Essential plugins?

stickyfiddle

As titled. I'm not looking to spend money but absolutely looking for tools to make life easier and make mixes sound better. 

I'm using Logic so obviously have all the built-in stuff that comes with, plus Helix Native which I usually use for primary guitar & bass sounds. Also considering the Strymon Deco plugin because the pedal is one of my all time favourites. 

Soooo... what do you swear by and why? 

monquixote

Everything made by Fabfilter

Also most things made by Sound Toys especially Decapitator and Echo Boy.

Oh and Super VHS.

TTony

Well, you’ve already got Helix Native, so … keep a lookout for any deals on the Eventide plug-ins.

It’s easy to grab a load of plugins because so many are so cheap, but they just clutter up your HDD.  Decide what you need (ie what’s missing from Logic/Native) and just focus there.

Sporky

Shreddage.

Macca_25387

You’ve got pretty much everything you need for better mixes stock with Logic. Learning them inside out will benefit you more. 

Couple of plugins i use on almost all mixes. 

Kush AR1, Klanghelm MJUC, are my choices of master comp, usually in parrallel. 

Soundtoys Sie q is saved on my guitar bus. The mid band boost/cut is perfect for guitars.

I like Brainwork Digital V3 on the master bus also for the stereo width and bass shift function. Plus the mid side section.  

Have a trail of the Valhalla Delay alongside the Deco. Not tried the Deco plugin but the Valhalla is really good. That gets a run out on most mixes. 


I try not to have too much setup in a template. 

stickyfiddle

Cheers all. I'm definitely mindful of not wanting to clutter up my SDD or my brain, esp knowing that Logic and Helix between them cover a huge amount of ground, but I'll have a search of each of these 

monquixote

Fabfilter currently on sale

swiller

Logic plugins very under rated imho. Agree with macca, well worth learning them inside out vs adding in more. The fabfilter stuff is really good. As is valhalla as others mentioned.
You may want to audition loads of stuff, in which case, slate digital 30 day trial is not a bad bet rather than just jumping in and buying something. If its making mixes sound better primarily, 10 day free trial of ozone 11 might be worth a go. 

monquixote

Also soundtoys:

https://www.pluginboutique.com/manufacturers/153-Soundtoys?utm_campaign=1692813_PB - Tuesday NL - 23/04/2024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter&dm_i=6D39,10A6L,4L4M0H,4JN3A,1

I'd grab Decapitator and Echo Boy at that price.

Bod

It's not one I use often, but I really like Izotope Trash - the old version, not the recent release.

Another I couldn't be without, and I use on all bass guitar parts is Neural DSP's Parallax.

I also own Reason, and really like the Scream and Pulveriser modules in that.

stickyfiddle

Are there any mailing lists I can get on that tell me when this shit is 75% off?  

Bod

stickyfiddle said:

Are there any mailing lists I can get on that tell me when this shit is 75% off?  

Following this thread is a good start.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/106575/plugin-deals-and-discussion-thread/p60 ;

stickyfiddle

D'oh how did I miss that...??

Ta!! 

monquixote

stickyfiddle said:

Are there any mailing lists I can get on that tell me when this shit is 75% off?  

https://www.elektronauts.com/t/sw-deals-software-on-sale/159429/3643

Bod

stickyfiddle said:

D'oh how did I miss that...??

Ta!! 

It's been quiet of late, so you could be forgiven for missing it.

TTony

stickyfiddle said:

Are there any mailing lists I can get on that tell me when this shit is 75% off?  

Plugin Alliance and Plugin Boutique.

But be prepared to sort through the crap for the gems

nero1701

Ive the H9 bundle and also the Neural Tone King and Soldano bundle, I'm actually selling them off as I have  a tone king amp, the H90 and can go straight to my interface so these are surplus. Gives a shout if interested, I'm sure we could work something out

PolarityMan

Some of my favourites:

fabfilter pro-q2 and pro-c (i assume the newer ones are just as good).
GGD smash and grab.
Serum.
Battery,
NeuralDSP gojira,
GGD:Architects,
shadow hills mastering compressor,
I also really like the CLA compressor collection but it's waves so I'd really like and alternative.
Novaclip
Decapitator
Sonnox drum gate

Heartfeltdawn

Soundtoys and Valhalla are both great. Never used Fabfilter so can't comment on them. Melda Productions offer some excellent plugins, slightly old school UI but the free pack is great and well worth the upgrade money. 

Audiority slip under the radar and deserve more trade. They offer some very niche plugins. The Chief Chorus released earlier in the year simulating the Boss CE-2 is utterly superb, and I am looking forward to trialling this against a CE-2W next week. 

Catthan

Logic plugs are very good and when I was starting I got a lot more out of them than using 3rd party "industry std" ones.. 
In terms of others.
-Fabfilter Q3
-SSL bus comp (or townhouse comp from plugin alliance)
-SSL 4000 E strip and/ or Waves SSL EQ
-Any pulteq type EQ - i think Logic has a good one. 
-Valhalla vintage (does the 80s rack stuff like PCM Tiled Room)
-Waves CLA epic for delay and verb combos. Great to add some extra cheese on solos
-Soundtoys microshift
-BOGREN IRDX core after IR loaders

You'll get a lot of value from the first 4 and the logic stuff inc compressors. A lot are things you can add on every track. 

Your listening environment is also very important so a speaker-room calibration plugin helps too. 
Sonarworks sound ID, Slate VSX, the IK ARC studio (hardware) are helpful, if not necessary unless you know your listening environment and how it translates very well. 

cmacguitar

A couple of free plugins I use

- Xfer OTT 
- Valhalla Supermassive

Some paid plugins I use a lot

- Fab Filter Pro-Q3
- Valhalla vintage verb
- Soundtoys is amazing. Echoboy and Decapitator our my favs! But I got the everything bundle so I use many of them often
- iZotope Trash 1
- Pulsar Echorec is great!

I went through a bit of a rampage getting plugins through and post lockdown