Sony Oxford LE Plug-Ins... which ones are worth the $$$ ??

[jdjustice]

I have heard lots of good things about the Sony Oxford Dynamics, but not as much info about the Reverb or the EQ or the other 3 plug-ins.

Unfortunately I am having problems demoing them; they won't install on my computer properly so I am corresponding with Sony about this currently. Until I get them up and running, which of the 6 plug-ins available for PT LE really shine??

I don't want to pay 1k for all 6 unless they are all stellar!

[Betamax]

I find the EQ is one of the best out there. I don't think I could get through a session without it. I use the RTAS version w/ PTLE.You won't be sorry you bought it. I don't have any of the dynamics plugs from Sony, but I hear they're great also!

[StudioRhythm]

I have the EQ, Dynamics, Inflator and Transient Modulator. I'd agree that the EQ is definitely a must-have, and Dynamics is excellent also. I rarely use the Transient Modulator, although it's extremely useful once in a while, and I don't really use the Inflator much, although it's an interesting effect.

[jdjustice]

Thanks guys for your responses. How about the reverb and the limiter?? has anyone used those??

The "trio A" includes the EQ, Dynamics, and the Inflator but it is $610 USD. All 6 plug-ins (EQ, Reverb, Dynamics, Limiter, Inflator, and Transient Modulator) sell for $1000 USD.

I'm trying to find out if its worth an extra $390 for the limiter, reverb, and transient modulator......

[StudioRhythm]

FWIW, I've heard good things about both the reverb and the limiter. Terry Manning (Compass Point) has a pretty extensive review and discussion of the limiter over on PSW from maybe 6 months ago or so, and he really likes it. Haven't used either myself, though.

[KrisNY]

+1 for the EQ. It's super precise - really clear for mastering, really easy on a track.

Haven't used any others.

[KrisNY]

Not to thread hyjack here, but can anyone A/B the Oxford EQ against the PSP Neon HR? I can get a super good deal on the PSP plugins as a student, and the Oxford EQ is quite pricey.

[mdbeh]

The Oxfords--particularly the EQ--are my most-used plugins. I have URS, PSP, and others that have their uses, but the Sonys would be my choice if I only had one set of plugins.

I like that the EQ seems to have been designed from the ground up as a plugin, and not just as an emulation of analog hardware. I wish more plugins were like that.

[davemc]

I have the 6 pack with LE. I used to use Sony stuff a lot when I was on HD. So I had to have it when I went down to LE.
EQ is really nice, not very colored although can do most things you ask of it.
Compressor I really like again not colored and compressors nicely before pumping.
Inflator works well when you want that really hard limitered track. I use it a bit for vocals in a heavy mix when you want them forward. Warmth control nice.
Trans mod helps a lot with drums, if you want them to punch through.
Reverb is really nice and I really do not know why it hardly gets a mention. It has a nice color to it. Works well in mixes.
Limiter personally I like better then waves stuff.
Get your demo up and see for yourself. They are my main plugins I use, apart from I do like the plate in TLspace that came with music pack.

[proxy]

The Reverb is lovely and so useful. It really seems to complement and mesh with whatever you're using it on.

I also love Inflator. It does something that is not accomplished with many other plugs... a bigness, with the ability to crunch things a little if you want to.

- proxy

[shikawkee]

I love the Sony EQ's.
One of the best sounding IMO.

[StrykeBack]

I think my sony demo is up today. I used them a lot on my final projects for my recording school. I loved the limiter. It had a lot more varriables to play with then any of the Waves Lcrap.

I personally didn't like the eq and never used it in the mix other then the final ghetto master i had it on there. Dynamics were pretty useful but since it was either them or the digi basics...they got plentyh of use. For some reason I liked the added color of the Elemental Audio stuff as far as the EQs much better for basic single tracks.

I loved the reverb! It even had some lexicon emulations such as the "medium wood room" and i used it on a vocal track and when i brought it in for final listening and grading a few guys even said, "damn, that sounds exactly like the wood room on the lexicon.

I would love to have these plugins as a great added selection but theres just so much more i want and they are pretty pricey. Anybody know of any place that offers the main bundles at an academic discount? its either these or the SSL bundle that i can have at 500.

Well that and i must have the soundtoys bundle

[Jules]

I like the Limiter a lot - it is LOUD!
Dynamics - v great
EQ v good
Trans mod - amazing when required
Reverb v good

Pretty much what the other folks here say...

[six_wax]

I use these plugs alot when working on my LE rig at home.

The EQ is very "clean" but also "hardening"... it robs a little softness from the track, imo. I don't notice it doing this on the DMX-100 I use intermittently.

The Dynamics plug is very configurable and can be spectacular on indivdual tracks. It does do some "chewing" at faster attacks & releases, so I'm less inclined to use it on a mix.

The Inflator I still don't get. Makes me think of the Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man. When I hear it, that is.

The TransMod I'm just getting a taste for. At Jules rec, I put it on toms and am now hooked.

All in all, good plugs. Not the end-all-be-all they are commonly touted as, imo. I would definitely get the McDSP stuff first. [I have & use those everyday as well]

[wolffy]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showt...424#post766424

[mixerguy]

anyone else wanna chime in?

and yes - Ive done searches here...


and - I already own the inflator and transmod...

[AndreH]

Originally Posted by mdbeh

I like that the EQ seems to have been designed from the ground up as a plugin, and not just as an emulation of analog hardware. I wish more plugins were like that.

To me it seems a lot like a hardware emulation, to an irritating degree. Although it sounds great (clean and clinical with a tight Q, muscial and colorful with a broader one), the limited frequency spectrum of each band is an unnecessary crippling of the plug-in. It looks and functions like a hardware unit thanks to this design approach, but I always end up having to instantiate multiple EQ's even for just a few bands when I need, say, 2 upper-mid bands...waste of CPU.

I still love the plug, tough...my favorite EQ next to the Massenburg.


Andre

[AndreH]

Originally Posted by six_wax

The EQ is very "clean" but also "hardening"... it robs a little softness from the track, imo. I don't notice it doing this on the DMX-100 I use intermittently.

Strange...aren't the algorithms direct ports from the DMXr-100? Maybe it's the "hardness" of your flatscreen monitor in lieu of the soft knobs on the board that's causing the phenomenon! ;)


Andre

[marchhare]

The limiter is really great, doesn't eat the drums. The Inflator I have yet to find a good use for. I'll keep trying, though.

[Sergievsky]

Even though I have Altiverb, I still end up using the Sony Reverb instead. Less cpu hungry and less hassle with latency. Go 6pack definitely. The eq's usefulness is multiplied with the different modes. Transient mod and Inflator, though not quite bread and butter, is certainly useful.

[KrisNY]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

anyone else wanna chime in?

and yes - Ive done searches here...


and - I already own the inflator and transmod...

Since my last post in this thread, I've acquired 5 out of the 6 (everything but reverb).

Still loving the EQ.

TransMod, like others have said, does wonders on drums. Clients have said, "punch!" :)

Inflator I've used both on individual tracks and on a master bus. Makes things loud. Not for everything, but very effective when I can't push a limiter as hard as I'd like to.

Dynamics I use the least, probably because I have a fair amount of compression flavors. It does its job, but there are just as good clean, non-colored compressors for a lot less money, IMO (coughstevemasseycough).

Limiter is a must have for the client who likes everything loud. It can get a bit out of hand and harsh if you're not careful with it, but it certainly has its place - a perfect mastering limiter for an SSL-sounding mix.

[recall]

the eq is great, best i've heard from an rtas by far. It's also cpu light, as you can switch off all bands you don't need. also 4 different response curves which come in useful. Theres a quicktime movie showing all these bands in action on the sony website which is worth a look http://www.sonyplugins.com/