So with tax refunds incoming, I'm tempted to spoil myself with another overpriced goodie. I just want some opinions from you guys about what is particularly cool looking these days. I already have Soundtoys 5 and a few odd compressors, EQs and all the effects in Ableton Suite, so I'm thinking more about instruments or sample libraries, etc.

I'm giving a lot of thought to stuff like Output Exhale or Signal, or possibly even UVI Falcon despite that I already have Omnisphere 2. I just wanted to see what the must-haves are for you guys, maybe something I forgot or didn't know about.

 

What about an: Analogue Summing Mixer ?

Sounds like you've got plenty of software already ?

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun12/articles/spotlight-0612.htm



If it has to be more software then what about some: Brainworkx ?

http://www.brainworx-music.de

​

 

Good lord. The prices of that analog gear...

See, it doesn't have to be software, but pretty much all things hardware (of worthwhile quality) are prohibitively expensive for me in my current situation. I'll have a look at the Brainworx stuff. I've generally regarded PluginAlliance stuff as being overpriced, but maybe just because I haven't actually used it. Seems like everything is super expensive, but maybe it's justifiable. I'll check out some demos.

 

Imo otput exhale/signal are nothing special,tried it,very uninspiring sounds,very laggy cpu unfriendly.
Demoed it and tossed it out.
Cant go wrong with u-he zebra and its add ons or air music technology Hybrid 3,those two are ready for cutting edge music production,both have top notch analog/modern synths and fx.

 

I actually do have Hybrid 3. I bought a Trigger Finger Pro a while back when they dropped the price from $400 to $150. Truth be told, it barely functions as a controller but the pads are nice and the bundled software (which includes Hybrid 3) pretty much justifies the entire price tag. Gotta disagree with you on Exhale though. I tried out the Audioz edition and found the sounds pretty inspiring, decided to ditch it and just buy it later.

Zebra is a good idea for sure.

 

Cool.
All that for 150$?F-ing steal.
I see the prices have fallen to 150 indeed(thomann) and since it includes hybrid 3 its a no brainer,its on my buy list now,thanx for the tip.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 19, 2016

I would wait softube modular


http://www.softube.com/index.php?id=news150

Softube Modular is available from May 11 for $99. We are showing it at Musikmesse Frankfurt, booth D23 in hall 9.1. Watch a live demonstration or try it for yourself!

 

I really like the Output releases, but I understand they aren't for everyone. I wouldn't use Exhale for choirs etc, but I have made interesting parts with it. Rev is my favorite, but that is just because of the music I make...

On the cheaper end of things CavEmp I would recommend looking into the Valhalla reverbs, they are great and only $50... (I know you said you weren't looking for fx, but things like Shimmer become an instrument upon itself! ).... Serum? I haven't tried Falcon yet, but people seem to love it.... just throwing some stuff out there friend!

 

@xbitz brilliant idea. That really is a good price. If you're interested in Softube stuff, btw, I'm pretty sure most or all of their effects are like 40% or 50% off at AudioDeluxe.com right now.

@Von_Steyr glad to help, man. I posted a thread here when it first dropped to 150 - could hardly believe it. The integrated firmware and the controller software is impractical and unnecessarily complicated, but for drum pads and the bundled Hybrid + Air Drums, it's a great deal.

@plomerus thanks for the heads up. I'll check out 8dio

@sisyphus yeah I love Exhale. Especially for the phrases mode. So easy to come up with ideas I wouldn't have otherwise had. I bought Serum a while ago. That was way high on my list of stuff to get. There's a regret-free purchase for anyone. Duda just keeps making it better and better, especially with the FX plugin now. Valhalla stuff is cool, but after trying some of the higher end stuff, I don't find them to be nearly on the level of Lexicon or Sparkverb. Frankly, I can get similar or better results with native Ableton reverb. I may buy Sparkverb in the near future. Dongle-free A+ quality reverb.

 

Quantec Room Simulator

for reverb comparison

 

Hey Cav, what is your refund totaling out at? You know I have a hard on for hardware and for under a grand I could point you in the direction of a Daking Mic Pre One ($599), which would substantially improve your vocal capture and is light years ahead of the Art preamp that you are now using, variable impedance non withstanding, IMHO. It is a world class amp at a real world price. It also has a sweet high pass filter that can come in handy to loose any low frequencies that you would not want adding up in your headroom to be saved later on for your kicks and bass sounds.

For a new microphone I would suggest perhaps a microphone from 3U Audio, maybe a GZ47 fet, a GZ251 fet or a GZ67 fet. These are perhaps the best microphones under $1000 anywhere in the world and sell for under $600.. The guy that makes them uses high quality parts, self made capsules and makes his own transformers. He sells direct and cuts out the middle man and you get a microphone that is worth at least twice of what you are paying for. There is a whole great thread on GS all about these, and lots of studios have bought them and use them because of the quality that they capture.

Here are a few links to get you started if you so desire.
http://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/71/mic-pre-one/

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/reviews/1063918-3u-audio-gz251fet.html
http://www.3uaudio.com/chanpin.asp?dh=1
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/1050130-thread-dedicated-just-3u-audio-mic-demos.html

 

Geez - You tempt me. I will check this stuff out. It's more than I wanted to spend but not more than I could. Which is the space that all us music addicts exist in. As always, I value your opinion so highly and appreciate your input. I'm off to do a recording session right this second, but I'll come back and have a look at all this goodness. Cheers, fam.