Fabfilter.

 

Dan Worrall may not be one of them, but there are some people who prefer the Kirchhoff EQ to Pro-Q3.

Are there any other PA plugins which you can replace any of their plugins with, or suggest there are better PA equivalents?

It should be easy since there aren't 200 of them that you don't need.

 

It's funny ppl saying UAD is Better .. have you actually checked any of these in plugin doctor.. the pultec has little to no harmonics .. voice of God lol I'm not even gonna go there

 

Does anyone need a picture on a screen to know which of 2 plugins sounds better? Does one characteristic of a plugin illustrated in a picture determine what plugins someone might use? Does someone seeing distortion, aliasing, saturation which they misinterpret as "desirable harmonics" know which to use? What if they like a "cleaner" plugin for the task? What if the less accurate emulation of a hardware unit actually sounds "better"?

 

Been scrolling through PA's products for a while - there aren't that many ones that impress me, but also there are few that dissapoint me. They tend to be kinda mid, in a good way. There are functional, usually well thought out, and, while I can come up with better alternatives to almost all of them (except for the Unfiltered ones, which I've NEVER used in a significant way and yet they are so lovable), I still use them quite often.

There's also a point to make about the learning curve, maybe. I potentially love some plugins like the AMEK Mastering Console or the Oven, but they are SO confusing and the manuals don't make it easier on you.

Ok, so the major dissapointments for me:

• bx_console Focusrite. I mean, everyone seems to hate the bx_enhancer and the Focusrite is just so similar to me. Some ultra-basic digital EQ curves, some unimpressive dynamics section and an unimpressive de-esser. I still like their AMEK 9099, though.
• I've tried to love Kirchhoff, I really have, but IT KEEPS CRASHING ON ME PLEASE, I JUST WANT TO HAVE A NICE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRO-Q THAT DOESN'T DESTROY MY WHOLE PROJECT
  
• I know people love the Black Box and it doesn't sound bad, but the workflow is atrocious and there are so, so many alternatives out there. I dislike most PA's saturation plugins, really. Even the elysia ones are just meh.
• The Lindell 80 is harsh sometimes. Like really harsh. I like their 50 Series, but their Neve emulations are just a pass for me.

I must say: after reading the univocal hate against the TOMO LISA in this thread I've been looking at the plugin and I have sincere curiosity. It seems to be as funny as incomprehensible!

 

I was like...WOW when that crushing wave of PA plugins can barreling onto the sister site's beach. I installed them all, and as I checked each one out opened up Revo Uninstaller and ditched them one by one (which took a bit of wasted time to accomplish). I think that I've learned my lesson and will never do that again.

 

If that's the point, it's easier to list which *not* to avoid.

DearVR
Dmitry Sches
Kiive
Unfiltered Audio
That's about it.

If for free, one can also find use for ADPTR, Elysia (boy do I have a bridge to sell to those who own the hardware), SPL, LTL and Maag.

 

I got bx_console Focusrite but I find it very nice, idk :/

Anyway, if you want a good digital linear phase eq with dynamic capabilities try TB_FlX4, which is also free.

I have got the LISA EQ and it's impressive. The GUI is scary but once that you understand it's not that more difficult to use than a generic dynamic EQ

 

Oh, I didn't mean that the Focusrite was bad! It's nice and I know it's well-loved, but I find it somewhat uninspiring. For instance, I like how the 9099 lets you shape the sounds with those wild EQ curves + the combination of compressor and clipper; and I don't get that kind of excitement when I open the Focusrite. It doesn't mean that the 9099 is better (arguably it's easier to get some good sounds out of the Focusrite), just that, if I had to buy one bx console, I'd go for an Amek or an SSL just because I find them less generic.

I'll definitely check the LISA, the interface doesn't even look THAT scary once you've stared at it for a while.

 

Also IMO the Purple Audio MC 77 is a great 1176 plugin with its own flavor, people are kinda sleeping on it.

 

They just released this. Looks legit coming from Kirchhoff...

 

pfff went through whole PA page, so:
Kirchhoff EQ - once I learned it has only analog curves instead of saturation, it quickly became obsolete
any channel strip - because why limit yourself to mediocre processing chain when you can pick whatever individual plugins you want nowadays
any EQ - because they have so unimpressive unfriendly UX
any "utility" category plugins - because why pay (couple) hundred bucks for things that don't really matter, or are available in DAW directly
any "guitar & bass" or "pedal" stuff - because I'm not a guitarist to begin with
iZotope & Native Instruments stuff (under PA branding now) - because they're mediocre

that said, that's just my opinion

 

Watched the whole video ealier today and all I could think was "oh boy, I can't wait to listen/see Dan Worrall ripping the people from TBTECH again!"

 

because it's easier, faster, and probably the sound is gonna be in the background so no one's gonna notice if you used 1 channel strip or used a huge chain with thousands of plugins...
i mean i makes sense to not use a channel strip in a prominent vocal, but channel strips are also useful!! sometimes i rather just open 1 plugin and solve everything in it. Not to mention CPU!!!

 

As a normal PA fanboi would, I'm excited about the CENOZOIX. It's looking great. I like this type compressor plugin, one that can do all. Also big fan of TBTECH Cabinetron, that shit is just unbeatable. Could be a good to pair it with my go-to DMG TrackComp, A.O.M Nu Comp, Pro-C2 and Tiger.

One more thing just to share. The new Bettermaker Bus Compressor is kinda good to be an alternative to API/SSL style compressor. It is feedforward topology (sadly no FB mode), capable of really snappy comp and the overall compression is quite accurate and super clean without any unwanted artifact. Turning off the THD will remove ALL saturation, ALL compression artifact, it's even cleaner than the DAW stock compressor. It's as clean as Pro-C2 on "Mastering" mode that emits 0 saturation and artifact.

What makes it more unique compared to other VCA Bus compressor is, the saturation generated (THD) isn't the usual odd-order harmonics like every other VCA Bus comp, it generates even-order heavy saturation pattern, tube-like, FET-like sat that overall should make things a little warmer and pleasant. It's true to the hardware it models.




The hardware tech spec, look at the THD, it showing the 2nd & 4th (even) order harmonic is stronger than the 3rd (odd) :

 

Last edited: Feb 6, 2024

"Mediocre processing chain"



I wonder, why someone would need something more than a eq (and HP and LP filters), a compressor, a preamp and gate on a insert mic channel.
I mean, why spend so much time and cpu to build chains for insert mics when CS exists just for that reason?

 

Toneboosters?

 

Lots of newbies in this thread. Wonder why.

Maybe cause it's not the only place plugins go to?
And most software users don't work with this kind of channels at all.

 

IIRC, you're quite good at it.

 

You're totally right.