Does anyone use the 64 bit plugs that came with Producer?

I find myself flipping back and forth, between wanting new production plug-ins and realizing that I don't use what I already have. The 64 bit plugs like the LP64, PX64, TS64 etc, seem pretty good, but not exceptional. I like to use software with an upgrade path and I'm not convinced these plugs will ever be updated. Does anyone use these plugs?

I use PX64 consistently. It works well for sweetening voice overs. i use them less since I got expanded but i still find them very useful.

Those included in SONAR are most likely made by the very same companies the products of which you purchase. They are more than worth trying.

I use the percussion strip and the transient shaper all the time.

perfectprint


percussion strip for sure. transient shaper introduces way too much latency for my liking.

By the time you get to using transient shaper for fine tuning sounds you shouldn't really be tracking and thus any extra latency is irrelevent.

Its funny that we often disregard the things we pay the least for. The plugins that come with X1 Producer are as a group can often compare very favorably with any others of the same type. Some are unique the VX Vocal strip is just one example. It comes with high quality multiple processors and can do much for a vocal tracks.

If a user disregards the the plugins that come with X1 in favor of third party plugins simply because the third plugins cost them something is only hurting themselves.

Its lot like the Prochannel at first some thought it was just a nice addition with little practical use. Many avoided using it.

We see now that it is as good as some of the most expensive add-on plugins around.

What I suggest is use those plugins and get to know them. You will find that they stand up to many of the ones costing you real money. 

I have way too many plugins now. I do have a few I go to for certain things yet I never look down my nose at what CW has provided. One thing I have learned is if it doesn't sound good it may be operator error not the software or a particular plugin.

Than we need to look at what CW gives us compared to what other developers give us in their DAWs.  To me CW is way ahead of any other DAW is this area.

Think about this for a moment. CW was/is a pioneer in full 64 bit computing and also in providing 64 bit internal processing in their plugins. What is old now in X1's plugins  is still ahead in others in the internal processing.

I am not saying all CW plugins are full 64 bits internal processing but all the newer ones are.

But even the old ones still work and sound great.

I should add this. There is a free plugins from CW that is a remarkable plugin. Its the FX3 Sound Stage. Its a 32 bit DX plugin with an old GUI. I still use it though by using a wrapper and letting Bitbridge load it.  No other plugin is like it. None are as tweakable or has its sound.

By ignoring a plugin that sold for more the $89 when it came out simply because its an old one is loosing out on a really great bargain. Its worth wrapping it so it will run in a 64 bit DAW.

You can DL from the CW store free and than get a DX to VST wrapper and learn to use it.

Can't speak for everyone, but i think I sometimes get caught up in the next latest, greatest thing and forget that what i already had was pretty good. Redundancy of plugins that are similar can lead to that. Cakewalk (and to be fair, every company that ships new versions) will hype a plugin as being so great and then release plugins for similar purpose in the next release.  I know their intent is not to tell us the older tool is now obsolete, but in some ways the message is implied that the new one is better.  In my mind I know it is often a matter of different rather than better, but it's hard to wear the logic hat 24/7. Recently, I found myself trying to get use to a pro channel workflow and that caused me to spend so much time with those effects and processes that I simply got out of the habit of using some very good effects.  It took me opening up an old project for a client to remind myself of how good the plugins I was already using were.   I'm hoping they improve upon some of the plugins that had potential but kind of fell flat in practical use. LP64 is a good example.  It sounds fine, but the general consensus seems to be that the real time adjustment glitch is unacceptable.

Hey! Some of my favorite recordings have been on dented SM-58s!

I routinely use all the 64-bit plug-ins that come with X1. My simple philosophy - if it is bundled then its not free - just that I have already paid for it and I therefore intend to get my money's worth. Often times, it's kind of like buying bottled water in the grocery - grocery brand and Evian probably both come from same source (in this case quite likely the tap!!). But seriously I have been able to do good things to my kick and snare track with PX64!! Give them a try - nothing to lose!

I too co-sign with Heather's comments.  My biggest source of frustration in my line of work is when i receive raw assets that require tons of wasted time to be brought UP to the level of simply being crappy.  The myth that one can simply "fix it in post" prevails among many, even so-called professionals.

I agree with John et al about those plug-ins that come "for free" with Sonar.  When I was wrapping up mixing on my last album I had a friend, who is great at mixing and works in studio in L.A., lend me his ear and some final mixing tips.  

He had the whole suite of plugins from the most expensive third party plugs to those included within Sonar.  It was interesting to watch him switch back and forth between different brands, often falling back to the very same Sonitus plugins that I had used as the plugs of choice.  Not always, but enough to validate my feeling that what you already have is more than capable of doing the job.

dubdisciple, What is PX64 and how did you use it on voice-overs?  I just finished a track that is actually a narration over a music track and may be able to get some ideas from you.
 
In answer to the other points, I use the Vocal Strip doubler subtly sometimes to lift a chorus, but it sounds really phony if it gets too prominent.

perfectprint


percussion strip for sure. transient shaper introduces way too much latency for my liking.

The transient shaper inside the Percussion Strip, however, has no perceptible latency.

John

The Pro Channel modules in my opinion are not a serious replacement for any VST. It's nice to have there to slap on a track or bus quickly to get a rough mix, but not for finishing touches. They are what they are, and that is a simplified, stripped down version of a VST. So far, personally, the only thing I've found that is actually useful on a regular basis is the Limiter in the PC2A Comp/Limiter. I tried the comp side of it but Sonitus sounds much better imo.

You couldn't be more wrong.  PC is as good as it gets. I don't believe you have any idea how to use them. Then maybe everything crashes on you before you get a chance to know them.
The Sonitus plugs are great but so are the PC modules.

Agreed.  I have UAD, Waves IK etc...  PC is absolutely in the same league.  

i think the Sonitus plugins are great.  In fact, i used them even before i was a Cakewalk user.  Totally disagree about pro channel module though.  The more I use them, the more useful i find them, not just out of convenience but because of the quality.