So I went and downloaded a bunch of stuff, courtesy of this giveaway: https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2020/1 ... -download/
And while, yes, I could go through installing every plugin to see what the differences are ...
Could someone let me know how the CM versions of instruments and effects, etc., compare?
Thanks!
CM versions in comparison to standard versions
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- KVRAF
- 2391 posts since 10 Jul, 2006 from Tampa
In general, the Computer Music versions have something disabled or somehow restricted in them. If the plug-in is an instrument, it might not have as many voices (or waveforms for each voice), or it might be missing the effects section, or something like that. If the plug-in is an effect, it will be similarly cut-down. And presets that you might buy for the full version of the plug-in almost certainly won't work in the CM version.
Another difference is that almost none of the CM versions of the plug-ins are updated, and if they are, the newer version may not be included in CM's latest .ZIP file collection; it may be on the developer's site. (I confirmed this with CM, and in the 8 years I've been trying some of these, I've only seen one updated.)
That's in general. In some cases, the CM version is the same as the full version. For example, when CM gave away IKMM's "Black 76" and "White 2A" compressors, these were the latest, full versions, and they've since been updated by IKMM. (Of course, this was easy enough for IKMM to do, since they were actually the retail versions of the plug-ins.)
But overall, the plug-ins are pretty good and fairly useful, and this is nice of CM to do.
Steve
Another difference is that almost none of the CM versions of the plug-ins are updated, and if they are, the newer version may not be included in CM's latest .ZIP file collection; it may be on the developer's site. (I confirmed this with CM, and in the 8 years I've been trying some of these, I've only seen one updated.)
That's in general. In some cases, the CM version is the same as the full version. For example, when CM gave away IKMM's "Black 76" and "White 2A" compressors, these were the latest, full versions, and they've since been updated by IKMM. (Of course, this was easy enough for IKMM to do, since they were actually the retail versions of the plug-ins.)
But overall, the plug-ins are pretty good and fairly useful, and this is nice of CM to do.
Steve
Here's some of my stuff: https://soundcloud.com/shadowsoflife. If you hear something you like, I'm looking for collaborators.
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- KVRAF
- 35671 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Most are pretty limited. There's some which offer the full functionality, like Scope. Needs a bit of research to figure out which are stripped off versions, and which are full versions.
The best and least stripped IMO are: VPS Scope (full version), Dune CM (only the fx's, and one page of the modulation matrix aren't present on that one), Bazille CM (limited version, but, definitely usable), Thorn CM (same as Bazille), Kirnu Cream CM (limited features, but, usable as well), TB-Barricade CM (hardly limited, a couple of features missing), D16 Frontier (full version), VPC Philta (full version, I think), Sonimus Satson CM, RP-Distort CM, Cableguys Waveshaper CM (all lmited versions).
Of course, I haven't tried everything in there, but, those were the ones which were decent for me.
The best and least stripped IMO are: VPS Scope (full version), Dune CM (only the fx's, and one page of the modulation matrix aren't present on that one), Bazille CM (limited version, but, definitely usable), Thorn CM (same as Bazille), Kirnu Cream CM (limited features, but, usable as well), TB-Barricade CM (hardly limited, a couple of features missing), D16 Frontier (full version), VPC Philta (full version, I think), Sonimus Satson CM, RP-Distort CM, Cableguys Waveshaper CM (all lmited versions).
Of course, I haven't tried everything in there, but, those were the ones which were decent for me.
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- KVRAF
- 8100 posts since 13 Jan, 2003 from Darkest Kent, UK
DS ThornCm has two oscillators (full = three) and cut down effect section. Still sounds great though so could be all you need.
Is AaltoCM still in the bundle? That's a monophonic version of the full version but a lot of the patches don't benefit from polyphony so may be fine again (though some do benefit from the extra voices for sure and not just in a polyphonic way)
BazilleCM halves most things, oscillators, filters etc but, again..., great for free/magware.
DuneCM is Dune1 but lacking the effects and only one mod matrix page (two in full)
As for effects, cmDelay is a great day-to-day delay, I think it lacks the ducking of the full version but not much else.
Kuassaa AmplifikationCM 2 is (I'm told...) the fender twin-alike channel from the Vermillion amp sim without tram or reverb, extremely usable for clean/ish sounds.
Also Photosounders Spiral is pretty cool, helps you visualise what's going on in a mix harmonically (and identify notes in a riff if you're tone deaf like me
)
Is AaltoCM still in the bundle? That's a monophonic version of the full version but a lot of the patches don't benefit from polyphony so may be fine again (though some do benefit from the extra voices for sure and not just in a polyphonic way)
BazilleCM halves most things, oscillators, filters etc but, again..., great for free/magware.
DuneCM is Dune1 but lacking the effects and only one mod matrix page (two in full)
As for effects, cmDelay is a great day-to-day delay, I think it lacks the ducking of the full version but not much else.
Kuassaa AmplifikationCM 2 is (I'm told...) the fender twin-alike channel from the Vermillion amp sim without tram or reverb, extremely usable for clean/ish sounds.
Also Photosounders Spiral is pretty cool, helps you visualise what's going on in a mix harmonically (and identify notes in a riff if you're tone deaf like me
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- KVRAF
- 10129 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Freestyle
Has all the features of the full version with the exception it will only load plugins from the CM suite.
Which is hardly a limitation!
Has all the features of the full version with the exception it will only load plugins from the CM suite.
Which is hardly a limitation!
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- KVRAF
- 2110 posts since 5 Oct, 2015 from Swedish / Living in Hong Kong
I also downloaded this free bundle and I was positively surprised. Instead of focusing what's missing compared to full versions I focus on what these free plugs can bring to the table. Vice One compressor and VPS scope are 2 examples that I really liked.
Win 10 -64bit, CPU i7-7700K, 32Gb, Focusrite 2i2, FL-studio 20, Studio One 4, Reason 10
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Winstontaneous Winstontaneous https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98336
- KVRAF
- 2591 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Another Green World
Some great stuff in there - don't know if they still have it, but a 1-voice Madrona Aalto is one of the best they've had.
The CMs plugs are a good gateway drug - Somimus Satson, Acon Verberate, and Liquidsonics Reverberate CM plugins inspired me to buy the full versions.
The CMs plugs are a good gateway drug - Somimus Satson, Acon Verberate, and Liquidsonics Reverberate CM plugins inspired me to buy the full versions.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
There's more than enough in there for any beginner. Their Thorn, bazille & curve2 are great synths.
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- KVRAF
- 2391 posts since 10 Jul, 2006 from Tampa
Yes, Curve2 is quite good. And Curve is one of the few that actually gets updated. In fact, there's a newer version than what CM includes on the Cableguys site. (It's been there since November, 2016. Who knows why CM couldn't be bothered to include it in the last four years....)
However, the Dune CM and Thorn CM are still version 1.0.0, and some of the plug-ins (like Rob Papen's RG-Muted and KV331's SynthMaster are from 2012.
And I agree that these can be "gateway drugs" to the full versions. But Zebra, Dune and many other instruments and effects weren't always stable in their "v.1.0" incarnations. It just seems to me that a few updates wouldn't kill the developers if they're trying to woo new users. After all, would you want potential customers basing their purchase decision on an eight-year-old version of your flagship product? Fortunately, some of the plug-ins have new demos you can try, but some of those demos overwrite the CM version of the plug-in.
Still, these are fairly useful instruments and effects in their own right, and it's nice that CM offers them.
Steve
However, the Dune CM and Thorn CM are still version 1.0.0, and some of the plug-ins (like Rob Papen's RG-Muted and KV331's SynthMaster are from 2012.
And I agree that these can be "gateway drugs" to the full versions. But Zebra, Dune and many other instruments and effects weren't always stable in their "v.1.0" incarnations. It just seems to me that a few updates wouldn't kill the developers if they're trying to woo new users. After all, would you want potential customers basing their purchase decision on an eight-year-old version of your flagship product? Fortunately, some of the plug-ins have new demos you can try, but some of those demos overwrite the CM version of the plug-in.
Still, these are fairly useful instruments and effects in their own right, and it's nice that CM offers them.
Steve
Here's some of my stuff: https://soundcloud.com/shadowsoflife. If you hear something you like, I'm looking for collaborators.
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- KVRAF
- 3374 posts since 2 Oct, 2004
Yes correct except for Cableguys Waveshaper CM. AFAIK it is the full version and is exclusive to the magazine. Would have been great if they included waveshaping module in Shaperbox but there isn't.chk071 wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:54 pm Most are pretty limited. There's some which offer the full functionality, like Scope. Needs a bit of research to figure out which are stripped off versions, and which are full versions.
The best and least stripped IMO are: VPS Scope (full version), Dune CM (only the fx's, and one page of the modulation matrix aren't present on that one), Bazille CM (limited version, but, definitely usable), Thorn CM (same as Bazille), Kirnu Cream CM (limited features, but, usable as well), TB-Barricade CM (hardly limited, a couple of features missing), D16 Frontier (full version), VPC Philta (full version, I think), Sonimus Satson CM, RP-Distort CM, Cableguys Waveshaper CM (all lmited versions).
Of course, I haven't tried everything in there, but, those were the ones which were decent for me.
Orion Platinum, Muzys 2
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- KVRAF
- 3374 posts since 2 Oct, 2004
Is there a link to the newer version of Curve2 CM?planetearth wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2020 7:40 am Yes, Curve2 is quite good. And Curve is one of the few that actually gets updated. In fact, there's a newer version than what CM includes on the Cableguys site. (It's been there since November, 2016. Who knows why CM couldn't be bothered to include it in the last four years....)
Orion Platinum, Muzys 2
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- KVRian
- 939 posts since 31 May, 2017
There are some great CM plugins and even thought they may be missing a feature or two they are still very useful. But there is one maybe unforeseen drawback to relying on them too much. That is that they are never updated and in most cases there is no upgrade path to the full version. So down the line when you upgrade your OS or get a new computer, you may lose some of them. Just something to think about.