Back to music after a break

[Nacks]

Hey all,

I've been out of the audio/music scene for the last few years and hopefully trying to get back into things, so you may as well count me in as being new.

I will hopefully have a presonus audiobox 22VSL on order to get started with. I'm still only planning to do things mostly as a hobby and just mucking around with some music.

Anyway, can anyone update me on anything particularly impressive that has come out over the last several years particularly in the free plugin/instrument or budget-minded hardware areas? I'm feeling pretty out of it at the moment.

[thecontrolcentre]

Looks like a decent interface. I would prefer something with at least 4 outputs for DJing, but if you don't need a cue mix the Presonus should be fine. Nice having built-in fx if you like to track vocals with fx in tbe monitors.

[fedexnman]

I voted NO , if i was buying today Id get the focusrite scarlet 2i2 for $149 or $129 , and use Tracktion4 or Reaper , Ive seen a lot of good reviews on the 2i2 or id get something USB by RME babyface , NI Komplete audio6 usb , or even the Echo audio usb interface , you might be okay with the Presonus but im just weary of them , I had a Presonus firebox that i had a problem with, it made a slight whining noise in my recordings that I had 1st thought was computer fan noise , then the warranty was out . I have heard about some problems with there usb interfaces over at the studioone forums at presonus too . On a major plus side you would get an excellent VST Host for free , StudioOne2 Producer . Its not a trimmed down host like the artist edition either . http://www.presonus.com/community/blog/ ... -for-free/ until oct 31st . Just make sure if you get the Presonus you check it out really good make sure you don't hear any weird noise in your recordings etc etc . before the warranty is up .

[Nacks]

Cool thanks for the advice, the included free upgrade was a big selling point for me (other than the positive reviews I've heard) though I hadn't heard of issues with strange noises with the presonus it tends to be something not uncommon for this kind of price bracket. But I will have a close listen for sure.


I don't need too many inputs (and cant see needing more than 2 at once for the foreseeable future) as mostly doing things in a home study and at most would need just to do a couple of instruments or an instrument and mic at the same time so that's mostly why the presonus would suit me well.

A number of years ago I had a line6 interface which sounded a good deal with included fx etc etc but at the end of the day I was disappointed with the quality of unit (both sound and cheap build) and even though it never left my desk, just after the warranty period expired half of knobs decided to stop working

[Nacks]

So otherwise no particularly impressive plugins/ virtual instruments (free ones anyway) have come out over last few years???

[Burillo]

i'd get scarlett 2i2/2i4 but the 22vsl is nice too.

[cyphersuit]

So otherwise no particularly impressive plugins/ virtual instruments (free ones anyway) have come out over last few years???

which ones do you know and plan to use? which daw?

there have been some real good plugins at incredible prices, but mostly in group buys and special sales.

awesome comp: Klanghelm D8C8
very nice distortion tools at special price atm: izotope trash 2
very good one trick pony: sausage fattener
very good effect suite: eareckon analog87 - also check out eareverb and earebound
best multi efx: sugar bytes turnado

If you like to buy new soundsets i think last year the most of them were released for sylenth1 and massive.

[Nacks]

So otherwise no particularly impressive plugins/ virtual instruments (free ones anyway) have come out over last few years???

which ones do you know and plan to use? which daw?

The only thing i can remember using specifically was stringz i had a massive collection of mostly free ones that i just mucked around with.

I mostly record guitar/bass/midi keys my drumming skills suck so i usually sequence the drums or use some automation for those.


In the past i was using ableton (just the lite edition mostly) i was likely going to get a presonus audiobox and use studio one producer but i may end up getting protools and possibly a different interface - not entirely sure at the moment...

[cyphersuit]

studio one is the easiest to use, so try the demo. i guess you will like it.

[kritikon]

So otherwise no particularly impressive plugins/ virtual instruments (free ones anyway) have come out over last few years???

Get yerself a copy of Computer Music. There is a ton of free stuff on the CD, some of which is very nice. I've been quite taken with DuneCM recently (it's a cut down version of the full Dune, but IMO it still has plenty of bells and whistles, and I personally like the sounds it can make.) It's rare I don't use it for something in a track nowadays. I don't tend to look much at VA plugins nowadays - there are so many, and often quite dull, but Dune does have some character and power.

Short Circuit is a superb sampler that's been freeware for a year or several. Useful for simple sample playback and for seriously mangling. It'll keep you from spending money on a soft sampler for years.

[psychoxkps]

ni komplete audio 6

[kritikon]

ni komplete audio 6

Not particularly free though...

[echosystm]

I would not buy any of the Presonus audio interfaces. The latest driver, which you need for the latest OSX, has been in beta for over a year and has a lot of problems. Furthermore, as soon as they decide to stop supporting it (like they did with the firewire interfaces), you'll end up with a very expensive brick. Stick to interfaces that are class compliant and don't need drivers. You should only need control panel software. For example, my Echo AudioFire is about 6 years old and hasn't had a software update since 2011, but is still kicking along without any issues in the latest OSX.

[Nacks]

I use a pc so the driver for me should be fine at the moment

[thecontrolcentre]

So otherwise no particularly impressive plugins/ virtual instruments (free ones anyway) have come out over last few years???

Well ...

http://www.u-he.com/cms/tyrelln6

http://www.meldaproduction.com/plugins/ ... yword=free

http://www.tone2.com/html/firebird_vsti ... zer_1.html

http://www.blaukraut.info/

http://www.klanghelm.com/DC1A.html

http://www.klanghelm.com/IVGI.html

http://www.fxpansion.com/index.php?page=185&tab=443

http://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-feedback-compressor/

http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/201 ... sed-today/

http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/201 ... t-limiter/

http://www.saltline.co.uk/index.html