I was a huge fan of the Softube bundle, and used it all the time. Not just the FET and the reverb, as have been mentioned, but also the EQs.

Strange thing, though.. Over the last year or so I have found myself sticking almost entirely with the Cakewalk stuff. The Channel and Bus comp, the FET comp, the fantastic Ca2a, Quad Curve and Sonitus EQ, etc etc.

Same with the +10 bundle. I can't remember the last time I used it.

It's nice to have these things for a few situations when nothing else seems to work.

I guess what I am saying is I would get the extra Cake compressors - PC4K Channel and Ca2a, and possibly the Concrete Limier and PC4K Expander/Gate.

Just my penny's worth.

ampfixer
 
Down the rabbit hole you go my friend.

 
then you can imagine the rabbit hole of guitar cabinet Impulse Responses i recently finished mining.
 
not too dissimilar to the 3D Studio MAX plugin frenzy i used to get sucked into.
 
fun.

the ThrillSeekerLA Leveling Amplifier is pretty sweet from Variety of Sound.
 

The FET is different, but not necessarily better (or worse). There may be an EQ curve that's applied, as well as the behavior of the compressor itself. Likely, even some tube-like saturation. My point is, you can get there only using the tools provided. Once you get your ear trained enough to know how to get that sound with just the basic tools, then you're ready to venture into plugin land. Too soon, and down the rabbit hole you will go.
 
Regards,
Dan

what makes this day and age so great is it's all zeros and ones.
 
gone are my 19" racks of decades ago.
 

 

hodshonf

dcumpian
You'll be fine with the tools in Sonar for now, including the Sonitus compressor. When you want to add specific coloration, like emulations of classic hardware, then you'll want to evaluate who makes the emulation you like the best.
 
Regards,
Dan

 
i like that.
 
a lot.
 
more $$$ for multi track drum loops.
 
i am slowly finding all the great tools in Platinum.
 
most notably LP EQ.
 
goodness gracious. 
 
thanks!
 

I think by habit so many users ignore the included effects in their DAW.  At one time you couldn't do that in Reason and now they have Rack Extensions.   Users have spent so much on them and they could have used it for some nice hardware.
 

PilotGav

KingsMix
Go with the Waves CLA Bundle, especially at the current sale price. Just the ClA-2A is worth the price of the bundle alone. You wont have any regrets or plugins buyer remorse. And trust that if you pass that waves deal up (been there/done that), you will be kicking yourself later IMHO.
Download the demos and let it sell itself.

The thing I hate about Waves is that I work from two computers - desktop and laptop back and forth. It seems to be a pain to use their plugins on two separate machines. Maybe there's something I'm missing though.

you can put your license on usb memory stick and use the plugins on any computer that has Waves plugins installed on the machine that are licensed.

bz2838

PilotGav

KingsMix
Go with the Waves CLA Bundle, especially at the current sale price. Just the ClA-2A is worth the price of the bundle alone. You wont have any regrets or plugins buyer remorse. And trust that if you pass that waves deal up (been there/done that), you will be kicking yourself later IMHO.
Download the demos and let it sell itself.

The thing I hate about Waves is that I work from two computers - desktop and laptop back and forth. It seems to be a pain to use their plugins on two separate machines. Maybe there's something I'm missing though.

you can put your license on usb memory stick and use the plugins on any computer that has Waves plugins installed on the machine that are licensed.

Since Waves is on sale a lot just buy a second license.  Life would be simple if they had a two machine limit. Most of my purchases are based on flexible licensing.  The exceptions are EW and VSL.

ok.
 
just got them up and running.
 
glad i waited to develop a bit of an ear for this stuff.
 
definitely a step up.
 
i like the CLs. very much. good price too.
 
thanks for all the input!
fred

yow.
 
these are really great on bass guitar.
 
i have a 4 string with dual coil pups and an Aguilar OBP2 onboard preamp.
 
i've been using a bass preamp VST and a couple of cab sim IRs.
 
but now, i really like the CLA 76 with heavy GR followed by the CL 2A with a little lighter touch.
 
not sure if it's common practice to stack 'em.
 
i don't need the bass preamp VST - gorgeous with just the comps.
by the way, it's a great pre VST - cerberus by kuassa.
 
but it gets in the way with these wave comps.
 
add a good cab sim, done!
 
$146 well spent!