In Summary

While some audio plugins get a slot in the mixer almost by default, others can save the day on those occasions where things need a specific, easy fix. Here Luke shares his seven tools for music that make his mixing life easier whatever the task.

Going Deeper

For every mix, many of us will have a trusted set of tools at the top table ready to go. This might be in the form of a template, or maybe if you’re like me and find templates too prescriptive, you’ve set up default states within the slot or plugin itself. However they’re used, most will have their regular trusted tools. Sometimes things will crop up that mean a lesser-used weapon, perhaps for a very specific task, will come out of its folder to help out. For me, these are no less indispensable.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of using fewer tools is, well, using fewer tools. After all, why fill your head (and your plugin folder) with things that might never see the light of day? I think there’s a lot to be said for just ‘reaching and doing’ (with the mouse or controls) without hesitation. That for me is the shortest path to an easy life in the mix.

The Desert Island One - Softube Console 1

Channel strip plugin and hardware controller. By mouse or knob this is my ultimate reach-and-do tool. It also just happens to land with a brilliant control surface that for me trumps the shifting sands of other hardware. Of course this doesn’t affect the sound, but it does make my life easier simply because that knob or button does that thing every time. I’ve talked a lot about the Console 1 ecosystem on the blog, simply because hands-down it is my desert island audio plugin for sound and convenience. Having my EQ and dynamics in the same place never gets old. The fact that it can flip between digital precision and analogue euphonics as needed makes it a breath of fresh air compared to the endless list of big console plugin homages. Ease of use in one place, any sound you like, without having to think about it.

The Drum Surgeons - EZdrummer 3 With Oxford Drum Gate

Drum virtual instrument and intelligent gate. The ideal recording session for me sees the drums given a reasonable amount of time for pre-flight checks. This includes the all important tuning and damping, but inevitably, factors can conspire to cut these short. This is where replacement can be a life saver, say to bolster or swap out that anaemic bass drum, for example. We’re big fans of Superior Drummer 3 on the blog, but my weapon of choice for drum replacement sounds is actually EZdrummer 3. I guess I just like its simplicity: pick a sound, fire MIDI, and it’s done.

I don’t record with triggers firstly because I don’t have them, and secondly because I don’t need them. I have a gate that generates MIDI thanks to one of the earliest machine learning plugins in Sonnox’s Oxford Drum Gate. This thing is so good I quite often never have to touch the threshold!

The Gate On Steroids - FabFilter Pro-G

Gate with dedicated ducker. OK, this one’s another problem-solver. When it comes to ducking, I’ve experimented with a few ways of doing it, including building my own in the mixer versus good old-fashioned automation. Apart from REAPER’s excellent REAGate, FabFilter’s Pro-G is my weapon of choice for taking a dip in any DAW. With a dedicated ducking mode, it is predictable and controllable, even more so than something like a DS201 with its uber-basic traffic light feedback. Yes, the Fabs did it again, predictably.

The Grungy One - Klevgrand REAMP

Saturator and gear modeller. I’m always on the lookout for something to beat my regular saturator, and while recently trying out Klevgrand’s Masterbus bundle, I found REAMP. I’ve always liked the control of multiband distortion, letting me navigate around some of the farting and squelching noises that can be had at the extremes. While not strictly a multiband distortion, Avid’s SansAmp repro came close to what I like, but REAMP is better. With seven devices and four bands, its simple controls and clean layout make getting the exact sound easier than with some other destroyers out there from the Heavyweights.

The Echo Machine - AIR Delay Pro

Delay. Around ten years ago I bought what became my new favourite delay. While it did have a couple of digital patches, its thing was most definitely its extensive collection of bucket brigade relics and dusty tape chewers. Recently I tried AIR Delay Pro, which has finally ousted the Old Boy from its perch. Why? Because it can be anything. From crisp DDL, to motorised antique in a click, this thing has my old delay’s tail-designing chops as well as a much better GUI and loads more besides. For me at least, this one does it all.

The Space Maker - LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven

Reverb. When it comes to reverb, many will remember a time when reverb came from a metal box in the rack with a screen and some buttons on the front. For those who don’t, chances are your ITB algorithmic space-maker will share at least some of its DNA with hardware rack reverb. Serving up the lush, expensive tails of the Bricasti M7, LiquidSonics’ Seventh Heaven standard does it for me, albeit with its own way of doing it. Yes there is the Professional edition, but the standard serving does everything I need and not a lot more. This one’s all about sound and immediacy. I even like its friendly red glowy LED display. If you look carefully you can even see the fingerprints on it…

Any Others? - Worthy Mentions

Loudness compliance is a fact of life unless you are mixing exclusively for physical, and no-one does that anymore (unless… Let us know in the comments). I get to try a lot of limiting and/or metering plugins, but the one that helps me get the magic numbers is still Sonible’s smart:limit. Why? Because it’s one plugin, and it’s quick and easy and it works. Avid’s Pro Limiter is a close second but until hell freezes over and the VST version comes out I’m sticking with Sonible to use in any DAW, as well as in my NLE.

And finally… Recently I was working on a mix, imported the files, and something terrible happened. Well, it would have been terrible until Acon Digital came to the rescue with DeClip2. If you’re seeing red, worry no more because this little problem solver reconstructs waveforms to kill clips. This has been making my life easier for those rare occasions when things go above where digital says “Nothing to see here”.

Which audio plugins make your life easier? Let us know in the comments.

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.