Standards (Software Instruments) in music production for producers, songwriters and composers

[Starbright]

Ok, first of all it's great to see KVR back online and stable.
So lately I have gotten the opportunity to enhance my collection with Omnisphere 3 (fantastic, I love it).
And I realized that I can delete a lot of junk that I've bought or gotten free over the years (aka a lot of waves plugins or united plugins stuff etc.).
And I wish that in the past I would have had a better overview on what to get first and what just wasn't worth it (also WA Production). If count backwards I've spent close to 1k-1,5k on the wrong tools so I compiled a list of synths and samplers that I've seen here in KVR and used myself for a tiny list. Maybe you have some additions too
- Decent Sampler and Vital (I think when it comes to free stuff, for sounds and versatillity they are just outmtching everything else for beginners or as standards)
- The Instrument by Splice (only second due to being sometimes too quiet and with the new layout a bit too cluncky)
- Xpand!2 (one sale it's really cheap and it's superlight on older and newer cpu's and has all of you general midi sounds and more for your production)
- Dexed and Surge XT (more difficult for sound design but unbeatable freebies)
- Komplete Standard (it's just great and Kontakt and Reaktor have an mazing ecosytems in free sounds and instruments built around them)
- Serum 2 (I'm still paying it off but all the possibilities and sounds that you can make or the prests you can get - amazing)
- Omnisphere 3 (just so damn powerful and the mutator or sound matching feature is just amazing)
- Diva and Zebra by u-he (they are just so lovely, but only after Omnisphere due to their useabillity being more "restricted" in everyday production)Phaseplant and Falcon (both are powerhouses but way more cpu intensive, also Omnispheres mapping feature makes it a tiny bit more enjoyable - but these 2 are f***ing beasts)
- Slate Drums (they are cheap on sales and have some great sounds, although everybody uses them, they've become a clichee, but a standard nonetheless)
- EZ Drummer/Supperior Drummer (more expensive than SSD5, but even more powerful)
- Arturia V Collection/Analog Labs (great emulations, yet a bit more heavy on the cpu)
EastWest/Roland Cloud (in oppinion the only subscriptions pricewise that are great and give you great options for Retro and Filmmusic)
- Pianoteq (a really interesting piano modeling plugin, but since Komplete and Pianobook allready have amazing pianos, a little bit more for nerds)Keyscape (great addition to Omnisphere 3, but not neccessarily needed - but great to have)
- Spire (and maybe Nexus)
- Output (controversial and mostly redundant, due to NI, but nontheless a wide known standard in loops playing instruments)
disclaimer: this is just my opinion, if you disagree write it down below (or if you have suggestions

[mixyguy2]

? What does this have to do with standards in music production?

[Starbright]

? What does this have to do with standards in music production?

Standards in terms of quality and useability, instruments that everybody uses (more or less) or tools that aim to do the same process/workflow. Basic instruments, especially younger producers should have a look at.
Like havig at least used an SM58 or SM57 as a singer or producer.
Or even like Pro Tools (I know hot take) which set the standard in terms of "here's the basic line" like audio workflow, stabillity. Which does not mean that I endorse Pro Tools (actually I don't like it at all). But still then if you book a studio chances are that knowing Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase or Ableton comes in handy.

[mixyguy2]

Oh, so "standard" meaning "this is so good, it should be part of your 'standard' (commonly used) stuff?" OK, got it, thx.

That said, most DAWs and plugins don't use the same process/workflow, although there are some common elements that are often present. People need to try out as much as possible IMO so they can see which workflows work for them. That's esp important with a DAW.

There are various other threads where people list their fav this or that though, so I'll defer to those...

[NWSM]

And I wish that in the past I would have had a better overview on what to get first and what just wasn't worth it (also WA Production). If count backwards I've spent close to 1k-1,5k on the wrong tools so I compiled a list of synths and samplers that I've seen here in KVR and used myself for a tiny list.

You reflect on improving your music production setup after getting Omnisphere 3 and realizing that much of their previously bought software was unnecessary. You share a list of plugins and instruments that you consider valuable or essential, especially for beginners, and invite others to suggest additions. Overall, you Thread emphasizes focusing on quality over quantity and learning from past spending mistakes.

Well the Basics in Soundsynthesis you can learn with Free Plugins and you should like VCV Rack, Vital, Charlatan, SurgeXT, Dexed, Free LABS by Spitfire Audio as another great free option with some natural sounds. Sample Packs. Try to have less than 500 very different Sounds.

Choosing the right DAW is basically testing, watching Videos and try to understand. Ask your Questions. With Ableton or Bitwig or FL Studio you can do nearly anything.
Or you like Tracker DAW (Renoise) and Modular (Bespoke).

For Notation Software/ Plugins you need to search for.

Later you can look into paid Plugins (DIVA) or and Modular Stuff (Zebra, Paid VCV).
All in One / One and Only (well, if you want to build any Sound with it you need more instances what can eat CPU, so think about a solid Sample Library)

Complete Synth:
- Falcon
- VCV
- Omnisphere
- Pigments
- Serum 2

Multieffects:
- Shaperbox
- Turnado
- Infiltrator
- (or free Alternative Tilr - Gate12, Time12, filtr, reevr,)

Get into the Bubble and have fun.

[hakaru]

Solid recommendations. I'd add that for anyone interested in FM synthesis specifically, Dexed + the thousands of free DX7 SysEx banks floating around online is an insane amount of content for $0. You can literally load original Yamaha factory patches from the 80s.

FM has a steep learning curve but once you understand how operators and algorithms interact, it opens up sounds you just can't get with subtractive synthesis.

[Starbright]

Solid recommendations. I'd add that for anyone interested in FM synthesis specifically, Dexed + the thousands of free DX7 SysEx banks floating around online is an insane amount of content for $0. You can literally load original Yamaha factory patches from the 80s.

FM has a steep learning curve but once you understand how operators and algorithms interact, it opens up sounds you just can't get with subtractive synthesis.

Thanks, I will add it to the last. I really forgot about that one and Surge XT. I normally don't recomend both of them as learning synths, but their sounds are amazing!

[DCrown]

After several years of itb production I frankly speaking need 4 instrument plugins and one plugin effects bundle.

Xpand2, Dexed and AVENGER and for drums Atlas plus Waves Horizon, that's it - my most used plugins.

My Yamaha S90 covers the rest I would need (my fav all purpose synth).