What makes a plugin "dated"?

[mjolnir]

Some of the dated sounds are the new foundations of brand new (partially retro) subgenres.
I even heard a reboot of a "hoover" sound, many years after the "dominator" debut.
A more obvious reboot is in vaporwave and synthwave. Although, those genres are already getting old

[VOODOO U]

So many reason to still use something like this nowadays as there's nothing like it anymore...

If you can bang out a tune that can be played in a dance club of say, 500 people, using this VirSyn app then more power to you.
Maybe one day it was capable and that's fine but these days you better bump.it up a notch if you want to get past the bedroom tweaker making chiptunes and ring tones.

[Ah_Dziz]

Aside from technical issues (no version compatible with current OSs), it generally comes down to people leaning too hard on presets and compositional trends too heavily. Then there's "dated" mixing and processing tricks. Autotune being a big example. Trap drums Heavily lowpass filtered is another. Supersaws....... None of these things are related to the plugins being used more than they are related to a specific "sound" that people are going for. Just Like Gated reverb on the drums was a huge part of the sound of the 80s/ early 90s and using that technique now gives a "dated" sound.

[Vortifex]

I usually use it in relation to the GUI. Like everything Rob Papen makes, for example.

[Dust_NL]

Ofcourse, as you already mentioned, datet specs leads to an unusable plugin.

Aside from that, I think people tend to always want somerhing new, talk themself into ‘needing’ another plugin and therefore become ‘sponsors’ of developers. While they always used the ‘dated’ plugin for almost all previous productions.

Therefore, I think a plugin really becomes dated FOR YOU when you almost never reach for it in any of your productions of always pick something else first.

In the past few years, I bought too much. Too much, because I’ve bought many plugins of the same type to a point that I couldn’t easily find the one which I needed. Nowadays, I noticed that I mostly reach for the same plugins everytime (eg. Diva for a synth, Distressor for compression, Neutron/Ozone for EQ, etc.)

So basically, all my unused plugins became ‘dated’.

[mjolnir]

today's "dated" items become tomorrows classic antiques.
really, EVERYTHING is dated or nothing is.
if you live long enough, you'll see it too.

[RunBeerRun]

The only unusable plugins are 64 bit and vst3. It's a crippleware format made by companies of machines, not people who give away free licenses, and are not legal businesses.

[eLawnMust]

Yup, More unstable I guess some don't mind that aspect, I think it sucks... What's unbelievable is the still in progress debate... Hell Synth1 & Green Oak Crystal hail from 2002 yet still highly touted (by me as well) in current times everybody still using them, billions of presets set adrift... Most even nowadays still can't believe they are free... More usable sounds & much less harsh & overbearing than say, serum....

[Sound_Bear]

Quick ask-around: who of you still uses 32-bit plugins (VST2 or VST3; effects or synths) or even 32-bit hosts? I already know some do, but am curious if the crowd might be larger than expected.

Personally, I use it a lot and am grateful some companies like Cockos and Blue Cat are still keeping it up so I can combine old and new projects without much hassle.

[eLawnMust]

All I use is 32bits... Never a better time to stick with 32bits since those 'advancing' to 64 bits letting go free their 'legacy' 32bits creations... All I can say is everybody go 64 so I can grab ALL the 32s...

Even on my 64bit systems I still use 32bit DAWs so I can use 32bit plugs in them without any of that 'bridging' nonsense...

Here's another great oldie Arguru's Voyager, fitting to run it inside Aodix, what a powerhouse>>>

[audiojunkie]

Quick ask-around: who of you still uses 32-bit plugins (VST2 or VST3; effects or synths) or even 32-bit hosts? I already know some do, but am curious if the crowd might be larger than expected.

Personally, I use it a lot and am grateful some companies like Cockos and Blue Cat are still keeping it up so I can combine old and new projects without much hassle.

I don't, but I would like to do this for a couple of very special synths. For example, SQ8L

[gentleclockdivider]

Second that , sq8l is the only 32bit plug worth keeping .
An absolute marvel of a plug , light on the cpu and what a sound !!

[robisme]

What's the hype about 32 bit version?

[DCrown]

When it's starts getting rusty. You could use some rust remover spray, but be careful not to damage your computer screen.

[RirtualViot2013]

Things that make a plugin "dated" as of 2025:

- it has a VST2 but not a VST3 version
- it exists in 32 Bit but not 64 Bit
- it has not received support updates in a long time
- it has been installed a long time ago on your computer
- it has been uninstalled a long time ago on your computer
- it has been uninstalled recently on your computer