My Top 5 Best Plugins EVER!

[@soureel]

I'm a keyboardist and jazz pianist. I agree, love Pianoteq, it's my favorite for acoustic and Rhodes pianos.

[@jamesr3322]

Keyscape is pretty amazing..

[@HealyHQ]

@@jamesr3322 Keyscape also takes up a ton of storage space with its samples, whereas Pianoteq is physically modeled so takes very little space.

[@jamesr3322]

@@HealyHQ I agree. I have both. Keyscape and Trilian are a cut above in my opinion but at the end of the day they both would sit in a mix just fine.

[@luiskksdesouza]

I always do 2 versions of mastering, one with Ozone and anotrher with T-Racks One to be able to compare what I can achieve on each one and most of the times, the TRacks One along with a few other T-Racks plugins, such as EQ, compressor (lots to choose from) , and others, is my final choice to the end version. And AD2 is just PERFECT !

[@kadiummusic]

Totally agree with you about T-Racks One, it just sounds incredble evry single time! 😎

[@SomebodyPickaName]

100% facts

[@Belgium046]

Me , i like the izotope gear , but they are not very CPU friendly , so i just use the ozone10 to compare different results in mastering ! My favorite tools are from ik-multimedia by far , specialy the T-rackS 5 bundle , but for my guitar sounds it's Amplitube 5 . Other gear i use all the time is EZdrummer 3 , i have de superior drummer also , but i love the way you can handle the ezd 3 !

[@orderd29]

What a great video, just the right amount of depth and information to explain your choices.

[@Herr-Lefe]

I have 4 plugins that I fell in love with the moment I started to use them: XLN: Addictive Drums, AAS: Objeq Delay, Cableguys: Shaperbox, and Brainworx: SSL 4000G.

[@adamburger858]

Thanks for this video mate. I've been meaning to try that Maximizer, but I always forget lol and your last choice is interesting...haven't tried that one either, but I will now. Cheers-🤙

[@philfyphil]

I could not do without maximizer.

[@johnhill762]

You’ll never use another mastering plug-in after trying One. It’s amazing

[@joegrint6280]

Nice roundup Mike - the top choice was a surprise though I remember you being enthusiastic about it previously. I thought one of the Amplesound guitars might be in there but then realised you probably don't need them!

[@BillGraper]

I just bought the Vintage Cherry last weekend. It sounds amazing! I can't believe they are only $149.

[@ezekieltsman]

Thanks so much for this informative video, I still love Addictive Drum 2 than some of the Drums because it's easy to route into multi track and you can record each h kit into tracks, and I can also make it sound raw like I recorded the Drums.

[@AndyB01]

Another vote for Pianoteq here, one of my favourite piano VSTs. There is definitely something about the 'playability' thing, as if the sound is perfectly sync'd with the mechanics of the keyboard. I also have to give EzKeys an honourable mention. It's old now and crying out, even weeping, for a major update. However, for sheer versatility and breadth it's an absolute gift to people who are a bit challenged in the keyboard chops department (like myself). Downside is addictiveness and cost of instruments and midi packs. A very credible third goes to Scaler 2 - wait till it's on offer and try it - great value and incredibly versatile.

[@garrystubbs4891]

Andrew, save yourself a lot of money on instruments for EZ Keys, simply by enabling the MIDI out in preferences and connecting its output to any other VST keyboard. I connect mine to my Kontakt library keyboards and it works brilliantly. HTH

[@shanonkiyoshi4784]

@@garrystubbs4891 I do that too! 😂😎👍🎶

[@carlosclaptrix]

What a great sound of the Pianotec.

[@murraywebster1228]

Kirchhoff eq and everything Sonible for surgical control, and th usual suspects for colour and some not so usual stuff from plugin Alliance, and my new toys are Sound Particles plugins for getting movement and interest in the song…and at least one liquid Sonics reverb……..even if it’s only Seventh Heaven……

[@shanonkiyoshi4784]

When I got the Plugin Alliance bundle the Kirchhoff EQ wasn't even on my radar, but NOW I use it on almost EVERYTHING. Powerful & Precise -- my ears LOVE it 😎👍

[@fab672000]

I really like True Pianos too, very light and sounds great...

[@jarosawcibora8690]

TRS One is unbelievably good. Not sure what is going on with that, but it sounds wonderful on pretty much anything.

[@jamescave7102]

Beautiful and thank you Mike.

[@mlwsf]

Not sure that I can keep it to 5. BUSTERSE and Warmy epa1a on the master bus, Monster Drums, particularly the Cajon and Toothbrush kit, WD Magic 76 and YALA Vari-mu on Vocal, Supercharger for drums, and TRS Black 76 on the bass bus.

[@jeromeweaver809]

Congratulation!

[@shanonkiyoshi4784]

I use the T-RackS ONE plugin on every bus in my mixes, & sometimes on individual instruments. It's a Swiss Army Knife for audio. I honestly bought the T-RackS for OTHER units in the suite, but ironically I use THIS plugin MORE than all the rest 🤣🤷‍♂️😎👍

[@SomebodyPickaName]

For sure! I'm with you, Shanon.

[@WilliamWarinDhavernas]

You may have a look at the MDynamic EQ from Melda that has similar funktions as the Pro Q plus many more. It's not so nice looking nor so comprehensive than ProQ, but does more and is less expensive.

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

I'm in on the Melda plug-ins myself. I don't yet have the MDynamic, however I do have their other plug-ins like MReverbMB, MUltramaximizer, MDelayMB MSaturatorMB, MDistortionMB, MRingModulatorMB, and then the free 37 plug-in basic bundle, which I've paid to upgrade. All sound great. There's a big rabbit hole of edits to each, but I'm very OK with that. Once I've gotten more familiar with these settings, I'm sure I can get unique audio from them. I also have the Pulsar Mu and Massive combo. Next I need to find some VST3 piano and strings.

[@vas_car]

Very good video Mike, thanks for sharing!

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

Still looking for the best budget realistic horn plugin.

[@MuzixMaker]

I like Pianoteq as well

[@happyron]

New studio is looking sharp!

[@jmonkreltub9824]

Thanks for what you do Mike!

[@johnhill762]

Yeah I use T-RackS 5 on every track. Perfect for mixing and mastering. Would be cool to use Ozone in conjunction for loudness control. Perfect combo right there.

[@davidloflin3098]

Somehow while I'm quite familiar with most of these plugins I wasn't familiar with T-Racks One. Tell you what Mike, I trust your judgement so I'll look into it, I like the concept. Cheers and keep up the good work.

[@johnhill762]

Once you try One, you’ll never go back. It’s amazing.

[@lisan_al-ghaib]

That last tip is sound like the one 👌 Will be checking that one out on sale. Thanks!

[@dougkidder9069]

3 out of 5 didn't expect that - Cheers 😎

[@williamsporing1500]

Hi, I’m randy, and I hope you’re well. My favorite is helix native. With that, superior drummer, my guitars and Juno Gi, I can do just about everything I need.

[@stupendousmusic4190]

Since you're a Studio One user, have you used the mastering section?

[@ojustaboo]

What do you think of "Arturia Piano V3" (not earlier versions), I believe that's also modelled in a similar way to Pianoteq?

[@daviddashian]

Hello, I watched your videos and now want to try cakewalk. I am an reaper user. Have you ever used reaper? Why u like cakewalk?

[@philfyphil]

Superior Drummer is my number One. The thing that normally lets down drum plugins is the cymbals. I don’t think SD3 cymbals are perfect, but they are not bad.

[@jamesr3322]

It's my go to.. excellent

[@whereshadowsshrink1046]

Mike A quick question on the subject of plugins. Do you or have you used the Loudmax Limiter? I sometimes use it on my main bus output and wondered what your thoughts are.

[@welchomestudio]

Thanks for what you do! 🙂

[@JoeyFTL]

How does the bx Masterdesk compare to the T-Racks One in your opinion?

[@polmorgan3533]

that game show wheel of fortune thing really puts me off Distrokid, that looks like a right pain in the ass.

[@ShiningHourPop]

You’re right! It works… if you’re willing to go into it often. The problem I found is that whatever rank your song ends up on the playlist, you get bumped within a short time and have to keep starting over. However, while Distrokid is good for getting music onto streaming platforms, I think Bandcamp is better.

[@noteimporta2880]

Izotope music production 5, refx nexus 4, arturia v collection 9, xfer Serum, spitfire audio labs

[@logicbug]

I clicked as soon as I saw this, however the links to the 5 plugins are not in the description..

[@CreativeSauce]

Oops! Sorry, added now :)

[@GuyAllenMusic]

Anyone have a coupon for TRS One? $99 is kind of steep, but man that is a good plugin (if only they didn't force download of all that other junk with it)

[@KarryConway]

ample sound ample guitar rb turned my keyboard into a great guitar :)

[@b4time718]

Agree. Their instruments are underated.

[@greglandry3560]

how does TRacks One compare with the UAD Pultec EQP-1A plugin? I assume already from this video that you prefer the Tracks One, but I am wondering if there is a big difference or small one. Thanks!

[@lovemd6359]

Number 6 soothe ?

[@choosers5177]

Zynaptiq unfilter is the best I've used so far

[@tasteapiana]

Best plugin I have is the coffee machine.

[@al.grosman]

Has anyone the same problem like me that SSDrums5 is much more quiet than other drum plugins?

[@SomebodyPickaName]

Yes and it's so bad in that regard that I can't use it. It sounds like the drummer is a tapper (hits lightly) so for rock stuff, you have to process the heck out of it to make it have any impact whatsoever. And I don't have the patience for that so I just stick with other options (primarily my own library that I made in the studio that I load in Battery 4).

[@1loveMusic2003]

Maximizer is the shit I have T racks but I find the levels are not reliable on the in suite meters I checked with other metering and it is way off not good

[@jamesr3322]

I agree with you there. They're always too hot and I have to reduce the levels each time.

[@andreasveith6681]

Pro-Q3 has a maximum of 24 bands, but I think that's not a real limit. ;)

[@fetusbelt6851]

But , Frequency 2 is stock in cubase and as good or better than Q3. How you gonna compare Q3 to the basic eq ha ha ha....

[@SomebodyPickaName]

What makes Frequency 2 the most unique EQ ever made is that it's (I think) the only EQ to ever let you sidechain different sources to every EQ band, rather than limiting you to just one sidechain source like every other EQ.

[@fetusbelt6851]

@@SomebodyPickaName yeah, and different bands can be stereo or mid/side, and have linear phase on independent bands

[@keithferris9574]

Say what you will, but plug-ins are highly affordable, and give home recordists real studio quality and full professional capacity.

[@spacemanonearth]

Have all but one, Have NI Ultimate not the last update, do not have XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2 am going for it now if deal is still avalible AD CustXXL 10+10+10 = $299, have iZtope MPS 4 not 5 yet, have all FabFilter Plugins, have all IK Multimedia all of it. Also, way too much more, PA XXL, Slate, countless others, but have not been very used of late sadly. Thanks Mike! I will highly consider Addictive Drums with extras as needed, want a deal. lol

[@neilmacmusic]

great video! and may i say you might have a long lost cousin on Thinkspace Education’s KZbin channel! Guy Michelmore a UK based music composer and educator 😀👍

[@1loveMusic2003]

Tracks is great I just don't trust the metering you should check it its very slow to react and inaccurate

[@SuperIZL]

I was certain I was listening to Corg.

[@music_creator_capable]

Hey!

[@jocafe4880]

Are these for free?

[@coppermeloman9143]

... 👍 !!

[@spacemanonearth]

Just wish to say, thank you so much for your videos, am poor now, those damn vst's and daw's broke me. lol And what little I can scrape up I have been giving to Ukraine due to this horrid war with Russia's invasion. So, thank you, will hope this war ends soon, you deserve a big perk for your great efforts to inform us and review products, thank you so much.

[@michaelhawkins6149]

Glad to see you doing well! Rock On Brother!

[@artao5]

Let's see. My list, before watching the video. #1: Reaktor. 100% (Also if I could only have one plugin) .. #2: Analog Lab .. #3: Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor .. #4: ReaEQ (yep. no joke. But I've not had an opportunity to try Pro-Q) .. #5: Stutter Edit

[@Sal_Sorice]

Anyone have experience with Brainworx bx_masterdesk? If so, how does that compare to T-RackS one?

[@multitracker]

bx_masterdesk true peak is my desert island finishing plugin.

[@jamesr3322]

Love it