Complete Plugin Suite Decision

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhiloBeddoe
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PhiloBeddoe

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I'm replacing my old computer, starting anew, and trying to decide on a complete set of plugins. I'll be running Cubase SX and Wavelab.

I record my only my own material, which is basic hard rock stuff (acoustic drums, guitars, bass, male vocals, that's it).

I'm trying to keep the plugin budget around $1500.00 and I guess I've been focusing on UAD and Waves, although maybe I should consider others. I have some experience with Waves, but none with UAD although I've read great things.

Here's some options I'm considering:
1. UAD UltraPak + Waves Native Power Pack
I thought I'd need the C1 for gating/expanding because I didn't see anything like that in the UAD package and I don't like the gates in Cubase VST/32 that I run currently. Maybe the SX gates are better. Missing from this bunch is a Multiband compressor.

2. UAD Studio Pack + Waves Gold
This moves the mastering stuff like limiting and eq to the Waves products and gives me the C4 and Renaissance stuff. I've used the Renaissance stuff before and it sounded good to me. There's a lot of overlap with this combo.

3. UAD Project Pack + Waves Gold
This is more comfortable for the budget, but then I'm missing out on some of the plugs that UAD is famous for (Cambridge, Fairchild, Dreamverb).

Anyone have any advice or other ideas?

Thanks
 
You might want to consider a UAD-1 / TC Powercore combination. The reverbs on the Powercore are really exceptional, but the dynamics are by all accounts better on the UAD. The Powercore also hosts the Sony plugins, ported from the Sony Oxford, which sound wonderful. People who have both cards seem to be very happy, and I'm looking at adding a UAD card to be neighbors with my Powercore.
The Waves stuff is certainly top notch, though most would say overpriced. I've got some of the Voxengo plugins, which I think are very good and very reasonable. And Digital Fishphones has some good stuff that no one can argue about the price (free). There's lot's of other stuff out there that is good quality without breaking the bank, so I find, for me anyway, that it makes sense to spend money on DSP based, and then pick out the creme of the resonable and free native plugs.

Cheers,
RD
 
Thanks for the reply. It looks like that is not really in my budget anymore since, from what I can tell, the Powercore Element and PCI are no longer available. There is now only the Powercore PCI mkII, which is $1199.00. I guess they're trying to directly compete with the UAD Ultrapack, but they have no scaled down option like UAD's Project or Studio pack. They do have the Powercore Compact Firewire for $699.00 though. Seems like a strange product line.
 
I really like the Ultrafunk Sonitus Bundle, and is killer (especially the Multiband, Reverb, and Modulator plugins). However I'm not sure if they are available as a bundle anymore as Cakewalk purchased them, and are now included with Sonar. The Waves plugins are good stuff (C4 is a really effective multiband). Can't speak about the UAD stuff, but the Powercore plugins are definitely good.
 
I'm a fan of more economical solutions.

The Kjaerhus Audio Golden Compressor is a wonderful-sounding, easy to use solution for most of my compression and expansion needs.

Also for multiband squishing, poking and prodding I use the Wave Arts Multidynamics 5.
 
ssscientist said:
I'm a fan of more economical solutions.
Click to expand...
Read: Cheap-Skate :D

I'll double a vote for the Kjaerhus compressor, it is good.
I'm also a fan of PSP plugins and for my general weirdness, it's hard to top OhmForce.

Links:
PSP
http://www.pspaudioware.com/indexen.html?url=http://www.pspaudioware.com/plugins/vintage.html;

OhmForce
http://www.ohmforce.com/HomePage.do;jsessionid=C12D558BCA9B9B46F57835477AE83AA1

Sonitus:FX Suite
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Sonitus/sonitus.asp
 
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