MusicMan

Thanks Brian, this turned into quite the interesting thread about panning! I get a lot of those points and sometimes something light on CPU and purpose built is worth it for the workflow, even if it can be done with existing tools, especially if it's only $12! I'm going to demo this one too.

They're practically all great. I still think Nova sounds better than Fabfilter ProQ3. Not the sort of thimg to use on all tracks unless you've got a beefy CPU, so ProQ3 still has it's place, but there guys punch well above their price. The only one that hasn't instantly grabbed me yet is Molotok. The rest I love and just picked up SlickEQ as well. Another great sounding EQ with some nice saturation. They can be reasonably complex for some of them and even require the manual at times ?

I'm still waiting for them to do another 70% off sale again like last year so they're back to $49 for the Mu/s ? Will be interesting to see if they do it for Black Friday sales, or Cyber Monday.

Thanks Brian and that's the only thing that is holding me back. I'm just not sure it adds something. I do find that it's good having a few limiters, as some definitely work better than others on different source material. But I do have a selection and many of them have deeper controls. It's a crazy good price though. I would even be considering it at $29, purely based on what I already have and like. I am giving it a demo though ? I saw you rated the Boz planner. I've always skimmed over that, but in giving it a read it sounds quite interesting.

Some great sale items there ?

How does this one rate to some of the other main contenders for limiters? I'm not sure I've ever tried it.

I knew it was from one of the issues, due to the CM in the name, but wasn't sure which one. I grabbed it anyway, but haven't installed it, or checked if I owned it already ? You can also get it direct from WAProd too: https://www.waproduction.com/plugins/view/multibender-cm

Welcome Jude ? I was really surprised finding this one and how well it stacked up against some of the paid options. I tend to use a mix of plugins, from free to some of the premium ones. More expensive doesn't always equal better. Sometimes it increases the odds maybe, but still no guarantees. Hope you enjoy it ?

WA Production: Multibender Lite - Free @ VST Buzz https://vstbuzz.com/deals/free-multibender-lite-by-wa-production/ Note: FREE! "MULTIBENDER LITE (CM)" BY W.A. PRODUCTION IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR M1/ARM MAC USERS: THIS PLUGIN CAN BE USED VIA ROSETTA 2, HOWEVER IT IS NOT YET NATIVELY COMPATIBLE WITH M1 SYSTEMS.

I actually tried to open the demo in Plugin Doctor, but I'd need to activate the full demo or buy it and I've been liking keeping them as 10 minute demos so when I'm ready I can do the full trial. For some reason in Plugin Doctor that trial/activation part works differently to in Cubase (quite possibly intentional on their part!). But I did check it out in Bertrom analyser and the curve in that was pretty basic, just a simple high shelf with the two 361s with one been steeper and also dropping the overall volume down. The 180 rolls off some of the lows as well as boosting the highs. That may change a little depending on what material is passing through it I guess. It does sound nice though. I recreating a somewhat similar curve in Fabfilter ProdQ3 but I didn't quite sound as good. Maybe some saturation would get it closer. Once you start adjusting the dry/wet/comp the curves do get a little more complex and I'd say introduce some harmonics. So recreating on a static EQ or dynamic would require A-B matching which would make it easier to just own the plugin! And Dopamine you literally just turn on, drop the output gain to level match and it's already there, but you can also tweak. Agreed on those IK tapes! I love them, but even Acustica Audio Taupe is lighter on CPU! ? That next day test is funny... sometimes I've been producing stuff and getting right into it late at night only to hear it the next day and not be impressed at all ? Luckily not too often, but I've learnt not to get my hopes up the next morning just in case!

I feel somewhat glad to hear that! I do like the Townhouse for a coloured SSL as well and the native SSL for clean G Comp I like too, so I'm pretty well covered with them. I do have quite a few other G comps as well though just for good measure ? Agreed on Arturia, OL GEMs and BRA. These guys have some great plugins and I'll often reach for something out of them. All 3 are actually quite different in their sound too I'd say. They all sound good, but sonically I'd say they're quite diverese. I think I may have watched that video before, but I'll check it out again. Out of all the LA-3A compressors I tried, the Overloud was my favourite and considering it can do 2A and 3A is a bonus too. I do actually rate the Acustica Audio stuff pretty highly and rabbit hole is a good way to describe that! They can be a CPU monster, but in their updated Erin they have boasted great performance gains. I don't own it and haven't given it a demo yet, but might be promising if it works out to be more efficient without sacrificing on sound quality. https://gearspace.com/board/new-product-alert/1390043-acustica-audio-renews-erin-state-art-mastering-suite-new-modules-hypercomp-tech.html

I own Mixbox and have glossed over that one and barely used Tone Control. The IK website doesn't go into much detail, although you can target specific EQ bands with it. "A classic tube tone control that recreates the tone shaping stage found on the best tube amplifiers. The Tone Control effect can deliver incredible presence and warmth to the sound." It seems very heavy handed, so another one of those plugins where a little goes a long way. I'll have to check this one out a little more too.

I think was the one. I know I grabbed it via Youtube and that video looks similar, although there are heaps more since I last looked before buying Inflator. If you don't have Inflator already, then definitely jump on MWaveShaper. I would say its a good free option. Every time I try itthough, I always end up going with Inflator. Normally I try it when everyone says Inflator is just a wave shaper and the Melda one does the same! Haha.. But the curves, band split option for multiband and just how quick it is to get a better sound makes me glad I purchased Inflator and will always likely use it over the Melda one personally. If you have Native Instruments Reaktor, check out the free Reaktor ensemble I just shared too

Reaktor: Free Maximizer Supposedly a Sonnox Inflator clone and whilst not really to my ears, I was really surprised at how much this thing can be pushed as a limiter/clipper anyway. Completely free and has controls for the clipping part, including Inflator aspect and the limiting section. I was testing BX True Peak over the last few days and on one particular track I tried it on, this goes a lot louder than that before breaking up and distorting the sound.. No compression before it, but BX gets the track to -11 / -10 LUFS whereas this free Reaktor ensemble gets it to -9 / -8 LUFS short term before hitting that same level of breakup. Pretty amazing for a free ensemble. Requires Native Instruments Reaktor. https://www.native-instruments.com/en/reaktor-community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/9777

Pretty sure that was the one from memory, although in typical Melda fashion there's a few closely related ones! ? I gave it a shot quite a while ago. I do like it too and I did grab a preset that was supposed to match Inflator, but the preset is only trying to match one static setting. When you start tweaking Inflator to taste, it still sounds better than that preset and is easier to dial in for me.

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I do like that one Not on everything and sometimes I want a cleaner sound if I've already added vibe and saturation in the mix stage, but other times it's just right. I was torn between Bettermaker and True Peak Limiter. Last time I tested it, I found I could get as good results, or better with PSP Xenon, or Pro L2, let alone testing with others. I tested it again and that was still my impression really, so it didn't add anything. I picked up Bettermaker for $11.99 and actually really like it. It will also get more use as I can use it in the mixing, or mastering side. I have other Pultecs that I like, but this is a clean sounding one and the curves are still quite different to other Pultecs I have, but in a really good way. They were pretty much the last ones I'd ever really thought of maybe grabbing.. I've decided True Peak at any cost probably isn't worth it to me. Maybe as a freebie I'd still get it though ?

Thanks! Dopamine does sound good to me. I always need to drop the volume once I turn it on, so that I'm not just getting fooled, by it being louder. They talk about it being like a dynamic EQ of sorts in how it works. Do you find that you can get similar results with other EQ options you might have? That's the only thing I still need to try. Checking it isn't overcooked is a really good tip, especially waiting until the next day with fresh ears. I've got a few plugins like that (Vertigo VSM-3, SPL Vitalizer MK2-T, etc) and they're easy to overdo. I was also considering Comp76FET as well and have been giving this a demo. I can get pretty close to that with Softube FET and even some of the PA offerings. I've also got Comp FET-76 from Arturia which works better on full mixes, but I do prefer what the others include GEM do on drum busses. I'd probably grab it if I didn't have them and it still might be a contender as well.

I'm not testing this one, as I think I might like it ? I already have quite a few SSL compressors, including the G from SSL themselves so I don't want to buy any more! I'd be surprised if it didn't hold up very well to the competition.

If these were cheaper I would definitely have already owned them too. But they do have an interesting analog'ish type of feel/vibe and are low on CPU than some alternatives I have.

Yep, just checked iLok Cloud or dongle only. Better than some, like Slate that only offer dongle for perpetual, but still not as good as it could be. I like to see developers offer the 3 options standard with all plugins.

Glad you like it Zo! I was comfortable recommending it, but of course we're all different and have different tastes, etc so you never know for sure until someone gives it a shot themselves.

Sometimes it's not about getting the very best price, it's about getting what you need/want now and getting to enjoy it and have more time with it, instead of waiting for the ultimate price, as long as it's still a good sale anyway ?

No brainer at that price. I have channel strip 2 from SSL which in some ways I prefer, but sometimes I prefer the J console over it. Glad to have the 9000J in the kit ?

I thought they did, but you might be right. Will have to check. I know they offer cloud, so it's definitely not dongle only.