Not really one-knob, but the free small editions of the Klanghelm plugins are quite capable, particularly DC1A for basic compression tasks and IVGI for basic saturation / distortion.

For EQ you could use something like the free Tokyo Dawn Slick EQ or SonEQ with a limited number of bands and parameters. Or just use the stock EQ of your DAW, since there will be no way around learning basic EQing (which isn't too difficult) if you want to learn the fundamentals of music production and mixing.

 

Last edited: Feb 19, 2024

There is also STL Tones ControlHub, which (if I understand correctly) contains typical processing chains for various types of signals designed by audio engineers. So if your girlfriend wants to process for example an electric bass guitar, she could quickly load up such a preset that already contains EQ, compression and saturation settings for that type of signal and ideally this would improve the sound. Haven't tried it myself, but it's on sister site!

 

"start with" not "stay with"...

 

you have to learn how to mix to make music, even if its a basic mix. you have to know how loud you want the drums, the bass, the rest of the instruments. do you want to double any of the instruments - where do you want to pan them, how do you create an envelope and why etc.

 

Dont' forget about:

Me

 

are you talking about Kilohearts? they weren't really one knob but they were extremely simple.
as for your main question: someone else said to get some romplers, so she doesn't have to bang her head against the wall to make simple sounds. just get her nexus/korg m1+triton/any of the other romplers so she experiments with all the different sounds. its just pick and choose.
you could always get a soundfont player and grab some packs. going even more back, just use the midi standards
i would get her to focus more on the composition part rather than the mixing, but again that all depends on what her goals are. i assume its something just for fun/a hobby. in that case i would spend 60-70 euros for a small midi keyboard with some keys and at least a few knobs so you can introduce her to automations in real time, which is always fun
good luck to both of u

 

i would agree but be careful with the words. how many musicians have made music and didn't even know the basics of a mix? you're talking about a producer. but yes, of course if you make music on a daw it's obviously important to have at least a basic understanding of volume balancing, etc.

 

ERA 6 Reverb Remover Pro
It's not only one knob, but it's the best in the world of its kind.

 

There are the Ranger plugins from SPL in PA bundle. They are ok.

Sonalksis has a few in their all bundle which are also 1 knob wonders.

There are 8 such plugins in Waves bundles. (or more now).

Softube Saturation Knob is a decent freebie.

I will think of some others. But you really have to take them all with some kind of grain of salt. They usually aren't the "best" at anything.

 

Waves signature stuff could fit he bill, like CLA, Greg Wells, Manny Marroquin and etc, also iZotope Neutron for sure, it can get her long way and it's inviting for newcomers. Definitely Dada Life plugins, especially Endless Smile.

On instrument side, that depends on kind of music she is into, but overall, Nexus with handful of on point banks can go long way, Toontrack stuff too, just don't overload her with options.

 

oh, i'm guilty. I didn't read the first post. I wouldn't give someone new to this stuff any of these.

I would give them Fabfilter. Valhalla Vintage Verb. DAW stock. Nothing else.

 

agree with @Xupito Ezmix. Epic beginners, singer songwriters plugin. Helping me get more jobs for a really long time now. ;)

 

if you are recording anything, whether computer or stand alone recording devices, you have to learn about levels, then when you have 2 or more recordings you have to learn about levels and balancing and mixing or quit in frustration. I'm primarily a musician and composer, but I learned when I started recording myself and my ideas, I had to be my own engineer and mixer and also arranger and producer.

if you limit your knowledge, you will limit your ideas.

Thats why its good to teach her the basic elements, so she can understand what all those other terms mean like, arranger, and producer and mastering etc, when they eventually become part of the conversation.

Thats why I wouldn't start her out with a barrel of plugins no matter how simple. 1st you need a good recording and 2nd you need a good arrangement. Then you can start down the endless road of plugin madness, it seems to be an addiction for some, that obliterates the entire original idea of producing ones music.

 

I personally never tried them but i heard that LANDR offers a decent one knob mixing suite.
https://www.landr.com/plugins/landr-fx-suite Check it out. Might be worth it.

 

Ya the disable knob

 

Ah I forgot about them. Thanks for the reminder.

As for the people suggesting romplers. I'm all over the VSTi / romplers side of things. On her old computer I got her set up with Omnisphere, Keyscape, XLN XO, and she uses a couple of DAW stock ones too. So she's familiar-ish with those already. On the new computer I'll add all the Teletone stuff, some Native Instruments stuff, and few Ujam things. Plus a few others that slip my mind right now.

As for the people suggesting Reaper, I couldn't think of a less beginner friendly DAW lol.
I went with Studio One. The drag and drop element makes things super easy, it looks inviting, everything is laid out in front of you (rather than having to mostly dig through drop down menus like Reaper), and most importantly I use Studio One myself so any time she gets stuck I can help out quickly.

I'm gonna avoid installing the mega bundle stuff like Waves and Plugin Alliance. I don't want to overwhelm her with hundreds of plugins. I'd install the One Knob plugins and be done with it otherwise.

Gonna be sticking mostly with stock Studio One plugs and a handful of niche simple ones that she can pull up without thinking. The Sonible Pure series is gold for this intent. Getting her into flow state is the main goal. This isn't about developing the next Sylvia Massey or something. She has a different career path she's passionate about already, this is just a side thing. Trying to encourage her creative side without it being some big mountain to climb. There's a reason I'm looking specifically for simple plugins. They have to be not only beginner friendly but also ADHD friendly. I'm just trying to brainstorm which ones are the best options. And by "best", I mean best crossover of simple/intuitive and sound quality. Don't need advice on beginner philosophy.

 

Muse FX? They are all pretty much one-,knobs and might fit the bill exactly.

https://www.musehub.com/

 

WA productions The worm
Heavyocity Punish

 

Any thoughts on Techivation plugins?

 

I personally found the name "Techivation" to be banal, the box arrived on my doorstep, battered and brown and unimpressive. I installed the plugin, the instructions were in some variation of Cantonese, my iphone had an aneurysm attempting to translate it. After installation and a 48 hour period of endless updates, i finally got to to try it out and the knob kept coming off in my hand. Obviously poorly constructed plugin, the mouse cursor kept digging grooves into the 2nd rate photons used to construct the onscreen apparition.

After 42 frustrating weeks, the song was ready. I raised the volume and it destroyed my monitors. killed my cat and caused several nearby autos to burst into flame.

If you can put up with the niggling defects, obviously the finished product is well worth the time and effort.

- from Sound on Sound June 2024 review of Techivation Plug ins