Focusrite Plugin Collective

[ghettosynth]

FFS, in Firefox I get the message "Recaptcha has failed". When I then try and create the account using Edge it tells me "the email is already taken"

Our latest Plug-in Collective community giveaway is a stunning convolution-based vintage channel strip emulation from acclaimed Italian developer Acustica Audio.

Between March 25th and May 27th 2021 (4pm GMT), all Plug-in Collective members can download Cream2 – which normally retails for €199 – for free.

nice offer but the Acustica Audio signup process is broken - keeps asking for recaptcha but there is none

Yeah, I've tried a few times and it has never worked.

These are known issues with Acustica's signup process. If you contact the dev, he'll sort it out for you.

As I said, I believe that I did and never heard back. However, I may just have encountered the customer unfriendly messages mentioned above and decided not to bother.

Unfortunately, once you then try to deal with the installer, the installation process, and the fairly huge footprint the plug-in requires (both on your hard drive and in CPU usage), you may wonder why you bothered.

Acustica plug-ins are hotly debated here and on other sites, between those who swear by them and those who have trouble using more than a couple of instances of any of their plug-ins. If you keep in mind that they're "convolution-based" plug-ins (even for things like EQ and channel strips), and that even switching screens within a plug-in can seem to take time, then you'll probably be fine.

Sure, I was prepared for that. In fact, I wanted to experiment with the because of the technology involved. I haven't tried in a while. So with the focusrite thing I'll give them another go on my mac and see if it works this time.

[Teksonik]

I really have no idea what you're on about. As I mentioned, most software comes with libraries which install DLL's to system folder. It's totally normal.

I have 536 plugins on my studio computer and it doesn't even have ippcore 8.0 or 7.0 installed on it. So why Acustica thinks it needs to install the file for a simple EQ tells me all I need to know about their impulse response based cpu hog plugins. Check out the install folder of an Acustica plugin. There is a load of bloat in there not needed by any other plugins and in the end....they're not really very good plugins in my opinion. I've tried several free ones over the years since Nebula and have always come to the same conclusion.

Yes some software installs .dll's and VST 2 plugins are .dll files. Plugins install files all over the place for presets, skins etc. Melda installs every preset and support file for every one of his many plugins even if you only install one. Hundreds and hundreds of files you don't need. Why? Because it's easier for him.

Yes Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables are sometimes installed by plugins but most simple plugins do not.

You make it sound like every simple EQ plugin out there needs to write to the Windows folders. No, they do not.

But yea it's your computer. Please feel free to abuse it any way you like. That's why I have this test computer so I can weed out the crap plugins and only move the best ones to my studio computer.

[ghettosynth]

You make it sound like every simple EQ plugin out there needs to write to the Windows folders. No, they do not.

Yea, I agree. This is a factor in whether I want something as well. I'm not sure that I'm happy switching back to the mac just for all of the permission granting nonsense. Yes, I understand why, but I still find it irritating.

[sqigls]

anyone need a code? i won't use it
gone

[dermage]

ippcore seems like the redistributable from the Intel compiler.
Most people compile on Microsoft Visual Studio, so Intel is not often installed.

[GusGranite]

I will gratefully receive a code if anyone isn’t using theirs. Thanks!

[Cancel Culture Club]

There is no way a simple plugin needs to write to the System 32 folder. None.

IMPORTANT: Acustica Audio cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from any error or omission in this manual."

I'd like to think Acustica Audio is an honest company, but it still sends out a red flag.

I really don't like any company trying to install anything into my Windows directory other then Microsoft or being prompted first.

[Spring Goose]

--

[courtjestr]

I have 536 plugins on my studio computer and it doesn't even have ippcore 8.0 or 7.0 installed on it. So why Acustica thinks it needs to install the file for a simple EQ tells me all I need to know about their impulse response based cpu hog plugins.

You make it sound like every simple EQ plugin out there needs to write to the Windows folders. No, they do not.

Where are you guys getting the idea that this is a simple EQ? From the Acustica website:

CREAM2 is a VST/AAX/AU plugin suite composed of several modules based on an iconic series of hand-built British vacuum tubes and transistor-based solid-state hardware made between the late '50s and the early '70s. Due to the rare historic topology and components used in the original hardware, Cream offers a unique tone that stands out for its incredible warmth and tonal richness.

It has preamp, eq and compression modules. Doesn't sound like a bloody simple EQ to me. And ippcore-8 is an Intel library that Intel recommends be installed in system32. From the IPP documentation:

On Microsoft Windows*, the system PATH variable holds a list of folder locations that is searched for executable files. When the application is invoked, the Intel® IPP DLLs need to be located in a folder that is listed in the PATH variable. Choose a location for the Intel® IPP DLLs and custom DLLs on the target system so that the application can easily find them. Possible distribution locations include %SystemDrive%/WINDOWS\system32, the application folder or any other folder on the target system.

Do your research before you spout off garbage...

[Zaphod (giancarlo)]

Every second plugin uses libraries which put stuff in System32. It's really pretty common, and nothing which should alert you.

No they don't and no they shouldn't. That's why my security suite stopped it from writing to the System 32 folder.

This is for a simple EQ. It should not have to write anything to the system 32 folder.

But I've disinfected my system of the whole Acustica mess so no longer a problem for me.

Once again I do thank Focusrite for their continuing generosity as they've given us some real gems in the past but this one is just not for me.

They are super standard libraries and they act like a framework. They are obviously never used by anyone unless you look for it. But they are the original files, redestributable from Intel. They are completely harmless. System 32 is the suggested path for them. Your security possibly don't want we overwrite things with hacked ones. But you could check they are the original ones.
We have been doing it for 14 years, this is the very first time someone complains

[bermudagold]

I will gladly welcome a code into my home as well, rather than let it grow up in an orphanage

[ghettosynth]

Ok, well, no problems with the account/install this time. I can't say that I'm all that excited about yet another soundgoodizer. It reminds me a bit of a couple of the Waves channel strips. Given the space it takes I may just uninstall. That said, I do like the room/speaker sim for headphones.

[tensorfreitas]

Cream is just a fantastic suite. It models the following:

EMI TG12345 solid state EQ (gray plate), "homebrew" tube EQ (green plate), EMI RS124 (tube), EMI TG12345 MKIV Compressor (solid state), EMI TG12345 MKII and MKIV consoles, EMI TR-50 and EMI TR-90. Features a large assortment of line input and microphone preamp choices.

[fairlyclose]

Cream is just a fantastic suite. It models the following:

EMI TG12345 solid state EQ (gray plate), "homebrew" tube EQ (green plate), EMI RS124 (tube), EMI TG12345 MKIV Compressor (solid state), EMI TG12345 MKII and MKIV consoles, EMI TR-50 and EMI TR-90. Features a large assortment of line input and microphone preamp choices.

shame the dev cant build a fully functioning website

[PieBerger]

Thanks for the freebie! Had zero problems using the website, as always and the large file sizes for Aquas are easily managed by storing them on a second drive and using a symlink to point back to your usual VST directory.