which plugin alliance products would you recommend a rock guitarists / self-producer

[jamcat]

In that case, I would second the Lindell Audio 50/80. Especially the 80 series. And perhaps the new 69 series, too.

The 80 series is modeled on the Neve 8028. Its 1073 preamp imparts more saturation character (in a good way) than the API modeled preamp of the 50 series. I use the 80 as my tracking console on every channel 90% of the time, and the 50 on the remainder.

I haven't gotten the 69 series yet, but I am quite interested in it, particularly for the model of the Helios 69 Lustraphone preamp. Helios doesn't get as much hype as Neve, API, and SSL consoles, but it was the THE console of '70s hard rock. Pick any huge rock album of the '70s and Helios was almost certainly the console it was recorded through. We're talking Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC...

I'd also recommend the bx_console 4000 E and G plugins, which I use as my mixing console channels on everything. They say the G channel EQ is especially good for guitars, and I have found that to be totally true. I use the E channel on most everything else. The Townhouse buss compressor also gets constant use on my master buss.

So my Pick 6 would be:

• Lindell Audio 80 series
• Lindell Audio 69 series
• Lindell Audio 50 series
• bx_console SSL 4000 E
• bx_console SSL 4000 G
• bx_townhouse Buss Compressor

hi, thanks for the post, its great to see someone understands plugs specifically for recording-mixing guitar !

what do you think of plugin alliance's Tape and other plugs compared in which are alternative.
Example their Lindell SBC and MBC are very good in general, but the UAD API strip is just so good, you feel circuits when using it., like the real thing., do you think waves, slate, STL, Overloud etc have better silumations or are the ones you shared info on the best you can get?

I don’t have any experience with the Kiive Audio Tape Face, if that’s the one you’re asking about. For tape, I use IK Multimedia Tape Machines (24 and 80 for multitrack, 440 on the master for mixdown, and 99 for orchestral).

These are generally regarded as the best tape machine emulations, though they use 3x as much CPU per instance as the native UAD Studer A800.

I think the Lindell Audio channel strips are the best, with the exception of UAD. Your API comparison is pretty accurate. I would really only go for Lindell/Brainworx or UAD at this point. The main downside to UAD currently is the native Spark plugins are still too few and far between. For example, the Helios and SSL channels are not yet native, and UAD won’t let you buy the native Neve 1073 outright, so you have to go with Lindell and Brainworx for the time being.

[Britishboxer]

Any of their amp sims are very good, if he's into metal and he does'nt already have them they have some very nice ENGL and Diezel amp sims. I would also look into Kiive Audio Tape Face, and the ADA STD-1 Stereo Tapped Delay is almost a must have for any guitar player. The Lindell 50 and 80 are great for heavier guitar sounds, I'm not saying they are better than the SSL 4000 G, they are simpler and easier to use though

Have you by any chance compared Kiive Audio Tape Face to the UAD tape plugs?
I like the PA version as well, different I also use tape desk by overloud although I rarely like their stuff, a bit bright and digital.

[YnJ]

No. I wasn't really interested in tape desk simulations, I only got the Tape Face as I used my six plug-in voucher on myself and there really wasn't much left to pick from I didn't already have, so I wouldn't place too much weight on my opinion. I suggested that you should look into it as I was very surprised and impressed how much it improved the sound of my guitar though

[jamcat]

The Lindell 50 and 80 are great for heavier guitar sounds, I'm not saying they are better than the SSL 4000 G, they are simpler and easier to use though

Vintage Neve and API desks are tracking consoles, and SSLs are mixing consoles. Since the ‘80s it became almost standard practice to record on a Neve and mix on an SSL.

Neve, API, and Helios are known for their signature sounds which come from a combination of their warm preamps and “musical” fixed band EQs. They excel at getting good sound to tape, so they have generally been preferred over SSL for tracking.

But the same fixed EQ that makes it easy to shape a broad musical tone is incapable of performing the kind of precise surgery needed to fix problems while mixing. That’s where the SSL comes in, with its sweepable fully parametric EQ frequencies and adjustable Q, plus compression on every channel.

SSLs are much more neutral sounding than a Neve or API, so they’re not going to mess with what you already put on tape. Once again, that makes them ideal for mixing.

This is the foremost thing to keep in mind when choosing a console plugin to use. The way I approach it is to actually recreate the whole process with 2 mixer views. The first one is the “tracking” console with Neve console strips, “print” FX, and tape. Those feed the channels of the second mixer view which is the “mixing” console that has SSL console strips, “post” FX and aux sends.

[YnJ]

I'm just a musician, I'm used to other people taking care of the mixing

[jamcat]

I'm just a musician, I'm used to other people taking care of the mixing

What's your process for that? Are you recording yourself in your DAW and then sending the project files to someone else? Are you using plugins in your songs or are you leaving all of that up to someone else? Are you hiring the mixer, or are they a bandmate/collaborator?

[YnJ]

I've usually turned up at some recording studio and played, that's all. I've recorded at home since I had my four track, mostly ideas, parts of songs and the occasional demo though. I'm trying to record some music on my own at home. I don't know how I'll do it if I want something mixed and mastered. I know a few people who can help me, I might ask them

[MULTIVERSOR]

I recommend the Purple Audio MC 77 compressor.
Veeery musical and open sound.
Your guitar will be happy!

[The Noodlist]

I recommend the Purple Audio MC 77 compressor.
Veeery musical and open sound.
Your guitar will be happy!

TDR Nova in multi-band dynamic mode might be as good.

[PatchAdamz]

I have a friend who is a very good guitar player, I got a 6 plugin voucher from my plugin alliance subscription so me and his younger brother thought about getting him some plugins as a surprise.
He already has just about every sim out there, mainly softube Marshalls and STL Tones Howard Benson etc..and he plays everything from ambient-jazz to metal - punk etc., he tends to sound very loud, like Judas Priest etc.,

So I thought to ask which 6 plugins would you recommend getting someone like this?

Guitar tone is a very individualized thing.
What he should do is take suggestions but then try the demos before making a purchase.

The amps are a clear choice, but they vary considerably based on players style and technique.

[Doc3g]

I second the Amek mastering compressor

[jens]

If he doesn't already have a bass amp sim, their Ampeg B-15n is excellent.

All 4 (5) of them are...

[jens]

Has nobody mentioned Warble yet by the way? For a guitar-player that one is certainly a must have - and so is the ADA-flanger too.

[Britishboxer]

Any of their amp sims are very good, if he's into metal and he does'nt already have them they have some very nice ENGL and Diezel amp sims. I would also look into Kiive Audio Tape Face, and the ADA STD-1 Stereo Tapped Delay is almost a must have for any guitar player. The Lindell 50 and 80 are great for heavier guitar sounds, I'm not saying they are better than the SSL 4000 G, they are simpler and easier to use though

im curious about the tapped delay plugin like a Chorus dimension type of stereo plug used by John Sykes to emulate Randy Rhoads live, then Kieth Olsen handed down the idea to Zack Wylde, I edited the rest before, too long lol

Is this really the same tapped delay rack cause I have a subscription with PA and tried it, I hear a very slight chorus effect., but nothing like a dimension chorus rack or even a 80s pedal.

PS, this is why im not into the whole metal entertainment thing

[Britishboxer]

Has nobody mentioned Warble yet by the way? For a guitar-player that one is certainly a must have - and so is the ADA-flanger too.

its funny you mentioned this, I just tried the warble yesterday, it sounds great on mixes but aren't there so many NEOLD plug emulations out there already or stuff like it thats better?

example, my chain for the master channel is
* Saturation (preamp, tape, tube, overdrive, distortion)
* EQ (digital, tonal, mid-side)
* Transient designer
* Compression (FET, Optical, VCA)
* Limiter
* Clipper
* Multi reverb (room, hall, plate, chamber)
* Delay or Kazrock Avalon
* Harmoniser or transient shaper
* Stereo imaging

I asked today and learned that the compressors are off when recording and mixing, they are only on after levels between the tracks, the master strip only has a plugin alliance "Masterdisk pro" and a ' limiter'.

The main Guitar plugin chain my friend uses is:
* DI
* EQ
* Multi Comp
* Hornet Valve tube simulator (its free)
* Chao Klone plugin (its free)
* Mod pedals before the amp (audiority Tremolo, Chorus, etc)
* The Sim (usually the softube Marshall or metal suite, if not Engle Savage)
* IR loader, Libra or Celestion speaker shaper (usually v30s vintage and greenbacks or cream backs)

the sim never goes to the master but but rather a logic audio sub group bus, which then has another comp, tape simulation, etc this way two can be panned in stereo, my guess is putting the tapped delay plug in the subgroup bus.

then there are options up to 8 aux bus levels of sends, like to verbs, delays, mods, etc

Where would you put the warble?