Music Forums

Hello my name is Tom or tomic. I am a newbie so it's fate that I make the first new post in this new thread. Here are two websites that monthly list new freeware and standard software all platform:
http://www.kvraudio.com
You have to go thru a few pages but this site has a wealth of info on all types of DAWS, virtual instruments, libaries and plugs.

Here's the second one:
http://www.dontcrack.com
Again an amazing resource.
These are just two, as I find or remember more I will share. I'm sure there are other members wh can also share this helpful info.
Glad to be here
: - )
T

Great links, thanks for sharing.

I was browsing through Don't Crack and found the waves link. I can't believe the prices, holy cannoli, do these things come with a key to the city or something, geez! http://store.dontcrack.com/product_info.php?products_id=609&osCsid=3c8538fa689c8b741ec48ee4db721b62

Somebody call me?

Hey you're getting all that stuff for the cost of a couple of LA-2As...though if you bought an LA-2A it would actually sound like one.

Here is a direct link to the free stuff via KVR http://www.kvraudio.com/plugins/free/most-owned

That's like telecasters I think.

Waves actually runs some pretty good sales every weekend just go to http://www.waves.com and look for the specials link on-site. They discount some plugs over a hundred dollars off from $149.00 to just $49.00. Sign up for the newsletter and they are more than glad to send you direct links every weekend.

Here is another site that sells plgs cheap and offers freebies from time to time:
https://www.plugin-alliance.com
Another place is:
http://www.synthtopia.com
Seems like I'm on a role (with butter) today. This site just look up top and there's a whole bunch of free stuff:
http://www.pluginboutique.com
All the other sites I have used and have had no problems with downloads or malware. This is one I haven't had the chance to check out but it did link me to free plugs that I have already downloaded no problem:
http://www.audiopluginsforfree.com
Happy hunting
T

This may be off topic slightly but would anyone have a preference for using a good EQ, compressor and maybe a distressor over pluggins?
I know that would be considerably more expensive and if you did what would you look to own?

Well you are of course right about pricing. But a good way to check out if your plugin is really close to a real world piece of gear is to put whatever you choose in your chain and then compare it to it self by bypassing the plug in and out (while all knobs are zeroed). If you hear a definite difference then that's a sign of a good plug-in. In the real world just hooking into a piece of gear will subtly alter the sound. My general rule is if a plug-in can do that and I can hear the difference without moving anything from it's zero position and like the change then I'll use that plug.

As for what to use in the real world.....
I'd look for a channel strip/mic pre. This way even though it's expensive you get a lot of bang for your buck. The SSL strip or the API strips are great but very pricey, but look at the same ones that they keep trying to emulate digitally and they are the ones you check out first. You would have to spend at least two or three thousand dollars to get something really great. But, there are some unknowns out there that would work well also.

Toveco mentioned Mixbuss. That is a DAW made by Harrison consoles. They were one of the first if not the first big board manufacturer to make an all digital board for Sony Music. They chose to emulate their world-class sounding console rather just try to warm things up and call it analog. I have it and use it often too.
But, GoodVibes if you or anyone else wants to have a serious sit down and talk about the what and where to go for real world gear, I'd be glad to help out as much as I can.
T

Thanks so much Tom and I like your rule of thumb, the simpler the better, I can do that.

I recently changed interfaces and am a little more analogue in my signal but of course due to what we can afford I'm quite limited. So yes I'd love to chew your ear so to speak, thanks for the offer.

https://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/

PC only, unfortunately, but he made unbelievable (and free) plugs before he got tired of it..
epicverb, thrillseeker LA, ThrillseekerXTC are pretty much on all my mixes.

http://www.tokyodawn.net/tokyo-dawn-labs/

Tokyo dawn has a paid for version of all their plugs, which has more features.. But their free versions still rocks. Nova, kotelnikov and slickEQ sound ridiculously good! available for both mac and PC

Annd toneboosters... Not free, but almost.. they have a ''studio essentials'' bundle... 7 plugins for like 20$.. and those are literally my go-to tools. the EQ, compressor, reverb, delay (module) are on all my mixes.. litterally. The EQ is insaley good... As a matter of fact, I bought the whole package just for the EQ.. but ended up using every single one of them..
http://www.toneboosters.com/trackessentials/

Thank you. Just downloaded from Tokyo Dawn their TDR Koteiniof (spl??) Compressor and man what a great piece of software.
I already have TD's TDR Nova Dynamic EQ and the combination of the two in the Main Bus is just amazing.
TD has been making wonderful plugins for a while. I swear by their products.