Great, thanks for sharing your experiences. I think I need to demo Pensado EQ too. Diamond EQ would be 50€ cheaper though and I think one of these EQs might probably be a better addition to what I have already, because they are more "modern" EQs. With Diamond EQ I felt it really added some depth when boosting frequencies, something I can totally need too for electronic stuff. And for 80€ I think worth it?!
El Rey would be awesome too, but I think one of these EQs might make bigger improvements for the mix and maybe I can get El Rey later. I read that they regularly have sales that are around 50-70% off, is that right? I was a bit nervous because I felt this is a rare possibility to get the plugins cheaper, but the more I read up, the more it felt they are regularly on sale every few months.

 

Regarding the sales , nope nope nope. Don't know where you get your intels but last year the only big sale was as usual BF (it lasted almost until xmas) and again they were less important (-40% top on individuals plugins) and -60%, yes but on bundles, and we're talking about pretty big bundles. I actually can prove it, since I went back into my email to find the promo.
Here it is :

Black Friday is on!

Save up to 60% OFF bundles and 40% OFF single plugins





Get ready for some deals that rock. From November 23 through December 9, 2018 you have the opportunity to build your high-end, in-the-box studio while saving up to 60% OFF our bundles and 40% OFF single plugins.





TAUPE - Save 35%

21 analog and digital tape machines - carefully sampled all around Europe - 40 finely crafted programs, 3 consoles, 2 compressors, a dedicated MIX control, authentic dynamic compression, real harmonic saturation and more.


Get it now




EL REY - Save 45%

The 'El Rey' tube compressor plugin was created in collaboration with multiple GRAMMY®-nominated producer, songwriter, musician and mixing engineer Greg Wells and includes exclusive presets from some of the industry's most important names ever.


Learn more




New! - TUBE PACK

A shock therapy for digital sounding mixes. Our new Tube pack includes 9 plugins based on high-end tube analog processors, for a total of 51 preamps, 7 EQ's and 12 compressors.


Get it now




New! MIXING COLLECTION

Your one-stop-shop solution for professional analog mixing in the box. Get 12 select plugins for a total of 136 preamps, 30 EQ's, 31 compressors and an iconic plate reverb.


Learn more




New! MASTERING COLLECTION

Take your masters to the max with 9 powerful processors giving you the absolute best in sound character, mojo and precision thanks to the sound of 58 preamps, 10 EQ's and 12 compressors.


As you can see there was only 40% top (it was very variable) discounts for individual plugins, the rest even at -60% were still 8 to 12 plugins pack, which even at -60% is....ouch.
What they have all year long is they launch new plugins highly discounted (indeed usually around -50 or -70 %) and that includes updated products. So El Rey 2 will probably be highly discounted. It won't come out tomorrow, but it will be somewhen next year.

Last year they prolonged the sale up until the 18th of December.

 

Last edited: Dec 8, 2019

Okay awesome, thanks for that. Haven`t found any bundles at the current sale, but with the BF deals and mostly 70% off it is cheaper anyways I guess.

So probably a good time to maybe get one or two more with that 70% off and that additional coupon. After some more testing I underrated Diamond EQ3 a lot. Especially on the mixbus for electronic music that needs some more depth and clarity this thing is magic. I think I need to get that for sure. I also tested Pensado EQ, it feels different more subtle, bus still very musical and can be used on pretty much everything I guess. I think I am covered with enough EQs for now though and maybe I can get the Pensado EQ with a discount at a later point 130€ is a bit much tbh. Better get Diamond EQ and save the rest or get another plugin instead I think.

With El Rey, I actually think when the mix is already good on electronic stuff, it might make it a bit smoother, but it is not the biggest difference. On that one slower pop track I am mixing it is kind of magic though. I am not doing much of this kind of stuff lately though So propably makes more sense to get what I need right now, and for electronic stuff Diamond EQ seems way more important than El Rey (plus I have Taupe and also Softube Tape to add some color/smoothness). The problem I am having is that it is a really specific plugin with a few controls, and it will work or it won`t. On the other side El Rey for 108€, if it will even be this cheap with the release of El Rey2? Such a hard decision, especially because now I used it for a bit, I want to try it in every mix

 

I agree with you regarding Diamond EQ 3, its simple look is deceiving, it's a deadly weapon. Few bands but really well placed, and kind of magic. And about El Rey. It's really either right or not according to the source.
I can't garantee anything regarding next El Rey version. It should exist if Wells and Acustica don't have a fallout, lol, that's all I can speculate on.
What I can say is that at launch last year it was 18€ more as it is today (found my receip, bought it when it was launch), but you could apply your voucher to it so I got it at around 70€.
The question is will they add other stuffs to it beside tweaking the compressor (unique eq from Greg Wells batcave or whatever) that justifies a price rise ? If they do I don't think they'll highly rise the price as it is already one of their most expensive plugs.
So if you're short on euros right now, waiting one more year is possible.

 

Okay thanks for looking that up. I think I will go for Diamond EQ3, makes more sense right now and wait a bit what happens with El Rey.
Also thinking about getting Gold as well. I already have Navy but it seems Gold adds more color and is pretty great to bring some depth to a sound. Navy seems to be more upfront, making it sound big and more clean. I think both could complement each other well. And to get it for 48€, well might be another good weapong in the arsenal? Or am I covered with Navy for Neve stuff?

 

Last edited: Dec 8, 2019

Love Navy2, the new version is extremely nice. It's Neve alright but indeed more "contained" than Gold, good complement probably. Both are dripping mojo, G3 slightly more "in your face". More choices of eq units, and pre, but "simply" two compressors (and I love the comps on Gold).

 

Yes I felt so too this is why I got Navy2. This is so difficult. Instead of Gold3 I am thinking about Scarlett instead for finishing a track. I felt it gave everything a great finish and added a dimension that was just amazing. Actually a bit similar like El Rey that it gives depth, but of course way more flexbile cause it is an EQ. Might be maybe better than having another Neve channelstrip and as master comps I have that SSL one in Sad and also Magenta, plus Taupe to color and Diamond EQ to boost some lows/highs. Combining them with Scarlett could be great what do you think? And if know the plugins I got in and out, I could still get Gold3 to add some more Neve vibe.

(Btw I also tested Azure, but I felt Scarlett kept the transients a bit better, where Azure was a bit warmer/smoother).

 

Aha. Tough to choose indeed. forgot to mention Azure (and Ruby), indeed mastering eq too.
It would be a wise move in the sense that you already have many plugs for tracking and mixing, so Scarlett for the final stage, it wouldn't be a bad choice. I've said earlier and in another thread all the good I think of Scarlett. It's great, precise but in a natural nice way, less, hum, "pointy" than say Ivory.
I'm always amazed by how much you can push it while still being very respectfull of the material you're working on.

 

Maybe I shouldn't check my email inbox anymore.. don't know what will happen if I get another coupon (but only it's at least 20% ;-)

Edit: 20% came in

What is the highest loyalty coupon you can get?

 

Last edited: Dec 8, 2019

Dude I feel the same, they problem is, I tasted AA blood, now I can`t go back
I will get Diamond EQ as well, and I am really thinking about getting Scarlett, never touched an EQ that is so smooth, yet giving so much space.

 

Max is 55% (between 3000€ and 10000€ spent). It's applicable on sales, at least so far.
The only products it's sometimes not applicable are endorsed ones : for PensadoEQ my 55% became 35% max, for Wells comp I could use the 55%, the studio DMI ones (diamond, lift), Ruby and Azure I think I couldn't use it. Not sure for those, but they were highly discounted at launch time. It can be fluctuent. For PensadoEQ we weren't suppose to be able to use our vouchers, even reduced. People asked for that to change, et voila, AA decided to issue reduced vouchers to all its customers.
They re-issue some as soon as you use one. So yeah. If you use the one you have now, you'll get another real quick.

 

Thanks @Talmi! Well, I'm not close to the 55% - not yet..
I also got Diamond Color EQ and El Rey and this has to be it for a while!
But then.. Maybe Aquamarine, Magenta, Scarlet and Pensado EQ

Thanks again!

 

No problem !
The ones you picked are great, plenty of flavors and tools to keep you warm for a while. Enjoy !

 

Thanks @Talmi also from me!

I got Diamond EQ3 and Scarlett as an addition. Scarlett just sounded really great on some electronic tracks and gave them some great space and warmth. El Rey is on my list for another time I did really no expect to get so many AA plugins but I did not even spent 400€ and got Magenta, Sand, Navy, Taupe, Diamond EQ and Scarlett. I think that is pretty good. And I feel they really add something unique, I have not found before, they give me so much inspiration and I feel I can really shape sound now, especially with the EQs, before it was just a technical process, not these EQs give life to the sound. Also got the LiquidSonics bundle. Together with these AA plugins

@au38wzh that is dope, have fun with them!

 

Great purchases man ! Yeah 7th heaven from liquidsonic must be awesome.
Less than 400 for those 6 packages is a great investement. Uniqueness is the word, feel like a painter with my acquas (and not the industrial type !), they give imo another meaning to the sound shaping process indeed.
Have fun !

 

Thanks buddy! And I can totally recommend Seventh Heaven and Illusion. They are game changes in my opinion like the AA plugins. My vocals never felt so right in a mix, the same goes with drums. Really really recommend it

And a quick question about the activation of the AA plugins. It says one has 5 activations but it can only run on two computers at the same time. What does that actually mean? If I for example want to use another computer, I need the third activation and have to deactivate one of the two computers that I currently use the plugins on? And can I also completely remove a computer so I get an activation back or do I only have five computers overall that I can use them on over time?

 

Didn't even know it's two computers max, although I have them on two. 5 authorization slots for some, others I don't know why I have 10.
To deactivate you can do it in aquarius. In the update tab (which I still can't access anymore, that's why it annoys me). Just select deauthorize in the list (where you can also uninstall) and confirm it by hitting the button deauthorize, you should see one less activation used for the selected plug. You don't have to uninstall, so if you want to use with several computer, you'll have to deauthorize some to not exceed the limit.
Don't forget to unauthorize one slot at least if you install them all on many computers (like once you've done two, deauthorize one, to have a slot available), since it authorizes automaticaly when you do the install. So you need a slot available anytime you install.

Cheers for the recommandation, I've been meaning to test those for a while now. Gonna give them a ride.

 

Last edited: Dec 8, 2019

Okay thanks. So If I deactivate one computer completely I get a slot back?
And they have an amazing sale, but only until today, so if you have some cash left, get in there

 

Yeah, you install it authorizes, and if you deauthorizes it frees that slot. The 5 slots number exist because you can authorize offline (and in this case you can't unauthorize), so you can have 4 slots used and yet an acqua installed only on one computer. I think you can actually use those 5 slots, and the max number of 2 is the number of slots you can use at the same time. It's for people like me who offload acquas on another setup, with Vienna, so they can run two at the same time.
Yeah I see it's the end of the sale. I've behaved for this BF but this might be the tentation that makes me trip over the line.

 

Okay great, so as longs as I do it online I can deactivate/activate new devices without a problem, as long as I have a free slot. If I deactivate a device online, the slot will also become free again.

Haha yes, well you convinced me from going from one AA plugin to A LOT more than I thought I need. I have used 7th Heaven only for a bit, but I think I can`t live without it anymore . Really love it, also together with AA plugins, next level.