How many effects VSTs do you own?

I know this might sound generic, but honestly, it will be different for everyone. SONAR X2 Producer covers a lot of bases on its own, but there are a few things it doesn't have. For example ...
 
Pultec style EQ
LA2A style compressor
Mastering limiter
Frequency analyzer
 
And obviously there's more. I think the relevant question to ask yourself is what are you not able to do with the tools you currently have. From there you can investigate what you need. Based on having X2 Producer I would first look at a mastering limiter or mastering suite of plugins. iZotope Ozone and Ik Multimedia's T-Racks 3 both come to mind, but there are others. I've found the Native Instruments effect to be very good, but they cover some of the same SSL emulation bases that SONAR X2 already has.
 
I would think about this before getting into the habit of downloading every last free VST plugin simply to amass a plugin list of hundreds, if not thousands, of plugins. It can be easy to do that and spend more time downloading and installing plugins and tweaking the plugin list rather than actually making music and getting work done.

I own as few as I can get away with.
 
I rather know the ones I own really well. It's not so much that any of them are that complicated it's just that I enjoy banging through the setup and moving on. I've said it before, and I really mean it. I think the Sonitus EQ and the Sonitus Compressor are super because I really like the layouts and the control placement. I can use them in my sleep. I'd pay full price for a Sonitus x64 VST suite.
 
It seems like they copied the best of the Sonnox designs and they have a simple what you see is what you get design gestalt.
 
I bought a bundle of FabFilter stuff because I wanted horizontal integration. VST and AAX x64. I suspect that I'm the odd ball in that I admire the fancy graphics but would prefer 24/7 text readouts for each parameter and I think some of the eye candy is just eye candy. Plus the *super smooth ultra precise knobs* are kinda clunky and choppy.
 
When I use Sonitus I click in a text box and hit my -/+ keys and get wonderful precise adjustments and that is something that just works really well. I call the -/+ keys my hardware controller.
 
 
 
I very much dislike the analog look a likes. I have lots of analog stuff and I know how to use it. Making believe I'm using analog stuff in the digital domain has no appeal for me. The real life knobs and sliders were never more than a compromise and being fairly familiar with the resolution issues of a real life potentiometer I wonder why there is such much love for twisting dials when you can just type in exactly what you want.
 
I'm perfectly happy with plain old digital.
 
I joke with bapu that I only have 14 different efxs... truth is I probably have less than that in any given project.
 
 
 
I get the impression that a lot of folks buy lots of efx as a way of collecting presets. Nothing wrong with that but I think there is so much potential to work faster if you just learn to know what you want and how to dial it up real quickly on any generic and competent efx that you have available. If you like the layout and the user interface makes sense to your way of thinking than so much the better.
 
 
best regards,
mike

bapu
The guys above have the right of it. Dave and Mike that is.
 
Now that I've hit the practical limit of SONAR (and I have deleted a slew of mono plugs to accommodate that limit) and that my original plan "to be compatible" I do realize that I should have been more prudent in my selection. But alas, I own a bricksh!teHouze of VSTs and yes, I may never use them all in two lifetimes.
 
If the OP really cares.... here is my list that is missing a couple of later libraries
 
My DAW Software
The SONAH X2a Producer
Reaper 4 (Non-Commercial Use License)
Presonus Studio One 2.5 Pro
Wavelab 7
Soundforge Pro 10
CD Architect 5.2
TT Dynamic Range Meter 1.4
Sonnox Oxford Fraunhofer Pro-Codec
East West
      Complete Composers Collection
              Symphonic Orchestra Gold
              Symphonic Choirs
              Voices Of Passion
              Gypsy
              Ra
              Goliath
              Ministry Of Rock
              Fab Four
Native Instruments
      Komplete 8 Ultimate
      '57 Drawbar Organ
      North India
      The Giant
      Session Horns
      Action Strings
      Abbey Road Vintage Drums
Kirk Hunter - Powered by Kontakt
      Pop/Rock Strings
      Concert Strings II
      Concert Brass II
      Diamond
Soundiron
      Twine Bass
      Mars (Male) Choir
      Venus (Female) Choir
Waves Factory
      Old Tape Piano
      Tea Towel Drums
      Power Guitars Direct
      Strum GTR
      Strum Guitar (Acoustic) Vol. II
      Acoustic Pick
      Acoustic 12 String Pick
      Uke Strum
      Uke Finger
      W-Tympani
      W-Music Box
      Track Spacer
Elvayta Boys
      Space Boy
Orange Tree Samples
      Tiny Box
      Lap Steel
Hollow Sun
      MLM Bundle
      Vermona
      Vital Organs
      Tubiltizer
SampleTank 2.5 XL - by IK Multimedia
    Rare and Vintage Collection
    Squids Tron Collection
    Sonic Capsules Guitar Collection
    Sonic Capsules Symphonic Collection
    Expansion Tank - Guitar, Bass & Acoustic Drums
    Re-Tank Loops (4000 loops)
IK Multimedia - effects and samplers
    ARC 2
    T-RackS CS Grand
    Amplitube3 - various custom shop amps
    Amplitube2
    Ampeg SVX
    Amplitube Jimi Hendrix
    Amplitube Metal
    Amplitube Fender
    Miroslav Philharmonic
    SampleTron
    SampleMoog
    SonikSynth2
Sonic Reality's Infinite Player - Powered by Kontakt
    Deluxe Acoustic Piano
    Ocean Way Drums & Drum Masters 2 Group Buy/Group Buy II
    Ocean Way Drums SE Vols 1,2 & 3
    Drum Masters Ludwig Jazz Kit
Steven Slate Drums 4.0 Platinum
    CLA Rock Drums
EZDrummer by Toontrack
    Nashville EZX
    DFH EZX
    Claustrophobic EZX
    Latin Percussion EZX
    Twisted EZX
    Vintage Rock EZX
    Funk Masters EZX
    Jazz EZX
    Metal Heads EZX
    The Classic EZX
    Metal Machine EZX
    Americana EZX
    Pop!  EZX
    Rock Solid EZX
Superior Drummer 2.x by Toontrack
    New York Studios Vol. 2 SDX
    The Metal Foundry SDX
    Custom & Vintage SDX
    Music City SDX
    Roots Vol1 & Vol2
    Evil Drums SDX by Platinum Samples
    Superior Drummer Producer Presets
      Steven Slate - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Avatar
      Allan Morgan II - Avatar
      Bulb - Avatar
      Allan Morgan - Music City
      Mitch Allen - Music City
      Andy Sneap - Metal Foundry
      Chris Pittman - Classic & Vintage
      Peter Henderson - Classic & Vintage
      Miles McPhearson - Classic & Vintage
      Chris Pittman - NY Vol 2
      Charles Feelgood - NY Vol 2
BFD2 by Fxpansion
    Jex Expansion Pack
    Rock Legends Quick Kit by Platinum Samples
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 1
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Pack Vol. 2
    Gen 16 Digital Vault Z-Pack
BFD Eco 1.5 by Fxpansion
Addictive Drums by XLN
    Retro Expansion Pack
    Jazz Bushes
    Jazz Sticks
    Funk
    Reel Machines
    Metal
    Indie
Addictive Keys by XLN
    Grand
    Upright
    Mark I
Jamstix 3XL
    Bonzo Pak
    Metal Pack
    AIPack
    Jamcussion
Platinum Samples
   Neil Peart Drums
   Bobby Jarzombek Metal MIDI Pack
   Brooks Wackerman MIDI Pack
Purrfect Drums 2 - Jet City 1.1
Andy Johns Kit for Session Drummer 3 (Platinum Samples)
Drumagog Platinum
    Invictus Metal Essentials Packs 1 - 5
    Drive Drums by MoReVoX
    Parallel Drums by MoReVoX
    Slate 3.5 "gog"  files
Steven Slate Trigger
MIDI Packs by Toontrack
    MIDI Pack Vol 1
    MIDI Pack Vol 2 - Odd Meters
    MIDI Pack Vol 3 - Fills
    MIDI Library of the Extreme
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 2
    MIDI Pack  - Songwriters Pack 3
    MIDI Pack  - Drum Riffs
ToonTrack EZMix
    Core Expansion Pack
    Chuck Ainly Pack
    Metal Pack
    Metal Essentials Pack
    Metal Guitar Gods Pack
    Modern Pop/Rock Pack
    Rock Pack
    Alternative Rock Pack
    Songwriters Tool Pack
    Dirt Pack
    Randy Staub Pack
ToonTrack EZKeys
    Pop/Rock Pack
    Gospel Pack
    Jazz
    Blues
    Counry 
DrumTracker by Toontrack
Applied Acoustics Systems
    Strum Acoustic Session
    Strum  Electric GS-1
    String Studio
    Cinemetique
True Pianos 1.4 (full version)
Spitfire Audio
    Orchestral Grand Piano
Ivory II
    Grand Pianos
    Italian Grand
MusicLabs
    RealStrat
    RealGuitar
    RealLPC
Schuffman S-Gear V2.1
Acme Bar Gig - Head Case
Overloud TH2 - full version
Golden ASET synth
Synthaway Percussion Kit
Melodyne Singletrack Editor (V2.x)
Jeroen Breebaart
    Isone Pro
    Smash Pro
    Red Phatt Pro
NuGen Audio
    Stereoizer 3
    Mono Filter 4
    Stereo Placer
Izotope
    Ozone 5
    Alloy 2
    Nectar
    Complete RX 2
Voxengo
    Elephant
    Voxformer
    Drumformer
    Soniformer
    AcuDrums
Camelware Plugins
    Camel Space
    Camel Phat
    Camel Crusher
Stillwell Plugins
    1973
    Vibe-EQ
PSP Plugins
    Entire PSP Suite (30 plug-ins)
Steven Slate Digital
    FG-X Virtual Mastering Plug-In
    VCC - Virtual Console Collection
    VTM - Virtual Tape Machines
Nomad Factory
    Integral Studio Pack III (51 plug-ins)
FabFilter
    Pro Bundle( Pro-L, Pro-Q, Pro-C, Pro-G)
    Saturn
ValhallaDSP
    Valhalla Room
    Valhalla UberMod
D.C. Vibes Series
   V.I.P. Bundle (26 plugs)
Flux
   Trax
Sonimus
   Satson Channel
   Satson Bus
Softube
   TSAR-1R Reverb
WAVES Mercury Native (V9) & SSL 4000 Native Bundle
    Mercury & SSL400 contains 135 unique plug-ins
UAD Plugins
    Mix Essentials (1176SE, CS-1, Real-Verb, Pultec EQP-1A)
    Neve Classic Console Bundle MKII (1073 EQ, 1081 EQ, 33609 Compressor, 88RS Channel Strip)
    VCA-VU
   1176LN  
    Fairchild 670
    LA-2A
    LA-3A
    EMT Plate 140 MKII
    Pultec Pro EQ
    Cambridge EQ
    Helios EQ
    Presicion Matering Bundle (Multiband, EQ, Limiter)
    Precision Buss Compressor
    Precision Enhancer kHz
    Precision Enhancer Hz
    DreamVerb
    Precision De-Esser
    Precision Maximizer
    Roland Bundle (CE-1, Dimension-D, RE-201)
    Moog Filter
    Transient Designer
    Little Labs IBP
    Harrison 32 EQ
    Cooper Time Cube
    SSL G Series Compressor
    SSL E Series Channel Strip
    Fatso Sr/Jr
    EMT 250 Reverb
    Manley Massive Passive EQ
    Trident A-Range Classic Console EQ
    Neve 31102/31002S Classic Console EQ
    EP-34 Tape Echo
    Studer A800
    LittleLabs VOG (Voice of God)
    1176 Classic Limiter Collection
Antares AVOX Evo Vocal Toolkit
Har-Bal 3.0
Frank's MIDI Plugins
My Music Composition Software
JammerPro 6 Standalone
    JammerPro 6 PlugIn
Band In A Box Everything Pack (2013)
MasterWriter 2.0

 
 Pfft...........
 
I don't see no NagBap Pro 65bit in there.
 
That's all I needs in me FX Bing.
 
 

SteveStrummerUK
 
And you might have listed 'em all in alphabetical order Baps...
 
Like I did

Alphabetically loses it's WOW factor, IMHO.
 
YMMV

bapu

SteveStrummerUK
 
And you might have listed 'em all in alphabetical order Baps...
 
Like I did

Alphabetically loses it's WOW factor, IMHO.
 
YMMV

Well done.
 
 
 

I refuse to incriminate myself....

bapu
 
If the OP really cares.... here is my list that is missing a couple of later libraries
 
My DAW Software

 That is one hell of a list! I like to see this up against Yorolpal's
I have a way to go before i catch you but I am frightened to write mine down.

trimph1
I refuse to incriminate myself....

What can I say - I have no shame
 

Hardly any outside of Sonar since my new machine was built:
 
T-Racks singles (12 of 'em)
BFD2 (+ a shedload of expansion packs)
EWQLSO Platinum
 
Plus a few other bits & pieces.

c:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Vstplugins>dir /s *.dll
     Total Files Listed:
             347 File(s)  1,431,553,247 bytes
About 25 are bought, others come with Sonar and the rest are free VSTs.

Ozone 5, TRacks Custom Shop, Amplitube, Sampletank 2.5, and Melodyne Editor. Coupla BlueCat and Voxengo freebies. There's a MIDI guitar interface I'm hearing good things about, and a free analyzer of apparantly prodigious proportions put out by the British dot gov, on my short maybe list. Fair amount of anlog hardware. I may look into more when the business supports and requires them. I'm havin all kinda fun now.

CJaysMusic
When I first started with digital recording, I thought it was cool to have allot of plugins and I also thought it was a good idea, so I got hundreds of them, like 400 plus.
 
Then after awhile and from past experiences I realized that its not a good idea to have so many plugins. Right now I have about 2 to 3 of everything. like Limiters, Compressors, EQ, Reverbs, Chorus, flangers, delays, Pitch shifters and so on. Out of these,. there are my go to plugins that I use and the count for about 5 plugins. I mainly use those 5 in conjunction with some hardware.
 
More is not better in this case.
 
CJ

I've been coming to that conclusion CJ.  Although following Scott's advice and making your own customized plug in menus and organizing them how you like helps out quite a bit.

I agree with the philosophy that is better to learn how to use a plug intelligently or creatively than to have a library the size of the Library of Congress. Another way of expressing this would be to turn the thread title around to how many effects VSTs do you use? In my case while I have a large library the ones I use are relatively small.
 
Part of the problem is the embarrassment of riches we suffer from...if I were to purchase NI Komplete Ultimate I get a bundle of VSTs I may not need or ever use just so I can have the ones I really want (in the want/must have category were the RC24 and 48 reverbs). The cost comparison to the hardware versions of those reverb units makes the bundle purchase a no brainer for me and yet many of the other products I will not learn to use.
 
So, again, I think the question should be phrased a bit differently such as which are your 'desert island' plugs (assuming it has electricity ).
 
Besides I have made the commitment to no more purchases until I become expert at using Reaktor...
 
Regards,

699 Vst effects[very embarrassed]I know how to use a hand full....the rest are a complete handfull!
36 Direct X audio effects[all the cakewalk ones]
50 Vst Instruments,which is ridiculous,since I really only use the drums,and an occaisional Bass guitar-time to broaden my musical horizons maybe?
6 Direct X Instruments
 
Having said this,I'm having a realisation that the Pro Channel PC76 U-Type Channel Comp is very good! after all.
Regards to all
Bob