outboard gear and pluggins

[philmeup]

has any one compared outboard gear and software pluggins ,waves etc.

 

[Massive Master]

I think everyone that's had the chance has.

My take -

I'm a former hardware junkie turned plugin jockey turned "reborn" hardware addict. But it really depends on the situation... I'm totally comfortable mixing "in the box" using plugs. UAD are far and away my favorite (sold my Waves collection around two years ago - Although the X-Hum is sorely missed sometimes).

On the 2-buss, it's different - Haven't found a dynamics plug that I like mixing into or mastering with. Some plugin EQ's are wonderful. Haven't found the "magic" 2-buss dynamics plug though. But dynamics are hardly a "linear" thing (as many EQ's are) and trying to emulate analog dynamics in the digital domain is evidently quite a nightmare for the plugin designers...

 

[Hollowdan]

I have a feeling that in the next few years we will all be working mostly "inside the box" With that said however, we will still need good stuff in front of the box. Good mic's, Good mic pre's, Good compressor's, Good cable's, and Good EQ's among other things. So, if your asking everyone if they think you should spend millions of dollars on outboard gear because you think it may sound a tiny little bit better than the stuff inside the box that emulates it? the answer is NO! Spend your money on good mics and pre's and compressors. Everything else is irrelevant because no matter wether it sounds a tiny bit better or worse we will all be mixing and mastering inside the box in ten years regardless. Oh yeah, don't forget the single most important thing before the box (aside from talent that is lol) THE CONVERTERS "go apogee or go home" LOL I like that, but there are other great converters as well, UA makes an awesome one too.

 

[ryanlikestorock]

I find that every effect - in or outside the box - has its own feel. Knowing what any given effect is going to do to your track is a lot more important than whether or not it's in a box.

I tend to do most of my drum eqing on the way in because I like the sound of these eqs I've got on those particular instruments more than any of the plugins. Also, plugin settings can be easily changed which is nice when a track needs tweeking.

Also, I find most outboard gear can be pushed a bit harder than plugins without crapping out. It's rare, but sometimes you need 6db of eq and most of those Waves plugins can't handle it smoothly.

 

[SonicAlbert]

I think a problem is the "either, or" mentality. Both plugins and hardware have their uses. For sheer beauty of sound nothing beats high quality analog, or even high quality outboard digital units.

There are many sounds you can get with hardware outboard that you simply cannot duplicate with plugins. And the same is true the other way around as well.

So my own opinion is to have a good selection of both.