Please share a plugin that you've been getting a lot of use from lately no matter how old or new it is using the format below if you can, but all input is welcome. Share an image or video of the plugin and a reason you've been into it lately. I'll start.

NI Driver.

It's always been a great plugin in it's own right and Native Instruments nail their dirty fx down. I'm always into anything they release if it's to do with distortion. They make basslines sound so good and gritty even in the sub regions. So mean and aggressive. I love it.

 

In every single project I have multiple instances of:

- Pro-Q 3
- DMG Audio Trackmeter
- Kazrog Kclip
- Klanghelm MJUC
- Pro-L 2
- NI Raum

Those are my go to for basic tweaks.

Now, for plugins I only recently started to use and found to be quite useful I can list Zynaptiq's "PITCHMAP" and "WORMHOLE". I found that I can achieve fast and GOOD results with them when it comes to ambience and similar sfx. (sorry, don't have any pics here rn, hope I can get away with it haha)

 

I've re-discovered Synthmaster lately, cause I needed a very light on CPU synth, and I'm surprised how versatile it is. Very underated synth IMHO.

 

I couldn't get it down to one.
Psychic Modulation: Pulse Code, Phenec 2, Vectomelt.
Kontakt: Rigid Audio
G-Force: ImpOSCar2
FabFilter
U-He
Reaper: realimit
Valhalla
Kush: Omega 458A
Eventide: Blackhole

 

AudioThing Wires for me. Haven't encountered such flavour of distortion before, surprisingly very usable for the sounds I'm going for.

 

That goes on so many of my channels as well. You mentioned NI Raum which is mental too.

Try Dune, it's also light on cpu. Vanguard is very old but super light on cpu and very decent sounding especially with the right effects. I've been using Albino 3 again for some old school sounds while also getting accidental psytrance sounds too lol but it's also super light on cpu. I love synths that don't punish your system, you can also go crazy with sound design because of a large amount of instances.

They actually can't put out enough plugins fast enough for me. These guys rock! I love anything they put out. They have an interesting take on their plugins, fx and their delivery. I can't wait for their next one. If you need something to take a trip down time then it's for you.

Another interesting synth that's low on cpu but is different than the rest of the synths. You mention Valhalla which is universally loved so I think that's going to come up in a lot of peoples posts. Eventide Blackhole gets so creatively whacky, I love that one too. I love it for the opposite reason I love Valhalla.

Haven't played with that one yet but I do love spring reverbs and wire plugins like this. Love anything that's rather unusual which has a specialty reason for existing.

 

started to use kontakt again, and ample sound for the first time

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Jon V Fircomp 2 is used in multiple instances when I'm working. Employed when I want the advantage of compression without altering the character of a signal, it's the tool I reach for. It is zero latency in normal mode and only 1.5 milliseconds when switched to lookahead to nail down spiky transients. Yum. It's cheap too.

 

In my project I use a lot:
Synth and Kontakt library
-Reveal Sound Spire 1.5
-Lennar Digital Sylenth 1
-Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2 (for pad)
-U-HE Zebra 2 (for pluck)
-NI Battery 4 and his factory compressor
-Serum
-Slate Digital ANA 2 and KICK 2
-Kontakt 6: Alicia Keys and NI Komplete library


FX PLUGIN etc
-Arts Acoustic Reverb
-API 2500 (Waves)
-Waves Renaissance Axx and RComp
-Waves OneKnob Phatter
-Waves Linear Phase EQ low
-Waves H-delay
-Lexicon PCM
-Cubase Factory EQ (simple and effective) and compressor
-FabFilter Pro-C2 (for sidechain)
-FabFilter Pro-Q3
-FabFilter Pro-L
-NI Supercharger GT (I use this plugin in the parallel compression in my kicks), Raum and Replika XT
-MeldaProduction MMultiAnalyzer

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2021

my current favorite payware plugin is still Shade, and free is DSP56300 emulator of Virus. frequently together.
"other FX" I like Rift, Thermal, OTT, LFO tool, Endless Smile, Kickstart.

 

the inner modulators of Shade, FabPlugins can be connected nicely to the macro architecture of S1

I'm using S1 with Cubase VSTs (Halion, GA5) etc. and Shade,Fabs plugings at this moment as goto plugins

S1 can see the pads of GA5 so the integration is even better than in Cubase https://i.ibb.co/RcqXHSJ/s1d.png

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2021

Lately I've been taking a deep dive into Line 6 POD Farm and finding it quite useful. I own a hardware unit with the same technology as well (POD X3) so I wanted to explore its capabilities. I started working with it with the goal of finding a few good tones that I could use live as well. Turns out that the sounds are very much usable despite its age. And if you use disable the inbuilt cabs and use the amps with IRs they sound way better.

Amp models like the Big Bottom and the Criminal are classics for high gain, but I found a few more great models that I hadn't spent too much time with before, namely the Spinal Puppet, Purge, and Chemical X models. Also there are a few great bass amp models as well. The Rock Classic and the Adam and Eve models come to mind.

However, one application I hadn't used it before was for processing mics for vocals. The preamp models present in the program add a nice colour and character when using the drive knobs and have quite a few EQ controls for shaping the tone as well. The American Classic and Vintage UK sound particularly great for this option. These days I have an instance of POD Farm running in REAPER and use it to process my voice for meetings or for Discord calls. I have a noise gate, the Vintage UK preamp, and the LA-2A compressor model followed by a de-esser in my chain and it sounds awesome!

 

Not an FX, but instrument. Currently testing Algonaut Atlas and I'm convinced that this will, unlike the 30th pseudo-analog compressor plugin or another Fabfilter copycat EQ, add real value to my current toolset. Imagine finally having a way to quickly overview, audition and use your collection of drum samples and so far I can say: it works. Haven't had so much fun creating drum loops (with the built-in sequencer (which you don't need to use, you can also work with your DAW drum roll / piano roll to trigger the samples. Did I mention it's on sale at half the regular price? (no, I don't get paid by the developer)

 

I once had the free version, which I liked very much. It even had the Fender reverb amp with the built in Spring, if I remember correctly. After I reinstalled my machine I couldn't find the free version anymore. Does anyone know whether it's still available?

 

Believe it or not: fxpansion Guru. I almost always start my drums with It (and many times it stays until the end of the project).

 

I checked the site and it says: POD Farm 2.5 FREE is not a separate product. It is a demo mode that gets enabled when POD Farm 2.5 is installed without a license.
So what you need to do is just download it from the Line 6 website in the Downloads section and install it.

 

Same here, I don't know why people haven't thought that before, such a good way to just stir up ideas. I found a bunch of good stuff just randomly creating new kits, it's amazing. Now is the right time to get it.

 

Cymatics Origin vst lofi/Chorus/Saturation/Tape noise... if your after noise from old tape machines this is my go to

 

It's not on the sis site...

 

For me hands down the best Bass-guitar/sub-bass eq,
with modo-bass I don't even bother to set the pitch/time settings because it works great as is.

it also works great for lowering the fundamental frequencies of a vocal when close proximity is overdone
(intentionally or unintentionally)