Makes you wonder how they develop some of these plugs doesn't it? I mean, what are they listening to them

Regarding Boost11, it was originally included in Cakewalk's entry level DAW package. It's also available to buy for $49. I don't think it was ever intended to be a high end mastering limiter, given that it was either part of the entry level package or fairly cheap to buy.

But people on this forum got all up in arms about how the entry level package had a limiter and Sonar didn't.  People who hadn't even heard how the thing sounded were clamoring for it to be included in Sonar, because how could Sonar not have everything that the baby brother package had?  And then it was included. And now people complain that it doesn't sound very good. Sometimes I really wonder how Cakewalk can keep their cool when things like this happen.

I think it has its uses.  Like, use it sparingly to catch stray peaks. But it's certainly not the greatest limiter out there. 

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Thanks for clearing that up, tarsier.

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I posted a PX64+Boost11 solution: http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.ashx?m=2092120 Let me know what you think.

The T-Rack Peak Limiter looks great - and people seem happy with it

Agree 100% - I love this limiter, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

I do not recommend the V-Vocal. V-Vocal sound coloring

A lot of people are running V-Vocal successfully with NO colouring [sp] and NO artefacts.
Check out the many threads about how to run V/V properly

The general concensus on the V-Vocal is not great.

I don't think this is the general consesnsus at all. A few people have had problems, but this is MAINLY down to pilot error

And the processing results are mixed. But it's probably because I don't know how to use it efficiently.

I suggest you read up on it, especially the section devoted to V/V in Scott Garrigus Power book.

nix means no.  As in don't use v-vocal

What is wrong with you people? V-V works GREAT for the VAST majority of users

Some folks like v-vocal.  But once you've used Melodyne, there's no going back

I've read about people who's machines crash when they load Melodyne. Go figure.

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hey thanks for the fb on v-vocal and t-racks, Bristol! much appreciated.
 
fwiw - i just bought the t-racks brick wall limiter....but mysteriously, have heard nothing back from the company -
no confirmation of order, DL number, receipt, or e-mail, etc. my payment just disappeared into the abyss...
...and i have no product to show for it...

i'll have to revisit v-vocal. i wonder if they've made it any easier to use and less buggy
since i used it last. i don't really have time to read a poweruser book just to get basic fast CPU-friendly pitch correction
 with some instant presets happening ASAP.

but thanks so much for the suggestion. i'll def check it out again. if i can't get it to work within a minute, though...
it's going bye-bye...sorry...(do i sound like an american, yet) : )
 
i have no patience for badly designed - or counterintuitive - GUIs.

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i don't really have time to read a poweruser book just to get basic fast CPU-friendly pitch correction with some instant presets happening

 
V-Vocal is a tool, not a plug-in, so there are not any "presets".
There are YouTube and CW vids that show basically how to use it
(http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/?q=V-Vocal+video+Sonar&vid=8EF3C1AA9C3B075C09BC8EF3C1AA9C3B075C09BC&FORM=VIRE2 but there are others on YouTube and the web).  CW also has a TechTip at: http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/SONAR5_Vocal_Production.asp
Pair this knowledge with the workflows that PeterJ and I have posted in the forum.  We've gotten forum feedback that this process avoids issues for even people that were seeing issues.  Here's the process (copied from other forum post):

1. Break tracks into clips - editting at the silent parts. I find it's best to use the smallest clip duration that you need to get the job done.  I do NOT ever try correcting an entire track clip (but maybe that's because I use V-Vocal surgically or for effect).
2. Save my project (!!!)
3. Enable track layers on the track in question
4. Create a V-Vocal clip using the right click menu option on the original clip. 
5. Move that new V-vocal clip (which is by default ON TOP of the original clip) down using SHIFT-drag to an open layer.  You willl now see the original track with the red mute symbol (i.e., a crossed out O).  [Shift-drag keeps the clip aligned to the original clip.]
6. Operate in the V-Vocal Editor to your heart's (or ear's) content
7. CLOSE the V-Vocal Editor and IMMEDIATELY "Bounce to Clip" - this is very important!  If you leave this Editor open or don't bounce this Clip, you will most likely encounter a problem as you keep working
8. Listen for a few times to make sure the new clip is ok... and then File...Save (use a new version number if you wish and add a comment on what track you V-vocaled.).   If you don't like what you heard, you can delete the V-Vocal track and unmute the original track...for perfect safety, you can close the project without saving and reload to your earlier version.

One other tip:  Set the formant/Follow pitch dials to a very low value (between 0 and 15%) when you start if you want natural sounding pitch shifts.  And there is a thread which explains how to can edit the V-Vocal.ini to make this the default if you find you use this a lot.
 
Despite what some folks post, I use V-Vocal to produce natural-sounding pitch, timing (i.e.,  line up my harmony loose ends) and dynamics changes (yes,  this allows you to ease up on your track compression settings..which makes the track sounds more natural, etc.) almost daily.
 
Let us know how things go and how we can help!

+100 on the FabFilter plugs.  They are the absolute best plugins in terms of user interface.  Those guys got it right, and they sound beautiful.  They have all kinds of filtering goodies that you'll probably dig.  I love their Compressor and EQ plugs!

For limiting, you can't go wrong with Voxengo's Elephant, which is considered among the very best of its kind.  It's better than the Waves L1/L2/L3 series according to a few threads I've read on Gearslutz.

Lastly, I think the "overall consensus" of V-Vocal is misleading.  Melodyne is no doubt a superior tool, but I find V-Vocal to do the job just fine and with ease.  However, you DO need to make sure your track is clean, with the least amount of background noise possible (i.e. no headphone bleed, AC hum, etc).  As said before, enable V-Vocal only on sections where you need it and then bounce to clip when you're done.  Make sure that the Formant dial is set to "0" before you start tweaking notes.  Then simply move the white horizontal line where it needs to be and viola, you're done.  Sometimes you need to lessen the vibrato amount on a note to make it sound in pitch.  But that's all I do and I get the results I want.  On the other hand, if you're trying to fix a badly recorded and out of tune track with V-Vocal then that explains why you're not getting the results you want.  In those cases you're better off re-tracking since V-Vocal is not that type of tool.  V-Vocal works best if used sparingly.  Melodyne handles badly recorded tracks much better.


HTH

Must agree with Jose, Elephant is excellent!

Sijel

i don't really have time to read a poweruser book just to get basic fast CPU-friendly pitch correction with some instant presets happening

 
V-Vocal is a tool, not a plug-in, so there are not any "presets".
There are YouTube and CW vids that show basically how to use it
(http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/?q=V-Vocal+video+Sonar&vid=8EF3C1AA9C3B075C09BC8EF3C1AA9C3B075C09BC&FORM=VIRE2 but there are others on YouTube and the web).  CW also has a TechTip at: http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/SONAR5_Vocal_Production.asp
Pair this knowledge with the workflows that PeterJ and I have posted in the forum.  We've gotten forum feedback that this process avoids issues for even people that were seeing issues.  Here's the process (copied from other forum post):

1. Break tracks into clips - editting at the silent parts. I find it's best to use the smallest clip duration that you need to get the job done.  I do NOT ever try correcting an entire track clip (but maybe that's because I use V-Vocal surgically or for effect).
2. Save my project (!!!)
3. Enable track layers on the track in question
4. Create a V-Vocal clip using the right click menu option on the original clip. 
5. Move that new V-vocal clip (which is by default ON TOP of the original clip) down using SHIFT-drag to an open layer.  You willl now see the original track with the red mute symbol (i.e., a crossed out O).  [Shift-drag keeps the clip aligned to the original clip.]
6. Operate in the V-Vocal Editor to your heart's (or ear's) content
7. CLOSE the V-Vocal Editor and IMMEDIATELY "Bounce to Clip" - this is very important!  If you leave this Editor open or don't bounce this Clip, you will most likely encounter a problem as you keep working
8. Listen for a few times to make sure the new clip is ok... and then File...Save (use a new version number if you wish and add a comment on what track you V-vocaled.).   If you don't like what you heard, you can delete the V-Vocal track and unmute the original track...for perfect safety, you can close the project without saving and reload to your earlier version.

One other tip:  Set the formant/Follow pitch dials to a very low value (between 0 and 15%) when you start if you want natural sounding pitch shifts.  And there is a thread which explains how to can edit the V-Vocal.ini to make this the default if you find you use this a lot.
 
Despite what some folks post, I use V-Vocal to produce natural-sounding pitch, timing (i.e.,  line up my harmony loose ends) and dynamics changes (yes,  this allows you to ease up on your track compression settings..which makes the track sounds more natural, etc.) almost daily.
 
Let us know how things go and how we can help!

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to write all this, but you've just proven my point!!!!
 
There's absolutely NO WAY IN HELL I have time for all that.
 
...I plug in Antares Auto Tune. Set to Male Vocals : Chromatic - and I'm freekin' done.
 
: )
 
 
Again, thanks though, man. Someday when I'm 80 years old and I have nothing better to do than read your post, I will.
(By then people will be genetically cloned with Auto Tune).
 
I'm not trying to be a dick, I just REALLY don't have time for all that.
 
Cheers, dude!
 
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Thanks for the votes of confidence on Elephant and Fab Filter, guys!

And Jose, you're once again underscoring the reason I'll never use V-Vocal for pitch.


On a side note, I DO like V-Vocal as an formant tweaking EFFECT!!! Very much!

And, as I've been saying, I'm sure the GUI has been getting better...

I'll check it out again - one of these days when I have time (which is never).
 
Does ANYBODY have time for ANYTHING these days???  : )
 
(And, does anybodyy REALLY know what time it is?? )

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