What are your five most used Presonus plugins?

[ianaeillo]

Hat tip to the other thread. What are your top five most used (and maybe why)? What are the top five you ignore? List instruments if you want.

Most used:
1. Alpine Desk. Not exactly sure what it’s doing but it’s up there doing it’s thing on every non-symphonic session. Does it sound like an API? Eh, I don’t think so. Does it need to? Absolutely not.
2. Fat Channel - 160 comp - excellent emulation of the DBX 160.
3. Pro EQ - almost never opened it before, now use it *all the time* because of the dynamic updates.
4. Compressor - clean and predictable. Not used as much as third party comps but always does the job it is asked to do.
5. Mixtool - important and necessary. Can’t think of a session I’ve used without it.

Least used:
1. Tricomp - Opened it once and think it’s interesting but never opened it a second time. Maybe I should?
2. Vocoder - have no use for a vocoder but glad it’s there.
3. De-esser - have a hardware de-esser i like much better but it works. Just have never reached for it first.
4. Redlight District - ehhhhh
5. Chorus - I do not like this chorus. Just doesn’t agree with me.

 

[lokeyfly]

Very legitimate question. Before I start my list, for clarity, I just dont use the Fat channel at all for two reasons. First, I have other channel strips that provide both surgical, or vintage like control. Secondly, and most importantly, while fat channel has some nice integration with vintage compressors, passive EQ's, and some novelty stuff, I cant see all of the controls at once. So bringing up a Faichild 660-670 comp that resides on its own page doesn't serve me well. A seasoned mix engineer moves fast. Particularly at first. The fat channel also has only a HPF. No LPF! Why would I bother? On a channel strip of any ilk, there are both hi pass and low pass filters. They're visible, and ready at will. I suspect the fat channel design was carried over from studiolive, and while it's improved shouldering more "stuff", I'm simply not going to use a fat channel anywhere. Compared to even a Schepps Omni channel? No. Even the Fat Channel's parametric control is for lack of a better word, blasé.

So on with the Studio One Plugins.
Most used:
1. Pro EQ
2. Limiter
3. Compressor
4. Splitter
5. Multiband Dynamic Compressor
6. Open air
7.Room reverb
8. Spectrum Analyzer
9. Loudness Meter
Note: the above imo are pretty fantastic.
___________________
10. Ampire (for some subtle boost such as a bass guitar.

Least used:
1. Phaser
2. Chorus
3. Ampire effects
Oh, who am I kidding, I use little if anything else so I'll make a most used 10 instead.

 

[dominicperry]

FatChannel - All at once - do you mean like this.....?

 

[Jeff]

1. limiter
2. Multiband dynamics
3. Open Air
4. Meters

Sometimes I do use the drums stuff, but since I mainly do scores and classical the SO stuff is real seldomly used.

 

[lokeyfly]

FatChannel - All at once - do you mean like this.....?

View attachment 1257

Correction, I was prepared to say you cant include the parametric EQ, when you actually can swap it out. So to be fair, yes dominicperry, the Fat channel can display more than I gave it credit for.

Of course, someone wanting a dbx 160 such as Ianaeillo, is going to have it. That's very cool, so please dont take my "If the Fat channel were only..." as a dis. I'm merely saying why I dont apply the fat channel at all. Its just not visibly orienting, when considering many channels and their control when viewed at a glance.
Cheers and respect.

 

[ianaeillo]

Correction, I was prepared to say you cant include the parametric EQ, when you actually can swap it out. So to be fair, yes dominicperry, the Fat channel can display more than I gave it credit for.

Of course, someone wanting a dbx 160 such as Ianaeillo, is going to have it. That's very cool, so please dont take my "If the Fat channel were only..." as a dis. I'm merely saying why I dont apply the fat channel at all. Its just not visibly orienting, when considering many channels and their control when viewed at a glance.
Cheers and respect.

Agreed. There’s *something* I don’t like about Fat Channel but I couldn’t exactly tell you what it is. I only use the 160 on it anymore, but I absolutely agree with what you said about it not being visibly orienting.

 

[dominicperry]

Correction, I was prepared to say you cant include the parametric EQ, when you actually can swap it out. So to be fair, yes dominicperry, the Fat channel can display more than I gave it credit for.

Of course, someone wanting a dbx 160 such as Ianaeillo, is going to have it. That's very cool, so please dont take my "If the Fat channel were only..." as a dis. I'm merely saying why I dont apply the fat channel at all. Its just not visibly orienting, when considering many channels and their control when viewed at a glance.
Cheers and respect.

Sure, I was just checking that you knew that it could be expanded out. I use it, but I also use the Metric Halo Channel Strip for exactly the reasons you state - everything in one place, nice and consistent and easy to use. Also very low CPU and Zero Latency.

Dominic

 

[ianaeillo]

Sure, I was just checking that you knew that it could be expanded out. I use it, but I also use the Metric Halo Channel Strip for exactly the reasons you state - everything in one place, nice and consistent and easy to use. Also very low CPU and Zero Latency.

Dominic

Man that Metric Halo Channel Strip is so freaking good. I came back to it a few years ago and just cannot find anything that is nearly as good. Their last few batches of plugin releases have been incredible.

 

[lokeyfly]

Yeah, the Metric Halo is highly praised.

I think the Fat channel is a great offering. I did know about the dropdown. I just didnt know the parametric EQ could be viewed with the comp, and gate.

 

[Craig Anderton]

My five most-used PreSonus effects plugins (no particular order):

Pro EQ3
Limiter
X-Trem
Splitter
Mixtool (often for its mid-side features)

Instruments (very underrated IMO - they get a lot of use, even over supposedly "better" options):

Presence
Mai Tai

I don't use IR Maker often, but when I do, I'm sure glad it exists. Ditto Scope, Tone Generator, and Room Reverb (low CPU - great for Event FX)

(I'm another non-fan of the Chorus, but to be fair I'm not much of a fan of choruses. That's why I came up with the Sweet Multiband Chorus, which I actually like and use, for the PreSonus blog. Unfortunately that post was deleted in the Great Blog Post Purge. But if you don't like choruses, and you have my Studio One book, give the Sweet Multiband Chorus FX Chain a try.)

 

[ianaeillo]

My five most-used PreSonus effects plugins (no particular order):

Pro EQ3
Limiter
X-Trem
Splitter
Mixtool (often for its mid-side features)

Instruments (very underrated IMO - they get a lot of use, even over supposedly "better" options):

Presence
Mai Tai

I don't use IR Maker often, but when I do, I'm sure glad it exists. Ditto Scope, Tone Generator, and Room Reverb (low CPU - great for Event FX)

(I'm another non-fan of the Chorus, but to be fair I'm not much of a fan of choruses. That's why I came up with the Sweet Multiband Chorus, which I actually like and use, for the PreSonus blog. Unfortunately that post was deleted in the Great Blog Post Purge. But if you don't like choruses, and you have my Studio One book, give the Sweet Multiband Chorus FX Chain a try.)

IR Maker is fantastic. I *love* that it's included.

 

[lokeyfly]

Man that Metric Halo Channel Strip is so freaking good. I came back to it a few years ago and just cannot find anything that is nearly as good. Their last few batches of plugin releases have been incredible.

I see version 4 on sale from Metric Halo for $99.00. ($80 off) I can demo it first for 30 days, and I have iLok. I may give it a go. Looking for some feedback. Thx ahead, for mentioning.

 

[ianaeillo]

I see version 4 on sale from Metric Halo for $99.00. ($80 off) I can demo it first for 30 days, and I have iLok. I may give it a go. Looking for some feedback. Thx ahead, for mentioning.

While you’re there. Demo their newer channel strip, MBSI. I’d love to get your take on it. I think it’s about perfect and I can give you some pointers on it.

 

[lokeyfly]

Thanks Ianaeillo,
I'm sure the MBSI brings some fine musicality to it. I likely won't trial it though. Its a little too vintage for what I'm trying to accomplish. TY for the suggestion, and tip assistance!

I'm primarily happy with the Amek 9099. My only wish is if it had a graph, but not having one isn't any major hindrance. We mix with our ears, first. : )

I was thinking of giving the MH channel strip a shot, and I'll go from there with a trial run.

Fact is, I may be reaching, when I only need to fix what I already have. At this point in my life, I'm not needing PT for virtually anything. Though I'm thankful I learned my chops from it.

I was using Wave's Schepps Omni channel, and still do at times when I want to locate some bad junk in a channel. That gate section is brilliant with its listen through (speaker icon) section, odd/even/mixed saturation, etc.

My baby is still the bx-console Amek 9099. It has some of the same features as the Omni Channel, like auto-listen. Only here, it allows you to spy on what's triggering the gate, and is also implemented on EQ bands! It is so transparent and active. Feels like hardware, and takes only a little to get back a lot on shaping instruments.
You can even invert the gate, to hear what its removing. Great for drums. Very CPU friendly and very inspiring. Unlike any ch. strip I've seen.
I use a bx_console Fosusrite SC on my master out. Its not CPU friendly, but it really makes for a great summing channel strip at the end of the line.

If I'm not all in on the Metric Halo, what I may do is grab the DDMF Plugin Doctor. That would ensure precise curves where I might need them, and that would be a $30 remedy for the Amek 9099, and Omni channel. Talk about an easy out!

Be it using Studio One plugs or others, technology is a beautiful thing~
Wouldn't it be tits, if Studio One had a large format type channel strip with auto-listen, high and low pass filter cutoff, and gain saturation pre-amp, limiter at the output (like metric halo ch strip), and graph options?
What then, tolerance modelling?
Oh, my!

The Fat channel could stay as-is, and be used as a master out Plugin.

Studio One could be deemed, a production DAW with no compromise.

 

[ianaeillo]

Be it using Studio One plugs or others, technology is a beautiful thing~
Wouldn't it be tits, if Studio One had a large format type channel strip with auto-listen, high and low pass filter cutoff, and gain saturation pre-amp, limiter at the output (like metric halo ch strip), and graph options?
What then, tolerance modelling?
Oh, my!

The Fat channel could stay as-is, and be used as a master out Plugin.

Studio One could be deemed, a production DAW with no compromise.

Wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. I love the Amek. When I quit my PA sub, I waited until I got the free plugins so I could grab the 9099 on my way out. Omni Channel is also great (love to change the order of eq and comp) - love it on frequently problematic instruments like bottom snare mic and mono overheads - but I recently picked up a new computer and can't stomach paying for the plugin for a second time.

James that is an absolutely stellar idea. I'd love to see a channel strip in Studio One that does something like that. I'd love the ability to control module routing and sends from within the channel strip itself. I understand the constraint is probably StudioLive integration, but man I love the idea you presented.

 

[lokeyfly]

I'd love to see a channel strip in Studio One that does something like that. I'd love the ability to control module routing and sends from within the channel strip itself. I understand the constraint is probably StudioLive integration, but man I love the idea you presented.

Great minds think alike. I was adding switching from the channel strip itself to aux busses & sends and took it out. I figured I was getting too greedy. But the point you made is wonderful, and Im glad you did. Maybe the powers that be are listening. It could be a choice of users keeping the same layout, or mix engineer/producers/artists using a true console like environment + integrated switching right off the ch. Strip.
Sounds like a win win!
Great post and topic and I look forward to hearing more of what users find are their best and worst on board Studio One plugins. For example, Craig mentioned the Scope and possibly the Tone generator. I forgot, and they are huge, free, and accurate additions when analysis comes a knockin'.

 

[ianaeillo]

Great post and topic and I look forward to hearing more of what users find are their best and worst on board Studio One plugins. For example, Craig mentioned the Scope and possibly the Tone generator. I forgot, and they are huge, free, and accurate additions when analysis comes a knockin'.

On that note, I feel like MixFX never got the attention it deserves. It's a beautifully integrated and interesting concept and I have sent messages to plugin makers begging them to take a chance on it.

 

[lokeyfly]

On that note, I feel like MixFX never got the attention it deserves. It's a beautifully integrated and interesting concept and I have sent messages to plugin makers begging them to take a chance on it.

I'd highly recommend contacting Guillaume Jeulin over at Blue Cat Audio. He owns and developes Blue Cat. He's very approachable, and is a wizard at such things, so reach out to him. I've met with him on several occasions at AES. Helluva nice guy!

 

[ianaeillo]

Blue cat makes cool stuff. I will reach out.

 

[lokeyfly]

Guillaume had a plugin for providing parallel tracking, so fx chains could be positioned in parallel, before it was a thing (DAW channel architecture wise). All his plugins are fully MIDI addressable, and the guy is a whiz kid.

I use his Re Guitar which is a brilliant remodeling of guitar pickups, physical guitar size, etc.
Also Axiom, which is a deep guitar amp & cab sim. Lastly, a unique plugin called Aquifiend which emulates guitar feedback.

Summing devices are pretty all over the place these last few years. Everyone from Slate, Waves, to most DAW's have some iteration of them, so you'd probably want to define a mixfx that there's a market for. Everyone seems to have a hand in that already. Perhaps you had something specific in mind, which I'd bet you do.