AS it follows from the title the thread is about stock plugins only.

Ok, my main DAW is Sonar, so, I use its plugins and my favorite is Sonitus Delay (seems it selebrated its 25th anniversary)...
I put it almost on everything and everywhere, no CPU load and good sound.
But also I have another DAWs installed, but use them just for testing plugins, sounds etc...any way, Sonar, while scanning, grabs everything, that is VST/VSTi and adds it to the library.
This way (even didn't supposing it), I found VST from another DAWs...
and some of them became my working horses.
For example Pianissimo (piano from Acoustica Mixcraft), its a really good instrument...
or TRW-1 Vacuum Tube Triode Warmer it's a transient shaper/enhancer/saturator (shorter 3 in 1), and it's better than Cakewalk's transient shaper...
or XBass 4000L Bass Enhancer this plug makes the bass fuller and warmer (all listed are from Mixcraft).

So, could you share your experience with sock plugins:
name your DAWs versions, 32 or 64 bit, and cool plugins they have on the board, ok?

 

This is one I like to use: PreSonus - Studio One - 64 Bit - Groove Delay

 

I don't put too much stock in stock plugins as long as the basics are there. These days there are so many great freeware plugins people are spoiled for choice.
It seems silly to me when DAWs come out with a new major version are are like "Look, we added a new reverb and some samples, here's the 50GB installer!"

What I think is much more important is providing an open development environment that allows users to create their own plugins/scripts that add new functionality.
The quality and number of ReaScripts has improved dramatically, and it's great you can browse and add them without leaving the program. I'm sure Max For Live has some amazing stuff too, but the Max add-on alone costs many multiples of Reaper.


Also, I couldn't care less about stock plugins when developers do dickish things like dropping 32-bit or VST2 support.

 

Last edited: Jan 22, 2023

i've found the Tukan plugins that i got by adding the github address via reapack and downloading from within reaper, to be great, some of my favourites...nicely crafted UI and very responsive, plus the developer, Tukan studios (John), is very attentive in updating and improving them

here's a video on his youtube channel (john matthews)

 

Last edited: Jan 22, 2023

I use Sonar as well... the channel strips aren't bad at all but that's about it.

 

Most Logic stocks are good.
Sonitus multiband is good. Used it for a LONG time.
Cubase Quadrafuzz v2 rules

 

These men made a comparison (blind test) of stock and premium plugins:

The Shocking Truth About Pro Tools Stock Plugins


https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/pr...-shocking-truth-about-pro-tools-stock-plugins

test your ears there

 

Are Studio One Stock Plugins Good? (In-Depth Look)
www.homemusicmaker.com/studio-one-stock-plugins-good

Top 5 Studio One Stock Effect Plugins

 

I installed Sonar X3 just to get the Sonitus plugins back all these years later LOL! (I use Reaper nowadays though). Sonitus Reverb is one of my goto's. As you said, low cpu usage across that plugin set, and a decent sound, especially if I have no idea what reverb sound I am going for at that point in time and just want things to be less dry. Just slap it on and away I go with tracking more parts etc. Then later on I can replace it with something more specific, but sometimes it sticks around until the end of the mix because it does sound good and is certainly nothing to grumble about. Quick and easy to use. Even the modulator is pretty good for some misc use cases - it has a kind of generic sound but sometimes that is exactly what I need.

I have a lot of other plugins but when I started making recordings back when I was 14 (I am 34 now so it was a long time ago), I had... well it might have been Cakewalk Guitar Tracks 2.0 back then to be honest but I am sure it still had the Sonitus FX, but then I got Sonar later on. Anyway my point is, I know those plugins like the back of my hand because I had almost no plugins back then. In fact, I loved it so much that I wanted it on my POD as a guitar effect - It was never to be, but nowadays I can just throw it onto my guitar when tracking / playing live with my CPU rig if I want. Haha. Times change, but sometimes... the old plugins are still golden. While Sonar X3 is pretty much unusable now - slow, unstable, and well behind the times... its installer is still very useful for that plugin set. :D.

 

I know this isn't going to be a popular choice, but if I were to judge a DAW based on it's stock plugins, what they cover and how well they sound/work it would probably be either PT Ultimate or Logic X.

If you really have a lot of time, few deadlines, understand signal processing and like to create you devices and understand the logic behind them, Bitwig could throw it's hat in there. GridFX is amazing and I've made quite a few interesting devices but it's not for the preset-hounds or the instant results crowd. It's a niche for sure but an honourable mention.

 

I'm glad that Sonitus still include in the new Cakewalk bandlab.
I use sonar too, I use some ProChannel module a lot like QuadCurve EQ because it quick and easy lol.

Love Reason plugins too. In the old era that Reason not support VST and RE they have some good plugins (Thor, Subtractor, Kong, Redrum, RV7000, Scream 4 etc.)

 

Hi there DonCabllero what plugins are those in your GIF? Never seen them before.

 

Patcher, Fruity Soft Clipper, Fruity Waveshaper, Fruity Limiter, Fruity Convolver (FL Studio)

 

I heard from a mastering engineer i trust that the stock Logic compressor is extremely analog sounding

 

Those are Plugins for Reaper...so many created by volunteers, too.
I have just begun trying some.

In the past my rule has been: If a plugin requires learning, use a 3rd party one that can be used with multiple DAWs.
That way the learning is not wasted if changing DAWs. Of course many FX plugins don't need much learning...
And i, too loved Sonitus easy and light FX and those were my first ... and at the time, I loved the drum kit in the Studio Instruments...

I think FL Studio FX are very good especially integrated and excellent within the DAW.
Also some of FL Studio instruments are highly regarded: Harmor & Sytrus, I believe, but I barely used them ... (my "learning" rule and most synths require learning)

But I think i will be using only Reaper.
Studio One I still do not use much. I WANT to like it more, because I have these:

 

I'm an Ableton user but my vote goes to Logic Pro. From Fx plugins to Synths to stock sounds/Apple Loops, it's the clear winner to my ears. Alchemy gets a special mention. I know some YouTube channels that are making entire songs from start to finish only using Alchemy.