AU/MAS plugins comparable or better than Waves?(Not that the bar is partcularly high)

[bnath]

..:

I've had it up to fuuck here with issues with Waves' authorisation policies and iLok crap. This is the third time where Waves' authorisation has gone belly up for no apparent reason and derailed the session. I understand the need for piracy protection and all, but it is ridiculous when I have paid however much in original software and upgrades, and am told I need to send my iLok in for "repair" and that I may be charged a $40 fee to replace it since it is no longer under warranty; until then it looks like I have no Waves plugins to speak of. Isn't ironic that doing the ethical and moral thing, and paying for legitimate software, is ultimately more of a pain and inconvenience than finding and using a hack?

Okay, so I'm blowing off some steam, and maybe that first part belongs in the "Moan Zone"... but I'm curious what the NATIVE alternatives are. I mostly end up using the gates, the linear multiband eqs, some of the renaissance comps, and the l1/l3 limiters. I also have the UAD and TC powered plugs along with the pluggo ones, but am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for other, native AU or MAS (or possibly VST if it works with a wrapper).

b : *

[peteri]

I got to the same place a year or two back.

For comp and eq - Sonalksis, night and day better I think (certainly than the ren comp), really nice guys too.

They have a gate coming out soon - and the multi-band stuff is really good too.

Pete

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by bnath
..:I've had it up to fuuck here with issues with Waves' authorisation policies and iLok crap.

I hear you loud and clear with these issues!

Another thing I dislike about Waves is their insistance that you always buy bundles. I don't want to be told that if I want X I have to also pay for Y - I want to make up my own 'bundle' thank you very much.

I recently switched computers so rather than fight another endless round of compatibility hassles I decided to take the opportunity to banish Waves from my drives once and for all.

I'm now replacing my plug-ins one-at-a-time, on a strictly 'must-have' basis, and I'm only buying from companies who have a sensible authorisation policy.

So far the only plug-ins that have made it onto my system are Eqium, Neodynium and Firium from the very excellent Elemental Audio. Reasonably priced, painless authorisation and most of all they sound absolutely awesome and the graphic interfaces are brilliant (albeit with a bit of a learning curve.)

I will miss some of the Waves plug-ins for sure, L1 and RenEQ most of all, but the benefits of dropping them far outweigh the ongoing hassle of keeping them up-to-date.

[Telecastr]

I'll second the Sonalksis stuff, as well as the elemental audio stuff too. also some free plugs to look into, if you don't already have them, are the digitalfishphones stuff. the comp and gate/expander are wonderful. i don't really use the de-esser much, so i can't comment on it.
Derek

[Kubilay]

My new favorite EQ is the URS A and N series, available as AU; but yes, protected by iLok... they don't make the RennEQ and the MOTU MW EQ superfluous, but they are going to get used more often by probably 3 to one or so. (I just got them, so I'm guessing as to how much more use they'll see... but boy are they blowing my mind!)

I tasted blood after this and am going to demo the Sonalksis Compressor to see if it can outdo the RennComp. I could use a software compressor that is as impressive as the URS EQ's are...

I use disk authorization with my Waves and haven't had a problem yet. So it seems that unless you want to use more than one computer, disk authorization is the way to go? I agree on the bundle issue. Pisses me off. I ended up having to buy the L3 by itself for loads of cash... but I needed it and have to admit I haven't regretted that purchase.

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by Kubilay
I ended up having to buy the L3 by itself for loads of cash... but I needed it and have to admit I haven't regretted that purchase.

Do you need to go via the infamous Waveshell for the L3 or is it a stand-alone plug-in? I'd consider getting it if it is a one-shot install that doesn't require Waveshell.

[parasitk]

Elemental Audio
URS
Sonalksis
TriTone Digital
PSP

All solid AU plugs and more than a match for Waves, IMO.

[bnath]

..:


These are GREAT suggestions so far, keep 'em coming...

I will definitely be checking out the Sonalksis and Elemental plugs. For those who have both, between the Sonalksis DQ1/CQ1 and the Elemental Neodynium/Equim, which do you prefer?

URS looks great, but I may have to pass because I've still got PTSD over the whole iLok thing.

Looks like only one of the Digital Fish Phones is ported for AU use.. but I'll also be checking that out.

Thanks again for the suggestions, I'm feeling a little better already about the alternatives... now I just need a substitute for the L1lL3... but maybe I'll look into the UA limiter for that...

b :*

[ttauri]

Originally posted by bnath
now I just need a substitute for the L1lL3... but maybe I'll look into the UA limiter for that...

Wavearts have an L1-style limiter. There's a demo.

Peece,
T. Tauri