Mixing on a budget - part 1
RTAS/TDM plug-ins can be damn expensive as we’ve seen been discussed this week. But don’t fall into the trap of believing that you need to shell out big sums of money for a good setup of plug-ins. Here’s is one list of good plug-ins if you’re on a budget.
I’ll say it right away. Massey plug-ins are great. Pretty much all of them. Good, now that that’s covered…
For EQ you might want to look at URS BLT ($49 RTAS, $99 TDM) which have been a monthly special at URS for a long time. If you’re a fan of these types of EQs (i.e., non-flexible) it should be worth checking out. In the same style we also find the Massey vt3 ($69). For parametric and more flexible EQs you’re probably doing best sticking with Digidesign EQ3 if you don’t want to shell out more money.
Dynamics then? The Massey CT4 ($69) is among the best software compressors I’ve ever used regardless of price and Massey L2007 ($89) is actually the only cheap limiter I can think of for Pro Tools. Flux Pure Limiter (€100, note EUR) is truly high class as well, but I guess it’s up for discussion if it’s a budget plug-in or not.
For room, Digidesign Digirack delays are what I use most often. Couple them with some EQing or some creative processing if necessary.
Grit and distortion then? Massey Tape-head of course ($69). Amazing on bass among other things, but it’s of course very useful on a lot of other things as well. Ohm Force Ohmicide (€79, note EUR) is killer - literally! - and your best bet for brutal distortion. Incredibly wicked plug-in.
No McDSP plugins?
By ericdano ~ April 30, 2008 kl 4:13 pm
McDSP is great, but not really cheap.
By stiff ~ April 30, 2008 kl 4:20 pm
(I’ve actually started using FilterBank a lot again)
By stiff ~ April 30, 2008 kl 4:21 pm
DUY’s plugz? are great also.
By jean ~ April 30, 2008 kl 6:12 pm
Definitely agree with you about Massey plug-ins.
What about reverbs? Are there any good ones that cost less than, say $100?
By Guy Sigsworth ~ April 30, 2008 kl 6:39 pm
It’s not specifically a Pro Tools reverb but I’ve had good use of the Ambience VST (from Magnus’ plugins at smartelectronix) running in the FXpansion VST to RTAS wrapper.
Free with a nag screen which vanishes if/when you make a donation.
By Matt ~ April 30, 2008 kl 8:29 pm
[...] For those of you who have protools, there’s a good article on inexpensive plugins on the Protooler blog. Read “Mixing on a Budget - part I” [...]
By Final Exams & More (blogroll). | ControlRoom - Mixin' it with Dr. J ~ April 30, 2008 kl 10:57 pm
I totally recommend McDSP’s Project Studio LE. They had a special in April where you could get ML4000, FilterBank, CompressorBank, Synthesizer One, Chrome Tone, Analog Channel and Revolver for $295. Revolver is an excellent reverb, along with all the others…..good stuff.
By ericdano ~ April 30, 2008 kl 11:29 pm
I looked around for cheap reverbs but couldn’t find any.
I haven’t really used the Project Studio LE bundle because I have the Emerald Bundle, but I think most McDSP projects are top notch and can battle with the best of them, so Project Studio LE is probably a good buy… Even if it has trimmed down versions.
By stiff ~ May 1, 2008 kl 4:40 am
Wrapped VST reverbs are probably the cheapest option. I’ll definitely check out the Ambience plug-in - thanks for that!
I own NI’s Reaktor, and that has lots of ensembles that can be used as RTAS plug-ins. Spring Tank in particular is fantastic. Obviously you first have to buy Reaktor, which is not cheap. But then you have a near-infinite collection of ensembles, from soft synths and drum machines to reverbs, EQs, granulators etc. Some of the “home made” ensembles built by Reaktor users can be a bit buggy, but the bundled ensembles include lots of useful items.
There’s cheap in price, and there’s cheap in terms of cpu use. When you’re mixing in Pro Tools it’s partly about choosing which elements need the more deluxe plug-ins and which don’t. Some parts need your best parametric eq, while others need no more than a super-basic 1-band high pass; some parts need your best-sounding reverb, while others ned no more than the bundled digidesign delay. A good mix usually combines the deluxe and the disgusting, the hi-fi and the lo-fi.
By Guy Sigsworth ~ May 1, 2008 kl 7:10 am
“I haven’t really used the Project Studio LE bundle because I have the Emerald Bundle, but I think most McDSP projects are top notch and can battle with the best of them, so Project Studio LE is probably a good buy… Even if it has trimmed down versions.”
Well, it is a trimmed down version, but last month they had a special that you could get their Project Studio LE for $295. Came with a ton of plugins, including Revolver, which is a great reverb program. Coupling Revolver with Altiverb, you have pretty much anything you’d want….
By ericdano ~ May 2, 2008 kl 5:05 pm