‘Creative tools’ plug-in list
OK, I admit it, I’m moving towards becoming a ‘plug-in list junkie’. Despite my efforts of reducing my plug-in count and simplifying things I can’t help but think of new setups. Fortunately for me, I’m not only a plug-in list junkie, I’m also a music and recording junkie with more projects going at a time than a crossbreed of Frank Zappa and Samuel L Jackson. This abnormality opens up a new dimension to things.
I have in the past had very hard to actually finish projects because I always come up with new things to do. To solve this I came up with things that
- Made me more creative
- Limited myself
These two things should perhaps not be distinguished as a big part of the whole limiting aspect is to be creative. What makes me separate them is that limiting myself also keeps me on track instead of wander off onto roads that I shouldn’t at the moment.
My current plug-in list consists of what’s practical. That means having a great EQ and compressor (currently Channel G, Smack! and Epure), alongside the ‘necessities’ such as one delay, one reverb, one chorus etc, etc. In case you haven’t read my previous posts, I find this is more practical for me right now because it helps me keep focus on what’s important instead of thinking about “if I should maybe use the API on the kick or the Neve”.
For a coming project I’m going to try to make a plug-in list where I lay focus on things that
- Fucks up and/or creates interesting sounds (’unsubtle’ is the keyword here)
- Is fast to work with
I call this the ‘creative tools’ plug-in list. I haven’t decided what to use yet as I haven’t even decided what the project should be yet, but I’m thinking something along these lines:
Ohm Force: Ohmboyz, Ohmicide, Frohmage
McDSP: Futzbox, ChromeTone, Channel G
VirSyn: VTAPE Saturator, POSEIDON
Digidesign: Hybrid, Transfuser, TL Space
Sonalksis: TBK1, TBK2, TBK3
BBE: Sonic Maximizer
Pro Audio DSP: Dynamic Spectrum Mapper
Crazy list huh? Ohm Force is to me the original gangstas when it comes to crazy stuff. VirSyn VTAPE is mostly interesting in this scenario because of the possibility to create lo-fi tape sounds, but I do own tape decks so I might as well be ‘old skool’ about it. POSEIDON is interesting because it’s capable of things I’ve never seen in a synth before. The Sonalksis Creative elements are fun because they’re so ‘too much’. Sonic Maximizer is quick and Dynamic Spectrum Mapper is ‘interesting’.
Digidesign should really add the possibility to add custom favorite folders (and several of them!) to the plug-in list - it would make my life a whole lot easier.
Hmm, no FabFilter Pro-C or Volcano 2?!
By ronnie ~ June 27, 2008 kl 6:27 am
There was a key command for setting you favourite plugs to the top of the scrolling plugs list in PT. It may be… hold all 3 modifiers and select the plug.
Something like that! I know Kenny Gioia knows it as he posted about it on the womb forums (check it out - great forum!)
Ash
By Ashley Smith ~ June 27, 2008 kl 8:50 am
Ash, there are two tricks like that:
1) Select the favorite EQ or compressor from the settings (I think there’s a shortcut for it but I can’t seem to recall it)
2) Holding command while choosing a plug-in.
By stiff ~ June 27, 2008 kl 9:49 am
ronnie, not in my list. FabFilter makes cool plug-ins but they don’t really hit that nerve spot on in me.
By stiff ~ June 27, 2008 kl 9:50 am