Your MUST OWN plugin list and a short explanation why *If you want*

[V0RT3X]

Since I havn't seen a few of these threads recently, I figured id start a new one. This is of course my list compiled after extensive time wasted demoing the f**k out of tons of software over the past 10 or so years.

If you got the time to spare, please feel free to explain why you think it is a must own plugin. You can choose to partake in this or not, but I think sharing your thoughts is important in helping out others.


Thanks!


Ok here is my must own list

Ableton Maxforlive addon
https://www.ableton.com/en/live/max-for-live/

I never got into the whole Max/MSP stuff cause it was'nt as instantly gratifying as something like Reaktor where all you needed to do was load up a pre-existing ensemble to get something to play with.

Anyhow once Maxforlive hit the scene there were very few M4L patches for me to get into but once they did happen to start showing up all over the net, I found more FSU and other sonic mangling tools than I ever before and most of them are free!

Csoundforlive Addon
http://www.csoundforlive.com/

This is a incredible solution to use the Csound language in a live setting. The idea behind it is genius, however there is still more work needed in optimizing the code. However when you do get it to work you have a whole different language to work with for sound design!

Also It is a cheap package that gives you a ton of power to work with for any type of synthesized sound design. Definitely check out the sound examples on the Csoundforlive site to hear what i am talking about. Currently CSoundforlive is only supported on the 32bit versions of Live & max since the system relies on a third party developed max extension.

The Csoundforlive library might not really cover analog emulations, but the beautiful digital tools you get to work with are mind boggling and have a very great sound to them.

Native Instruments Reaktor
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... reaktor-5/

Reaktor has a definite special place in my sound design obsessed heart because you can do anything with it! It also gives you access to some "secret weapon" style instruments and tools. Sure the premise of it might overwhelm people who are interested in standard synthesis but once you get over the mindset of a traditional hardware synthesizer user you will see how much power you will have

I rarely get my hands dirty with it and dive into the programming aspect. However I love the amount of 3rd party stuff you get access to which is one of the reasons I like to have it. Also having the ability to tinker with stuff under the hood is kind of exciting but its definitely not needed to enjoy Reaktor.

[xcentric]

That's a long "must-have" list.

[V0RT3X]

That's a long "must-have" list.

Indeed i had to cut it short since I also wanted to add in FM8 and Absynth and a few others

[ghettosynth]

The free players for Csound for live for win32 and osx cannot be downloaded.

[thecontrolcentre]

I think there was another thread like this just last month ...

[experimental.crow]

heh ...
this is the guy i want telling me my 'must own' plug-in list ...

Don't get one..

I am paying off a $2000 debt right now on mine and i can tell you it is a big big pain in the ass.

It is so easy to buy stuff on credit and thats the catch. I started out very frugal with my spending but eventually found myself reaching more and more for my CC and making purchase on it thinking i could pay it off eventually.

NOW i maxed it out and have to pay it back very slowly each month leaving me with no spending money at all apart for a small bit for rent & food.

Seriously don't do it, it might get you your hands on the plugins or gear you want but at the cost of what?

Weigh your options very very carefully.

[V0RT3X]

heh ...
this is the guy i want telling me my 'must own' plug-in list ...

Don't get one..

I am paying off a $2000 debt right now on mine and i can tell you it is a big big pain in the ass.

It is so easy to buy stuff on credit and thats the catch. I started out very frugal with my spending but eventually found myself reaching more and more for my CC and making purchase on it thinking i could pay it off eventually.

NOW i maxed it out and have to pay it back very slowly each month leaving me with no spending money at all apart for a small bit for rent & food.

Seriously don't do it, it might get you your hands on the plugins or gear you want but at the cost of what?

Weigh your options very very carefully.

I just paid that off now so why not have a bit of fun. Besides I have most of the stuff on that list i made so I got pretty much everything I want except a few things.. which I will end up buying again

[ew]

What the hell; I'll play

1)Reaktor. If I could have only one plugin, this would be it. You have a good factory library, an unbelievable
user library, third party commercial instruments and effects, plus anything you dream up on your own. There's a
lot of tracks I've done that are completely Reaktor, such as this.

I build a lot of one-off instruments and effects for the particular song I'm working on. I've had Reaktor for 12 years, and I'm still like a kid on Christmas morning with it. The absolute best bang for the buck out there.

2)Absynth. Absynth was the first to use a lot of the things we take for granted nowdays such as freely configurable envelopes with
multiple breakpoints and comb filters used as things other than flangers or choruses. While most people think of Absynth as just a weird sound maker™, it's amazingly good at more bread and butter sounds as well. I embrace the weirdness myself ( );
this is basically all Absynth (with some S&H sparklies added by SunRa).

A lot of times, Absynth and/or Reaktor is all I need. But, if I need something else- say, some "real" instrument sounds, there's:

3)Kontakt. Kontakt's been the standard for software sample playback instruments for years- and with good reason. Flexible, with a good factory library, tons of additional factory created content available plus huge third party commercial library support. My Kontakt library's embarrassingly large due to all the other content I have for it, but there's not much I don't have covered.

4)Maschine. It's a sequencer! It's a drum machine! No, it's a mini DAW! No- WTF is it anyways?
I don't do much arranging in Maschine; I use it mostly as a hybrid drum machine. The controller can be used as a generic MIDI controller with your DAW, and it has what I think are the best feeling and responding pads out there (though the latest Akai pads are getting close).

5)TERA. Development's seems to be stalled as Harry's gone more into FX and doing factory content for Steinberg (the Cubase instruments), but TERA is still an absolute beast of a synth. Multiple synthesis models which you can mix and match, a stunning sound *and* multitimbral- what's not to like? Oh yeah- it's still 32 bit. Which brings up my other 32 bit must have:

6)PPG 3. The big blue beast updated for the 21st century. With 2.2, 2.3 and 2.V modes of playback, the ability to use your own samples, better multitimbral options, selectable filter slope and good effects, you can get anything from original PPG Wave grunge with the aliasing we all love to thoroughly modern squeaky clean textures. While it doesn't have quite as much character as my trusty old Microwave, it comes close, and does some things my MW can only dream of doing.

7)jBridge. Not a plugin, but if you use 32 bit plugins in a 64 bit host, jBridge is a must have. Easily betters the Cakewalk bitbridge, and it works well in everything I've tried it in. Added bonus; you can also use it to bridge 64 bit plugins in a 32 bit host.

ew