Well, i always try to have as little as possible regarding plugins. I dont like to have 100 plus plugins while i will use just 3 or 4 of that specific pack.

Since the beginning of my mixing journey i was always looking for the best L2A Compressor emulation, the best reverb, the best everything. And just some days ago started using just the Fab plugins, and let me say this... those plugins are the only thing you ever need for mixing and even mastering (even though i love Izotope Ozone for mastering, its amazing).

The compressor from Fabfilter as got all the different types of comps you need, you got a vocal one, etc.
The reverb its awesome and very customizable, but even with the stock preset that comes as soon as you open the plugin its almost all you need for vocal reverb or if you want to use it on drums, you adjust it a little and done.
Now, what truly shines from this pack IMO its the saturator, damn, its good... i was using Softube one knob saturation but this one its much better.
The EQ its very good too, it was hard for me at first to use it since its big in UI desing, but using the scaling function to small seems to fit for me.

Well, what do you say? i want to know some other opinions, the stock Reaper plugins are another ones that seems to have everything, people dont like these for the UIs, but who cares really?

 

Fabfilter is worth the hype & perfectly balanced in terms of sound, features, gui, and cpu efficiency.

 

wait, how do I phase align my multi mic recordings with fabfilter plugins ?


EDIT : because reading the question is important. Also who needs compressor ? let's just volume ride these 80 tracks like it's 1950s.

 

Last edited: Jan 1, 2022

Nah. Best thing i did was swap out Pro Q for Crave.

 

Fabfilter is good. "Industry standard" by this point. But there are other plugins from other developers that I prefer, believe it or not.

L2A? You mean LA2A?

 

As a basic set of plugins I agree.
There're comparable options, sometimes it's about taste, but they're at least up there. For instance someone said before he prefers Crave EQ, but even so most Crave users will tell you they also like Pro-Q. Unless they're fanboys/haters.

For other more complex or unusual things it's another thing, but I think it's not the OPs point.

 

They're Excellent, Tops, specially Pro-Q3..

That being said:
1.- They do have a sound/character of their own (like everything else)

2.- Some of them are not designed to work in M/S mode, like Pro-C,
which lets you work on the M part or the S part of the signal individually, but not with Both at the same time..

For that you need to use two instances and do some routing,
or use a LR to MS converter Pre and Post.. all of which is not direct, or too kosher imo

So yeah if you want a true M/S compressor, you're out of luck :P

3.-Also some stuff can be better for certain applications..
For instance I love Pro-Q3, it's my default instrument Filter/EQ, (unless if I want some analog emulation mojo, or smth special..)
but for Mastering I much prefer DMG EQuilibrium.. which is much more technically Advanced and Pristine.

And that's it,
Great tools, Excellent.
Yet not completely for everything

 

Last edited: Jan 2, 2022

Manually

 

Fabfilter Manually ?

 

Naw. Manually in your DAW.

 

This right here is a winner, I thought I were the only one in the world. I haven't looked back since then.

 

no bro,
Manually Fabfilter!

 

Not meant for that I guess, but you can try an all pass filter in the new version of Volcano. It kinda does the trick.

 

I still use FabFilters' all the time but something in me kicked in telling me to try something new so I'm finding iZotope Neutron "Pro" plugins just as good.

 

I wish they would create a DAW! because they have all the tools

 

but their gui's are boring and cheap, i love something looking like an analog device

so, i don't use them

 

I believe you made a typo and meant 'Sonnox'.

 

ha ha just like a few women i know! i prefer anal device

 

As always this site is very responsive about ideas and stuff, that its what i like about this site...

So, now i discovered there is another EQ called "Crave EQ" and some prefer it, i wonder why? the function of an EQ its the same.
You can tell me about phase issues and stuff like that, but bear in mind that i am not a PRO musician so stuff like M/S or picky stuff its not what i search for. So there is that too.

Oh yeah i meant LA2A.

GUIs are not important for me now, when i was more immature i wanted nice looking graphics, but that wont make your mix sound better lol.

 

Most people will never admit emulation plugins are 90% hype... if sitting around wondering if a plugin added "warmth" is why you make music then its safe to say you in this business to ultimately be a consumer..

If you here to make records and make money you already know all the basic free tools you have at your disposal is techinically "all you need"