VST plug-ins vs rack for effects for recording

[Digital Jams]

So I am reading my Sweetwater thingie that came with my order and they are talking about software vs hardware for verbs and delays. Per the article they state that due to more powerful pc processors that the software has just about caught up with hardware, but I am thinking that they are speaking of the $$$$$$$ VSTs out there.

I know crap about this and I am not too versed on what really makes a good verb so..................which is perfered here?

 

[nbarts]

O, you are stirring a painful subject, my friend.

Software verbs in my experience do not sound good until you get into convolution verb area, like IR1, Wizoo, Altiverb. Good hardware units will sound better, however if you are mixing in the board with basic setup it's very arguable how usable hardware verbs would be. IMO unless you are trying to make TOP quality recording you should do perfectly fine with software verbs.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

So I am reading my Sweetwater thingie that came with my order and they are talking about software vs hardware for verbs and delays. Per the article they state that due to more powerful pc processors that the software has just about caught up with hardware, but I am thinking that they are speaking of the $$$$$$$ VSTs out there.

I know crap about this and I am not too versed on what really makes a good verb so..................which is perfered here?

Depends on the specific VST and/or specific hardware I suppose, I'm not sure a blanket statement for either side would apply here IMO.

But having said that I haven't dabbled much into the rack unit side of things so I'm not entirely sure

 

[hail and kill]

When we mixed my bands cd at Sear Sound in NYC they had a real plate reverb unit. It was massive and they had it up in the attic of the place and just routed controls to it. I have never heard anything sound even close to as good as that did. We also used some real tape reverb to that sounds amazing on vocals. Though I dont have much expeirence with the high end VST plugs i doubt they will sound that good.

erik.

 

[Anonymous]

So I am reading my Sweetwater thingie that came with my order and they are talking about software vs hardware for verbs and delays. Per the article they state that due to more powerful pc processors that the software has just about caught up with hardware, but I am thinking that they are speaking of the $$$$$$$ VSTs out there.

I know crap about this and I am not too versed on what really makes a good verb so..................which is perfered here?

In general, the hardware equivalent of a good verb is gonna be better as it is dedicated to one thing. However, there are VERY good plugin reverbs that are reasonably priced. For my little recordings, using dedicated hardware makes no sense. With todays computers, that have incredible processing power, you can use a different sounding reverb plugin (or just a different preset you create) for snare and kick, something different for guitars, etc... You also don't need any hardware I/O to do this as you would with dedicated hardware. I'd stick w/plugins...

Steve

 

[Code001]

Slight shift in subject if I may:

Could anybody recommend some nice plug-ins that they use on a regular basis, or are good to have for a recording setup?

 

[Digital Jams]

Thanks for the replies guys, I do have the access to use either hardware via breakout boxes or VST due to the Core 2 E6600 so I have power to spare.

Never thought about seperate pieces with different verbs, that does make sense for the plug-in.

 

[Bob Savage]

Keep in mind that digital hardware processors are running software too, it's just embedded and the processing power is dedicated.

 

[Digital Jams]

Keep in mind that digital hardware processors are running software too, it's just embedded and the processing power is dedicated.

Yeah the processing power was what I was interested in.

I know that my plug-ins that came with Cubase should be good enough for what I try to do, just need to bolt my ass to the chair with no guitar and read.

 

[blackba]

I find the free software VST plugins that I downloaded work great for me, your mileage may vary though...

 

['63-Strat]

Its your call obviously, but I've heard some great recordings that have been done with nothing but a guitar, bass, modellers and software. Unless you're maxing out the capibilities of your current setup already, I'd think plugins should be fine unless you're trying to make something that is ready for commercial release, and even then lots of those have plug-ins on them. YMMV.

 

[cobrahead1030]

you can spend a few hundred bones and get some really nice sounding vst plugins that will give you a lot of options to work with, or you can spend that same amount and MAYBE get one decent rack unit that will sound about as good with a lot fewer options

 

[bikescene]

Slight shift in subject if I may:

Could anybody recommend some nice plug-ins that they use on a regular basis, or are good to have for a recording setup?

This website has impulse response files of hardware reverbs. http://noisevault.com/nv/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=29

To use them, you can load them up on the SIR VST plugin http://www.knufinke.de/sir/sir1.html, which is Windows only. I think the current Mac version of Reaper also has a convolution reverb plugin included.

 

[Gainiac]

So I am reading my Sweetwater thingie that came with my order and they are talking about software vs hardware for verbs and delays. Per the article they state that due to more powerful pc processors that the software has just about caught up with hardware, but I am thinking that they are speaking of the $$$$$$$ VSTs out there.

I know crap about this and I am not too versed on what really makes a good verb so..................which is perfered here?

I think what was said is right on, also, whats the context? for instrumental stuff, I think most inexpensive plug-ins can suffice as long as its not a top shelf final Mastering your doing, but basic plug-ins for Vocals? uhhh...thats a different kettle of tubes....

 

[degenaro]

Kinda depends what is compared to what...UAd stuff, doesn't get much better than that.
Also what hardware are we using for a comparison? Lexicon 480 or TC G Sharp?

 

[Digital Jams]

Thanks for the tips, my main problem is that sometimes I have a bad habit of getting caught up in things that I should not be sweating about....such as verbs.

H.....nothing polished or will ever be listened to in mass

Ed.......I have a Lexicon MPX-1 that has the same power as a PCM 60 and the verbs sound great imo. I also have Plug-ins from Cubase and EMU, the Cubase arre better than the EMU stuff but with my breakout box using the Lexicon is no problem.

 

[defpearlpilot]

Personally, I prefer the software stuff due to it's flexibility. The benefit of hardware is that you can have dedicated DSP power. The problem is that it requires much more I/O from your system and it can only process one channel/bus at a time(unless you desire otherwise through busing) and one effect(also depending on what you desire). You won't be able to process track one to add delay and track two to add reverb to the mix bus using the same outboard processor.

Just like Bob mentioned, it's the "same" software but dedicated. The better solutions are SSL Duende or Waves APA stuff, which give you dedicated processing power for your native system.

In terms of verbs, like someone else mentioned, the convolution stuff is awesome. I use TL Space Native since it came with PT MPT and I love it! Much better than RVerb that I was using from Waves. But there are some WAVES plug-ins that I still like. Either way, I'm all "in-the-box."

 

[chalnger86]

In terms of verbs, like someone else mentioned, the convolution stuff is awesome. I use TL Space Native since it came with PT MPT and I love it! Much better than RVerb that I was using from Waves. But there are some WAVES plug-ins that I still like. Either way, I'm all "in-the-box."

You took the words right out of my mouth...er compuer, or whatever. You get my point. TL Space comes bundled with the Music toolkit expansion for Pro Tools LE. Very nice addition along with the extra tracks.

 

[degenaro]

Thanks for the tips, my main problem is that sometimes I have a bad habit of getting caught up in things that I should not be sweating about....such as verbs.

H.....nothing polished or will ever be listened to in mass

Ed.......I have a Lexicon MPX-1 that has the same power as a PCM 60 and the verbs sound great imo. I also have Plug-ins from Cubase and EMU, the Cubase arre better than the EMU stuff but with my breakout box using the Lexicon is no problem.

Well, that's way on the low end, unless we're talking for guitr and then it won't matter so much.

 

[OneArmedScissor]

I can't say I've ever encountered a reverb plug-in that didn't irritate me in some way. While they like to give the illusion that they're extremely adjustable and can replicate the sound of any place in the world, they generally have their own particular sound that is always going to be there. It's just like with amp modeling. They can act like it emulates every amp under the sun, but you can always hear the particular character of the modeler.

Sometimes, they fit, but sometimes, they don't. I typically have better luck just using simple delays than screwing around with a dozen complex reverb plug-ins trying to find something.