What One Plugin Could You Not Live Without When Mixing?

In this video I discuss what one plugin I could not live without. There are many plugins I use in every session. There is one plugin however that has been a fixture in every session for a good 10 years now.
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[@fernandoboin3265]

The UAD Ampex ATR-102 is now available as a native plugin. Just bought it, finally 😀

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@fernandoboin3265 yeah I was very surprised to see that this morning. Upgraded GUI too which looks much better.

[@GdpJapan]

How does it sound Native? Worth it?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@GdpJapan it actually sounds different to the original. Better in some ways.

[@GdpJapan]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Thanks! I’m very tempted…

[@Stu.6]

Surely native doesn’t sound as good at that price?

[@EirikHasselberg]

That Ampex ATR-102 is on 100 % of my mixes as well. It fits every genre of music and you can do so much with it in terms of sculpting the sound.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Add life, add depth, glue a mix. The list is endless.

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

It´s now Native, and I just bought it on sale today!!!! :)

[@jiat_spacejams]

If you guys want to pick up the native vst dont buy it alone. Pick up the magnetic bundle which includes the studer 800 as well for $49 in total with the discount code they offer. Great deal 😀

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@jiat_spacejams bargain

[@michaelgroom7060]

I couldnt agree more with everything you say. It just works and gives a mix a really nice vibe . I tend to mix into itl from the start.

[@peterbondmusic]

You're right, there's something special about the ATR102 plugin and nothing sounds like it, amazing considering how old it is. You can tell a great deal of care was made in designing it, with all the calibration controls etc. I agree with everything you say here, and I'm using lots of analog myself.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

It was revolutionary 10 years ago. To this day it's at the top of its game.

[@drewbin101]

Uhe Satin! Acoustica Audio Taupe is good also!

[@FromTheHipp]

im not an engineer. im an artist/producer but when i produce i do so with the idea of how i actually want this mix to sound for the record im working on. I have this on my mixbus always. i was lucky and got it for $20 on a bunch of coupons and during a sale and its just helped me on this project that im working on.

[@rickythethird]

HOW ONG AGO WAS THAT? i paid like alot of money for uad . other companies like waves and PA dont dont dig as deep into my wallet

[@aaroncampmusic]

It really is a fantastic plugin. It can bring a polish and finished quality to a mix. Love it!

[@amazeus1980]

I’m used to Studer....will demo and test ATR now for another two weeks 😂

[@argon]

Amazing - Would be on board the the train to see your process with this plug in especially after 10 years of experience with it. Very easy plug in to dial in ~ totally not a 'magic setting for all' type plug in, but would be interested to hear you talk more about it while talking about some of the controls.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Lots of people have asked this, I'm going to look at doing a video this week on it.

[@HomeStudioWannabe]

@@AudioAnimalsStudioThat would be great to see!

[@I.Thor27]

Any news on that video@@AudioAnimalsStudio

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@I.Thor27 I have it recorded. Just needs editing and uploading. Will upload ASAP.

[@DragonBiscuit]

Soothe 2… It’s so damn effective and versatile. I can’t live without it now. A big time saver

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

100% agree. Soothe 2 is on every bus along with the Ampex.

[@JoeyFTL]

​@@AudioAnimalsStudiodo you always custom-tailor it on the buses or do you have a preset you made for every group and tweak from there?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@JoeyFTL every instance of the ampex start from a preset I have created. From here I will adjust to what is required for each instance. I'm going to a video next week on how people can create their own preset to work from.

[@JoeyFTL]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio I'm sorry, I was referring to Soothe 2, I should have been more specific

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@JoeyFTL soothe 2 has its own unique setting for every instance.

[@reginaldcampbell6978]

100% yes, on every mix. It is "the finishing touch".

[@patrickalphenaar]

I tried the ATR with my Spark subscription and yea it is really nice. So far still like my Neve 542 more, but combined and using the ATR on my Mixbusses is truly awesome! Cheers

[@jfilbert]

Cupwise Ax102 here although Nebula is a quirky PITA. Fidelity is the best though IMO.

[@bendigiave]

I thought it was just me, that thing is magical.

[@nukenoly8751]

And you get this marvel included in the LUNA Pro bundle along with the API summing. Incredible

[@dpinskey]

Sonible Smart Eq would be a tough one to give up

[@johnisrael5183]

I would agree.....just sounds better than other Tape plugins for some reason......just has more of a wider bottom and pushed the mix forward.......it definately puts a Pro Tone on the Mix

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

Unfortunately, the Ampex ATR-102 isn´t Native, and only works with Apollo hardware. :( I´ve recently invested in a LOT of Apollo/Native plugins, and I like them a lot. I´ve used their Studer Tape machine for the same purpose, as well as the Softube Tape, and WAVES Eddie Kramer Tape, and they all add something positive to the mix, and give it a certain polish and warmth. If UA finally makes the ATR-102 a Native plugin, I will definitely buy one when they have their next big sale. Thanks for the tip.

[@darkcharmrecords]

It is now! And its only £39.99 on pluginboutique

[@natedavid3873]

ive just done a whole record using the uad studer a800 on every bus and the 2bus. its transformed my mixes and the way i work. cant wait for uad to make the ampex native so i can this out !

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

And in my opinion the ampex is better than the studer. I fell uad will hold back the ampex for a long time. They know this is one plugin that ensures they keep selling satellites while it's exclusive to the uad dsp.

[@ivanendeavour815]

Your review made me buy it now

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@ivanendeavour815 I hope you find it as useful as I do.

[@mttlsa686]

PRO Q3. I believe The equalizer is the most simply but effective and fundamental tool you can use to make a mix to breathe and shine. If you carefully equalize everything you don't even need compression to shape a sound or to make the various elements interacting between them without masking when "competing" in the same frequency range.

[@sgfdancecompany]

Always in my mix bus since long time !!! works really well also in combination with other transformer plugin (the true Iron, P42)

[@dakota-sessions]

Have you tried combining the ATR-102 and the A800? All I have to say is... try it!

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yes, not a huge fan of the studer though. The Ampex has always been the better tape plugin for me.

[@suneast8997]

Yes I like it, first studer for nice bottom tone then the ampex for the glue , vibe and top shine

[@ctatrains]

I think the IKMultimedia tape collection tops them all though it's fairly cpu heavy but it sounds like the reel to real I once owned.

[@444Inlakesh]

I disagree uad is better

[@ctatrains]

@@444InlakeshI've been comparing all my tapes plugins this morning and ended up replacing them all with my Zynaptiq Intensity. It gives me more control, saturation and clarity.

[@andres77fj]

Yes, and IK Multimedia has more flavors

[@mytt88]

Have you tried the TAIP plugin by baby audio? I have the UAD studer and oxide but just use them for tracking.

[@lonecactusband]

This is just making me want it more 😭 I do love the UAD Studer though especially on acoustic guitar.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I find the ampex and studer to be very different. Using the ampex I've found you have more ability to change the sound.

[@lonecactusband]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Well that didn’t help, I want it even more now! 🤣

[@massivebeatzz]

Agreed - that is my fav. plugin of UAD. I quit UAD a year ago because of the antiquated ecosystem , and them never updating plugins, but i CANT wait for this to be released natively. I think they are delaying this just to punish me :).

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I think this will be the last plugin to go native. They know this is the one plugin that is keeping dsp alive for them now they've gone native.

[@nikolatomov_music]

Could you recommend another plugin as good as Ampex? I'm on UAD Spark, but at the moment we have only Studer and Oxide.

[@natedavid3873]

studer is great. i just finished an album with it on every bus and the mixbus. results are awesome

[@natedavid3873]

the oxide is okay i would use it more for saturation on drums and guitars though. the studer gets more of that “tape sound” without pushing it into the red.

[@user-dv2vv1ch7u]

thank you for your interesting review. Today this plugin was released in the Native version with a big discount. However, as far as I know, there is no delay control option. What can you say about the UAD Studer A800 Tape Recorder? how do you compare these two plugins?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@user-dv2vv1ch7u I have both and in my opinion the Ampex is far better. I get 99% use out of the Ampex against the studer.

[@user-dv2vv1ch7u]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio It’s very interesting to know your general opinion about Kush Audio plugins, if you have ever used them. And please tell me which plugins excite you as much as Ampex?

[@riktascale4]

Thanks for the "secret setting" long awaited😃😁

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

No, that is a setting from a screenshot of the internet on the thumbnail. I will actually do a video on how to get the right settings.

[@nikolatomov_music]

I am looking forward to it. Thanks in advance@@AudioAnimalsStudio

[@braxal6983]

Oh, I forgot. Have you seen this new plugin by Kiive Audio called NFuse? it appears to be a combination of the Master Bus Transformer and the Fusion.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yeah, it looks great. I will review the plugin next week. As well as comparing to hardware.

[@braxal6983]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Awesome!!! I cannot wait.

[@JoeyFTL]

​@@AudioAnimalsStudioI can think of no one better to do it

[@bontempo1271]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio perfect !

[@YEE941]

@@AudioAnimalsStudiocan you check out that sidecar plugin by pulsar modular?

[@iam-music]

Hey, thanks for the vid. I just found it smacked the transients a bit...prob not as bad as some. Do you have some example mixes/tracks on Spotify that you are really happy with that I could reference?

[@iam-music]

Oh and the eq transforms from it aren't great for sub 50hz ie don't use it for edm or soundtrack work

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@iam-music something I would recommend is loading it into plugin doctor. Will help you understand it better. It's incredible for EDM and soundtracks if you understand the curves you are creating. I thought exactly like you when it first came out on DSP.

[@iam-music]

​@@AudioAnimalsStudio Hiya. Yeah thats where I first noticed it :-) I just felt it was fiddling stuff around 35hz on a track I was working on when I first demoed it. Then I opened it in PIDoc and that made it pretty clear that I wasnt hearing (I mean feeling hehe) things. I puts a 3db bump at 28hz...which is something you want to dial in with context and not slap on willy nilly. When you get that low, every db counts. Def send me some of your tracks...would love to hear it 🙂

[@brysava]

If plug-ins are virtually always inferior to the hardware counterpart, which I agree that they are, why not just use the hardware and not bother with the plug-in? I know you don't use 500 series stuff for mastering, but wouldn't the RND 542's, for example, be better than even the best tape plug-in?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Because from a mixing perspective, I would neve 100 542s minimum. I would then need to recall all 100 542s every mix revision. From a mastering perspective much better off using hardware over plugin.

[@brysava]

Good explanation!@@AudioAnimalsStudio. I wouldn't mind hearing a mix with 100 542's, though! Could I request that? ha.

[@WyattBrown377]

Any thoughts on Acustica Taupe? I like its soft clipping compression and glue more than other tape plugins I've tried (though I haven't tried UA) but sometimes the eq shift is too drastic, even if it's realistic.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Taupe is a nice plugin. Which you like to you comes down to taste. I've used the ampex for a good 10 years so know it very well.

[@arturovidal5536]

Thank you Paul!, how do you compare it with the Crane Song Phoenix II? Which speed do you prefer on the ATR?. Regards.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I use the ampex at 15ips mostly. Sometimes will use 30ips for drums and strings etc. I haven't directly compared this to the crane song.

[@arturovidal5536]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Thanks for responding Paul. Do you use/like the Phoenix?

[@edvinnoren503]

So just one of ampex on each bus? Or one on the master also?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@edvinnoren503 each bus or on the master. I prefer the sound of each bus as you can apply unique settings.

[@Kkidzz]

XLN RC-20.

[@lukeneptune3820]

Hi Paul. How does this plug in compare to the Roger Mayer 542's that you use? Do you use one more than the other?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

The Roger Mayer 456's I don't have anymore. I swapped them out as they were a touch noisey for mastering. When compared to the atr 102 they could be considered similar. The Royer Mayer has more of a unique sound to it. I can't say I ever directly compared the two.

[@lukeneptune3820]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Valuable info Paul thank you. Have you had any experience with the Neve 542s and if so how do you think they compare to the Roger Mayer 456?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@lukeneptune3820 I prefer the RN 542s because they are not noisy, they also sound just as good, plus you gain silk textures. I used to have 542s and swapped them out for the portico 2 which was recently replaced by the MBT as it has super silk. I wish RN would have put the 542s in the MBT instead of the compressor.

[@lukeneptune3820]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio mate. If they’d have put a tape sim in the MBT I wouldn’t have started this whole conversation 😆 Still love my MBT to death though. It makes me wonder if RND are planning on bringing out a rack version of the 452 in the future

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@lukeneptune3820 I hope they do. I want to get in touch with them and tell them exactly what should be made and we as consumers want.

[@JescowMason]

Can you do a video how you setup and use the atr 102 🙌

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yes this is on my list to do

[@AliRazaJeffo]

Good speech

[@braxal6983]

Paul, I am curious have you tried Goodhertz Tupe? It is a tape and tube saturator. If you have what is your take on it? Do you combine the Ampex tape emulator with Kazrog True Iron? If you do which comes first in the chain? Please advise. Thanks for the video and your take on plugins and hardware gear.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

The Ampex is always at the start of the chain. True Iton is at the end of the chain.

[@mrmorpheus9707]

Would you use Ampeg 102 before say "God Particle" or after it? Im interested...

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@mrmorpheus9707 I wouldn't touch the God particle with a bargepole. Great marketing, terrible plugin. The Ampex should be the first plugin in your chain.

You suggest adding every track or adding mix bus?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Every track. Not mix bus.

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Thanks for the answer, is there a video adding every track tape versus just the mixbuss comparision?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Not one that I have done but it's an easy process to check yourself.

[@Ein-Stuck]

Agree

[@aninatoneklikej]

hope they make it native plugin, because thats maybe the only tape plugin i havent tried, because im not gonna spend 1k on uad interface just to try this one u know. What is the closest alternative u would recomend?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I hope so too. It's one I know they'll be holding back. As soon as it becomes native I'll be selling my uad satellites. Only uad plugin I use every session without fail.

[@bluematrix5001]

Audio Animal, do you use it in every track or in every bus in your mixes?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yes, every bus. For every mix.

[@bluematrix5001]

Thank you!!! @@AudioAnimalsStudio

[@mayzter8765]

except for the aux busses do you add an instance on the mixbus? and, in what order of the chain? thx

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I don't find it is beneficial to add an instance to the master bus as well as each bus.

[@mayzter8765]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio thx:)

[@snakeeyes3883]

do you need Luna to use it though?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@snakeeyes3883 no

[@zanza_the_rewolverine]

100% true

[@anteupbeats]

The god particle

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

​@fuzzingawesomepedals7377 it takes away the midrange and overcompresses the 2bus. If you know what you're doing you don't need it. If you don't it can be a great help to a great mix.

[@kimseniorb]

have you tried IK tapes?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yes. From what I remember, was pretty good

[@cubaseman1487]

yes hardware good but Nowadays, it is much more developed and offers the opportunity to work faster. Especially in a world where music is consumed quickly and listened to on mobile phones, the final listener will never understand the difference between hardware and software.:)

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@cubaseman1487 factually untrue, as someone who has tested this theory many times. 99% of the time, the listener preferred analogue because it was more pleasing to the ear and the listener found it noticeably better. Did they know why they found one more pleasing to listen to than the other. No. But the fact remained they preferred one more than the other. Same mix one with plugin emulations the other with hardware. Nowadays plugin emulations have got worse. Most are just a GUI that mimics the hardware and doesn't emulate it. None have yet to make a 1:1 emulation. This is very clear and obvious to anyone who has compared them. I've posted quite a few videos comparing plugins to hardware. Very easy to hear a clear difference in these video. I'd advise watching those.

[@cubaseman1487]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio I've watched this type of comparison videos a lot. The differences are not serious. Assuming that AI technology develops today, it seems that analog devices will become history. I love analog too, but this is a fact. Currently, many people do not have a Hi-Fi system at home. It is like the reality of a world where there are no records and cassettes like before, but millions of music are sold in the digital world. Everything is possible with very powerful computers and powerful software.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@cubaseman1487 but the fact remains a £29 plugin can not compete with a £10,000 piece of hardware running through a high end converter. As much as I'd love for what you are saying to be true. It just isn't. But if you honestly deep down feel you are right and honestly think you achieve the best sound you possibly can using plugins, then that's for you to learn later down the line your musics full potential. I know personally through the pursuit of getting the best sound possible that plugin emulation are not there yet.

[@cubaseman1487]

@@AudioAnimalsStudio I also say that there is no difference between 29 dollars and 10 thousand dollars in terms of sensation. There are not many people who can distinguish this, my friend, rest assured. I can hear the difference, it's different. You will hear it too, that's it. But 90 percent of people can't hear. That's why it's a passion for analog and wanting to produce the best sound. I can give many examples about this, but I do not want to extend the subject. Discussions about the analog world and the software world never end :)

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@cubaseman1487 no matter who you are or how good your hearing is. When you listen to music that is analogue full of life and gives the listener a sense of warmth that resonates with them, that song becomes timeless and invokes emotion on a subconscious level. Digitally engineered music is throw away. It doesn't resonate with the listener for longer than a week. There's a huge difference between let's say plugin emulation pre amp and quality analogue pre amp. There's a huge difference between a plugin fairchild compared to a £30,000 fairchild.

[@444Inlakesh]

it is the best 100%

[@RealHomeRecording]

I'm sure that tape plugin is great but, doing a mix with just that and no eqs or compressors would be quite the challenge! Whenever someone asks me this question, the answer is always a channel strip plug-in

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

But that's not the question. The question you are answering is "if you could only use one plugin to mix a track what plugin would it be?" And the answer to that is an all in one plugin like ozone 11, because it has every plugin in one. This question isn't saying you can't use other plugins.

[@RealHomeRecording]

​@@AudioAnimalsStudioI do agree that it would be a boring answer if everyone named different channel strips. The plug in you can't live without would be a desert island plug in, no?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

The desert island disks format would allow you to pick 8 plugins and 2 unique plugins.

[@RealHomeRecording]

​@@AudioAnimalsStudiooh okay. Well either way I love your analogue setup, man! Your video topics are great too.

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@RealHomeRecording thank you. It's a good question you ask though. If you had to choose one plugin to mix an entire song what would be it be. Or a better question would be if you could pick one plugin brand to mix an entire song with who would it be. For that I'd pick fab filter.

[@giorgib]

Sonimus Britson

[@peterheinen6110]

I like my studer j37. Forget the softube rubbish. I tried other ones - they don't impress at all.

[@lorcazola]

Just paid $37.59 @ PluginBoutique. What a steal !

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@@lorcazola absolute steal at that price