KVR Audio

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:12 pm

Oh, what's this, ghettosynth, renowned "best of" thread hater is starting a best of thread?

That's right, but this isn't your grandmas best of thread. You can't just list anything, well you can. but I'll ignore silly posts that don't play by the rules. Proper players get their suggestions promoted to the top post.

So fair warning, I'm actually going to buy products from this list, so this is SERIOUS BIZNIZ!

Now, on to the rules, but first some background.

As some of you know, I love my iLoks and my eLicensers. They allow for really easy installs. That said, they typically only allow for at most 2 authorizations and sometimes only 1. That's ok for the most part, but sometimes I need something that can be installed and used at the drop of a hat and without any hassle regarding authorization. Also, now that I have three computers in my studio I also need a set of tools that is always installed on all three. So, to make this top list, the plugin must allow the software to be practically installed on many computers. I'm not talking about legal restrictions here. For example, NI makes the list even though there is a legal limit to the number of computers you can install the software on. If you have to change machines quickly, NI doesn't bat an eye about a reinstall.

Software that doesn't show you a count, but that is well known for being sticklers about the count, e.g. Ableton, do not make the list. The upshot of this list is that it must be a no-hassle collection of software to install quickly or temporarily on a new machine without concern that it will upset my regular music machines.

So this list cannot include any iLok software, any eLicenser software, no C/R that counts authorizations in a practically meaningful way. It doesn't matter if the count is generous, i.e., Arturia/IK, if they're counted and that count is either visible or frequently acted upon, the vendor is excluded. Cost doesn't matter, so free counts, but quality does and, sorry, I'm going to just reject anything that I think isn't quite there. Feel free to try and change my mind.

All software recommended MUST be cross platform (Mac/PC) and MUST be 64 bit. If it's available in 32 bit (or Linux), that's fine, but I don't care.

Please don't recommend sample libraries or soundsets, those are not where the challenge lies.

So beyond populating my third machine with software that I can run on all of my machines, I hope that this list provides a good starting point for people looking for software that has fewer restrictions in terms of installation.

1) Note: I've edited the list to avoid too much repetition. If it's a vendor's general policy they will simply appear in this first list.

2) I'm editing the list to indicate the number of machines that the software may be installed on according to the license agreement...on edit...no I'm not, I'm just going to remove any vendor who feels the need to comment on their license agreement. We're all adults, we can all read. This list is not meant to include ALL such software, as the title states, it's the Best of that software.

DAWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reaper
MuLAB

Plugins
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2C-Audio
Audio Damage
Audiority
Blue Cat Audio
Fabfilter
Kazrog
Klanghelm
Klevgrand
Madrona Labs
Melda
NI
Ohm Force
Plogue
Sugar Bytes
Sknote
Sonic Charge
TAL
Toneboosters
Tokyo Dawn Labs
Tritik
Uhe
Waldorf

Individual Plugins
---------------------
Valhalla
Reverberate 2 by liquidsonics

Utility
-----------------------------------------------------
Orban Loudness Meter
MUX

Boone777 · Post by **Boone777** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:38 pm

I think those companies fit the bill:

Tokyo Dawn labs
Melda
Klanghelm
Kazrog
Valhalla
Hornet
Sknote

I'm always on the lookout for those companies that make my life easy although I own bunch of other I encourage those first if possible. Not sure if it's good for you Plugin Alliance allows 3 installs and is quick to change wich computers.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:45 pm

Valhalla, Sonic Charge, Waldorf, TAL, Sugar Bytes, Audio Damage, Ohm Force, Madrona Labs, Fabfilter
All of the above use simple serial numbers, no online activation. Audio Damage even dropped the serial.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:47 pm

Boone777 wrote:I think those companies fit the bill:

Tokyo Dawn labs
Melda
Klanghelm
Kazrog
Valhalla
Hornet
Sknote

I'm always on the lookout for those companies that make my life easy although I own bunch of other I encourage those first if possible. Not sure if it's good for you Plugin Alliance allows 3 installs and is quick to change wich computers.

Right, I like PA and they're one of my solutions for my own particular problem at the moment, but, I'm excluding them because they count installs. I want to make this a shorter list of companies that put greater trust in their customers either through minimal license restrictions or practically minimal license restrictions. Thanks for the list, I'll add each of them explicitly. That's the problem, even though I know that those firms work that way, when try to actually think of these companies, they don't all come to mind. So, despite my dislike of "best of" lists, it's only when they're an unfocused free-for-all. I actually like lists like this that have a specific focus and are intended to provide a resource for that particular focus.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:54 pm

T-CM11 wrote:Valhalla, Sonic Charge, Waldorf, TAL, Sugar Bytes, Audio Damage, Ohm Force, Madrona Labs, Fabfilter
All of the above use simple serial numbers, no online activation. Audio Damage even dropped the serial.

WoW, really, Fabfilter and Waldorf just use serial numbers? I confess, I did not know that but that's probably the main reason that I wanted to put this list together.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:04 pm

ghettosynth wrote:DAWs
-----------------------------------------------------
Reaper

FL Studio!

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:06 pm

T-CM11 wrote:
ghettosynth wrote:DAWs
-----------------------------------------------------
Reaper

FL Studio!

Is it cross platform and 64 bit?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:19 pm

ghettosynth wrote:
T-CM11 wrote:
ghettosynth wrote:DAWs
-----------------------------------------------------
Reaper

FL Studio!
Is it cross platform and 64 bit?

64 bit for sure, and there's a Mac version in Public Beta.

V0RT3X · Post by **V0RT3X** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:21 pm

ghettosynth wrote:
T-CM11 wrote:Valhalla, Sonic Charge, Waldorf, TAL, Sugar Bytes, Audio Damage, Ohm Force, Madrona Labs, Fabfilter
All of the above use simple serial numbers, no online activation. Audio Damage even dropped the serial.
WoW, really, Fabfilter and Waldorf just use serial numbers? I confess, I did not know that but that's probably the main reason that I wanted to put this list together.

Waldorf used to use e-licencer, but they dropped that and now just use plain old serial codes. You no longer need any form of E-licencer software.

V0RT3X · Post by **V0RT3X** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:23 pm

D16 used to use a simple Keyfile for most of their plugins, I'm not sure if it's still the same or not. They didn't care how many computers you installed to and the software didn't phone home to check.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:27 pm

V0RT3X wrote:D16 used to use a simple Keyfile for most of their plugins, I'm not sure if it's still the same or not. They didn't care how many computers you installed to and the software didn't phone home to check.

The old Silverline effects still use simple serials, but the V2 ones switched to some form of online activation (downloading a keyfile that only works for 72 hours).

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:46 pm

T-CM11 wrote:
V0RT3X wrote:D16 used to use a simple Keyfile for most of their plugins, I'm not sure if it's still the same or not. They didn't care how many computers you installed to and the software didn't phone home to check.
The old Silverline effects still use simple serials, but the V2 ones switched to some form of online activation (downloading a keyfile that only works for 72 hours).

Which ones are the "old Silverline" effects?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:50 pm

ghettosynth wrote: Which ones are the "old Silverline" effects?

The only V1 ones you can still buy: Syntorus, Redoptor, Fazortan
I'm not sure about Antresol, I don't have that one.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:53 pm

MuLab&MUX by MuTools
http://www.mutools.com/

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:57 am

I removed FL from the list for the time being, consensus seems to be that the beta is more alpha than beta at this point. I'm looking for stable software. I'm even reluctant to include MuLAB, and I own it, because it has a way to go yet in terms of being useful for me.

Does Bidule use a serial? I suppose I can look it up but I'd rather get confirmation from someone who owns it.

T-CM11 wrote:
ghettosynth wrote: Which ones are the "old Silverline" effects?
The only V1 ones you can still buy: Syntorus, Redoptor, Fazortan
I'm not sure about Antresol, I don't have that one.

Thanks, I'll add these under the specifics list.

Best software (DAW, fx plugins, instrument plugins) for unrestricted install