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AutoGhash
Location: Canada
Posts: 48
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 Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 12:21 pm
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I'm currently looking at all the different commercial plugins out there. This topic may have been done to death before, but I can't find it anywhere in the "Third Party Plugins" sections.
Basically, I'm interested in a run-down of the pros and cons of various commercial "all-in-one" plugins. This kind of plugin appeals to me because they usually (like Ozone, for instance) try to simplify the pre-mastering process. I've been told that CEP's built in effects are very good, but that doesn't mean I know how, or in what order, to USE them yet :D
[edit] That doesn't mean I expect people to start discussing this, but website or thread links are great! [/edit]
I'm sure that deciding which one to get (or even getting one at all) depends on a huge number of variables, which is why I'm wondering what the variables are.
So far the ones I have seen mentioned most are the Waves ones (visited the site, so I'm down with all the different packages they provide), Ozone, and T-Racks. Ozone appears to be the best one for me right now (their PDF tutorials are great), given my level of experience.
But I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
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VoodooRadio
Location: USA
Posts: 3971
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Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:31 pm
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Check out Waves Native Gold Bundle, I.K. Multimedia's T-RackS, AIPL Warm Tone, Drawmer's Compressor/Limiter, BBE's Sonic Maximizer, Antares Auto Tune/Mic Modeler, and of course Isotope's Ozone. :shy:
That ought to keep you busy for a bit! 
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Voodoo
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Graeme
Member
Location: Spain
Posts: 4663
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Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:48 pm
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| AutoGhash wrote: |
Basically, I'm interested in a run-down of the pros and cons of various commercial "all-in-one" plugins. This kind of plugin appeals to me because they usually (like Ozone, for instance) try to simplify the pre-mastering process. I've been told that CEP's built in effects are very good, but that doesn't mean I know how, or in what order, to USE them yet 
....
But I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. |
My thoughts are simple.
Get to know what you already have before spending money (for some of things being talked about - lots of money). If you don't know the "how or what" of what you already possess (and you possess quite a lot with CEP) splashing out even more cash isn't going to make one jot of difference to your knowledge or end-product. Only when you understand the "how or what" will you really be in a position to make a qualified decision on such a purchase, or understand any advice which might be offered in relation to it.
Just because they are packaged as a group doesn't make them any easier to use or understand - and until you understand the basic principles, there is little point in throwing your money away on high-end products. Where you got the idea that they simplified things, I don't know - but it's not really true.
There are other considerations too. For example, Ozone - which is a really nice tool - is not going to be of much use to you unless you can rely on your monitoring. It's use should be subtle - poor monitoring doesn't allow for subtleties!
Again, what sort of audio card do you have? If you're running an SB Live - you should be looking at that, not fancy tools.
I would go so far as to say that most people who ask this type of question should really be investing their cash in other areas of their system, where it would provide a better return on the investment made.
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VoodooRadio
Location: USA
Posts: 3971
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Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:42 pm
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| Quote: |
| Get to know what you already have before spending money (for some of things being talked about - lots of money). |
Yea, I didn't really have a vision of AG running out and buying @ $3,000 worth of programs! 
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I said Good Day!
Voodoo
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Graeme
Member
Location: Spain
Posts: 4663
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Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 7:07 pm
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| VoodooRadio wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Get to know what you already have before spending money (for some of things being talked about - lots of money). |
Yea, I didn't really have a vision of AG running out and buying @ $3,000 worth of programs!
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I'm sure you didn't. However, some people have a tendency to say 'I don't understand this' and go out and spend money on what is, in reality, just more of the same.
When you consider what comes with CEP, it really is remarkably good value for money and (as these things go) that makes it a cheap learning tool.
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Makedon
Posts: 31
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Posted - Thu Jun 05, 2003 11:32 pm
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"However, some people have a tendency to say 'I don't understand this' and go out and spend money on what is, in reality, just more of the same.
When you consider what comes with CEP, it really is remarkably good value for money and (as these things go) that makes it a cheap learning tool.[/quote]
CEP? I had some free time today and just for the kick decided to clean a short, nasty forensic recording using only Cool Edit '96 - the free version. It took a little bit longer than with CEK but the result was basically the same - very good.
Then again, somebody with a good knowledge of CEDAR can make this recording sound even better, but Cool Edit '96 is free, while CEDAR is $10.000 or so.
AutoGash, there are so many free plugins on the net. Some of them are lousy, but some are really nice and stable. You can get one here, one there....and if you happened to have a spare compputer, test them there and keep the main one safe.
Good Luck
M.
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VoodooRadio
Location: USA
Posts: 3971
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Posted - Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:09 am
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| Quote: |
| if you happened to have a spare compputer, test them there and keep the main one safe. |
Which is common practice amongst many of the forum members (I know Graeme and myself subscribe to this method). The "internet" computer in my home gets used to download "demo's" and after passing muster, I purchase the software and load it on my studio DAW (that doesn't have internet or any other unnecessary troublemakers).
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Voodoo
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jonrose
Location: USA
Posts: 2901
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Posted - Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:28 pm
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Mostly, everything that needed to be said, has been said... but by implication, this is the part of your query what troubled me the most...
| AutoGhash wrote: |
| Basically, I'm interested in a run-down of the pros and cons of various commercial "all-in-one" plugins. This kind of plugin appeals to me because they usually (like Ozone, for instance) try to simplify the pre-mastering process. |
Unfortunately, they don't really simplify anything unless you have a basic grasp of what needs to be applied (and probably more importantly, what doesn't), how much of it to use, and how to implement it.
Although many of these plugs are extremely high-quality creations, in my view, implementation might really be the only advantage to some of them. Admittedly, I own a mastering plug that I do occasionally use (sparingly).
| Quote: |
| I've been told that CEP's built in effects are very good, but that doesn't mean I know how, or in what order, to USE them yet |
Since Graeme has already addressed this directly, I can only try to reinforce what he has said. You are, of course, free to try anything you would like to, but I would also advocate knowledge over cool gear, plug-ins and other toys...
Just keep in mind that if you learn to assemble a great mix, mastering is damned-near unnecessary.
;)
All the best... -Jon
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AutoGhash
Location: Canada
Posts: 48
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Posted - Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:30 pm
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| Graeme wrote: |
| I would go so far as to say that most people who ask this type of question should really be investing their cash in other areas of their system, where it would provide a better return on the investment made. |
Point taken.
I guess what I was really interested is just "more" detail on what the plugins DO. I'm not actually planning to buy anything until I'm good and ready, don't worry. I was thinking along the lines of demos at this point :D
As I have said, I understand that cool edit has some powerful tools. But I must disagree with one thing you said: plugins like Ozone (from the demos that I have tried) really do make it easier on me. One very small example is how "alt-clicking" allows you to isolate an area of sound on the EQ band without altering your settings. This feature is for me a godsend!
I'm not looking for "more powerful" plugins to make recording as simple as clicking a few boxes: I'm not that naive. But the truth is that some of the ones I've tried are simply easier. And using these "easier" versions makes it easier to understand the CEP effects: all without spending a cent.
As for my soundcard, I'm pretty sure it's irrelevent. My understanding is that the M-Audio Quattro (the device I plan to use at this point) bypasses the soundcard altogether. So there's no use in upgrading that. It even has outputs so I don't have to worry about monitering with my crappy sound card, either. (Although, on second thought, I might need to for actual editing purposes... I'll think more about that later!)
I'm not rushing into any buys, here. I'm even waiting a month and a half from today to buy the Quattro, and I've known that I wanted that for a couple of weeks now.
[Edit: to sum up, I'm LEARNING here, folks! ]
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