Pro Tools Plug-ins

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 5 Jan 2007 5:28 am

For those of you using pro tools, what is you favorite or most used plug-ins? All I currently have is the pro tools and bomb factory plug-ins that are free but I'm looking to expand. I'm currently using a 001 with version 6.4 on a PC. I keep hearing how good waves plug-ins are but man they are expensive! Any more free plug-ins available?

Robby Springfield · Post by **Robby Springfield** » 5 Jan 2007 7:05 am

Gaylon,

I have most of the waves plug-ins and your right...they are expensive. But I guess one has to consider the cost of owning the outboard gear and the space it would take to house them. The waves bundles are very good. I don't know of any good free plug-ins but I can recommend waves as being usefull.

Chris Tarrow · Post by **Chris Tarrow** » 5 Jan 2007 8:26 am

The Sony Oxford stuff is also very good, but again, not cheap, and pretty processor intensive.

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 5 Jan 2007 8:52 am

I really like the compression that is a standard plug-in with PT. I also use the limiter on the master track when mixing down. Other than that the only other plug-in I use (because I like unfettered producing) is a reverb on some tracks. I find the hall reverb the best, but down to about 16% output, and the release very minimal, so it's barely visible/breathing. With traditional music like I record, however, the fewer the effects the more life-like it sounds.

Al

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 5 Jan 2007 10:04 am

http://www.masseyplugins.com/

Not free, but pretty cheap (and demos to try).

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Jan 2007 11:53 am

I have the Massey mastering limiter, and it's pretty cool for the price. Waves are nice, but a crappy company to deal with. Autotune is almost a must have these days... I also have the Purple Audio 1176 limiter that is nice and not too pricey. For any of the new stuff, you'll need to buy an Ilok key ($40) to hold your authorizations...

Chris Tarrow · Post by **Chris Tarrow** » 5 Jan 2007 12:28 pm

I've been using Melodyne Uno which to my ears is better than Auto Tune for half the price:

http://www.celemony.com

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Jan 2007 12:53 pm

I have been planning to download Melodyne and give it another try. They have a program where registered Autotune users get a discount, too. Though there are some changes in Autotune 5 that have made it a lot better sounding...

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 5 Jan 2007 4:20 pm

Altiverb is an amazing reverb. I use it on everything I do.

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 6 Jan 2007 2:10 pm

I cannot work without the Renaissance EQ and Compressor.

Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 6 Jan 2007 6:22 pm

I also have an 001, but I'm still on OS9.
I have dozens of plug ins, but the ones I use most is Realverb, which I bus to each track, and PSP Vintage Warmer.
I use the LA-2A by Bombfactory, on vocals.
If you get great preamps, (not the digi ones), you can sometimes lessen the need for plug ins.

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 7 Jan 2007 2:45 pm

Thanks for all the tips guys.

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 8 Jan 2007 12:16 am

If you happen to have a collection of VST plug-ins which you used to use on a previous sequencer package, you can get a little programme from FXpansion which will wrap them up so that ProTools thinks that they are RTAS plug-ins.
If you do buy FXpansion, the first VST plug-in one you should get is the free little compressor from SSL (Solid State Logic- the people who make the big mixing desks that you can't afford).
It's a crude thing- but it sounds great on guitar, even steel if you are looking for a very upfront sound.
Cheers
Dave

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 Jan 2007 5:45 am

Without my Waves bundles I couldn't function...
And the Renaisance EQ and limiter too.

The Focusrite stuff is real useful too.
The 1176 is good, and the Song Oxford stuff is Sony quality.