Do you need a thousand plugins?
- KVRist
- 211 posts since 3 Dec, 2007 from Cambridge, UK
I seem to have stopped buying VSTi's and FX, but I can't say no to Kontakt libraries...I blame the genial 3rd. party devs that I feel compelled to support due to their genius. Take a bow: Synth Magic, Hollow Sun, Tronsonic, Hideaway Studio and Sampletekk!
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- KVRAF
- 10171 posts since 2 Jan, 2005 from somewhere in the woods

"It dreamed itself along"
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- KVRAF
- 21348 posts since 26 Jul, 2005 from Gone
When I first started recording on a PC there were really no third party plugins, but I got away from it for a few years. When I went back to it, the number seemed to be growing at an exponential rate.
At first I installed a ton of free stuff, but as I started buying plugs I started uninstalling more and more of the free ones. After a while I started cutting down even more. Right now I would buy a few more plugins (a good reverb, update a couple of plugins, maybe pitch correction software), but really don't see a need for anything much new.
At first I installed a ton of free stuff, but as I started buying plugs I started uninstalling more and more of the free ones. After a while I started cutting down even more. Right now I would buy a few more plugins (a good reverb, update a couple of plugins, maybe pitch correction software), but really don't see a need for anything much new.
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
- Banned
- 12880 posts since 5 Jun, 2012
No, 950 are more than enough
Seriously, as soon as you have to scroll in your plugin browser, you have too many...
Seriously, as soon as you have to scroll in your plugin browser, you have too many...
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- KVRist
- 108 posts since 4 Sep, 2003 from Holland
Just talking about mixing/mastering plugins at the moment, but I think I have something like 70 plugins, not even counting the stock Cubase plugins. So many EQ's, Compressors, Reverbs and more to chose from, but in the end, it doesn't actually help me.
A lot of the plugins I got during a nice discount, or second hand for cheap, so looking at the amount of money I spend, it's not that bad actually. But I don't need most of it anymore. I should start selling things, but I hate the idea that I can't load older projects anymore so I keep 'm anyway.
When I had to start all over again from zero, this would be my 10 plugins:
UAD API Vision Channel
UAD LA-2A collection
UAD Pultec collection
DMG Audio Equilibrium
Slate Digital VBC
ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom
ValhallaDSP Übermod
u-he Satin
Waves C6 Multiband Compressor
Sonnox Limiter
Somehow I need to squeez TDR Feedback II compressor in their somehow.. and Phoenixverb, and Waves RS56, and... and... oh crap.
A lot of the plugins I got during a nice discount, or second hand for cheap, so looking at the amount of money I spend, it's not that bad actually. But I don't need most of it anymore. I should start selling things, but I hate the idea that I can't load older projects anymore so I keep 'm anyway.
When I had to start all over again from zero, this would be my 10 plugins:
UAD API Vision Channel
UAD LA-2A collection
UAD Pultec collection
DMG Audio Equilibrium
Slate Digital VBC
ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom
ValhallaDSP Übermod
u-he Satin
Waves C6 Multiband Compressor
Sonnox Limiter
Somehow I need to squeez TDR Feedback II compressor in their somehow.. and Phoenixverb, and Waves RS56, and... and... oh crap.
Music... life would be boring without it.
- KVRAF
- 5223 posts since 20 Jul, 2010
Want? Yes.
Need?
.
.
.
.
.
Yes.
Need?
.
.
.
.
.
Yes.
http://sendy.bandcamp.com/releases < My new album at Bandcamp! Now pay what you like!
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- KVRAF
- 4329 posts since 26 Jun, 2004
- KVRian
- 1004 posts since 2 Aug, 2004 from Sweden
When it comes to synths I guess I'm guilty. I've purchased too many of those.
But the fx really for the most part have snuck in more or less uninvited, for example with host, as fx counterparts of synths or as guitar sim effects. The only fx series I've purchased is Toneboosters, otherwise it's special stuff like Vielklang or SFX Machine. A lot of the little "gatecraschers" I've grown to like so I really don't mind, and I've managed to keep it at 270. I know my goto's and have a good structure that both let me work fast while still giving me impulses to try odd things once in a while. That's how I feel now anyway.
But the fx really for the most part have snuck in more or less uninvited, for example with host, as fx counterparts of synths or as guitar sim effects. The only fx series I've purchased is Toneboosters, otherwise it's special stuff like Vielklang or SFX Machine. A lot of the little "gatecraschers" I've grown to like so I really don't mind, and I've managed to keep it at 270. I know my goto's and have a good structure that both let me work fast while still giving me impulses to try odd things once in a while. That's how I feel now anyway.
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do_androids_dream do_androids_dream https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164034
- KVRAF
- 2908 posts since 26 Oct, 2007 from Kent, UK
Once you gain a thorough understanding of the principles behind what most plugins do you realise that you can achieve it with very, very little. Compressors are the one exception imo - they probably have the biggest influence over how something 'sounds' (apart from your mixing decisions themselves ie. how elements of a mix are balanced in relation to one another) and most compressors will offer something slightly different from one another. I have far more compressors in my plugin folder than any other type of plugin (and i only use around 25 plugins in total).
- KVRAF
- 10176 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
The OP clearly doesnt belong here 
- KVRAF
- 5948 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
Do you need 1000 + n plugins? Where n = number of plugins released since the thread started 
... space is the place ...
- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
about 90 percent of the time, as far as compressors and EQ I just use the Vienna Suite things; that was one of the best expenditures I made.
recently I obtained a couple things for free, the opto comp from IK behind having other stuff, and 'SonEQ' which instantly did a lot for what I chose to stick them on. I'm not a big consumer and I don't follow a lot of things here, demoing this that and the other thing... I like the sort of no-brainer workflow I have.
But I did not find the things that came with Cubase to my liking at all, not in one case; so the growth in my own mixing came from having better plugins. If that means I'm not a proper technician, whatever, that isn't too meaningful.
I use a LOT of templates, or really channel sets so I have a variety but building from previous templates ensures a certain sound, I have definitely a sound. It's the same M.O. you'd have to ensure consistency for a TV series, there isn't a lot of time down the drain setting up.
recently I obtained a couple things for free, the opto comp from IK behind having other stuff, and 'SonEQ' which instantly did a lot for what I chose to stick them on. I'm not a big consumer and I don't follow a lot of things here, demoing this that and the other thing... I like the sort of no-brainer workflow I have.
But I did not find the things that came with Cubase to my liking at all, not in one case; so the growth in my own mixing came from having better plugins. If that means I'm not a proper technician, whatever, that isn't too meaningful.
I use a LOT of templates, or really channel sets so I have a variety but building from previous templates ensures a certain sound, I have definitely a sound. It's the same M.O. you'd have to ensure consistency for a TV series, there isn't a lot of time down the drain setting up.
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
The more I have, the more I admire artists like Stephan Remmler who has made his world hit "Da da da" with only ONE (!) synthesizer, the Casio VL-1.
http://www.stephan-remmler.de/Trio/sons ... io_vl1.htm
(German, but you can translate it...)
Okay, the lyrics may be a bit nonsense, but I like the minimalistic approach of them...
http://www.stephan-remmler.de/Trio/sons ... io_vl1.htm
(German, but you can translate it...)
Okay, the lyrics may be a bit nonsense, but I like the minimalistic approach of them...
- KVRAF
- 7795 posts since 20 Jul, 2004 from Clearwater
What you need to do is put what you have into categories... e.g. reverb, delay, compressor, ect. Then, narrow those down to the essentials in each category. Once you do this, do not get anything new unless it does something better and completely covers what the previous option(s) did.
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