Best plugins for vocals?

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Skycries57

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Hello, was wondering what are the best medium priced(75-300$) plugins for Sonar XL 2.2 when doing vocals at home? Just looking to somewhat simulate the clarity and punch on vocals on most top 40/rock stations,etc.
Right now I have a M Audio DMP3 preamp,SM58 mic,Sonar 2.2 XL,Wavelab 4.0. Thanks for all the help? Peter ><>
 
I am gonna get roasted by some of the purists around here but I think the Antares autotune, used sparingly, is a great plug in. Yeah you can resing the part in tune. Yeah you can mark a file and use a pitch shifter. But for fast results which don't eat up 30 minutes of the day this is just a great plug.

That said, I use it very lightly so that it does not have the Shania Twain sound and it sounds natural.

Cakewalks built in limiter is pretty good. I use and really like the Ultrafunk Suite of plug-ins. They are top quality and sound great. It includes a 5 band Multiband, 6 point parametric EQ, Digital Delay, Phaser, Modulator, Gate, Reverb, Surround and Wah Wah effect.

If your getting up to $300 I would add a little more and get a UAD-1 card. Its dedicated hardware effects processor is one of the best values in homerecording. The limiter and compression on this card come very close to the sounds you will hear on the radio. Or, you can do this externally with and RNC and maybe a used dbx 160, 160X limiter.

You might want to invest in a tube or condensor mic to match with your DMP3. The Marshall V69, Studio Projects low end tube, or better yet you can get the NTK for like $385. All of these will get you closer to a top end vocal.

Sorry I'm getting out of your budget.....
 
I agree with Middleman: Invest in a better mic! Plugins can't emulate the clariness of a good condencor-mic..
 
Dito on the previous comments on mics and frontend, and I'm good for a little roasting myself so...
A software chain that mimics a 'typical' pop radio station would be a great tool to have set up. I think it would be useful to see how a mix reacts to that much processing. But remember that what's happening on the radio (multi-band and who knows what else?) is being done to the intire mix- this may (or may not:D ) be what you want to do to your masters.
That being said:D the Timeworks combo in XL works well for me on vocals and also a second vote for the Ultrafunk pac -which also has a multi-band you'll be needing for the radio effects.
:D :D
Wayne
 
Antares Tube

Howdy -

Just got an email from the Sonar folk flogging, amongst other things, the Antares Tube plug-in.

This is touted as being a true digital modelling on a variety of tube pre-amps referred to by others above. It basically has two "valves" - one a warm, clean tone while the other is more of an overdriven sound.

I just d/l'ed the trial version from the Antares website - it is worth checking out. In the limited time I have fiddled with it -- one hour, three tracks -- it has added clarity, depth and brilliance to my vocal tracks. I think I will buy it.

Haven't tried the "hot" valve yet - so don't know what this sounds like on gtr's etc.

$99 for registered Sonar users. I believe.

Anyone else used this plug-in? Liked it?

Ciao.

Q.
 
I have a good condensor mic. The Tube plug-in really does "lift" these tracks also. AMM sux.

Try it out! (Or just plug in your $500 piece of hardware u bastards!)

:) Q.
 
Qwerty said:
I(Or just plug in your $500 piece of hardware u bastards!)
Click to expand...
That's almost what I payed for my soundcard in Norway. You should be able to get it for half the price...

Inca88 in Norway: 3900 NOK / 7,5 = $520.... :(

Did I mention Norway is expensive?
 
As the general response of this question, I agree... get a nice Large Condenser Microphone.

The best place to start with a bad vocal, other than the singer, is the microphone. ;)

Porter
 
Start with a good sound coming in and your options are much greater and the need to tweak should be much less. Yup - I'm in the get a better mic camp...
 
That's almost what I payed for my soundcard in Norway. You should be able to get it for half the price...

Inca88 in Norway: 3900 NOK / 7,5 = $520.... :(

Did I mention Norway is expensive? [/B]
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Heia Norge!
How is that card when I plan to work with GigaStudio? Is it good? What drivers?
Greetings from Trondheim
 
Jepp, kortet har GSIF-drivere. Jeg har aldri brukt det selv med Gigasampler. Kortet er etter min mening helt topp (hvis du sammenligner med pris...). :)

Jeg bor faktisk i Trondheim selv! Hvor bor du?



English translation: Yep, the card has GSIF-drivers. I've never tested the card with Gigasampler. The card is great IMHO (if you consider the price...) :)

Let this be the norwegian lesson for the day... :D
 
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