KVR Audio

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:39 pm

Let me just start by saying this - I use Ableton and I work well with stock plugins and I am also confident that if I don't get any of the tools mentioned above, I'll be perfectly fine. In fact, I've been using stock plugins all these years.

Wondering why would I want to spend bucks if I work so well with stock? Well, it's because I'm a bit bored of using stock and looking to add a little freshness to my workflow or looking to have some fun with new tools if you will.

Although I'll be honest I'm leaning more towards Slate or PA because of their pocket friendly subscription models. Slate is only $10 for the first six months and then $15 for the rest of the year which is pretty reasonable imo. Plugin Alliance is $15 for the mix and master bundle from the get go, but they end up giving you a voucher after 12 consecutive payments, which is nice.

About FabFilter - I have demo'd them and I absolutely love the stuff, light on the CPU, UI looks great, no complains here. The thing is, I'm not sure if I could ever justify paying $179 for an EQ. After all at the end of the day it's still an EQ no matter how good, and as I said, I can achieve the same results with stock plugins (Ableton has some great ones). So I'm not sure I can justify spending hundreds of dollars in the name of "wanting to have fun with new plugins".

Izotope is another option and I've used their stuff in the past, and it get's pretty CPU heavy. (my projects are sometimes huge and complex). Also not getting into Izotope rn because I'm curious about what they and NI bring to the table together.

So really it's a confusion between PA & Slate Digital. I can't get both haha or else I would. Heck, I'd probably buy tons of plugins if I had the means too, after all it's fun to play with new tools.

So thank you if you've read so far haha. If you still have the question "what do you really need?"

Answer: Well, I don't need anything at all. Just want to have some fun with new plugins and I would like to pick one between PA or Slate Digital. Ofcourse I would still use them to in my projects (regardless if I'm trying to have fun or not lol).

At the moment I'm more inclined towards companies that are still coming up with new plugins and not just remaking emulations all the time. If a third company comes to mind, feel free to share.

El°HYM · Post by **El°HYM** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:42 pm

If you're bored and looking for new Bundle... you could also check out the Melda subscription?

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:52 pm

El°HYM wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:42 pm If you're bored and looking for new Bundle... you could also check out the Melda subscription?

Thanks for the suggestion but, I don't think I want to do that. As good as their plugins might be, I don't think I can keep up with the GUIs.

El°HYM · Post by **El°HYM** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:03 pm

Its a Love & Hate thing with those, true. You are aware that Kush Audio is also offering a subscription - model? https://thehouseofkush.com

4damind · Post by **4damind** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 8:55 pm

It's the mix that makes it.
Slate has cool stuff that works well like the Mixrack or VBC/VTM. PA has a lot of well known big brands (SPL, Elysia, Shadow Hill, Lindell,...) and some of them like Lindell 80 are IMO better than Slate Digital (FG-N/Neve).
Fabfilter has nothing in this area, but very good working tools like EQs, limiters etc.. But not everyone necessarily needs Fabfilter as many already have good EQs, limiters and compressors.

adl · Post by **adl** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:06 pm

I'd say go with Slate subscription and snatch some of the PA plugin second hand or cheap during their sales.

Dasheesh · Post by **Dasheesh** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:24 pm

El°HYM wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:03 pm Its a Love & Hate thing with those, true. You are aware that Kush Audio is also offering a subscription - model? https://thehouseofkush.com

if you are going that route, you should at least be looking at kush.

i do PA, because of the hardcore lock out with slate, and really, i just found the whole slate thing to be a bit arrogant (so some of it is a pride thing). but, i have been buying individual PA licenses for quite a while on the cheap, and they are still in my folder. better the waves (which got deleted).

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:29 pm

El°HYM wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:03 pm Its a Love & Hate thing with those, true. You are aware that Kush Audio is also offering a subscription - model? https://thehouseofkush.com

Yeah I did check them out, al though I did find PA more interesting due to the vast variety and also some of the SPL, Bettermaker stuff really interests me.

Dasheesh · Post by **Dasheesh** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:31 pm

go directly to unfiltered audio, and do not pass go, and do not collect 200$.

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:36 pm

4damind wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 8:55 pm It's the mix that makes it.
Slate has cool stuff that works well like the Mixrack or VBC/VTM. PA has a lot of well known big brands (SPL, Elysia, Shadow Hill, Lindell,...) and some of them like Lindell 80 are IMO better than Slate Digital (FG-N/Neve).
Fabfilter has nothing in this area, but very good working tools like EQs, limiters etc.. But not everyone necessarily needs Fabfilter as many already have good EQs, limiters and compressors.

Yep, it is kinda the mix that makes it. I like the slate UIs a bit more I guess (for some of the stuff at least). But I don't want to load up the VMR each and every time just to add a compressor. So if I have 10 tracks that need compression, I end up loading VMR 10 times. Seems a bit too much. Also, I read a lot about Slate Digital as a company (not just the software) and I'm leaning more towards PA at this point.

As for Fabfilter - agreed, Ableton stock plugins would do just as fine in this case imo. Clean digital stuff. Yes, Fabfilter might be somewhat more versatile with extra loaded features in single plugins, but eventually it's the same digital stuff for me, that I already get with the DAW. Although I have to say, Fabfilter do have beautiful GUIs and despite of that, they handle CPU very well.

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:37 pm

Dasheesh wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:24 pm
El°HYM wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:03 pm Its a Love & Hate thing with those, true. You are aware that Kush Audio is also offering a subscription - model? https://thehouseofkush.com

if you are going that route, you should at least be looking at kush.

i do PA, because of the hardcore lock out with slate, and really, i just found the whole slate thing to be a bit arrogant (so some of it is a pride thing). but, i have been buying individual PA licenses for quite a while on the cheap, and they are still in my folder. better the waves (which got deleted).

exactly how I'm feeling right now. Slate is out of the picture I guess, lol.

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:39 pm

Dasheesh wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:31 pm go directly to unfiltered audio, and do not pass go, and do not collect 200$.

but I want that voucher haha.

Dasheesh · Post by **Dasheesh** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:39 pm

fab filter may have a fab filter, but it compresses entirely too much for anything but standard edm. almost unusable. DMG is twice as nice.

musicproducerdee · Post by **musicproducerdee** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:43 pm

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I've finally decided to go with PA. Will subscribe to the bundle for a bit and try out the plugins extensively in my actual productions to figure out the ones I like and benefit from, then will go from there eventually to buy the license on sale or maybe here at KVR haha.

Dasheesh · Post by **Dasheesh** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:45 pm

the nicest thing about PA is the install manager. it works, and is about as light as it gets. hope you bust some tunes.

Suggestions to choose between Slate Digital vs Plugin Alliance vs Fabfilter