Do a search for Vocal King by jhudstudio. You'll find it worth your while.

Fleer
Do a search for Vocal King by jhudstudio. You'll find it worth your while.

It's not a bad starter kit for sure. EasyPeasy.

JohanSebatianGremlin
...The difference between horrible results and awesome results lies completely in the user.

Well said. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.
 
That said, Cakewalk's CA-2A (or any of the many other LA-2A clones) would be a good place to start. The compressor it's modeled after has been a standard for vocal compression for over 60 years.
 
However, more aggressive processing has become popular in recent years, at least for modern pop. For that up-front, slightly distorted sound you'll probably want to try a faster compressor such as one of the 1176 clones. SONAR's got one, it's called the PC-76. Other options (not already in SONAR) would be one of the Fairchild 670 or dbx 160 clones.

bitflipper
To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.
 

Bapu's corollary: I'm over compressed. 

bitflipper
To paraphrase Thomas Edison, life is 1% gear and 99% knowing what to do with it in the first place.

True, very true. Edith concurs. 

I've never seen that Thomas Edison quote before. It is very spot on.

And I'll second the comments regarding the LA2A and 1176. The hardware versions of both have long been widely used and respected. I have the Sonar versions of each and I use one or the other for about 98% of my compression needs these days. 


But I should clarify something. When someone says they use a specific plugin or two for 98% of something, it kind of suggests that said plugin must therefore be awesome at that particular task. And I don't think its exactly accurate to suggest that. Yes it is my opinion that both of those plugins are decent at what they do. But the main reason I use them so much isn't because of how they sound. The main reason I use them so much is because I know them fairly well. I know what each control does and where their particular quirks are. Therefore I can get the particular results I'm looking for from each of the them fairly quickly.
 
I could get the same results with lots of other compressor plugs, but I don't know them as well so it would take more fiddling with controls to get them dialed in. I use the ones I use because I know them and know how to set them quickly.

Like I said earlier, compressors compress its what they do. Are there specific sonic differences between various models? Sure. But in my experience, those differences are EXTREMELY subtle in almost every case. It would take a very talented and experienced ear to be able to listen to a source and tell just from the sound what particular model of compressor was used.

It really depends of the source , type of voice , delivery ect...

One classic and all arounder is the softube CL1 B it can handle form rap voclas to singers , and even busses ( drums master ect ...)

I would also recommend the signature series from waves , some have built in waves exelent renaissance vox compressor and way more ..

I usually also put vocal ridee first to help the comp on heavy unlinear dynamic material.

And also, have a look at iZotope's Nectar.

bitflipper
 
Well said. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.

i am glad you said "To paraphrase"
 

Fleer
 
Vocal King
 

 
certainly a nice little tool, awesome price, and can hold it's head high considering. may or may not make it to the final, but easy as to get something goodish sounding, even if only as a place holder you can't go wrong