First Plugin Purchases!!

[Yummerz]

valhalla room - 50

valhalla freqecho - free

cytomic the glue - 100 - works great on everything

waves api or v series eq - 88 (special sale)

for a limiter, look at psp vintage warmer or xenon - can find used for under 100. check classifieds and kvr forums. for a different flavor than cytomic, check out psp oldtimer - im selling mine for only 40 US. between glue and oldtimer, you'll be set. i almost never use reacomp anymore.

also look into sknote stuff - cheap, unique, sounds very good. everything is under 30 US.

[Mister Fox]

I can not recommend Stillwell Audio. They seem to have abandonned their tools (on their own page) and rather went for Reaper "internal" stuff. Fine with me either way.

SONIMUS is debateable. Especially SonEQ (which is free), but if you're using Variety of Sound already, there is no need for SonEQ. At least in my opinion.

Waves - well, you got to love or hate it. Try them for yourself.

SKnote stuff adds up quickly financially if you go for every other tool. Great ideas however, but you have to manage everything update related yourself. (meaning, you might miss out on an update since every license is sent out independent, not automatically - I'm still behind on StripBus IIRC).


Cytomic "The Glue" is a SSL Bus Compressor clone. Interesting concept, lacks some minor touches from the hardware (take a dive on YouTube and see the A/B video by Cytomic), but else it's fair for what you pay.


Channel Strip wise, SSL's channel strip is beatable: teamDNR MixControl Pro. The 49USD discount is still working, so hurry up - you'll get MixControl Pro v2 for free at a later state.

[Bunjji]

Waves Renaissance Bundle! It has a De-Esser, EQ, Compressor, Channel Strip, Reverb (2 actually), and a few more plugins. It costs a little over 250.

[Bunjji]

Waves | Bundles | Renaissance Maxx

[indie folk guy]

Originally Posted by Mental

Hello Guys! I've finally achieved my dream of having my very own home studio, allowing me to record whenever my hearts desires
However, while the hardware side of my studio is taken care of, my plugin library is decidedly barren.
Only Consisting of the stock REAPER plugs, and some freebies from Variety of Sound and Antress.
I'd like to fully achieve the potential of my hardware and my own creativity with some better plug ins. That being said. Here are some qualifications.
1.) I'm on Windows. I'm finally starting to get the hang of REAPER. That is my DAW.
2.) I'd like to spend around 250-300 on a few quality pieces that encompass most of the mixing environment (i.e. Compressor, EQ, Reverb, Limiter.)
3.) I'm not willing to get any additional hardware.
4.) I'm almost always just recording vocals except for the occasional accompaniment. That being said. I don't want a "Do-it-all" vocal chain
5.) I'm also trying to learn and master the nuances of every tool so if the plugins controls are pretty universal or if it just a good learning platform that is a plus.
6.) I use an AT4050 mic and I sing pop style music.
7.) I'd prefer to avoid bundles since I'm only looking for "The Big 4" kinds of plugs
8.) I'd prefer a graphical Compressor, EQ, and Limiter if possible. But if there's better plugins I will try to learn how to use them
Sorry for the long post but I'm trying to preemptively answer questions.
If you have any advice on some plugins that meet my needs please bring them up!! Thanks

may not be the most popular but it's easy to use, looks cool, and sounds good
Focusrite Scarlett I think it retails most places for like $99 USD
I have some expensive Waves bundles and I often choose those Focusrite plugs over the studio one plugs, reaper plugs, waves plugs, etc.

I didn't see it mentioned yet so I figured I'd add it

[Miles Flint]

There's tons of free stuff, really cool free stuff on kvr. but if you WANT to spend money on plugins...

Voxengo GlissEQ, Crunchessor (Comp) and Elephant (Lim) will cost you 200$, there is the OldSkoolVerb and the StereoTouch (Delay)... both free. I love the voxengo stuff! Maybe give it a try!

VST plugins, AU plugins, Professional audio plugins - Voxengo

[Funny Cat]

Originally Posted by narcoman

yup - McDSP gets used on every project I work.

Yes. McDsp is special. Has one of the best EQ's I've ever used.


Valhalla is pretty cool. In addition to that use ReaVerb (the stock Reaper plugin) which can trigger IR's. Go and download the Lexicon, Bricasti & Voxendo FREE IR's and you'll be set for a very very long time.


Then all you need is a few third party plugs like a limiter (Voxengo Elephant), maybe PSP Old timer or Cytomic for that guey glue vibe on bussed instruments. All the Stillwell stuff it's excellent. I highly recommend Major Tom for that 1176 (All-buttons-in) type action and the Rocket is crazy good for individual drums/instruments.This will get you started.


As one poster advised, try stock + free plugs until you figure out what it is you really need/lack. I've bought plugs based on raving endorsements here on GS only to find out I could match the sound with stock plugins very easily. Above all, don't pay much attention to the "blinking lights". Just use your ears.

[amthompson]

I know this is outside of what you were asking for... but for pop production.. Do yourself a huge favor and by the sound toys bundle... or at least echo boy. So easy to use and it fits for me every time.

[sstillwell]

Originally Posted by Mister Fox

I can not recommend Stillwell Audio. They seem to have abandonned their tools (on their own page) and rather went for Reaper "internal" stuff. Fine with me either way.

No, not abandoned at all. Version 3.00 is in the pipeline with lots of updates, and as soon as we can get it out the door (it cannot be too soon!) we're firing back up with more new plugins.

The link with REAPER "internal" stuff is because Schwa is one of the developers of REAPER and has contributed versions of some of his own plugins to their product. I have no such relationship with Cockos, Inc. except for some JS plugs that I wrote a LONG time ago (in Internet years... )

I agree that it's been a while, but I'm not in the habit of updating the website just to be typing random blurbs to make us look busy. I respond to support tickets and forum posts and concentrate on trying to get code done.

Anyway...sorry you feel that way, but wanted to make sure that a concern like that didn't go unanswered.

Scott

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by sstillwell

No, not abandoned at all. Version 3.00 is in the pipeline with lots of updates, and as soon as we can get it out the door (it cannot be too soon!) we're firing back up with more new plugins.
Scott

Really looking forward to this!!

[wehkah]

I really can recommend IK Tracks Deluxe, Sknote StripBus/Bus, Grasso, Presence, Roundtone, the Nomad ISP and NIs Komplete. These tools are really worth the money. Not too much money but a great bunch of stuff which is really usefull. Wait for the winter sales of some software devs & online stores!

[Jeff Ling]

First, get to know the plug-ins you already have, then try out some of the free / inexpensive plug-ins recommended by some of the other posters. That should keep you busy for awhile. Then, start looking at commercial plug-ins to solve problems which still remain.

[Alxi]

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

I would consider Valhalla Room for reverb and check out the free Molot and Limiter 6 from Vladg.

After that, there are some really nice and cheap plugins from Stillwell such as VibeEq, The Rocket and Bombardier.
112db have some beautiful sounding plugins as does Voxengo and IK Multimedia that aren't too expensive.

+1

Add to that some of the plug from bootsy. DDMF IIEQ pro and you are set to go.

I would also consider some plugins from the plug and mix collection ( don't crack )