Hi, fairly new to Sonar been a user for a couple of years. And just signed up for the forum which I have found a good source of knowledge.
 
I was just wanting some thoughts on an effect plugin bundle to compliment X3. I write mainly Techno and House but do some more ambient/leftfield type of thing as well. So nice EQ, Compressor, Reverb, Delay and Limiter
 
My Knowledge of the software company is not that vast mainly the big names Waves and UAD so maybe you can point me in the direction of some hidden gems so to speak.
 
Waves have a Sound design Bundle on offer at mo but renewing the WUP
 
Budget of around £400 and decent tech support/updates.
 
Thanks

Welcome to the forum Marco!! This is definitely the right place to find software deals.
 
However, I do have to warn you and highly suggest that you ignore all posts by a certain *CCLarry in this forum. He has the uncanny ability to empty your wallet, and still make you feel happy about it.
 
About the bundles, I like Nomad Factory's Integral Studio Pack 3.....but, I didn't (and will never) pay the full price they're asking. Others will chime in on what bundles are out there. I personally prefer to get plugins (as needed or not:) one at a time so that you get the ones you really like........and as always, it has to be a good sale price.  
 
 
*CClarry is a great guy and is our local software/hardware deal finder.......if he can't find it, it's not out there.  

Go download the melda free bundle. It has, eq, compression, chorus, etc. Everything works well and it doesn't cost a dime. For reverb I'd get Valhalla Vintage verb ($50), sounds great and it should be getting a free update soon. It sounds as good or better than reverbs that cost 3x as much. For a limiter I'd get LimiterNo6(free). It's a little difficult to use, but it sounds great and it's free. If you're looking for good ambient delay effects, Valhalla Ubermod.

I'd start with these and then if you still feel you don't have enough try to fill in the gaps with a few desperate plug ins.

I would strongly advise you to fully explore what X3 has to offer before spending any money on third-party plugins. 
 
But if you've determined that there are serious gaps in functionality, I'd suggest getting individual products rather than a large bundle. 
 
But if you're determined to buy a bundle, there are many good alternatives to Waves: FabFilter, Voxengo and Meldaproduction.

I have to agree with Bit...if you've got X3 (and especially if you've got Producer) you've already got some killer effects that cover most any base.  You might consider, as suggested above, another...better...reverb but before you go out spending your hard earned dollars make sure you know what all you already have. 

If you must add more plugins, I think the best value can be found from ToneBoosters. Great stuff at dirt cheap prices.

Cheers,
Eddie

X3 Pro has just about everything you need.  Sonitus suite is good and basic and comes w/ everything.  For comp and EQ the Prochannel has about as good as you are going to find.  The SSL buss comp is superb.  I would suggest getting the PC opto comp as a complementary comp for the PC Fet - it too is about as good as you are going to find.  Perfect Space convolution reverb is, again, a great basic reverb, esp. once you collect extra impulses.  Breverb finally fixes the hole in Cake's algorithmic reverb.  It is great.
 
All those above provide your meat and potatoes FX and are high quality.  The Nomad collection is gravy and fills the weak spots in Cake's normal delay collection.  The Sonitus suite had delay, but wasn't necessarily intuitive.  I already had the Nomad bundle but was still pleased Cake rounded out their FX w/ it.
 
So, if you have X3 Pro, you are set.  Waves is good stuff and a lot of pros use it, but Waves keeps finding ways of getting your money.  Change OS and you might have to buy everything of theirs again.  UAD stuff is great - many pros swear by it, but their best stuff is "vintage" (which ain't a bad thing), but again, people end up buying more software and even worse, more DSP.  Good stuff, if you have the money.
 
I've got both the Softube Mix bundle and the OVerloud VKFX bundle.  Both are great and work in the PC as well as FX bin.  The softube reverb was first stop before Breverb came along.  The PC EQ is great, but  the softube focusing EQ is a good one to have that is different.  And the FET comp may be a hair better than Cakes, although neither one is as good as a hardware 1176 for spanking in a bass, guitar or snare.  The Overloud keyboard fx is really great stuff and will expand your time-based fx about as far as you need.  Better sound and faceplates and starting presets than the Sonitus stuff.  The Overloud Bundle ($99 at the Cake store) is the first thing I'd look at to expand SONAR X3 Pro if you wanted more delays, etc.  UAD if you want to mix vintage-sounding mixes, but you will be spending closer to a $1000 to get any kind of firepower and effects (or wish you would have).
 
@

Many thanks your your replies and taking the time to read my thread.
 
Some good advice, yes I should spend more time with the bundled plugs and Pro Channel which are excellent.
 
I like the sound of the Valhalla Vintage verb, and Overloud VFX seems to be a no brainer and maybe an upgrade to the full version of Breverb
 
Maybe I should redirect the rest of the budget towards some better monitors, although I am very happy with my Yamaha HS5's, and learn to trust my ears rather than looking for an easy fix just feel something is missing. But then there will always be an update to Sonar, I started at X1 and where at X3.
 
Again thanks

Get on the mailing lists of the main mail order places that sell sound software.  Don't Crack is one of my favorites.  JRR Shop is another good one.  There are a couple of others that are out there that don't come to mind immediately.
 
With patience, you can pick up some truly stunning bargains when the right sale comes along.  I got the Nomad Factory integral bundle for 99 bucks.  Same with the Don't Crack Plug and Mix bundle.  Those were deals that were just too good to pass up ... and they don't come along all that often.
 
On the other hand, you could just go for cream of the crop and start collecting Fab Filter.  They don't have sales other than occasional 25% off bundles (but not individual plugs).  Their effects are not cheap, but then they are about as good as it gets when it comes to FX plug-ins.

Fab Filter, Valhalla, Pro Channel, Klanghelm, Hornet and (dare I say it) Ik Multimedia are among my favorites. You can always find a good deal at Kvraudio in the market place. Downloading everything TDR and Vladgsound has is a good idea. They are free 64bit and great quality.
http://www.tokyodawn.net/tokyo-dawn-labs/
http://vladgsound.wordpress.com/plugins/