Essential plugins for mixing

[johnnyburke]

Currently have Live Suite 9 and Komplete 9, and I'm looking at Ozone 7 Advanced for mastering. I wanted to know is which of the Ableton/ NI plugins( and Ozone 7 for that matter) are of high enough quality, and which ones would you upgrade?

So far, it seems like the Fabfilter Q2 is a good choice for EQ, but what about limiters, compressors,

[Shift Gorden]

Currently have Live Suite 9 and Komplete 9, and I'm looking at Ozone 7 Advanced for mastering. I wanted to know is which of the Ableton/ NI plugins( and Ozone 7 for that matter) are of high enough quality, and which ones would you upgrade?

So far, it seems like the Fabfilter Q2 is a good choice for EQ, but what about limiters, compressors,

Hey mate, technically you can use the tools in Live 9 Suite to master: check out some dude called Tarekith's (;))guide to mastering: http://innerportalstudio.com/guides/

That being said, I'm a complete hypocrite because I've got quite a few mastering plugs (but I swear some of my best mixes have been done using pretty much the native Ableton things - EQ8, compressor, glue compressor, etc).

BUT. I will advise you to check out PlugInAlliance: https://www.plugin-alliance.com Their bx_digital V3 is amazing sounding. Oh, the Vertigo VSC-2 is wonderful for compression. Oh, never pay full price for this stuff- sign up for their newsletter and jump on their sales!

You tried the SSL compressor from Komplete 9? It's not called that, but it's their version of an SSL. It works quite nicely on the master in small amounts. Not sure if it's any better than Ableton's Glue Compressor. i prefer the Waves SSL compressor - seems to work a little better for me.

[jestermgee]

Yeah i'm no expert in this area but I find in terms of just mixing and tweaking the sound the Live EQ8, Glue/Limiters do very well and I use these almost exclusively. I sometimes use some other compressors I have such as Native Instruments and will occasionally load up some channels I have from Waves just to experiment but always fall back on Lives own devices because they do work well.

The exception here is Reverb as I find it too hard to get the crisp sounds I like so I hardly ever use the Live reverb and instead have several others such as from eventide and the spacial reverb from eastwest. Can't pass up a sale on a good reverb.

[Tarekith]

Ditto, I rarely use anything other than the built in Live EQ and Compressors for mixing. Not really a fan of Live's limiter though, so I tend to reach for Limitless or Pro-L these days.

[fishmonkey]

i'm of the opinion that if you really know how to work with EQ and compression then you can do a decent job with almost any of the currently available plugins. that said, i also really appreciate an aesthetically and functionality pleasing GUI.

many people have said that having a small number of tools that you know really well is better than having a whole of stuff that you don't know very well. so if you don't yet have the experience to be able to distinguish between competing alternatives then wait until you do (unless you have money to burn)...

[jestermgee]

that said, i also really appreciate an aesthetically and functionality pleasing GUI.

That is quite true.

Even though the Live instruments are very powerful and capable I find I have a very hard time using them because of their compact size. I much rather a proper GUI layout and had I not come from a tracker background using text and simple sliders for basic functions i'd probably have gravitated more towards something like Ozone for EQ and compression too. I have an older Ozone 5 but never kept with updates because I found I rarely used it when I started using the live versions.

[Stromkraft]

My essentials for mixing that tends to end up in most mixes:

• EQ8
• Waves VEQ3
• Auto-filter
• Brainworx bx_cleansweep V2
• Glue Compressor
• TDR Kotelnikov
• Waves L1 UltraMaximizer
• Waves C4 Multiband Compressor
• Saturator
• Cableguys Waveshaper (Comes with Computer Music)
• Convolution Reverb (Pro)
• Dub Machines Magnetic and Diffuse
• Waves NLS (Non Linear Summing)
• Waves NX (monitoring only)
• Utility

[Stromkraft]

Even though the Live instruments are very powerful and capable I find I have a very hard time using them because of their compact size.

It certainly helps with an external controller like the Push. I run my plug-in Windows as big as possible and how big that is varies, but Live devices should really be scalable.

[johnnyburke]

Thanks everyone- much appreciated!

[ejlif]

I think as far as pure audiophile fidelity is concerned the Fab Filters sound better than Live plain and simple but yes there are times when EQ 8 and Glue sounds good too. If you were thinking of Fab Q2 I'd say do check it out, it's my go to for an EQ every time.

[mholloway]

Seriously, just use the native Live effects for mixing - they are awesome. EQ8 and Compressor are fantastic for mixing duties, and the delays are all indispensable to me.

-M

[Shift Gorden]

Seriously, just use the native Live effects for mixing - they are awesome. EQ8 and Compressor are fantastic for mixing duties, and the delays are all indispensable to me.

-M

Funny, I was going through 3 or 4 tracks yesterday - the couple I mastered using Ableton's native plugs sound better than the ones I used other plugs on! EQ8 sounds great - it worked really well in M/S mode!

Anecdotal, I know, especially since I'm way more familiar with the native plugins than the others...but still. Plus, Ableton's plug-ins are so easy to use.

[ZaBong69]

Hi,

count me in the group of people here that generally like Ableton's build in mixing/mastering tools, especially The Glue and EQ8.

That being said, there is some stuff I like to use that is not available as is: Toneboosters Reel-To-Reel tape simulation ReelBus, TB Ferox and TB Isone for mixing with headphones (really helps to avoid listening fatigue). I like the tape simulations as an alternative to standard compression.

Toneboosters Barricade is also a good alternative to Ableton's limiter as it has a monitor option that neutralizes the gain of the limiter - you can check whether limiting actually improves sound.

Haven't found how to do this with Ableton, but probably there is a set of racks somewhere that does similar thing.

Best,

Karsten

[Stromkraft]

The Glue and EQ8.

These are indeed great tools, but they do have limitations as well depending on your material. I have 17 compressor plug-ins including the Live natives and I don't regret getting even one of them as they are all different. I seldom use more than 4 in a given project, typically 2, but I could imagine using more, but it takes time to get to know your tools and there's no need to rush it. Better to focus on those that works with the tracks you're working on and put them to good use.

…has a monitor option that neutralizes the gain of the limiter - you can check whether limiting actually improves sound.

Haven't found how to do this with Ableton, but probably there is a set of racks somewhere that does similar thing.

What I do is setting one FreeG plugin before the dynamic processor and one after then I adjust the output so it matches the input. Unless I can find out my own contrivance I think the Hofa 4U+ BlindTest would be a good tool as well. One of few plug-ins on my very short list.