Hardware Outboard vs Software Plugins

[Waffleness]

Hello all,

At the minute I am using the default Cubase 4 VST Dynamics plugin for all my gate and compressor needs. I have used many a hardware module in live engineering (Drawmer, BSS, Behr... ignore that one). I was wondering whether you thought the money you would pay to upgrade to a hardware module was worth it?

At the minute, I am happy using the Cubase default plugin. Seems to do an ok job for my needs. Not sure what they says about my mixing, but whatever . Do you find software plugins to be comparable to the hardware?

W

 

[Massive Master]

I'm on the fence at the mixing stage -- I'm generally a hardware nut, but I'm pretty happy mixing ITB (well technically, I still prefer summing in analog, but I don't have too many issues with well-recorded digital).

Sometimes, if a track or two is really asking for it, the drum buss might go through a VariMu or something.

Otherwise, I'd go as far as to say that I make an attempt to stay ITB during mixing until I'm actually summing it. And if it wouldn't be apparent, the mastering phase is another story...