FattMusiek
New member
Just a friendly little topic 
Jeyan
New member
I prefer racks and I still dont trust software plugins. When you have a dedicated processor running for an effect in a rack, you will definitely get reliable output. Plugins put more effort on your computer and I dont think they would come any closer to racks. This is just my opinion, lets hear it from other too. By teh way I just noticed that you are from Virginia. Where do you buy your gears?
malcolm123
New member
FattMusiek said:Just a friendly little topic
Depends on when and what they may need to be applied to.
Malcolm
Blue Bear Sound
New member
I have yet to hear a plug-in reverb that didn't sound like crap! (A good example are the verbs that come with Cubase VST and SX... total garbage...)FattMusiek said:Just a friendly little topic
Now I'm sure there are some good (read, expensive) add-ins that would work, but for me, I prefer hardware....!
DeadPoet
carpe diem
plug-ins = a poor man's hardware... UAD-1 and Powercore-type plugs sound incredible, but at that price you could consider going outboard. Depends on the setup I guess.
Herwig
Herwig
MISTERQCUE
Not Just Anutha Brutha
Nuthin' BEAT's pretty, LED light's in different colors, knobs, switches and buttons!!!
Plugin's require extra memory from your com-pooter and the only thing you use to operate it is a d@mn mouse!!
Racks and Racks of outboard gear also looks more impressive to prospective clients than some,ole beat up Mac or p.c.!
RACKS RULES!!!
Plugin's require extra memory from your com-pooter and the only thing you use to operate it is a d@mn mouse!!
Racks and Racks of outboard gear also looks more impressive to prospective clients than some,ole beat up Mac or p.c.!
RACKS RULES!!!
malcolm123
New member
MISTERQCUE said:Nuthin' BEAT's pretty, LED light's in different colors, knobs, switches and buttons!!!
Plugin's require extra memory from your com-pooter and the only thing you use to operate it is a d@mn mouse!!
Racks and Racks of outboard gear also looks more impressive to prospective clients than some,ole beat up Mac or p.c.!
RACKS RULES!!!
I once saw somewhere a company who had made a rack fillin that had LEDS and stuff on it to make your rack look I guess more appealing to a Client.
I need more Lights. All different colors, the more the better.
LOL
Malcolm824
FattMusiek
New member
"plug-ins = a poor man's hardware"
LOL! I KNEW someone would say that.
LOL! I KNEW someone would say that.
James Argo
Fancy Rock N' Roll
It's been discussed once or two back then... but whatever... it's fun 
I'd rather rack in pro studio...
Plugins in homestudio...
Jaymz <-- rich enough to afford rack, but way too poor to get more space
I'd rather rack in pro studio...
Plugins in homestudio...
Jaymz <-- rich enough to afford rack, but way too poor to get more space
chrisharris
King of Bling
I prefer plugins for compression and limiting...anything to decrease noise, eh?
I also prefer my Lexicon Reverb unit to just about any reverb plugin I've ever heard, but I will say that at least the Waves/Renaissance stuff has enough parameters to basically re-create anything...just takes more effort.
I also prefer my Lexicon Reverb unit to just about any reverb plugin I've ever heard, but I will say that at least the Waves/Renaissance stuff has enough parameters to basically re-create anything...just takes more effort.
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm kinda torn on this one. I agree with you, chrisharris, that the RenVerb can do some pretty amazing stuff for a reverb plug, but I also think that harware sounds better. I can't think of any case where plugs sound *better* than hardware.
On the other hand, plugs are just so damn convenient! When I think of the amount of work required to patch in my RNC for the lead vocal (dig out and untangle the cables, hook 'em all up, route the vocal through a hardware outpout, back to the computer, set up the send volume, shift the track to compensate for the delay, tweak the knobs, write down the settings) and think about having to do all that all over again when I want to come back to the song...
Fuggit. Waves RenComp sounds plenty good enough for me- I only need a light touch of it, anyway.
Pretty silly, really. I have a nice outboard compressor- you'd think I would have set up the studio so that I could use it without hassle. If I had a couple more pieces of decent hardware and a patch bay I'd be all over it. Since my hardware doesn't sound that much better than the plugs, and I don't yet have it set up to use conveniently...
I'd have to say I prefer plugs. For ease of use, if for no other reason. You've got me thinking about that patchbay, now, though. That might be one of my next steps.
On the other hand, plugs are just so damn convenient! When I think of the amount of work required to patch in my RNC for the lead vocal (dig out and untangle the cables, hook 'em all up, route the vocal through a hardware outpout, back to the computer, set up the send volume, shift the track to compensate for the delay, tweak the knobs, write down the settings) and think about having to do all that all over again when I want to come back to the song...
Fuggit. Waves RenComp sounds plenty good enough for me- I only need a light touch of it, anyway.
Pretty silly, really. I have a nice outboard compressor- you'd think I would have set up the studio so that I could use it without hassle. If I had a couple more pieces of decent hardware and a patch bay I'd be all over it. Since my hardware doesn't sound that much better than the plugs, and I don't yet have it set up to use conveniently...
I'd have to say I prefer plugs. For ease of use, if for no other reason. You've got me thinking about that patchbay, now, though. That might be one of my next steps.
James Argo
Fancy Rock N' Roll
Excuse me, but you can't compare Waves with Racks.....
Waves is rack.....
Traped in plugin shape...
Waves is rack.....
Traped in plugin shape...
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
if you are gonna compare a rack unit to a plugin, you need to give the plugin a fighting chance by going $$$ for $$$, and not some cheap "included with recording software" plugin.....
now lets say on a typical mix you are gonna run 3 different types of reverbs, 2 different compressions, a delay, a chorus at the very least.......
5 of the cheapest Lexicons(3 for reverb, 1 chorus,1 delay) @$199 = $1000
2 RNC's = $350
thats $1350 right there not counting and special effects you might include.....and obviously a mixer to run all those effects is gonna be a pretty penny......
so if you are gonna compare, you should be looking at the top of the line plugins and not those "cheapy ones"
the best things about a plugin is that when you have a reverb plugin, you have as many channels as your computer can handle.....when you have 1 hardware reverb, you have one channel.....
now lets say on a typical mix you are gonna run 3 different types of reverbs, 2 different compressions, a delay, a chorus at the very least.......
5 of the cheapest Lexicons(3 for reverb, 1 chorus,1 delay) @$199 = $1000
2 RNC's = $350
thats $1350 right there not counting and special effects you might include.....and obviously a mixer to run all those effects is gonna be a pretty penny......
so if you are gonna compare, you should be looking at the top of the line plugins and not those "cheapy ones"
the best things about a plugin is that when you have a reverb plugin, you have as many channels as your computer can handle.....when you have 1 hardware reverb, you have one channel.....
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
if you are gonna compare a rack unit to a plugin, you need to give the plugin a fighting chance by going $$$ for $$$, and not some cheap "included with recording software" plugin.....
now lets say on a typical mix you are gonna run 3 different types of reverbs, 2 different compressions, a delay, a chorus at the very least.......
5 of the cheapest Lexicons(3 for reverb, 1 chorus,1 delay) @$199 = $1000
2 RNC's = $350
thats $1350 right there not counting and special effects you might include.....and obviously a mixer to run all those effects is gonna be a pretty penny......
so if you are gonna compare, you should be looking at the top of the line plugins and not those "cheapy ones"
the best things about a plugin is that when you have a reverb plugin, you have as many channels as your computer can handle.....when you have 1 hardware reverb, you have one channel.....
now lets say on a typical mix you are gonna run 3 different types of reverbs, 2 different compressions, a delay, a chorus at the very least.......
5 of the cheapest Lexicons(3 for reverb, 1 chorus,1 delay) @$199 = $1000
2 RNC's = $350
thats $1350 right there not counting and special effects you might include.....and obviously a mixer to run all those effects is gonna be a pretty penny......
so if you are gonna compare, you should be looking at the top of the line plugins and not those "cheapy ones"
the best things about a plugin is that when you have a reverb plugin, you have as many channels as your computer can handle.....when you have 1 hardware reverb, you have one channel.....
sonusman
Banned
Gidge said:
Gidge, the last paragraph is the most pertinent to this discussion really. At the studio we have a dual Athlon 2000XP deal. At 24/48, if I run even ONE somewhat decent reverb plugin, I am limited to about 20 tracks if that includes an eq for every track, and 12 channels of compression. If I lose the reverb, I can gain another 12 tracks and MANY MANY MANY more plugin's.
Dollar for dollar, running reverbs in software is NO deal at all. The taxing on the system means you need even MORE CPU, and you start adding up what that is gonna cost you, well, give me a Quadraverb that I can run on the sound cards I/O with aux's in the software any day of the week!
Plus, there really isn't comparing software reverbs to hardware boxes. Even a lowly Lexicon LXP1 at the $100 it would cost you SMOKES every software reverb plugin I have ever heard!!! Start getting into PCM 70's, and I don't think software is anywhere close to that nice of a reverb.
Ed
D
ds21
New member
I wonder if the reason that we for the most part like rack better is because that's what we're used to, if someone only started and only used plug-ins would they think racks sounded bad? you know the same way the vinyl VS cd was/is, granted cd's back than we bad sounding. But it's just a matter of time before plug-ins match racks, after all what are most outboard gear but dedicated computers, once they stop having to compomise for slower computers... than we'll have something!
chrisharris
King of Bling
Okay, here's what my Lexicon CAN'T do, lol...
Sometimes, I'm using overlapping verbs, and they need to have different EQ's and predelays so they don't walk all over each other, and dammit...sometimes math is even required.
The parameter options are definitely a bonus, and if I'm totally honest about it, there's NOT a reverb sound that comes out of my Lexicon that I couldn't recreate pretty accurately if I had about 2 years to jack around with the plugin, lol.
.
Sometimes, I'm using overlapping verbs, and they need to have different EQ's and predelays so they don't walk all over each other, and dammit...sometimes math is even required.
The parameter options are definitely a bonus, and if I'm totally honest about it, there's NOT a reverb sound that comes out of my Lexicon that I couldn't recreate pretty accurately if I had about 2 years to jack around with the plugin, lol.
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Attachments
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
The idea that you can use more plugins is nice but how many different effects paths do you really need? A lot of the hardware units give you 2-4 discreet effects paths and with aux sends you can send as many channels as you want to a certain effect.
It is easier to do delay tricks with plugins. I'd love to have more compressors and that is another area where plugins are nice.
The bigger issue is what kind of sadist mixes on a computer
It is easier to do delay tricks with plugins. I'd love to have more compressors and that is another area where plugins are nice.
The bigger issue is what kind of sadist mixes on a computer
B
BasPer
New member
I like rack gear, 'cause I like knobs. My wallet likes plugs.
S
schwa
New member
I like to "keep it in the box"...
I should start by saying I'm a hobbyist, not a pro (please don't hurt me sonusman).
But I would weigh in for the plugs, if you count DSP plugs as well. For my system, its great to do everything from within the DAW application, multiple eqs, compressors, etc.
Currently I'm making do with Renverb, but I think I am going to add a UAD1 soon. The verb included is supposed to be very nice, and they're about to add Dreamverb, which is supposed to be a step up from there.
With a dual monitor setup and the Mackie Control, I can see all the lights and stuff that would normally be in the rack, and I can turn knobs to adjust the parameters.
This all said, I still do extenal compression on incoming vocals, and a hardware verb for monitoring. I don't like the latency issues associated with other hardware use though.
If I was a pro, the quality of the plugs would be more of an issue I suppose, but for a bedroom recordist, its tough to beat the convenience of plugs.
I should start by saying I'm a hobbyist, not a pro (please don't hurt me sonusman).
But I would weigh in for the plugs, if you count DSP plugs as well. For my system, its great to do everything from within the DAW application, multiple eqs, compressors, etc.
Currently I'm making do with Renverb, but I think I am going to add a UAD1 soon. The verb included is supposed to be very nice, and they're about to add Dreamverb, which is supposed to be a step up from there.
With a dual monitor setup and the Mackie Control, I can see all the lights and stuff that would normally be in the rack, and I can turn knobs to adjust the parameters.
This all said, I still do extenal compression on incoming vocals, and a hardware verb for monitoring. I don't like the latency issues associated with other hardware use though.
If I was a pro, the quality of the plugs would be more of an issue I suppose, but for a bedroom recordist, its tough to beat the convenience of plugs.