Opinions on Top plugin/VST's
I am about to start downloading some free plugins an of course it's pretty overwhelming. There are about 100 different compressors that all say they will help tigten up and warm up your tone without removing performance dynamics, etc.
I don't expect any of them to say, "well, this one kind of sucks".
So I am hoping some more experienced people can save me from months trial and error with an endless choice of plugins. What would be great is if you could just give me a few that you have used and would recommend, and maybe a reason why, or ones to stay away from.
All I am recording at this time will be pretty straight ahead instrumental rock with drum loops (or drum machine), Bass Track and as many guitar tracks as needed.
Right now, no other instruments.
So, what do you think would be the key effects and EQ's etc, that I will expect to use, and of those, what would be the best for the way I will be recording. Most guitars will be direct, I may do some micking. Bass Direct and Drum loops.
What would be a good compressor plug in for individual tracks, especially bass?
What would be a good comp for doing the final mixdown?
What kind of EQ, Parametric or Graphic and which ones?
What about any other kind of stereo widening effects or dynamic type things etc.
I read somewhere about plugins that are desiged to help place instruments in very specific spots of the stereo field. Anything like that would be cool.
If there are free ones that are great for this, that's pefect. But if I really have to buy some I'll do that too. But first I would like to try free ones.
Thanks