Two Phenomenal Inexpensive Plugins

[jonathansorensen]

Hi all,

Two plugins that I think someone recommended to me here that I use are:

Wavearts Tube Saturator:
For those of us who are analog challenged, this plugin blew me away. It's the only digital plugin I've ever heard that actually sounds analog. I use it to dirty up drums, guitars, even to get grittier more live vocals. However, there is one caveat. This plugin works because it has an incredibly complex algorithm. It does only one thing but really well and for this reason it sucks processor power like you can't imagine. You can use one or two plugins of it and that's about it. I recommend setting it up on an effect track so you can bus many instruments into it. Or once you get the sound you like, commit to it and print the track so you can turn off the plugin. I also use it almost every time I master.

The Rocket Compressor:
this plugin is very inexpensive and is one of the most musical and natural digital compressors I've ever heard. I use it constantly. It has tons of character so if you want clean, use some other digital compressor but, again, if you're analog challenged, I highly recommend this compressor.

Have fun!
Jon

[Kolstad]

Great tips on these, Jon!

I'm considering the Wavearts Saturator up against the Soundtoys Decimator, but great tip setting it up on a bus to save resources. I was not aware that it was a hog. I'm still on a 32bit platform, so compromizes has to be made.

That Rocket compressor really sounds great to my ears. Looks like a bargain, think I'll get that! You can never have too many compressors to choose from

[mojobone]

You can save resources that way, but using WaveArts Tube Saturator on individual tracks is where the sweetness lies; the cumulative effect of using it on multiple tracks is equivalent to mixing outside the box using something like Dangerous Music's analog summing devices. Everything sounds fatter, meatier, juicier. Off to lunch, now, cuz I jes' made myself hungry...

[jonathansorensen]

You can save resources that way, but using WaveArts Tube Saturator on individual tracks is where the sweetness lies; the cumulative effect of using it on multiple tracks is equivalent to mixing outside the box using something like Dangerous Music's analog summing devices. Everything sounds fatter, meatier, juicier. Off to lunch, now, cuz I jes' made myself hungry...

Yup. I use it on some track or other in every project. I DI bass alot and I love to throw a little on the bass to fuzz it up. Chicken Fried Steak!!

[Kolstad]

I'm demoing the saturator and the rocket at the moment, and MAN the saturator is a cpu hog. Never seen anything accelerate so fast from 0-40%! Soundtoys' Decimator is right up there with it, cpu wise. Haven't yet formed an opinion on any differences in saturation/ sound.

The rocket sounds really sweet and round, somewhat similar to The Glue, I think. Glues things together really well! A quality plug-in for a bargain, IMO!