Opinions on Softube Mix Bundle & iLok2

I will post a little more when home, but the short answer is. that I do like it, and it does occasionally go on sale, but not often.

I will post my thoughts on the individual modules when I get to a proper keyboard.

FYI they do not need a dongle any more.

Hey, thanks for the feedback.
 
I should indeed demo the plugs but demo only works via iLok (according to softtube site) which I don't have (had no need so far).
 

jb101
FYI they do not need a dongle any more.

Interesting ... ProChannel modules or the entire mix bundle (VST3?) ...??P

I have the bundle and use its various pieces quite often. The TSAR reverb is quite good and easy to use. I like the Focusing EQ quite a bit. The FET compressor really has character.

I would normally recommend if you get the Softtube Mix Bundle that you also get this tutorial from Groove 3:
http://www.groove3.com/str/mixing-with-sonar.html

It's called Mixing With Sonar. It's a great tutorial on mixing techniques using Sonar X1. The majority of that tutorial content still is relevant even using Sonar Platinum. That tutorial happens to use the Softtube Mix Bundle a lot throughout the tutorial chapters and provides great demos and tutorials on how to use each of the bundle's tools. The reason I'm not underlining why you should get that tutorial today is that it is presently sold at full price, or $30. It has been available for much less at various times over the last year. If you have the annual pass I'd suggest watching it.

The softube bundle is excellent and both the EQs and Fet com give a different flavor to the Cake PC stuff.  The reverb was the cat's meow, as far as I was concerned.  But as much as I like it, it is kind of redundant these days with Nomad and overloud's stuff.  I like Overloud's reverbs as well as TSAR.  The FET is a little more 1176 than the PC unit, but not hardware.  The focusing EQ I use a lot - easy to find quality sound and I use it to distinguish vocals as opposed to all the PC EQ elsewhere.  And the Passive EQs do sound and react slightly different than anything Cake offers.
 
All that being said, it is worthwhile if you get it on sale.  Otherwise, there are things on sale through Cake that are more useful.  REmatrix (the full version) is killer.  You won't really get a better reverb unless you spend a lot more money on hardware.  That is where I'd put my money.  You'll hear that more than slightly different digital EQs.
 
@

lawajava

AT
REmatrix (the full version) is killer.  You won't really get a better reverb unless you spend a lot more money on hardware.  That is where I'd put my money.  You'll hear that more than slightly different digital EQs.

I agree with everything you say in your post especially what I'm quoting from you.

Once more, thanks for the feedback I really appreciate it!
 
I meanwhile had a look at REmatrix (which for no obvious reason I had never properly looked at) and it looks indeed killer. I used IR reverbs a lot on recent productions and suffered from exactly what they advertise: IR either fits or doesn't but you can't do much to adjust it apart from time, EQ and blending (which required use of a large number of buses that with REmatrix all would be hosted inside a plugin with saveable presets) ...
 
So I think REmatrix will make it onto the demo list and possibly the shopping list. I usually upgrade my system (apart from Sonar batches) only about once a year. During the year I stay away from installing demos and buying plugins - basically anything that could compromise the system ... now is the time to check-out a few new tools. I also got the new Rapture Pro on the radar and I already added BOZ 10dB (which I like a lot and probably makes the softtube bundle redundant anyway) ...
 

jb101
... a wife who reads the credit card bill.  
 

Digital delivery solved that problem for me one of positive aspects that everything is download only these days ...

Have a look at iLok site and their FAQ and make some conclusions like:
a) how they start charging for this and that - licenses between accounts, ZDT etc.
They are a business of their own - if they get away with a new charge policy that is what you get.
Having plenty money on iLok licenses - who has the Aces?
 
b) vendor go in and fiddle with your licenses
Steinberg Syncrosoft at least, keep those things separately. You work with your license codes yourself, Steinberg does not mess with your account.
Demoing iLok stuff - vendor goes into your account adding license for that - at least what Avid is doing.
 
c) updating iLok software - and suddenly you account lost licenses. Well, they have a FAQ how to recover - but still - really makes me wonder.
 
d) new subscription policies also create new habits for you - be online with your daw from time to time - or your software may stop working. Thinking the new rental models of Avid to mention one - within four days after monthly expire you need to resync licenses.
 
So far stayed away from anything iLok....it probably works, but don't fancy the policies built into it and how you become a customer to a company that you never bought a product from, in the normal sense. Just a consequence from buying a iLok based product.
 
But Softube anything, is probably really good after what I read everywhere - good stuff.
Ask Softube how their products are generally bundled with PC versions or not.

I had to buy into iLok in order to run EWQLSO under their Play engine.
 
Since then, it's been plugged into the back of my machine and I forget it's even there.

theheliosequence
If you want the latest Softube plugins, look into the latest Native Instruments compressors and EQs. All done by Softube and I think better offerings than their older mix bundle.

Thanks, Benjamin, for the tip about NI ... didn't know about that :-)