KVR :: Effects » What is one VST effects plugin you can't live without? [View Original Topic]
There are 104 posts in this topic. Page: 1 2

---

writhe - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:02 pm

---

Non-native obviously.

It's your go-to plugin. It's the one you'd purchase 3 times if you had to. It's the one you use most often.

Just trying to get a discussion going here and get some ideas. Name your genre/style as well!

For me, it's the Sonalksis TBK3 Compressor - it's a monster. I use it for most everything. Second comes the OtiumFX Sonitex - great for making things sound a bit more vintage. Third comes You Wa Shock! - good for making things sound "tighter", for lack of a better term. Squeezes it all together.

Genre: everything

---

tehlord - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:04 pm

---

Pro Q



Every time.

---

VitaminD - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:05 pm

---

None.. there is no VST effects plugin I cannot live without.

---

Kaboom75 - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:06 pm

---

Soundtoys Radiator. I think or is it ValhallaDSP Vintage?

I like rock music and EDM and I'm getting into 90s video game music.

Radiator plugin is special to me I like to make my music sound none DAW ish I want it to sound like it was all done on hardware from the 80s and warm so Radiator is my warm it up hide the DAW sound plugin.

---

Sendy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:06 pm

---

The one I use the most is probably tone2 Bifilter. It's just such a solid and diverse swiss army knife and I use it for creative and corrective/mix control effects.

Genre: Nah.

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:27 pm

---

NyquistEQ.

---

Mister Natural - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:29 pm

---

Adrennalinn Sync for my guitar

---

vata44 - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:30 pm

---

Pro Q

---

OzWozEre - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:36 pm

---

Damn, sounds like I have to dig into the 'ol pocket and cough up some cash for these babies then.

I must admit there GUI/design looks simply gorgeus, and I guess, from all the +positive comments I keep hearing, they sound awesome too.

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:45 pm

---

No, you don't have to. NyquistEQ is free to use.

---

firepile - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:51 pm

---

Amplitube.

---

JeffSanders - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:57 pm

---

Camelspace

---

Mushy Mushy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:58 pm

---

Another Pro-Q here.

---

Pädy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:58 pm

---

S-Gear. A real guitar amp in tone and feel - amazing.

---

icantdub - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:14 pm

---

I can't think of any plug that is absolutely crucial for me, there are always great alternatives out there.

---

mellotronaut - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:14 pm

---

Uhbik and Camelspace

---

OzWozEre - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:18 pm

---

Mac OS X PowerPC VST ???

That's a shame, thanks for helping, I hate it when that happens

---

Froqqer - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:21 pm

---

valhallaroom

---

JJBiener - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:27 pm

---

I use Reflex Pro on almost everything I do. From subtle to extraordinary, it has great sound and amazing flexibility.

---

Lotuzia - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:37 pm

---

This quartet is on -almost- every project :

Exponential Audio Phoenix or R2 reverbs, Xils-Lab Le Masque Delay, Sonalksis Max Limit or Multi Limit, Sonalkis CQ1.

And makes me completely happy

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:39 pm

---

Never mind. It's not your fault you've chosen a platform that is not supported with plugins as much as PC one. And it's not your fault that about 147.765 VST plugins exist for PC, when there's only 1563 for OS-X. Shame, really. It's probably because 95% of the people choose to buy a PC, developers amongst others. So if you wnat to be "exclusive", you can easily be "exclusive" by buying a Mac. So exclusive actually that nobody wants to make programs for it. It's what you opted for by going "Mac" - exclusiveness, literally.

But PCs are so terribly unstable, prone to viruses, and in general unreliable. I'm having a blue screen every hour, and it just doesn't let me work. It's so unstable and I've got 33.5 viruses on it + two antivirus software and they still can't keep it clean! PCs are so hard and in general terrible to work with. It's so hard to find pictures of my sexy cousin on it every time. Gosh I wish I had a Mac and the great "Finder" app. I've heard stories it can even find the keys to your house for you! Not to mention your TV remote control! It just works! They're so reliable and so easy to work with. You can literally get rid of your brain and let your Mac work everything out for you, or so I've heard. Gosh, I wish I had money for Mac.

not really. /*sarcasm*

---

@midnight - Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:49 pm

---

tsclip

---

IrionDaRonin - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:05 pm

---

MG TempoDelay and Voxengo MSED.
I use them in all my compositions.

Have a nice day

---

bailees7irish - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:15 pm

---

Sonitex STX-1260,
KarmaFX Reverb,
CamelCrusher,
CamelSpace,
Nightshine,
Eos

---

Agathodaimon - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:17 pm

---

i am into progressive metal. Also other genre like black metal, death, massive on Classical music, great classical influences..
Hmmm jazz, blues pretty much everything.

I dunno, probably the vst's i use the most when it comes to mixing and recording would be EQ, Compressors, and Saturation.
Not really picky what am using am going for the stock plug-ins, no point on wasting money, they all do the same thing :p

As of if am playing my keys that would definitely be Omnisphere no doubt there.
Am still in a search from time to time here and there but ye thats it :p

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:20 pm

---

I suppose when you hear one, you actually hear six? So when you order one beer, you expect to be given six? That's a good Irish measure, I agree, bailees7irish.

Oh, Omnisphere is the best VSTi out there fullstop. I think all the other developers are just trying to achieve what Omnisphere achieved already. Best VSTi, ever. I've heard you can make your wife have an orgasm [depending on the speakers, of course, having a sub is preferable] just by listening to some Omnisphere sounds. No joke. They're so deep they can vibrate your body parts in a really pleasing way.

---

bailees7irish - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:26 pm

---

---

OzWozEre - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:44 pm

---

Yep, that's about the size of it.

Don't these ding-dong-dime-a-dozen PC only VST plugin developers know that we snob Mac users actually *buy* our software?

Hell, we're so used to paying through the nose for our Mac gear that dropping extra cash on software is seen as an honourable duty!

Hell! If they started making Mac versions, not only could they sell a few to righteous Mac users -- if they made their plugs Mac ONLY -- they could charge double price!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go open my wallet again!



P.S. As soon as folks start realising that there is a *direct correlation* between blue-screens-of-death and warezzz-cracks, the better off they will be, regardless of what OS they're using!

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:53 pm

---

Aren't people that have no money for plugins and software *so* repulsive, OzWozEre? People say they haven't got enough money for food, but they would like to make music, so they are forced to use the disgusting and low quality freeware plugins, or [god forbid] use pirated software. Yuck! Find a job!! Yeah! And it's so weird there are so many freeware plugins for PC, but not Mac. Aren't developers aware that Mac users are so righteous, and like to pay for their software, and also use some freeware software at times? It's weird, really. It's like a conspiracy against Mac users, I tell you.

Righteous users like we are should let our voices to be heard! I say we have a protest!

---

srv-musikmaker - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:57 pm

---

TAL Reverb,CamelCrusher,BootEQ MK II,Leftover Lasagne's Pushtec !

---

srv-musikmaker - Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:59 pm

---

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:04 pm

---

Yeah, well said, all you PC users having blue screens you should better stop using cracked software because that's what you get for being a crook!

[gosh I'm gonna vomit...lol]

---

Agathodaimon - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:05 pm

---

And my favorite part, creating any sound you imagine from scratch

---

srv-musikmaker - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:07 pm

---

Sarcasm is such a great tool !

---

DuX - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:11 pm

---

I apologise to everybody involved, I was being utterly sarcastic, and making fun of you.

I think totally the opposite of everything I said. I know PCs can be completely reliable and great when set up properly, no viruses or antiviruses etc. I also think Omnisphere is a no-worth, expensive memory hog.

My apologies. It's not fair, it's Internet therefore so easily misinterpreted. I'm sorry. I can find pictures of my sexy cousin on my PC every time, I can guarantee you that.

Cheers!

---

OzWozEre - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:15 pm

---

No apologies!!! I blame KVR for promoting these heathens!!!

We must rise up and claim our Free Mac Plugins!

SYNTHEDIT BE DAMNED!!!



(peace)

---

Moe Shinola - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:28 pm

---

BuzzMaxi 3, Blockfish, Classic Delay, The Sonitus Reverb and the version of Guitar Rig that came with Sonar 8.5. I use those on just about everything.

---

AudioGuy720 - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:31 pm

---

112dB Redline EQ.

---

Shangsean - Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:40 pm

---

I actually don't think I have an effect that I couldn't live without. I guess I would say EAReverb as I use it a lot. I also use Camelspace a bit and I use Guitar Rig quite a bit too. I like Etch too. I don't really reach for a particular effect more than any other. I just depends on what I'm doing at the time.

Effects are probably where I could most improve my tools although I don't really know what I want.

---

hibidy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:08 pm

---

It changes daily so I guess none?

I'd be pretty bummed if I didn't have markstudiobass 2 though. THAT is really terrific for bass!

---

hibidy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:10 pm

---

fixed!

---

hibidy - Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:12 pm

---

I loled (not at you, just at the post )

---

Quietinthedark - Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:51 pm

---

can't live without is a pretty high standard but...
the one I'd cry the most if I couldn't keep using is Valhalla Room

for everything else, I have a few acceptable alternatives.

I could get the same sounds as Valhalla, or 75% the same anyway, from another plug, but I can't dial them in as easily.

---

afreshcupofjoe - Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:10 pm

---

Audio Damage Discord 3.

I don't use it very often, but when I do there is really nothing else I know of that is a suitable replacement in native plugin format.

Other than that, there are definitely some effects plugins that I think are superior to others, but I can't honestly think of a any other plugin that I couldn't replace with something else and still be happy. We have a lot of great options these days.

---

rifftrax - Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:23 pm

---

FerricTDS, Stripbus, Antress Seventh Sign, Breverb.

Just that, would go a helluva long way in any composition for me.

---

Burillo - Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:15 am

---

if i'd pick one i'd buy over and over, it'd be REAPER. it's not a plugin, but my God it's powerful.

---

Brian @ IK Multimedia - Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:10 am

---

Same here. Has been for years (long before I was with IK.)
I have a few plugins I use on every song, but AmpliTube takes top spot because it's the first thing on as soon as I open a new project, and I always have at least 3 instances of it. And unlike my other plugins, it wouldn't be a song without it (at least not a rock song!)

---

cyphersuit - Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:18 am

---

There is only one plugin i use on every track and that is pro q.

---

Daan22 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:23 am

---

Pro C

---

gamecat666 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:39 am

---

i'd say you missed the entire point of the topic, but you already seem to be aware of that.


Fruity PEQ2 + camelspace here.

---

nilhartman - Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:47 am

---

UBK-1.

---

Mushy Mushy - Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:09 am

---

Well to be fair, so have you

---

bluedad - Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:42 am

---

to be fair, didn't the OP actually list three?

NI's spektral delay

---

Mushy Mushy - Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:55 am

---

Yes, but:
a) it's clear the OP doesn't know what he wants; and
b) as the OP he has the right to list more than he requests

---

dark_virus - Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:02 am

---

Mverb. Best free reverb out there.

It changed my life.

---

filter303 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:20 am

---

DSM v2 - There is nothing else like it, and I happen to need it often. Unfortunately I am forced to live without it because it has too many bugs. Plugin Alliance, please do something about it! This plugin cost me a lot of money but it's useless right now

---

solidtrax - Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:20 am

---

And for only $50 more you get something like ValhallaRoom or ValhallaVintageVerb, two reverbs that are extremely good sounding. If Mverb changed your life... wow, be prepared for Valhalla!

---

Burillo - Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:24 am

---

as for plugin, i'd probably go for ReaEQ. statistically speaking, it's almost on my every track. but it could be any decent EQ, it just so happens that having ReaEQ frees me of sifting through thousands of VST EQ's as ReaEQ is good enough to cover 99.9% of my needs.

---

dark_virus - Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:28 am

---

I'm sure there's better comercial options, but I only use freeware.

I've tried every single free reverb plugin, and nothing can compare to Mverb.

---

Giusmex - Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:10 am

---

i cannot live withour Izotope Alloy 2 and Camelspace

---

gamecat666 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:25 am

---

lol, touché

---

shanecgriffo - Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:33 am

---

Autotune?

---

basset - Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:50 am

---

PSP Vintage Warmer
Waves SSL G-Channel
Mellowmuse SATV
Mellowmuse CP2V

---

Keith99 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:18 am

---

On every project I have:
Slate VTM
Slate VCC
Pro-C
Pro-Q

in fact most channels have the above in that order. Must admit now I have got Cubase 7 I am starting to use its channel strip compressor and EQ so, for the sake of CPU power, may shift away from Pro-C and Q

---

Kaboom75 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:23 am

---

No it's DMG Audio Compassion.

---

BERFAB - Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:34 am

---

IK's Classik Studio Reverb.

When I went x64, I had to do without this one for about a year. Bought/demoed a bunch of alternatives. Sadly, nothing else sounded like 'reverb' to me.

Happily, CSR is back as a x64 plug.

I have backup utilities for just about everything else in my arsenal, but CSR, I found, is truly unique.

Cheers
-B

---

AKJ - Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:53 am

---

voxengo voxformer
fish filets + dominion
any convolution reverb
ni guitar rig + izotope trash

---

Haha_YouAint - Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:58 am

---

UpStereo is one that makes a difference to me. I feel like the track isn't complete if I don't at least use it once.

---

Mudcat007 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:02 am

---

The one that would be most difficult for me to replace is Bootsie's ThrillseekerLA. I find that it is the easiest compressor for me to set up to get the compression I am going for, regardless of application. The other comps I have take much more time for me to dial in.

---

solidtrax - Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:02 am

---

CSR was pretty impressive.... ages ago. Today, I'm enjoying my reverbs from ValhallaDSP and Exponential Audio. Have you tried those?

If you have the money, try LX480, it's like a Lexicon 480 reverb in a plugin! It's from the same developer as CSR. Looks like he moved on too!

---

BERFAB - Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:23 am

---

I find the concept of "outdated" reverb humorous. Take a space with great acoustics. The passage of time will not make those acoustics any less great (discounting, of course, the effects of wear and tear on the physical items in the room).

CSR has a specific sound (the Hall is my personal go-to). It is lush, artifact free, and very tweakable. The passage of time does not change that sound (modeled, btw, on 'old-school' hardware, hence the 'Classik' moniker). Any other reverb I use, I try to tweak to get to something close to the sound that I START WITH in CSR.

-B

---

solidtrax - Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:03 am

---

Sorry, I read my post again and I understand your reply. Let me clarify something, as it was not my intention to say that CSR sucks and all new reverb plugins are better.

What I tried to say is that when CSR was released, there was not a lot of competition. It delivered a reverb sound previously not heard from a native reverb plugin. But things have changed. A lot of different reverb plugins have been released since then, like the reverbs from ValhallaDSP, 2CAudio, Softube, 112dB, Lexicon and many more. Today, CSR is still the same sounding reverb as when it was released, this I will not deny, but it's not alone anymore, there is a lot of competition. You probably will not find a reverb that does exactly what CSR does, so if it's exactly that what you are looking for, I'm not stopping you from using it. In the end, with reverb it is all about taste. Some people HATE the Lexicon sound, some people LOVE it.. and this can be said for most reverbs, both hardware and software.

So, not dissing CSR.. I should have said that I have found other reverb plugins that better suit to my reverb taste.

Peace?

---

allofdrab - Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:28 am

---

Cableguys VolumeShaper3.
All created envelope points can be automated and when used in conjunction with the AudioMulch Metasurface it's pure gold.
Rock solid and so much fun.
http://www.cableguys.de/volume-shaper.html

Actually EDIT;
Plogue Bidule - I use it for everything;
creating sequencer-based effects,
MIDI processing tricks,
sample buffer experiments,
the list goes on...
and on...
Like VolumeShaper3 everything can be automated;
which means any plugin it's hosting too;
which means it is VERY handy for automating plugins that have issues when loaded directly in a host;
Often times plugins are FAR more CPU efficient when loaded in it too.
Also the fact that on a Mac it comes with 32 virtual MIDI ports comes in SUPER handy,
and the option to cut, paste, and route signal information between Bidule plugin instances makes it EXTREMELY valuable for sending info between tracks and other applications and/or hosts.
I could go on...
http://www.plogue.com/products/bidule/

---

Michael1985 - Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:41 am

---

Definetely my imgination! It has no compatibilty problems with any format but with most of the DAWs like Sonar, FL Studio, Cubase and Logic.

---

Robmobius - Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:08 am

---

Flux Epure II - This now my default EQ (that's why I sold my Pro-Q).
Radiator - Soundtoys have really put out something very special out with this one.
Vertigo - I freaking love that compressor!
BX Limiter V2 - Very nice.

Synthwise, I like Omni and Lush - But tbh I prefer my hardware stuff.

---

BERFAB - Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:12 am

---

My vst folder is filled with other reverbs. Perhaps the priciest of the lot that I bought is the 2CAudio stuff: Aether and Breeze. I specifically got Aether because of its amazing flexibility. It is very clean and crisp. And Breeze is the same but with fewer gymnastics required for tweaking. But I never quite got it where I wanted it.

I still use Breeze sparingly on certain things. And, like I said, I still have other algo 'verbs in my arsenal as well. But the sound in my head is CSR, and it's nice to now be able to use it again.

Peace.
-B

---

BERFAB - Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:25 am

---

Of course, NI just released its take on the Lexi gear today. I'll be checking those out as well.

-B

---

brok landers - Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:32 am

---

thisone. seriously. it's absolutely fabulous. best analyzer imo.

http://sevenphases.wordpress.com/spectrum-analyzer/

---

deadReactor - Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:05 pm

---

(dc8c, timeless, valhallaroom, barricade)

---

Laurend - Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:49 am

---

The FLUX Epure has nothing special at first. But when the morphing slider enters in the game, nothing can competes with. The sound is refined and glitches never happen even with extreme morphing.

---

Gonga - Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:43 am

---

Valhallaroom and Alloy

---

Masr - Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:47 am

---

Nebula.

---

AC222 - Sat Apr 13, 2013 11:42 am

---

+ 1000. After that I might say Amplitube's new CS models as well as TSE and Ignite various plugs.

---

djscorb - Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:11 pm

---

DMG EQuality / EQuilibrium / Compassion

VRoom / Ubermod

Audio Damage Dubstation

Ableton Saturator

Voxengo SPAN and MSED

Once everything in a project is mixed down to audio I could almost work using these plugins alone


If I had to choose just one: EQuality (soon to be fully replaced by EQuilibrium)

Cheers

Scorb

---

nexusdawn - Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:19 pm

---

JUST ONE???!!!

Not only impossible, but sadistic and cruel to ask

Variety is the spice of life!

---

cyphersuit - Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:45 pm

---

1. Vengeance Multiband Sidechain

2. Fabfilter Pro Q

3. EAReverb

---

murnau - Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:48 pm

---

have we count all plugins now or are still a few left?

---

Funkybot's Evil Twin - Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:53 pm

---

I have a few that get used in every project, often multiple times. They are: VTM, VCC, Amplitube and BFD2. Then there's Valhalla Room, and VVV. Oh, and EQuillibrium (used to be EQuality). I'd also really want to keep DIVA around. And the UA 1176 and LA-2A Collections.

So yeah...that one.

---

bmanic - Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:08 pm

---

Care to share? Link for download doesn't work any more. Always interested in checking out a new spectrum analyzer.

Cheers!
bManic

---

hibidy - Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:50 pm

---

I was thinking the same thing

---

ontol - Sat Apr 13, 2013 4:35 pm

---

If plugins were to be taken off my system, I'd probably notice my Valhalla stuff missing first, and miss it the most. If I had to chose 1, then VVV it is.

The only good part of that scenario is that it wouldn't financially cripple me to replace them.

---

Halma - Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:07 am

---

Well, as a Reason user mainly (beside Reaper which acts as my main VST host) I would miss "The Echo" the most I think. Playing around with it for 6 months now and I am so excited which kind of effects only this unit can replace (I love the additional feedback breakout jackts on the back - sound designers paradise).

So as an VST equivalent it would be either Valhalla UberMod, FXpansions Bloom or u-hes MFM. Some sort of creative delay plugin. But I don't own them so it's only guessing right now.

With only that I am able to do choruses, ensembles, reverbs, delays, special fx, pitch shifting etc.

For now it would be NastyVCS. It's the only plug in that's on every Reaper channel. I am so used to work with channel strips. And this one is funky! The results are marvellous. Absolutely badass EQ (so warm & musical + low boost&cut at the same time), dope gentle compressor (so lush), int lc/hc sc, signalpath switching, saturation + gain in trim, lim + gain out etc. Everything I need for most of my tasks. Only a proper gate is missing so I have to use prefix for that.

Cheers,
Sebastian

---

nick at artsacoustic - Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:43 pm

---

delet me.

---

Brother Charles - Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm

---

Toss up between IK Black 76 and Klanghelm DC8C.

Guitar Rig & Amplitude.

KONTAKT *and many dozens of libs

All HollowSun, PrecisionSound & SampleTekk libs

TB Barricade & TB Essentials.

Love SKnote StageSpace, VerbTone, & Presence.

Lexicon LXP bundle.

Valhalla Everything.

Oh never mind . . . all of them!

---

hibidy - Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:32 pm

---

lolz!

---

cruisy18 - Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:34 pm

---

iZotope Ozone 5!

---

V-GER - Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:11 pm

---

+ 1, though I could live without it (more or less) I'd miss ValhallaÜberMod the most.

---

srv-musikmaker - Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:09 pm

---

TAL Reverb

---

Dominus - Mon Apr 15, 2013 3:47 am

---

Revalver.

Even when I'm not using the amps in it, I'm still using it as a rack/host for other amp sims.

---

thecontrolcentre - Mon Apr 15, 2013 3:53 am

---

AD Replicant

---

There are 104 posts in this topic.
Page: 1 2