Eddie TX

drewfx1
I just worry about how an increasingly mature and saturated market can keep all of the people out there doing good work afloat.

There will always be a market for the new and improved, which these plugs certainly qualify as.  I think most would agree that most plugins do not quite match the sound quality of real hardware,

 
Be careful. Digital EQ is easily more "perfect" in terms of a given EQ curve with nothing additional and has been for quite some time. So "sound quality" has to mean "desirable analog flaws" in this context.
 
Digital emulations of analog gear (with all of its desirable idiosyncrasies) have been improving to the point where diminishing returns will appear, if they haven't already. And "diminishing returns" means "diminishing market demand".
 
And of course it depends on what standard of evaluation one is using - "better emulation" vs. "better sounding in and of itself".

With a healthy dollop of both emperor's new clothes and the placebo effect.





I'm a sucker for both.

I have come to the conclusion over the years, that if you REALLY know what you are doing, whether or not use use the basic processors included in a program like Sonar or new and "exact" emulations such as this, by the time the track is mixed, few of the listening public would know what you used. As long as the music stands up in itself, when they stream your music and listen to it on their iPod, well you could probably not bother with too much processing at all!!!

Bajan Blue
I have come to the conclusion over the years, that if you REALLY know what you are doing, whether or not use use the basic processors included in a program like Sonar or new and "exact" emulations such as this, by the time the track is mixed, few of the listening public would know what you used. As long as the music stands up in itself, when they stream your music and listen to it on their iPod, well you could probably not bother with too much processing at all!!!

Quite similarly, I've noticed that whenever I can't seem to get things to work, I tend to start looking for different plug-ins. Though in some case they can make a marginal difference, more often than not, it's a vicious circle because I'm not dealing with the actual issue - my own lack of skills. 
 
When the arrangement is adequate and I am not fighting against a mix, my host's plug-ins work absolutely fine.
 
At the end of the day, for all the plethora of vintage plug-ins on the market and for all the abuse, pretty much everything that comes out these days sounds nothing like good old records form the analog days. So whether you use your host's plug-in or some fancy recreation, the results may be a bit different, but, better? I'm not that sure.

Rain
At the end of the day, for all the plethora of vintage plug-ins on the market and for all the abuse, pretty much everything that comes out these days sounds nothing like good old records form the analog days. So whether you use your host's plug-in or some fancy recreation, the results may be a bit different, but, better? I'm not that sure.

 
Good points, yes ... however, I am of the opinion that better-sounding tools contribute to a better-sounding end result.  For example, I'm working on a song right now that has a strummed acoustic guitar intro.  I was using the Waves Scheps EQ on that to sweeten and shape the sound to my liking, but when I substituted the new IK 73, I quickly had something that sounded unquestionably better to my ears.  I couldn't match that with the Waves plugin -- it just wasn't capable of sounding as good.  So that makes the whole mix "better" to me.
 
As these tools get closer and closer to the sound of real studio gear, the dream of having ITB productions that are indistinguishable from those made in million-dollar studios becomes closer to reality.  Not so good for studio owners, but great for independent producers and artists. 
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Eddie TX

Rain
At the end of the day, for all the plethora of vintage plug-ins on the market and for all the abuse, pretty much everything that comes out these days sounds nothing like good old records form the analog days. So whether you use your host's plug-in or some fancy recreation, the results may be a bit different, but, better? I'm not that sure.

Good points, yes ... however, I am of the opinion that better-sounding tools contribute to a better-sounding end result.  For example, I'm working on a song right now that has a strummed acoustic guitar intro.  I was using the Waves Scheps EQ on that to sweeten and shape the sound to my liking, but when I substituted the new IK 73, I quickly had something that sounded unquestionably better to my ears.  I couldn't match that with the Waves plugin -- it just wasn't capable of sounding as good.  So that makes the whole mix "better" to me.
 
As these tools get closer and closer to the sound of real studio gear, the dream of having ITB productions that are indistinguishable from those made in million-dollar studios becomes closer to reality.  Not so good for studio owners, but great for independent producers and artists. 
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Good points Eddie,

They're only tools.
I don't get philosophical or find any need to explore my inner self to validate their existence!
None of that plays into my decision in finding or purchasing something that may or may not be useful in my tool box.
Sometimes I don't mind paying a bit more rather than just getting a bunch of cheaper or free plugins that just occupy my vst folder then eventually wind up in the junk drawer.
That works the other way around too as well.

Bottom line it's a new release & a very good eq..
It has it strengths (sound & feature quality) & for some it's weaknesses. (price point)

@Larry, I installed but haven't tried those other plugins out yet..

The main thing is that if the "less expensive" can basically do the same job...
Then it's pointless to spend the extra cash...it's like buying "designer jeans"
in the end..they're just jeans...so if Wranglers can do the job do you REALLY
need to wear Gucci?  Of course, some DO.  They have to be ON TOP.  Have to 
have the LATEST and GREATEST (perceived) of everything.  It's the American,
and worldly way...

Another thing I've noticed...if someone has plopped down their cash...9 out of 10
times WHATEVER they bought will be worth it...as they don't want to say...HEY I just
wasted my money, and could have got this for a lot less or free...we don't like feeling
bad about ourselves and our decisions.

It's also become quite LUDICROUS to buy something out of the gate, as time and wisdom
should teach you that, within a few months, it's going to half off or more...

Companies have created the "Illusion" of "Greatness (Waves, IK, etc...)
Granted their products are good...but are they REALLY that good to justify
spending 10 times the amount?  No, not really, not when other companies
are churning out products for 1/10th the price (or free) of equal or better quality.

I've come to expect MORE for LESS.  WHY?  Because of the shifting paradigm.
Tablets will soon be as powerful as PC's...BUT, their Apps are "pennies on the dollar"
in comparison.  Competition is FIERCE!  So these companies either have to:

A) Raise the App prices - not a likely scenario, as the "bar" has been set low to reach "more users"
    and make up in volume what is lost in "perceived quality" and price.
B) Decrease their software prices to compete....this is the far more "logical" answer, especially in 
    light of all the free or almost free to very inexpensive alternatives being offered out there, of the
    same or BETTER quality (i.e. Valhalla Room, etc...)

I, personally, don't have cash to "Just throw away"...that's why I spend time researching and finding
better prices and alternatives...and pass that on to everyone here...

Time for the Dev Companies to "wake up", and to swim or sink...
because the "Titanics" are taking on water....IJS....

cclarry
The main thing is that if the "less expensive" can basically do the same job...
Then it's pointless to spend the extra cash...

Can't argue with that, buddy ... in that same song, I'm using that free Slick EQ on hats and overheads, since I like the way it sounds on those.  Now, if there were a free plug that matched the sound of this IK model, I'd be all over that -- BTW, I haven't yet bought the IK 73, since it's free to demo for 2 weeks.  Would be nice to have a free / cheap alternative, but I haven't found one yet.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Eddie TX

cclarry
The main thing is that if the "less expensive" can basically do the same job...
Then it's pointless to spend the extra cash...

Can't argue with that, buddy ... in that same song, I'm using that free Slick EQ on hats and overheads, since I like the way it sounds on those.  Now, if there were a free plug that matched the sound of this IK model, I'd be all over that -- BTW, I haven't yet bought the IK 73, since it's free to demo for 2 weeks.  Would be nice to have a free / cheap alternative, but I haven't found one yet.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

I hear that Eddie...

(BTW..these were general statements not directed anywhere just so everyone knows)

Did you try the demo of the EVE AT1 and EVE AT4 from Kuassa?  I know it's not the 73...
but these are only $55 for the pair right now...and it IS the 81...LOL

Speaking of FREE EQ's, I'll say this again, the Luftikus Maag clone is still one of my favorite FREE EQ's...
(The new interface is really nice also)

Also, I used the DDMF 6144, the Portico 5033 emu for $39, and it was quite nice...especially at that price
point.  THESE are the kinds of plugins I'm talking about that are going to start driving these Devs to get the
prices down or get out of the game.

It has to change...there is no alternative.  And the quicker they get on the bus...the farther they can ride it...

cclarry
The main thing is that if the "less expensive" can basically do the same job...
Then it's pointless to spend the extra cash...it's like buying "designer jeans"
 

If cheep or free was as good I would use it.  For me the only cheep or free plug-in that is usable is Toneboosters ReelBus. All the others I've tried, including Valhalla's stuff, are not at good as the one's I use.   If cheep or free works for you great but you are trying to rationalize your lack of funds but saying that if it is not cheep or fee that is overpriced.