Best Plugins For Vocals

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jacksimmons

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« on: February 12, 2018, 11:06:04 PM »
I've decided I really need some new plugins, mainly for processing things on vocal like Reverb & Delay. Think my vocal tracks are really lacking and the one free reverb plugin I have really isn't doing it for me. What are the best plugins for reverb and delay, particularly for vocals? I would prefer if they were free, or at least affordable. Thanks in advance guys
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Boydie

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« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2018, 11:38:27 PM »
The VALHALLA stuff is very well thought of for price and is used a lot by the pros

They are $50 a pop: https://valhalladsp.com/

I have got them but haven't really had a chance for a proper play yet but the reviews are awesome so are probably worth checking out

My favourite delay at the moment is the Waves H-Delay, which is on sale at $49: https://www.waves.com/plugins/h-delay-hybrid-delay#delay-on-drums-electronic-music-production

I am sure you will find cheaper but for $99 you could get an "industry standard" reverb and delay

Check them out on YouTube

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Ramshackles

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« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2018, 08:21:17 AM »
I use 2 reverbs:
Softube TSAR1 and Waves Abbey Road Plates.
Really nice reverbs that compliment each other nicely. They have very different sounds.
For more affordable (although if you wait for a sale, which happen a lot, you can get the above plugins quite cheap), I agree with Boydie for the Valhalla stuff

Bill Saunders

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pompeyjazz

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« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2018, 09:09:22 AM »
The Abbey Road plates reverb is great. Got it for around 20 quid in a sale. I also love Izotope digital delay which was a freebie

cowparsleyman

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« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2018, 09:45:47 AM »
For Vox plugins I begin with Izotope Nectar Elements, I can generally get what I want with that as a starter, it's got a load of good options in there, including delay and verb.

For reverb I use Variverb Pro (came as part of my DAW),

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/magix-variverb-pro-23082

sometimes a Lexicon MPX1 outboard FX unit (I know not a plugin but has very good vox reverb)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/lexicon-mpx-1-stereo-processor

External fx units are now getting cheaper, and the quality really is superb, just a bit of faff using them in a DAW, AND it provides many more fx's so you do get a big bang for your buck, and it's not the traditional guitar focused fx unit.

I know neither of these are free, nor particularly cheap, there are many more that are more expensive, trying to find that price/performance sweet spot is always difficult, and these do the job such that I don't feel like I need to spend any more wallop.

I often setup a few aux busses with variverb pro, each with a different verb setting, and send a track to each one, thus relieving the need for multiple verb plugins, and it spares the CPU.

Hope this helps.

cpm



Marcus Deso

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« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2018, 01:28:54 AM »
Tal reverb is awesome and free

https://tal-software.com/products/tal-reverb

jacksimmons

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« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2018, 07:30:49 PM »
Awesome stuff. Thank you very much guys, gonna check out everything suggested and make a hard choice! Excited
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Cawproductions

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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2018, 07:47:07 PM »
Hi jack,

Dont know if you have the pro version of your DAW but most come with some very good effects right out the box.

Cubase pro has some nice ones, as does other pro DAWS,

I guess what I am saying , sometimes the price of an upgrade to the pro version is as good as buying all the extra VST's

Cheers
Andy

cowparsleyman

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« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2018, 08:04:14 PM »
Totally agree with CAW productions, spot on

cpm

jacksimmons

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« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2018, 08:48:34 PM »
Hi jack,

Dont know if you have the pro version of your DAW but most come with some very good effects right out the box.

Cubase pro has some nice ones, as does other pro DAWS,

I guess what I am saying , sometimes the price of an upgrade to the pro version is as good as buying all the extra VST's

Cheers
Andy

I CAW! I have a Pro Version of Cubase 5 as my current DAW. It does have some nifty free plugins but I'm looking for an upgrade. I'm currently in the process of updating and upgrading most of my studio setup.
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Boydie

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« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2018, 08:23:01 AM »
Hmmm - I would be wary of "upgrading" plugins until you know what it is sonically that you are looking for or lacking in your current arsenal

E.g., if you already halve a compressor (that you know how to use and get the best from) than a more, high end, plugin is not necessarily going to sound "better" or do anything your current one doesn't

With that said, there are plugins that can have improved workflows and/or improved usability

You are doing the right thing by starting with reverbs and delays as these can sound noticeably different

I would also add a plus 1 for Waves Abbey Road plates if you can get them on offer as they do sound lush

I do understand the whole wanting to buy/upgrade plugins - and it can keep things fresh and they are always fun to learn, but it is a bit of a rabbit hole you could fall in to and it is easy to build up a stock of loads of plugins you will never get around to learning properly

It can often be best to learn a few "inside out" to get the sound you want quickly than to audition a gazillion different types





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jacksimmons

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« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2018, 01:07:42 PM »
Hmmm - I would be wary of "upgrading" plugins until you know what it is sonically that you are looking for or lacking in your current arsenal

E.g., if you already halve a compressor (that you know how to use and get the best from) than a more, high end, plugin is not necessarily going to sound "better" or do anything your current one doesn't

With that said, there are plugins that can have improved workflows and/or improved usability

You are doing the right thing by starting with reverbs and delays as these can sound noticeably different

I would also add a plus 1 for Waves Abbey Road plates if you can get them on offer as they do sound lush

I do understand the whole wanting to buy/upgrade plugins - and it can keep things fresh and they are always fun to learn, but it is a bit of a rabbit hole you could fall in to and it is easy to build up a stock of loads of plugins you will never get around to learning properly

It can often be best to learn a few "inside out" to get the sound you want quickly than to audition a gazillion different types

You're totally right. I've just gone with the Abbey Road plates as they were on sale and I am loving them currently. There is a marked improvement in usability and sound over the reverb plugin I have been using, which just wasn't dynamic enough. But dw I am only looking for Reverb and Delay, I'm keeping everything I currently have because these are the only areas I feel like I am lacking in at the moment. Don't know enough about compression to move on to something more complicated 
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"When I play a dope melody, anything less than the best is a felony." - Robert Matthew Van Winkle