Hi and welcome to my little vault of audio-production and plugins-related cheat sheet type of lists in PDF format. This Thread is an offspring of other discussions on this Board concerning Plugins and so on, like this one

The lists provides in this thread should serve the following purposes:

• Get an overview of software plugins/emulations of classic analog gear
• Find a suitable plugin emulation for a certain task/use and encourage you to try different plugins/techniques for producing and mixing
• Find Developers/Vendors/Versions of plugins

For example: "Which comps and EQ sworks well for Saxophones?" or "Which comp on a subgroup for slammin' Drums?", or: "How do I get that 808 Sub right?"

These lists are not aimed at seasoned vets but more at novice or intermediate users who can get kind of lost in the jungle of analog modeled plugins with all their different characteristics, paramters and often confusing names. They are a work in progress type of thing and I also want to say that I don't claim that they are complete. For example, I focused on Plugins available for PC and Mac only and I also omitted Linux and Nebula Plugins because I don't use them (yet).

List 1: Analog Modeled Compressors/Limiters Cheat Sheet (v. 1.4, 06.11.2017)

This sheet lists compressor plugins based on classic analog comps by Topography (Opto, FET, Vari Mu, VCA, Other), Hardware Models and corresponding Plugins and Vendors and all other relevant data for Production/Engineering: Attack, Release, Ration, Useage/Tips.

Download: Compressor Cheat Sheet (PDF) View in Google Spreadsheets​

List 2: Analog Modeled EQ Cheat Sheet (v. 1.5, 06.19.2017)

This sheet lists classic analog EQs by Model/Topography, number of Bands/Filters, Filtertypes, Cutoff Points, dB Range, possible uses and plugin vendors. This is a pretty comprehensive list which can help you a lot to achieve that next level sound.

Download: EQ Cheat Sheet (PDF) ​

List 3: Acqua Engine based Plugins (v. 1.3, 01.04.2018)

A list of Analog Gear (without specs) and their (assumed) Core Acqua Engine based Plugins counterparts. Consist mostly of Plugins by Acustica Audio and Prime Studios.

Download: Acqua Plugins List (PDF) or View in Google Spreadsheets​

Bonus Lists (music production related stuff):

N.I. Maschine Expansions List (v. 1.0, 06.18.2017)

Includes all currently available Maschine Expansions from N.I. with description and Genre information and rating section.

Download: Maschine Expansions List​

Chords and Scales

A grid of how some chords (in root position) and scales are constructed. On the left you find Notes of a Keyboard in a vertical view for reference. Next to that, you see the corresponding scale degree as well as semitones.​

The Chords Sheet displays how certain chords are constructed in root position (from simple to complex). X marks the spot of course. X's in brackets symbolize the following note(s) necessary/possible to create the next chord displayed in the "chord name" row. A basic understanding of music theory is key to grasp what is going on here. Tip: Use a Midi Keyboard to get a feel for the sound of these chords as well as a feeling of how to reach the keys with your hands.​

The Scales Sheet displays how the most common western scales are constructed, including: Major, Minor (4 variants), Lydian, Phrygian, Altered Phrygian, Blues (Major/minor). Also included are significant/typical chords of a scale as well as their tonal characteristics and examples.​

Download: Chords & Scales​

I encourage everybody to check out the lists and post your experiences or tips, tricks and suggestions in the comments.

Have Fun!

UPDATE:
31.01.2022: Updated links so access request for viewing the files are no longer required.

DONT SEND ME ACCESS REQUESTS FOR THE COMPRESSOR AND EQ CHEAT SHEETS!!!

You can access them in READ-ONLY mode. Just duplicate them if you want to edit them on your own.

 

Last edited: Jan 19, 2024

woow wtf man why have you done such a thing ?

ty btw,
this is a beautiful dedicated post

 

Wow thanks @5teezo !
Awesome work, those will be very handy.

 

Thanks, @5teezo appreciate it, if only to keep track of mind-boggling amounts of VSTs =D

 

Cool!
And what a coincidence, I recently made a similar EQ sheet myself for frequency points.
First doing a raw mixdown with Pro-Q2 and after that replace them with corresponding analog modeled tools (mostly from UAD btw > Neve 1073, 1081, Pultec, API). Taking benefits of HQ curves and extra's like warmth.

Quick question > is IK Multimedia Master EQ 432 the only Sontec emulation available at this moment? I'm not a big T-RackS fan so I'm curious if other developers will take a chance.

 

Scarlet by acustica audio is a homebrew inspired by sontec 432 (Demo here : http://www.acustica-audio.com/index...tegory_id=74&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189)

And the "250" curve in DMG equilibrium recreates the curve of the sontec 250. But it's not an emu. Just a recreation of the curve.

 

Haha. Nice wordplay on the vet thing. Sorry, if i got it wrong. I'm not a native speaker. ;)

 

That's cool. I've also started a matrix of frequency cutoff points from 5 Hz to 40 kHz and everything in between on the horizontal axis and all the plugins on the vertical axis.
It might be useful to map ouf the cutoff points of all models, but it's growing bigger and bigger and is not nice to handle on paper or pdf. I think html or something more interactive with filters (data) would be more useful.

Of the top of my head I don't know of another plugin besides IK that models the Sontec 432. There are comparisons on YouTube between the hardware and the IK Model and it is really done well from what I heard in the A/B test.

 

This is kinda mind-bogglingly brilliant work. It seems like (possibly?) too much attention to detail, like ur making a reference manual for us or something! Like the little touches "it filters stuff!" et al, too...

 

Such a great work! Thank you so much, 5teezo!1
If I may make a wish it would be great if somebody or even you could add the Acustica Acqua or maybe even Nebula library plugin equivalents.

 

Thanks for the love. Originally, i made those for myself. The puktec filter wasn't in there originally. But since i am a completionist geek I wanted to release a thorough list so I added and thought I add a touch of corny humor here and there. ;)

 

I left out nebula plugins for now, because I don't own it so I really can't check and compare the models. I try to be hands on with it. But I could compile a list just with nebula/aqua plugins.

A Question: so Aqua Plugins = compiled plugins with a GUI and a certain algo by AA inside (like the Pink EQ for example?) And Nebula Models = impulse responses from hardware you load into the nebula "container"?

 

You kill everybody. More!!!

 

Yes, absolutely correct!

 

I found a list of Acquas and their hardware equals or let's say hardware ideals:

Amber (7) - Avalon AD2055 equalizer Amethyst (X) - EQ A - Custom Amek DIY EQ, EQ B Amek 9098r + Amek 9098 compressor + Amek 2500 & 9098 preamp options. Rupert Neve designed gear. 9098 has a smooth RND - 33609'ish flavor. * Youtube overview @ https://youtu.be/oJF5LHWIwiA Aquamarine (8) - Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor (formerly the Murano) Blue - Chandler Germanium Tone Control Cobalt (X) - First Dynamic EQ, designed and built tube hardware by Luca Martegani. 5 Preamps, LM 9736 equalizer (inspired by the classic Pultec EQP-1a), LM 9804 Compressor (inspired by the Altec Lansing Feedback Compressor) and Dynamic equalizer (Cobalt, Violet & Mantis). Youtube overview @ https://youtu.be/6guBN0lj4OI Coral (9) - A hybrid mastering strip featuring an elliptical filter, transparent equalizer and a soft clipping compressor. SPL Iron mastering compressor and SPL PQ mastering equalizer inspired.
Diamond (9 with Ultramatch & Ultrasync) - Endorsed by Luca Pretolesi. Based on a CharterOak PEQ-1 and some other hardware. * Youtube overview @ https://youtu.be/NIF5M8lnTW0?t=3m15… Emerald (7) - Custom built hardware, loosely inspired by the Klein & Hummel UE 1000 equalizer. The curves practically have the same unique slope as the UE-1000, but the center frequencies are different and the active part of the circuit is more modern/cleaner Gold (X) - 4 Neve equalizers (1066, 33122, a homebrew DIY 1073 clone and an EMI-Neve 1093 which is a 1081 with Marinair transformers) and 2 Neve compressors (2252 and 2254). Neve console inputs/outputs. Plus a variety of tube preamps. 1960s era hardware. *Youtube overview @ https://youtu.be/AgnJtqKiMc0 Green (7)- George Massenburg Labs Model 8200 equalizer aka GML8200 Honey (7) - 1970s era Harrison 32C equalizer + Harrison console preamp
Ivory IAE-2 (7) - Maselec MEA-2 equalizer Lime (9 with Ultrasync/match) - A combination of modern AMS Neve gear. A = VR B = 88RS. C/D = 8051 5.1 Surround Compressor/Limiter, E = FJ V Series Channel Strip Preamp, F is a Neve 1073. Magenta (7) - Manley Labs Massive Passive equalizer Murano - Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor (now called Aquamarine) Navy (7) - 2000s era Neve 1073 reissue preamp. Neve 1081 EQ reissue circuit. Unknown Neve console line outputs.
Ochre - Free Acustica Audio homebrew equalizer, inspired by the Scientific Audio Electronics (SAE) 2800 equalizer. Orange - Orban 672A Pearl (9 with Ultramatch/sync)- Siemens ELA 75-15 Universal Equalizer and Auso-Siemens ELA 75-16 Compressor/Limiter. Just like the hardware, sales for this plugin are limited. The closest plugin to this that is for sale without limitation is the Emerald, as this was Siemens' response to the UE100/UE1000 mastering equalizers. Pink (8) - API 512c preamp. modified API 550A/550B equalizers with API 2500 compressor (no Thrust [pink female gender button] variables)
Pink 2412 and 7236 (8) - API 2500 compressor with modifications and triple [2412] Multiband Compressor with various crossover filters from TubeTech SMC 2B, Masalec MLA-3/4, and a custom filter by Acustica. Purple P-1 (8) - Pultec EQP-1A Purple M-5 (8) - Pultec MEQ-5 Red - Free plugin. Joemeek VC5 Meequalizer Sand (9 with Ultrasync) - Solid State Logic 4000 (Ea, black knob)/5000 (Eb, brown knob) equalizer + SSL G-Master Buss compressors (2 flavors)
Scarlet MHE-400 (8) - Homebrew Sontec 432 inspired (close to the original, cleaner sounding) Tan (8) - IGS Audio Multicore Compressor (one band) Titanium (9 with Ultramatch)- Tube-Tech SMC 2B Multiband Compressor Ultramarine (9) - Fairchild 670 Versatile - A hybrid between Amber and Green
Violet - Thermonic Culture Phoenix Mastering Compressor
White (8) - White Sound Mastering WSM PEQ-2.0 (solid state equalizer inspired by the Pultec EQP-1A)
Prime Studio Plugins (powered by Acustica Audio Acqua) Found at https://primestudio.at/magento2/index.php/plugins.html (before sure to switch the language to English on the top right side) (thanks @Avgatzeblouz for the following information)
Black Series Black EQ - Apparently a mixture of several devices (guesses : Neve 2068 and/or Neve 1077) Black Comp - Again, could be a mixture, but smells a lot like a Neve 32264a or Neve 83065, with the addon of different attack times if it is the 32264a, and the lack of 3 release times (100ms and Auto 1&2) - Black limiter : The limiter section of the 32264a or 83065, or a mixture of both.
Caribou Series - Elements from the Neve 8016 console (previously owned by Caribou ranch): - Caribou Mix : Neve 1064 input + output stage + Eq - Caribou Filter : Hi pass + Low pass filters + Input stage (preamp) of the Caribou Mix - Caribou comp : Neve 2254a pair of compressors from the same console, without the 100ms release time.
Charly - Tube-Tech SSA 2B Stereo summing amplifier
Hubbard Squash - Possibly a GML Nova Research Series 7000 Preamp / EQ Module. Very hard to figure out.
Sparkle Series - All elements from an EMI TG 12345 Mark IV/Q console : - Prime Curve : Eq - Prime Comp : Compressor - Prime Mix : input + output stage of 6 different channels (includes Hipass filter and bass Eq)


Maybe this helps.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2017

Thank you. But this FB Post is either not available or protected by privacy settings. Either way, I can't access the link.

 

Here
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/12277860-post5355.html

And the list that gold (Neve) emulates is in @WillTheWeirdo presentation of gold here :

Cobalt (a homebuilt mix of things) here

 

Yes, I guess you must be in the Acustica Audiophiles group to view it. Anyway, I have copied and pasted the main content. Please excuse the unformatted chaos... :/

 

The list in the Facebook group is a little more up to date though.

 

Agreed. I didn't know this list on facebook. Not really a facebook person.