. intel P-111…
You’re right… The track without the plug idles at 1.5 -1.9 without the plug… With the plug it runs at mabey, 32 -33% CPU useage. I’ve not used it with a multi-track Edit/Mix yet… What I might consider doing in a MIX Session is… Mabey “Freeze” the track or do a track mixdown/render and re-importing the mixed down track in the timeline… Something like that…
Bill…
I second the Izotope Ozone mastering software. Quality software in a very useable package.
I upgraded to Sony Sound Forge 8 a while back for a nominal fee and find there are some terrific reverbs and efx plug-ins included.
OK, the results are in.
These listening tests were done on a classical guitar recording. I tried messing around a bit with a vocals and guitar recording, but because of all the different settings available on the various plugs, it got a little confusing trying to set them up to be doing more or less the same thing so I could compare them. The plugs I tried were: Golden Audio Channel, PeakPressor, Unipressor, and Golden Comp (all Kjaerhus), VoxFormer and Marquis Compressor (voxengo) and PSP Vintage Warmer and Compressor.
I found that the Golden plugs were the way to go. Bear in mind that there wasnt a whole lot of difference in most cases, but they did sound the best to my ears. I really couldnt tell any difference at all between the Golden Audio Channel and the Golden compressor, but the Audio Channel clearly has a lot more possibilities for tonal variation than the comp. Just listening to the comps, though, I found no discernible difference. Same goes for Vintage Warmer and Compressor from PSP - I didnt really hear any difference between these 2, and only the slightest difference between them and the Goldens (I cant really say which is better).
Coming in a close 2nd were the Voxengo plugs. Not a lot of difference betweent the Marquis and the Voxformer, but I would say that the Kjaerhus beat them out.
A very close 3rd was the very cheap Sinus PeakComp, which I have used in the past.
As for limiters, the MPL-1 Mastering Limiter destroyed the Voxengo Elephant. This was one clear winner.
As was mentioned in an earlier post, we’re definitely hitting the law of diminishing returns here. These plugs are better than the Kjaerhus free counterparts, but not by much. It’s hard to describe (as it usually is) exactly what was better about them, but they just had a more open natural sound, where the freebies were a little harsh or something in the high end. Of course, there are tons more features in the Golden series that I didnt really mess with, and these could tip the scales even more with a little tinkering. I’m sure they are capable of even better sound than I was going for on my couple hours of testing.
Oh, I tried the Nomad Factory Blueverb, but couldnt get it to show up in the FX window, so I’m not sure how it compares.
I also didnt try anything really expensive, as I don’t plan on spending that much anyway, but I may soon, just to hear if there is a difference if you spend a lot more money.
One more comparison - I tried the WaveArts TrackPlugs 4 and 5, and found them to be comparable to the Golden Audio Channel. Different sounding, mind you , but I can’t say which I like better. I didn’t notice a whole lot of difference between the v4 and v5 of WaveArts, except for the available features. This must also be said of the GAC as well - there are a lot more possibilities here than with the WaveArts, simply due to the fact that there is so much more stuff in it.