SORRY but you really need to STOP buying analog emulation plugins...

[@PaulThird]

JUST TO BE CLEAR This may lose me subscribers but so be it. As of today there will be no more videos of new plugin releases on my channel (paid or free) UNLESS it's a video debunking marketing claims and overhyping on the platform. Hopefully this will be something I hardly need to make in the future. I may still do the odd video showcasing a new plugin or a tool that I feel needs attention but only after using it for a certain period of time in my mixes. the pulsar 8200 will definitely be the last analog emulation plugin release video or plugin v plugin shootout on this channel. I may still do analog vs digital but I purely want to make content moving forward that fits where my head is at which is very focused on my journey into being a full time audio engineer. The pulsar 8200 was a sweet gig getting paid purely to show features and geek out without any opinions but my fear is that this sort of content becomes more of the norm and the channels content is dictated by sponsored videos as developers want that objective matter of fact review upon release. After the 8200 video I've had the offer of 3 new paid analog releases in the coming months, and as good as it would be to invest back in my new studio it's not what I'm passionate about anymore as a content creator and I probably will just end up ditching it all together which I don't really want to do. I've not got as much passion as I once did for YT but if I get back to making content like before that is driven by my ADD and autistic rabbit holes I know I'll stick at it I know you love new plugin video releases but it's a difficult place I'm in where I refuse to be used as free advertising but I'm getting bashed for being paid to make content. If I do sponsored videos I would much rather they were about something irrelevant to what I'm talking about or alternatively be about something im super passionate about, similar to the paid videos I made on double tap, decibel, spice rack etc which I still use to this day ✌️

[@OrdinaryOneOfficial]

Nah, everyone will recognise that opinions are just opinions and will respect it. Surely the internet won't over-react because of an opinion? Say-it-ain't-so!

[@PaulThird]

You'd think so but but it seems when it's my opinion there's a big issue in the industry. The industry goons are already trying to discredit me and my opinion. It's unavoidable but it's just about staying strong and tackling them head on

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

nah you get more

[@gulagwarlord]

You and Weaver Beats are the only ones keeping it real in the game so keep it up!

[@rick_amsterdam]

I so relate to your ADD rabit hole analogy. I've been there as well and had the exact same realization. Less is more. And once you start producing / mixing for a living for other people, work flow and speed and not feeling bogged down by the endless chains of cpu crackling mindfucks is so important! Great video!

[@rossbalch]

Yess! I love when plugins do something unique and innovative that would never be possible in hardware. I kinda roll my eyes at yet another analogue plugin. It really feeds into this nirvana/nostalgia thing that musicians seem especially prone to.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@thevi_olin]

Geeking out on analog emulations helped me understand the history of mixing; and how the craft developed; and I learned a ton about cool hardware and signal processing too. It's a hobby in itself; and one that I really enjoy. And that is a valuable investment. It stops at a certain point, and you listen past the gear and use your ear with a better understanding of what to listen for. It's great, and it's cheaper. But getting to that point is the investment in plugins many of us get sucked in to. Good luck on your road ahead!!!! Keep geeking out on your own stuff Paul, I'm looking forward to it!

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@Rhuggins]

I agree, plugins and hardware are very much a separate hobby for me- one that has helped me develop an ear. Im still very passionate on future-state analog emulation technology but i have to separate it from my mixing craft

[@RayFerretti]

Two of my fav Joe Carrell quotes before he became the spokesperson for Plugin Alliance: "Don't think that a plugin will change the world." "Mixing better is not about a plugin its about a thousand little things that you do, some of which are plugins. If you base your whole mix on a certain brand of plugin your going to be frustrated a lot."

[@Super-id7bq]

He clearly didn't anticipate OTT 😆

[@djcolinturnbull]

What really opened my eyes .. was when I listened to a mix from 12 years ago with almost only stock Logic plugins… then I realised it sounded better then most of the mixes with all the “subscription” plugins.. only useful and unique tools are being used now. It’s 99% marketing now and.. even tools like VSX… I put on a real pair of Planar Magnetic cans… and the emulations are just not even close. It’s the perfect time to get rid of the cluttter. You only need a few key tools that really save time or do something sonically unique. 👍🏻.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@PaulSultana]

Yes, couldn’t agree more. I actually came to the same resolution myself not too long ago. Looked back on how much I had spent on plugins, felt horribly ashamed, realized it was a waste of money (albeit somewhat educational). Now I use very few plugins and only the ones which help me get the job done quickly. Basically FabFilter for eq/comp/saturation where needed, and the Plugin Alliance HG-2MS on the 2 bus. I even limit my mixes to just one convolution reverb per song. I gotta tell ya, mixing has never been funner, faster, or more satisfying. And the results are better.

[@adamnienke3633]

I couldn’t agree more. I know in the box can be all you need, but I finally made the leap to clearer monitoring through a D-Box along with an SSL Fusion, and I just can’t go back. Still love soundtoys and things like that, but the larger stereo field has made it evident just how many of my emulation plugins are hurting more than helping.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

So, I am nothing, but a happy enthusiast, I will never be a great mix engineer, or a great audio engineer in general. But, about 7 years ago, I started to take the whole thing more seriously, and began actively seeking information and learning that would improve my ability, to mix. As per usual, I found a handful of techniques that I was able to 'parrot', and set off down the road of bringing each new technique into every mix I did. It didn't work. At the time, I thought it must . be me getting something wrong, because there was always something I needed to extract from the audio to make it flourish. When I looked back on these earlier mixes, a few years down the line, I was gobsmacked at the bewilderingly long chains on every group channel, the intensive amount of effects and processing on everything. I knew I had to hold back, but it was difficult not to remove everything and worry, I would lose that sound. It took me another couple of years, to really get to a point where I was using less. Later still, I tacked some mixing of stuff that I had recorded of other people, and when I found myself fighting the mix all the way through, I decided to mix, as if I was working with a 1970's studio. I don't mean a host of classic analogue emulations, I mean hardly anything. I tried to do a mix with only one compressor on the vocal track, one mixbus compressor, one reveb for everything, one slap echo, one EQ on the mixbus, and no eq on the channels, just high and low pass where needed. It became a challenge. It needed a quality static mix to bring about something bordering on an exciting mix, but it came out sounding fine. I then mastered separately and got a good level with a reasonable amount of dynamic range and not overly aggresive limiting or post compression. It was a real eye opener, and it made so much sense to me. Because I couldn't/wouldn't let myself use inordinate amounts of compression, clever effects and processors, I had to 'listen to everything in far more detail. I had to get the balance right, at the start. I had to get the send levels right, I found myself making the tiniest of incremental movements on processors, and began to hear massive differences. It's a beautiful, enchanting and crazy place to be, getting into audio production, and sound manipulation, but it's a dangerous and baffling to place to get lost in, too. it taught me far more, that those 'handful' of techniques i found on the internet 7 years ago. Less is definitely more

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Gamervidsman2000]

tl;dr?

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

@@Gamervidsman2000 tl; pcr; nmp

[@Gamervidsman2000]

@@Bring_MeSunshine 🤓🤓

[@AftertuneMusic]

Always appreciate your thoughts Pau

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@gulagwarlord]

Hahaha yeah every time I open an old project, I'm just ripping plugins out like "nope, didn't need this, or that, etc."

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@GingerDrums]

. As a drummer after 4 years I had a 6 piece kit with 7 crashes. After 20 years I play 3 piece with ride and hh.... We have to do to much in ANY discipline before we learn moderation and taste

[@gulagwarlord]

@@GingerDrums Yeah man I'm a drummer too... have a Tama Starclassic 6 piece and now I mostly just use two toms, hats, one ride, and crash for a lot of work these days.

[@GingerDrums]

@gulagwarlord one of the best drummers in my opinion. Also a german nr.1 chart topping producer with Deichkind kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqOphaioadpjr9U

[@mr-iz8cx]

Good on you mate. Glad to hear you're going your own way with it. Also glad to know that from your perspective, some analog emulation as it stands is objectively good enough to get top results sonically - subjectively speaking haha. Gives me confidence to find the bits and pieces I want and think are maybe missing. Cheers

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@firewerk66]

I'm pretty much with you Paul...Acustica was the end of the road for me in terms of plugins with analog mojo, they truly are transformative. I use Acustica Audio plugins almost exclusively on my mixes and for mastering (apart for a couple of Waves and Pluign Alliance plugins that I really like). Until a dev comes up with a better was to make software sound like hardware, Acustica is the final boss.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@threeeyedtribe]

Which plugins would you recommend from them?!

[@firewerk66]

@@threeeyedtribe the ones iused the most are: Snow, Opal, Sand, Ivory, Magenta, & Amber. I have many more, depending on the genre and source material. I love having so many color choices when mixing and mastering. :)

[@osirusmusic]

Awesome video Paul. I'm trying to cut down on my plugins and I hardly purchase any new ones. I have the T-RACKS5 plugins, and it has most analog emulations, so I don't need to get the ones from Arturia or from UAD when they pretty much do almost the same thing. If you have a plugin that gets the job done, don't get another similar fancy one.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Harrysound]

I only started buying plugins a couple of years ago. I’m really happy with my haul. I have all the analogue emulations you would find in a 90s studio and that’ll do me. I didn’t realise for years that I had a pultec, massive passive, dbx 160, 1176, la2a etc all included with komplete and if you give it the old plugin doctor treatment with others from universal audio or plugin alliance you realise it all much of a muchness. Some are slightly better though with more modern features like the purple 77 from plugin alliance vs the komplete soft tube 1176.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Stormsurf001]

So true Paul. About a month ago I quit even looking at analog style plug-ins. Everything that could be done has been done. I like the analog emulations I have, and I need no more. I' 8:15 m literally writing a song about how I'm over analog. The world has moved on. So have I. That said, I still use it, but I don't ever want to record to tape on an analog console excepct for fun or if someone gives me a wheelbarrow full of money. It's so nice to hear you say it out loud. Thanks Paul!

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@flynnleese8222]

I recently had a huge clear out of many plugins as it hit a large level of redundancy (how many 1176 and pultecs?!) and impulse sale purchases... it felt like a walk of shame considering the amount of plugins that I never even properly used. It was nice to trim down my collection to about a quarter, as there's less to sort through and more time focused on using and learning what I left myself with. Having too many plugins from all different brands can also be a huge pain for your projects' archival purposes too.

[@PaulThird]

I think we all have to go down that road at least once to learn the lesson haha the thousand odd quid i spent on waves plugs still haunt me to this day 😅😅

[@marsrivers]

I use fat channel xt by presonus, a native emulations with the mix engine built in the DAW, very few other emulations such some of analog obsessions that are amazing. After that it comes to the point that we need to make better songs, better performances. Once you hear a very well performed recording you realize that you don´t need almost anything exepct the common tools.

[@PaulThird]

Fat channel is good 🤓

[@QueMusiQ]

I agree. I’m noticing now that my plugin chains in my templates are just “too much” and it’s doing more hard than good.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@simongrozovsky1258]

Hi! I've planned to re-watch this video every time before press pay button on any site with plugins. Thank You!

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@OKvalosound]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I came to the same point some years ago. Also, plug decision making and maintance require too much time and money. I reduceded to five or six and use mostly stock Cubase plugins. Two final quotes from Bruce Swedien "Compression is for kids", "You need to listen through your equipment not to your equipment.", "It's all about music". OK, that are three quotes 😁

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Bthelick]

I solved it years ago. I call them flavor. I do 90% of the main work with ableton's built in stuff, then if i need flavor i reach for the one flavor 'series' I have it doesn't have to be specific it's job is just to colour. It used to be UAD many years ago, then i swapped to Slate or Variety Of Sound. Done. It's been that way for years.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@jloiben12]

I feel this. My template has 3 plugins per “audio” channel (one basically being a fader and the other being an analog compressor, the only analog plugin in the chain) and 2 plugins per “effect” channel. Now my two bus has like 7 plugins but only 3 of them are non-utility plugins (ie - not Sonarworks, CLA Nx, Isol8 or however you spell it, etc)

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@delusionwalker8852]

I bought enough plugins it's tinge to start using them and learn their colours but in the end of the day I was blown away that it's possible to do a full mix and master just on an channel strip.... yeah who could have thought.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@------YeahOK------]

Please document your studio build Paul!! Remember fast transitions for the TikTok generation 😂

[@TimTheTomato]

Please no fast transitions 😂 I can’t handle it anymore

[@PaulThird]

Im gonna document it but tik Tok can get to f*ck!! 🤣

[@------YeahOK------]

@@PaulThird 🤣👌

[@Super-id7bq]

@@PaulThird Damn right brother. Blows my mind people are so willing to install (literal) state sponsored malware on their phones 🤣

[@YoMyNamesJakeG]

I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this. The more I learned about mixing over the last 8ish years as a hobby, the more I obsessed over analog emulations. I think at the end of the day, I was subconsciously just looking for the best user interface 🤦‍♂️. That said though, it speaks to the matter of fact that workflow is king. As far as “sound” goes while mixing, investing at the source will get you leagues ahead in the mix and require fewer plugins. Invest in microphones and preamps that suit your needs as tools. Your favorite eq and compressor and saturator after that are just preference.

[@PaulThird]

Yeah, me and Ed are constantly talking about how easy amazing recording and production is to mix. It makes a HUGE difference to the mixer

[@Brutuscomedy]

Just listened to a LA2A shootout and it made me want to get the real deal (well, at least the Warm Audio version)

[@PaulThird]

I wouldn't advise warm audio over plugins. Ed had them in his studio for years and sold his 76 & 2a recently. If they were that good he wouldn't have sold them

[@Brutuscomedy]

@@PaulThird Not everyone is the same. Streaky sold a master EQ and mentioned in a video he might replace it after all. Thing is, I haven't heard a plugin that matches the hardware AND I wish to both track with it and use it BEFORE AD conversion.

[@cornesmith]

Thanks Paul. Your insight is valuable for somebody like me that has to climb that ladder of what to get in starting this audio journey. It will save me allot time and money to focus on the right things from the start. Its difficult to separate the truth from the hype especially with so many guys just selling the heck out of the next new plugin. It helps allot.

[@akagerhard]

What DAW are you in? Stock plugins are a great thing. I'd recommend buying the Kirchoff-EQ on sale and leave it at that. In case you don't trust stock for whatever reason, Melda and Kilohearts have great free options. But no third party plugin will ever be as optimized for your DAW as the stock plugins. If you really have the urge to spend money: For mixing and mastering the best one-stop buy is the fabfilter bundle. I know you won't listen, because I didn't and nobody else does, but don't buy any other plugins for at least 4 years. Put 50-100 Bucks on the side each month instead. Make a list of bigger better things to get. That's what you're saving the money (you would spend on plugins) for. It's easier to save up for something, than to just no spend it. Here are ideas of bigger and better investments: Monitors, Monitors stands, room treatment, room optimizer (à la Trinnov), studio desk, studio chair, marketing, etc.. And now go ahead and do the same mistake we all did and get 1000 Plugins you won't need. :D

[@APaclin]

So no more plugins? 😭

[@PaulThird]

No more straight up analog emulations

[@laddieervin]

Need? Want? I enjoy collecting all kinds of plugins. I certainly have more than I need. Like you, I'm not looking for another analog emulation plugin, but if I hear of, demo and fall in love with a new Pultec, Neve or etc. emulation that really outshines the others, I'm not above buying it.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@IntheDAW]

I am actually feeling a similar feeling. I own a bunch of analog gear thats high end and use a ton of uad apollo plugins and love those. But the more and more I buy or am given all these analog emulation plugins. Most of the time I use a simply kitchoff eq matched with a Volko audio api style graphic eq and a nice compressor plugin and hardware. Often times it's faster than going over this huge list of console emulations I own.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@stanc2288]

I'm actually redoing all my mixes and using as little analog plugins as possible. Only using here and there.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@TigroGumi]

Quick thought about the future of Atmos and analogue processing in the future... Now you can't have a mastering process as such and the mixing is not longer to a stereo bus, instead it's the finally elements being fed into the Atmos engine and then where they sit in the 3D environment. But as this becomes more common, might mixing do in the big studio way be done in mono processing parts fed into the Atrmos engine for where they finally sit in the 3D field? Can you add stereo tracks as you traditionally would? Will there be a means of analogue mixing for Atmos in the traditional sense or will it be just processing single channels back into a DAW to then use it within the Atmos domain? Maybe a hybrid analogue digital atmos desk gets made at some point once it becomes a standard maybe. I'm thinking if it was to become a standard, then there would be a push for people to want to buy a full setup for the home, wanting the full experience as the common place for atmos will mostly be these "Atmos" single speakers or sound bars that will never fully give you the full effect. Kind of like listening to stereo music on a mono speaker. It does seem like in the years home use music seems to be where it's mostly going. In the past people would have crap setups and get the real effect going out to listen to music and these days people much prefer to be hermits on a whole. I think Covid isolation had something to do with that... lots of people realising they could do without going out. But in that, is it going to be so big? What about small little bands and hip hop groups?... there going to be basic clubs with Atmos setups to make it work small groups using Atmos? I'm very interested because I love the idea everything being Atmos and this being the new mixing standard and how creative it could become, but at the same time I know how complicated it is for this to become a standard for everyone to listen to. I'm not convinced by the binaural experience, for that to be good enough to give people the vastly different experience, because I tried it and it was not as "just like the speakers" as lots are saying... in fact the complete opposite. Surely a new format of headphones could be designed with multiple drivers at some point and that become the standard for design of Atmos headphones??? That would be many moons after it is big before that would happen. I'm seeing Atmos being talk about in the producer community all the time but hardly ever in the commercial unless it's promoting the TV as the centre piece so really promoting the old use of Atmos for the films. I really like the idea that music can become a living experience. I've like putting the sounds of nature in some productions and would be great if I could have the sound of nature really be heard in it's individual elements around someone before music began to play and take hold

[@PaulThird]

I'll let you know when my atmos room is finished haha

[@ramspencer5492]

I am cutting back on analogue emulation plug-in's (and plug-in's in general) .. But, did you ever find a really convincing tape sim plug? Besides anything Audio Acoustica based? I'm still a bit stumped on that one.... The innovative ones are definitely piquing my interest more than just another analogue plugin.

[@PaulThird]

I did a whole video where I compared a real studer to tape plugins and found that it was a really subtle affect but I and many others still preferred the UAD studer over the real studer. High end tape machines in the modern era are just all hype for me tbh

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

Paul, would you be interested to do a video about DC offset? What it is, why it occurs, how to fix, and when/when not to use DC offset filters. I’m assuming there are times when it is or isn’t appropriate to engage the DC offset filter on a plugin, would love your input. Thank you

[@PaulThird]

Tbh its not ever something I think about in plugins being honest

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

@@PaulThird fair enough! The option to turn on DC offset filter within Kazrog True Iron had me curious what the potential pros and cons would be. Apparently it “filters dc at the expense of some sub harmonic material”

[@PaulThird]

In those cases just use your ears man. If you definitely hear a change and you prefer it then just go for it. If you can't really hear anything then just don't use it

[@highbred]

can't wait for the new content :D keep it up man

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@cstm1080]

Love this change I feel the same way

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@AudioReplica2023]

this is what I think about this whole analog fever. All you need is to understand the principles of analog , how it works, pros and cons, and how and when use it in your mixes. How you learnt all that..READ..EDUCATE..PRACTICE. The problem is ppl knows this things ..but they still keep looking for that "magic plugin". Marketing is doing very well out there let me tell you. Awesome video like always 👍🏽

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Todzuum]

It’s true I almost fell down the hole but luckily I don’t have money for it so I changed my mindset just get tools you need when in the mix the need occurs.

[@taviqmasteringonline2754]

Honestly, with CPU finally taking a step forward (especially on windows), we are just getting started. The problem is that we don't have enough algorithms that are done accurately or coded with no shortcuts. This is not entirely the coders fault. They have just been stuck by default trying to code in a way that satisfies the equilibrium of everybody's CPU capacity across the board. It's a sucky situation, everyone wants to run 24 instances of the best emulation known to man but don't want to drop 3K or more on a computer that can actually do it without catching on 🔥. However some coders, just don't care and just put out what it takes to get the most accurate emulation.... period. And if done this way, it's actually more of a 1:1 digital port-in. This is really the future of DSP. Softube Weiss EQ1 is an outstanding example. When you realize that, in some cases, the CPU hit is well worth the quality, it's very easy to scrap down to the bare bones of toold to get the job done; which is more or so aligned with real/hardware mixing workflow. Not a humongous playground of trashy digital tools with a thousand plugin inserts all over the session.🤦🏾‍♂️

[@PaulThird]

I always try and focus on quality if I can. That's why I premix and do nearly all of my track compression at 96khz

[@taviqmasteringonline2754]

@@PaulThird 4sho, this is the way!

[@ronson795]

I have also limited myself. Leapwing Audio, OEK, Fabfilter, DMG Multiplicity and Limitless. As much as I loved Acustica Audio I only use a few tools here and there. Never mixed "analog style" with them on all tracks. Learning to let individual tracks go without any treatment is more fun these days than trying to make things "better". Although I´m really picky with new tools and I try to avoid jumping on a bandwagon for the next big game changer plugin I got in trap last year and bought Basslane Pro because I thought it sets my mixes apart when dialing in some stereo in the bass region but often it just sounds better without. Less is more.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@adampeters9684]

So spot on. I have way more options than I need and at a certain point it’s like how many instances of (eg.) LA-2A are you going to use in a given mix? Love having a couple of go-tos, but at this point if the plugin doesn’t speed up workflow there’s no reason for me to buy it. Breaks my heart to think about all the mics I could have bought with the cash I’ve burnt on plugins 😢

[@PaulThird]

😅😅

[@nekrodamusas]

Thanks for sharing this, it is the real harsh truth that we all needed to hear. eternal respect

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@blackorangegraphite]

I was hoping for Acustica GOLD5 testing, and we landed here 😅 I think there are actually too many analog hardware emulations on the market, but technological progress affects their development and workflow. So, companies that do it well, like Arturia or Acustica Audio, which sample very old and rare units using their own patented technology, allow us to get to know very expensive or rare equipment for very reasonable price. I believe that while paying attention to not using too many tools at once, we should focus on selecting the right tools that have the best workflow, enabling us to work quickly and efficiently.

[@PaulThird]

😅😅😅

[@showerstudio]

I can clearly hear "this analog warmth" in your voice. 😂😂👌

[@PaulThird]

I'm saying nothing haha

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

It's funny. I subscribed to this channel because I bought my first paid plugins from the Arturia Collection(s). The FX Collection was 50 euro at a crossgrade + black friday deal. I wanted to see how they good they were sort of because I was sort of falling into marketing and geeks discussions about various plugins out there and thought my cheap Arturia FX Collection was too cheap to be true. Turns out it's not. It's in the ballpark of benchmark, and that seems to goes for most emulations out there now. I've since bought emulations of tape and an alternative bus compressors and a limiter because that's really only what I was missing. That's for mixing. I think VST instruments and amp simulations can push further.

[@PaulThird]

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[@bobbyweezer]

I agree.

[@Studio3presentz]

Congrats on the studio!!!! 🎉

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@fiddleseth]

I only use one or two analog plugins now, and mostly for live sound on iOS. Magic Death Eye is just fantastic and sometimes I'll use it to help me fix poor vocal mic technique by really compressing the vocals. If I do that on the board's built-in compressor the results aren't as good. Used sparingly, it's been my secret weapon for bringing my live vocals to the next level (along with making people not use 58s unless their rider demands it). Sometimes I'll use the 6144 EQ too if I'm using a really neutral sounding mic and need to color it up a little or add a small presence peak. There are possibly some decent analog plugins on the Allen & Heath SQ series but the console I use isn't mine so I'm not going to buy them. I'm happy limiting myself to what's available on iOS mainly because like you said there are too many decisions to make.

[@PaulThird]

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[@bryanstrom812]

Cool. Now teach us how to use all of the Melda Productions plugins. THAT will keep you busy for the next century! ;) But seriously, have you used Scaler2? I think you might like that one.

[@jmizzbeatsj-jigga7888]

Very true Paul and im tired of saturation and pre amp toi💯💯💯

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@jmizzbeatsj-jigga7888]

@@PaulThird 🤜🤛💜💜💜💯💯💯

[@Jake_Bars]

200% Agree with you, dear Paul!

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@Tabzunderground]

Nice video Paul, this one speaks a lot

[@PaulThird]

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[@zfm1097]

I'd be interested to know what you'd make of AirWindows Console. You put single instances of Console Channel on your channels and then put Console Bus on the corresponding group channels to simulate analogue summing. I suppose you could do it again from groups to stereo master. (It's free.)

[@zfm1097]

...as opposed to expensive hardware sum'ers that apparently don't simply sum, but colour the sound to confuse us. It's not that difficult to do actual analogue summing with a mixer anyway.

[@PaulThird]

I use sonimus Britson for that

[@zfm1097]

@@PaulThird Cheers. I find the encode-decode feature of AirWinfows curious, apparently unique to Chris's plugins (or was a few years ago).

[@TheMetalProject]

ever since STL ControlHub came out, I have tanked many plugins for a single instance of that. I don't want to sit here and say "amazing signal path, sounds like gold" but it's convenient having all needed tools layed out in a convenient manner. The speed at which i can turn around finished product has doubled at least.

[@PaulThird]

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[@johnbach2380]

The peak was kit plugins. Excited for you paul. Atmos. A studio. Keep rolling sir.

[@PaulThird]

So much work though 😅😅😅

[@0e0]

i saw a really deep thread like a decade ago criticizing a certain plugin/hardware manufacturer...and they made a second version of one of their signature analog emulation plugin. and someone said something to the effect of "why do we need a mk2 of this? didn't the marketing say that mk1 was EXACTLY like the hardware yada yada . if i put a 10hz square wave into the hardware and a 10hz square into the software the same stuff should come out etc etc" it really makes you think. i've been bored of analog emulations (on the compressor side) for a lot of things since DMGaudio came out with Trackcomp. for EQs other than a few vibey things with preamps and stuff I think a modern EQ with a bunch of curves and phase settings will be fine for whatever anyone needs.

[@PaulThird]

Yeah, marketing is and will always be a huge issue with plugins

[@mhb450]

What I would prefer is “how do you overcome this situation”, example dull kick. How do I treat a guitar buss. Plugins are tools to do something, talk about the something.

[@PaulThird]

Yeah that's a good shout

[@Super-id7bq]

Ya know what I'd like to see... a dynamic EQ that lets you select the input frequency range per node. So say I have a node at 5k and I want it to lower in gain, triggered by a side chained drum loop. I don't want the entire loop to be triggering the side chain of that node, I just want the information at 5K (of the side chain input source) to be triggering the dip input gain on node I set at 5K on the EQ. But for arguments sake you could choose any band you want (say I want 100hz to trigger 20K for some reason). I know you can do this with routing and multiple EQs but it's mad nobody has done that yet. It's basically "all or nothing" with the input. Also at this point I just want to see more workflow plugins. There just aren't rally any devs making them. I want a sample browser with intelligent filtering options, like "sort my drum samples by hard to soft transients" or "only show me samples that are predominantly in this frequency range" etc. There are so many possibilities out there but all they keep doing is treading the same ground.

[@PaulThird]

You can do that in kirchoff.. Kinda. On one source you can sidechain the dynamic eq detection to a certain frequency range of the same source so you can have it's pultec low boost triggered by the high end and maag air band triggered by the low end etc each band in kirchoff has a relative option for sidechaining the dynamic threshold

[@TazzSmk]

Fabfilter Volcano 3 and Saturn 2 are my fav analog emulations xD

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@americanantagon1st]

For me, Ayaic plugins (COS Pro & Mix Monolith) and other utility plugins has helped my mixes much more than analog emulations. I've noticed that saturation on each channel can enhance the energy and feel of the mix and this doesn't have to be specific to Neve, SSL, or API (although I do use those for color). As a lover of the "analog" sound that I get from mixing hybrid, I still get excited when I hear about new tech, even if analog modeling is at the forefront. I can agree that we are oversaturated, but at the same time, there's an urge to find other cool sounding tools that may be emulated or innovated. Anyways, you have my support! Cheers!

[@PaulThird]

Cos pro is on every vocal I do and monolith still does most of my level decisions 🤓

[@tkelong3569]

Correct. There are more than enough emulation plugins to last a liFetiMe! Time for these plug-in companies to start using their own brains to come up with VST plugins. Enough emulation. The Pulsar 8200 is wonderful. That’ll be the last emulation plugin I buy for at least a year. I’ve got tons of UAD, Waves, and Plugin Alliance emulations. The 8200 sounds beautiful. Can’t pass that one up. And I read your comments after I typed up this message. The 8200 does not disappoint.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@paulcrompton6654]

Hello Paul, great video and you make perfect sense... ... I'm currently looking at the NoiseAsh bundle of 7 - EQ and Pre's. How-ever do I really need it? .. Loads of Plugin Alliance / Acustica Audio and Waves Audio to name a few (stuff)... And I hear allot of what seems to be overwhelming wonderments about the next nest thing coming out. . I'm a plugin addict, and these companies, they've definitely got alot of use waiting in the wings...

[@PaulThird]

I think Ive started to realise that guys like me have been still part of the problem as even though I'll do a completely unbiased and objective review it's still advertising an analog emulation to my audience, paid or free, it doesn't matter, it's advertising

[@rtann60]

100% agree. I love good analog emulations and went down the console channel rabbit hole for a while, because I actually do love the workflow of a channel strip with parametric EQ and compression in one window. But yeah, at this point, we have great emulations and so much of what's still coming out is the same pieces of classic gear. Obviously the classics are classic for a reason, but you're exactly right, I already have no less than 5 different 1176 versions between hardware versions and manufacturers, and they're all really good. They've been very, very close to the hardware sound for years now, and I do not care about another. My only real reason to buy analog emulations now is if there's a particular piece I've used as hardware that I personally have gravitated to, because that actually makes it a little bit fun. The other big point though is that, yes, the analog stuff has certain flavors, but ultimately it's what you do with them. Like maybe you have a preference between adding vocal air with a Pultec or a Maag, but picking either one or just a clean FabFilter isn't going to give you a much different end result, because you still tweak them to something you like. Thank you for making this video.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@tomvice]

Make a top 15 of must have plugins (for you right now)

[@PaulThird]

Dunno if I'll get a lot of flack for that

[@ronnielad1928]

You do you my dude.. I'll be here 🤘

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@metalfather8139]

Exactly paul u can turn the knobs till you made the same choice some tools are faster little better just like craftsman and snap on but you can still turn the nut....

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@metalfather8139]

@@PaulThird i got the sundara paul o.m.goodness the transients......thankyou

[@PaulThird]

I'm trying to get them to send me the new Ananda.. Apparently even better than sundara. One of my mentors got a pair and he's like.. Paul.. YOU MUST TRY THESE So hopefully I can wangle a pair as having sundara plus a slightly better version gives me less fear as if my sundaras were to break on me I'm genuinely f*cked haha 😅

[@metalfather8139]

@@PaulThird i usually get great items after people with disposable $ buy better .so im generally behind the curve but at least the dust has settled ill be interested on your opinion when you try those.. have great day

[@LeoGoneAcoustic]

After owning so many vsts, the only things i keep getting are max4live devices (mostly for experimental producing purposes) as well as kontakt libraries, but everything else (synths, analog emulation) i'm done with.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@juancarlosguagnoni4062]

Hi Paul ! With your experience having and trying all the plugins , what's "the best" neve and ssl analog emulation? I am on the same spot , I deleted everything and I found that better and now I feel like missing that " Vintage color vibe " I don't really know what to do . Sometimes it sounds perfect but maybe too much "perfect" and I feel that I need that kind of "analog" imperfections hehehe

[@PaulThird]

Tbh ssl's are really clean so theres no real vintage colour. Neve.. Probably noiseash as they have so many options, or lindell 80 channel

[@juancarlosguagnoni4062]

@PaulThird Thanks again for your answer Paul ! 😃 your time ! And your videos ! 😁

[@zfm1097]

Since real analogue signal chains gradually build up saturation and non-linearities right from the desk preamps all the way through to tape and vinyl, isn't that what would need to be simulated in a DAW, rather than looking for a plugin that instantly produces 'that' analogue sound? I like the approach of getting as close to the desired sound before even pressing record, personally, (I mean, microphone angles as a way to EQ, etc), which seems more difficult but actually saves endless tweaking further down the line (and possibly gives more natural results).

[@DerekPower]

I get it =] If it helps, 1) my approach is getting the parts I need first, then setting levels and panning and maybe some basic automation (more for transitions and the like) and *then* do additional processing if and when needed and 2) because of this, I am finding myself being more minimal about things. At this point, I think the focus should be on maintaining what's already there rather than adding another thing. If there is to be something new, it should be about improving a workflow process (consolating a potential ten insert chain into one) or some other new concept (i.e. split EQ or a new way of controlling dynamics that doesn't use the threshold/ratio paradigm). But that's just me being my own geeky self =D

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@mixphantom0101]

Now that SSL acquired Harrison you can "kill two birds" with one stone! I bought the SSL Bus 2 plugin when it was 900% off... and did some geeking to "not be shocked" to find that the compression curve is nothing like my genuine SSL hardware bus comp! In fact none of the SSL bus comps I have were even close - so I went "deep" in MTurbocomp and made my own emulation... 95% accurate - good enough for me!

[@PaulThird]

Yeah wasn't anything like the real deal when I tested it as well

[@mageprometheus]

But Paul, what about the quest for the holy grail of analogue EQs? Just 1,000 more reviews and we will all be world-class producers. Put your back into it, man. 😂😂😂 You won't get rid of us that easily. Take care and good luck with your new studio.

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@Rhuggins]

Mixing content from you would he amazing 🤩

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@bigstewdio]

Another very thought provoking video. This really resonated with me although I'm coming at it from a slightly different perspective since I'm not a youtube content creator. But from an engineering point of view I have to say that I've moved away from analogue emulations. Although there are still some analogue emulations I use (which I mainly think of as handy presets), most of the heavy lifting in my mixes is done by very few eq, compression and saturation tools which are flexible enough to get most jobs done and which have an easy workflow. None of them are analogue emulations. Thinking about it a bit deeper, here are a few thoughts on analogue emulations. Firstly, I guess part of the point of analogue emulations is to make it easier to create music which "we grew up listening to". But as more and more commercial mixes are done without them then analogue emulations aren't going to represent the commercial sound any more. Secondly, I never mixed in a professional studio so I'm not hankering after the sound, and workflow, of analogue gear I came to love and know. And I think I'm more representative of the modern mixing community than people who've been doing this 30 years. And thirdly, while these emulations often give a sound that is hard to exactly replicate using "digital" eq/compressor/saturators it is normally irrelevant to the quality of the mix which is all about an engineer dialling in the right sound. Best of luck, Paul and well done for staying true to yourself even with the pressures not to.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@MountainViewStudio]

The truth is that if the tracks have been recorded properly and with some nice analog gear to get that transformer warmth tone and harm dist, then in the mixing stage you don't need to do a lot. But nowadays more and more ppl record at home straight to their clean interface and then you try to make the song sound like a radio hit. No you can't. At least, not at that point where you cannot tell the difference.

[@Studio3presentz]

I’ve learned a lot from you. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@thejackrhythm]

A new studio and new direction for the channel. Good stuff. SURELY we have enough analog emulation plugins now. YES, we do. I wish dev's went back to making something original rather than borrowing from heritage of old gear and getting stuck in time. Every week a new analog emulation comes out, and people say this sounds the closest to the hardware, until next week, when another one comes out, lol. Stuck in the same cycle. Time to move on.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@vitaliistep]

Wait a bit until there is the next breakthrough in computing technologies in tandem with AI and the whole authentic analog emulation thing will start all over again. There is still a lot of optimisation and simplification in plugins design to have a required performance :)

[@PaulThird]

Dunno.. I think I'm just bored of analog as well so it's never really gonna bother me that much, unless somebody can get as good as Tim Petherick with machine learning and low cpu

[@NikolausBrocke]

I am a bit older than you and I went through the same development as you. I was at that point earlier.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Beatsbasteln]

i wanna see digital emulations in analog hardware

[@hi-fiproductions9505]

A shift is really needed at this point. My main issue, these plugins can sound great, but most of the emulations and flashy looking Vst's take up too much CPU. For what it fundamentally does, it's not worth it in bigger Productions or Mixes. Software developers at this point, should lean more into performance, sound and service, rather than marketing and creating more analog emulations.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Sounds like you are growing a lot as an engineer! Good engineers think with the listeners in mind and only change stuff that needs changing. it's less technical and more emotional. Less is more. "it's not about the gear it's about the ear" Yuuup! At this point analog emulations are really REALLY good. At this point it's more what the digital enhancements give and workflow differences. I feel like the details that are left in emulations is so subtle that it's not worth spending the extra cost. technology will always get better and i think at a certain point you may as well just buy a hardware clone or the real thing. Stam audio makes incredible clones. That being said, i'd love to see a major shootout between all of the similar plugins. no major commentary, just full on blind shootouts. I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference. even if it showed on a bunch of solo'd instruments and in a full mix of those processed instruments. If anything you may be able to hear which plugins were super old and imparted a sound, but unlikely anyone will be able to pick out which is which. ALSO I doubt with the results revealed they will care much.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@BF-up5xw]

Follow your own star!

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@ThomasLoyd]

Plugin saturation is a real thing. It ends up feeding into options overload and onto options anxiety. I would say that you download and try it out before buying or using it. You'll eventually find your favorites and build them into your workflow. Occam's Razor needs to be applied to the Plugin Office of Redundancy's Redundancy and stop giving into the "bright new shiny SPARKLY" syndrome of PAS (Plugin Acquisition Syndrome). Am I guilty of this??? Yes. Thanks for putting it out there Paul! Someone had to call it and you stepped up.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@MFKitten]

I honestly get annoyed whenever I see another new plugin announcement that pretends like what we all need is "analog sound". As if they're the first ones to do it, too. It's all so well covered. What's there left to simulate that is worth bothering with? How much more perfect does it even get than what we have now?

[@PaulThird]

That's why i switched off from acustica a long time ago. Sampling rare stuff that nobody uses is pretty pointless. It's not used for a reason most of the time

[@Mansardian]

Welcome to the club😊. Do you know when I realised that most of the time it is not the tools we use (and that some well-coded bread&butter plugins do the job equally well)? When I got some insanely well-recorded tracks for mixing. Anything I did with those standard plugins sounded great. Then again, those same plugins, used on some not-so-great tracks were just...meh. That redirected my focus back to source. (where it was when I started doing that craft 25 years ago.) What many -young- engineers don't understand, yet, is that our modern standard tools are what evolution has led us to. All those Neves and APIs and SSLs delivered what they were able to deliver. There have been compromises, always. So we tried to get rid of compromises by developing tools that would make anything possible an engineer could ever dream of. We are there. The rest that keeps aspiring engineers from getting a great mix is not the 11th Neve emulation. It is experience and knowledge. That's why I'm convinced that the more experience a mixing engineer has the less fancy plugins you will find in his inserts. It correlates. I reset my workstation recently and boiled my arsenal down to Melda, Fuse Audio Labs, TDR and Analog Obsession. (And Airwindows, of course) EDIT: Dear Paul, no reaction expected. Except you want to say something. ;-) From one Aspie to another.

[@PaulThird]

🤜🤛

[@jorgefrias7889]

The reality is. Fabfilter Pro Q 3 or Kirchhoff is all I need, yet I have about 200 EQ's.

[@PaulThird]

That is the reality 😂

[@danceswith7wolves]

Id like to see manufacturers improve cpu efficiency

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@nicolasgibbons4683]

Mad respect

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@SteenGroentved]

I see it like this: If you use B to simulate A. No matter how good B is, A will always be a bit more like A, than B, because A is logically A, and B is not. So why not make something new instead? You can do things with digital technology that is virtually impossible with analog. I have a few good preamps and some great mikes, and try more and more to focus on recording, placing mikes, selecting the right parts. But the inner Monkey wants more plugs. they are cheap, easy to hook up, don't take up space, and promis to fix your mix :)

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@JohnWuMastermind]

Am at the same point. Fed up of all the emulations. Spent so much money on emulations I could have got my self the original hardware 😅

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@chizzulwinduh1941]

Good on you Paul. I got so sick of the analogue emulation gravy train years ago. UAD are particularly mired in that bog. You're right, it's done, it's time for the innovation plugins. I like to direction you're going in.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@royalemuzikproductionz]

I’m going to set up my hybrid studio and that’s me for all these developers same like those building flares everywhere. They want your money😅. I bought API emulation and I’ve had console 1 for years now . Mixed a couple tracks and trust me I love the outcome. . I have a shed load of plugins I want to give to charity. I don’t know if they want them😂😂😂

[@PaulThird]

Plugin charity 🤣🤣

[@PharaohLawLess1]

In a way I’m glad I had to delete everything out of my computer so I could start all over and download only certain plugins back into my computer. I spent waaayyy too much money on plugins over the years

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@racializedkanadian]

Not even when AA release the HYPER versions of PNK, SNOW, or BROWN ? LOL. I hear ya tho. Good on you. Do the stuff that EXCITES you! Cheers!

[@PaulThird]

Don't get me started on the AA hyper stuff.. Another rant 🤣

[@michaelmilburn3094]

+1 for the Captain Kirk emulation. Star Trek fan here too ;-)

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@Illiyinmusic]

I buy them, but I buy them even if theyre a 10 year old plugin...just the ones that have held up. fuck a bunch of hardware though. The fact that some of the greatest mixing engineers are strictly in the box now kind of helps me out in that decision. You can be selective and get new plugins for inspiration for fun or trying out, but use the ones you know well, and not over doing it..

[@ShadowV]

Personally, I can't really hear the 'colour' people talk about with analog emulations. I use them for their simplicity and because you use your ears more since there's no graphs or whatever to look at.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@tiadiad]

Plugin Alliance isn't done modeling every single analog EQ and compressor known to man.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓

[@kristoferkoessel4354]

Racks have gotten even more expensive because they are of higher quality because of actual circuitry and also barely anyone uses them anymore because of plugins

[@PaulThird]

Yeah analog is a wierd market

[@Stilhedmusic]

'less is more'.. exactly. Use the gear that works for you and keep it simple.

[@PaulThird]

🤓🤓