Hi, there are so many ProChabbel modules to choose from. But, they basically perform the same functions already present in Sonar... What's the deal? Arn't the default Sonar plugins good enough? I tried the "on board" effects and they all seem to work perfectly: EQ, Compression, Brick Wall limiting, tape and tube saturation etc... Why spend extra money for more of the same? Is there a big difference in sound quality? Which ones of the ProChannel suites (if any) are worth the extra money?  
 
Thanks for your input

Hi. The plugins included in SONAR are good enough. It is all about nuances and workflow. Make music with the tools you already have, and when you feel like missing something, then you try out new ones. Other may disagree ferociously.
(I have Concrete Limiter, PC4K S-type Expander Gate and CA2A besides the ones shipping with SONAR)
All the best.

Zargg71
Hi. The plugins included in SONAR are good enough. It is all about nuances and workflow. Make music with the tools you already have, and when you feel like missing something, then you try out new ones. Other may disagree ferociously.
(I have Concrete Limiter, PC4K S-type Expander Gate and CA2A besides the ones shipping with SONAR)
All the best.

Amen to that.  However, some of the ProChannel module are really some of the best, in my opinion.  But in the end, I don't think your listener will know whether you used the PC or not

I agree with the general notion that CW plugins are very good as a whole. I would single out one however that is not very good. That would be Boost 11. I do not advise anyone using it if there is an alternative. Concrete Limiter is head and shoulders above it, a PC module. It is worth getting without a thought.  
 
I have all of the CW PC modules and use many of them. I also have third party PC modules as well.  I like to use them because they do the job well and take as a rule very little CPU. Also they are easy to use. 
 
Another PC module to get is the CA 2A.  There is no other plugin in the CW bundled plugins that can do what it does. Each add on module needs to be looked at to see if one has a use for it. They all are high quality and do what they are meant to do. 
 
 

Is this a Sonar Artist vs. Platinum type question? Or are you talking about the extra prchannels that have to be bought on TOP of Platinum?
 
If you are on Artist and wondering why Prochannel and the modules included in Platinum (or Professional) it's really quite simple.
 
You get to use them like a mixer channel strip AND they are very useful/nice sounding plugs. They are either just there or easily loaded/accessed/configurable instead of having to insert and manage inside the FX Rack/Bin. I just select the track, hit I and I can tweak the PC modules I have active. If they were in the FX bin I gotta open the individual GUI of each pluging everytime I want to tweak something (which is kind of a PITA).
 
And the quality of the effects is really good. They sound good and are easy to use. The VST/insert style effects are still useful and needed but once I got used to the PC effects I hardly put anything into the FX Rack/Bin anymore unless I really need to.
 
Also the PC EQ has a real time frequency analyzer that's super handy.
 
You'd really have to play with it a bit to fully appreciate the usefulness of the PC but seriously it is a huge time saver and the plugs sound good (and they are better/different than the included VST plugs in a lot of cases).
 
If you mean the PAID extra plugins like the CA2A, Concrete Limiter and the various other PC addons... IDK entirely but I have purchased the CA/PC2A and the Concrete Limiter and yeah... they're really good. The other stuff I don't own so you'll have to ask others.
 
Cheers.

John
I agree with the general notion that CW plugins are very good as a whole. I would single out one however that is not very good. That would be Boost 11. I do not advise anyone using it if there is an alternative. Concrete Limiter is head and shoulders above it, a PC module. It is worth getting without a thought.  

But for those who DON'T have the Concrete Limiter the Blue Tubes limiter is a great option over the Boost11 one. It's not as harsh. I honestly find it can sound as good or better than the Concrete Limiter on certain material.
 
Boost11 is a seriously nasty sounding limiter though. It works in moderation or if you want that scranky arse sound but I generally avoid it in general now that I have other options.

Beepster

John
I agree with the general notion that CW plugins are very good as a whole. I would single out one however that is not very good. That would be Boost 11. I do not advise anyone using it if there is an alternative. Concrete Limiter is head and shoulders above it, a PC module. It is worth getting without a thought.  

But for those who DON'T have the Concrete Limiter the Blue Tubes limiter is a great option over the Boost11 one. It's not as harsh. I honestly find it can sound as good or better than the Concrete Limiter on certain material.
 
Boost11 is a seriously nasty sounding limiter though. It works in moderation or if you want that scranky arse sound but I generally avoid it in general now that I have other options.

I agree with all you say Beep. I like the CL though and as I said it doesn't use a lot of CPU. Also the Nomad stuff will color the sound. Not that that is always a bad thing. 

I use plugins to add some color to the sound I think color is good. 
To color or not to color, is not the question
Sorry to OP
All the best.

John
I agree with all you say Beep. I like the CL though and as I said it doesn't use a lot of CPU. Also the Nomad stuff will color the sound. Not that that is always a bad thing. 

I can actually hear some "coloring" going on with the the CL as well (but it could be a fig newton of my imagination... which is HIGHLY likely). It's just a different color.
 
The CL kind of sounds more tight, digital (but smooth digital) and modern whereas the Blue Tubes BW is a little warmer and analog sounding (but overdrives kind of harshly if pushed too hard where the CL seems to be able to stays consistent longer when pushed to the max).
 
Boost11... that's just kind of ear hurty beyond anything but light compression. That can be good as an effect and it's good for a quick master level boost in a pinch but something weird is going on with that plug.
 
Again... it really could be all in my head but that's how I hear these plugs when I use them.
 
I almost think maybe staging the level boosting amongst two or more of the three different plugs could be an interesting experiment.
 
From what I'm learning about mastering the level boosts should be happening in stages anyway but usually done with compression and saturation with limiters slapped in along the way.
 
Meh... I gotta play with things like that. Might even try splitting out freq bands to their own busses and using different limiters/comps to target freq ranges. It's not like we are "limited" (pun intended) in our options for experimentation in this regard.
 
Cheers.

Strange to read so many negative comments on Boost11. I really like the MAX Speed Dial, which is, AFAIK, based on Boost11.