Being new to recording and never actually having a lot of money to throw at (or even caring about) gear (even guitar stuff) it can be hard to figure out what models what. Most of the old pros can probably easily identify much of it or pick up on the vague cues the product manus put out with the software. As a guit player I can identify certain things in amp sim software but even then it can be tricky. Anything else... fuggedaboutit.
 
Anyway I've been doing an intense study of Guitar Rig 5 so I can make it useful to me again (I abandoned GR5 for TH2 because I found it much better to use right out of the box but now I'm realizing how cool GR5 is and intend to use it more). I keep elaborate notes on stuff and for sims I like to know exactly what is being modeled so if I am chasing a specific sound I can follow a virtual recipe. In the notes, particularly with amp sims, I try to compile exact model lists which is daunting at best.
 
Today as I was trying to figure out what's what in GR5 I stumbled across the following site...
 
http://www.audio-hardware-emus.com/
 
It is not very complete but it seems to cover a LOT of stuff from various software manufacturers ranging from effects to processors. I was just looking for sim info (it fleshed out both my GR5 and TH2 notes a little better) but there's lots of other stuff going on and I'm assuming it is an ongoing project.
 
Maybe some folks will find it helpful. I did.
 
Cheers.
 
*notice... I have no affiliation with this site and this is not an official endorsement.  I use heavy script/adblockers/av settings so if there are pop ups or weirdness I didn't get them but it seemed safe and legit but as always with the intertubes proceed with caution.

Wow, somebody put in a lot of time and trouble to compile that list!
 
I wonder, though, how many users really care if a plugin emulates some specific piece of hardware, given that most plugin users have never seen, used nor heard any of those classic processors.
 
For me, I'm actually put off by software emulations because I know it means reduced functionality. An LA2A or 1176 emulation definitely has its place, but I like having a wide range of compression ratios and attack times, look-ahead buffering, wet/dry mix, RMS detection, sidechaining, channel unlinking and other features that never existed on classic hardware compressors.

Hi, bit. Hope you've been well.
 
I guess for me it's mostly about learning and understanding the conversations around me. I'm kind of a late comer/late bloomer to recording so when folks talk about certain techniques that shaped how things were done back in the analog days they reference these units... or at least the functions they perform. I'll likely never be able to afford the hardware (or have a place to store it all/set it up/use it/etc) so being able to identify them by name and appearance and being able to "hear" what all the controls are somewhat supposed to do within a virtual environment (as much as is possible with emus)... well it's helpful, interesting and just kinda cool.
 
When I first got Sonar and the mountain of plugs (and their presets) that came with it it really was overwhelming. Same with the extra sim and instrument packages I've picked up to round out things for my needs. Things like SM57/58, certain guitar amps, stomp boxes, whatever that I've actually used are easy to identify and figure out but other stuff I've never seen is a lot trickier and finding in depth information on uses and usage when all I've got is vague pseudonyms (designed to avoid lawsuits) is trickier. I'm getting a much better handle on it all but there's a LOT of gear out there and a LOT of programs to emulate it.
 
The end goal is to be able to use the new hyper broad, multi use, no limits type plugs (the Sonitus suite comes to mind) but they are hard to dial in and navigate when you have no idea what you are trying to dial in in the first place. If I can scrounge up an interview with an engineer or a musician about what gear they used in the studio then I can hunt up some suitable emus, listen to how they respond (or toss some analyzers on it) then eventually figure out what exactly it's all doing to the signal and try to make things like the Sonitus plugs (and I'm looking at Melda stuff based on suggestions here) to accomplish those tasks from a more clinical angle.
 
I'm a loooong way off though but I've gone all in as far as figuring these things out and currently I'm doing it without any formal training (I may take some courses but I'm doing pretty good on my own so why waste the money/time?).
 
The added bonus is if for some reason I end up in a REAL studio again I might be able to actually use the hardware versions or at least be able to make semi educated suggestions to anyone sitting at the desk.
 
Meh. Crazy perhaps but it keeps me occupied. ;-)
 
Cheers.

The fact that it's a never-ending journey of exploration is what makes this just about the greatest hobby one can imagine.
 
The only downside, compared to some other pastimes, is that you spend way too many hours sitting on your arse. Now, if we could just figure out a way to work some physical exercise into the process, there'd be no need to ever do anything else. Maybe if you powered your DAW off a treadmill...

bitflipper
The fact that it's a never-ending journey of exploration is what makes this just about the greatest hobby one can imagine.

 
Agreed. It also helps that pretty much every human being (that has even the slightest inkling of humanity in them) enjoys music of some form or another. Kind of like learning how to cook. Pretty much everyone eats and pretty much everyone enjoys music. Tastes vary but as long as what you made is somewhat edible chances are someone somehwere will dig it and with some luck someone will be made happy (or be satiated in some way) by your creation... even if it's only you. Even if it kind of sucks and you you are only "cooking" for yourself or your friends... hey... free meal. Roight? heheh
 

bitflipper 
The only downside, compared to some other pastimes, is that you spend way too many hours sitting on your arse. Now, if we could just figure out a way to work some physical exercise into the process, there'd be no need to ever do anything else. Maybe if you powered your DAW off a treadmill...

I'm in the position of being in an almost constant sitting position anyway (due to physical bullpizzle) so having the opportunity to create and explore with very little moving around, lugging gear, wrenching to route cabling, etc is another massive bonus to emus. I miss my live days and band practice and screwing around with analog stuff but really... it was a PITA in a lot of ways as well and unless I can pay a roadie to follow me around to do everything except wipe my pooper having a studio in a box is pretty much the next best thing. I also get to set things up exactly how I think they should be set up without debate (for better or worse).
 
However, to me what would be VERY beneficial as far as exercise is having a drum room again. It would be extroardinarily painful at first but I had been playing drums regularly before I went full cripple. I think it was the only thing keeping my body together and since I am a total music addict (and massive OCD case) it was something I could not only stick to but be compelled to do. Just plain fun really.
 
Drums in an apartment is pretty impractical though (unless the goal is to be evicted) and V-Drums are insanely expensive so whatevs. I should just start doing water therapy with the old folks or some crap. Booooring!
 
Cheers, bit.

Lastly, note that we are not including any UAD or TDM plugins.

Hiya, Baps. Didn't see that notice (I really only gave it all a quick scour) but the site did seem rather... erm... incomplete. Gotta wonder if those omissions are due to agressive laweryin'.
 
Still pretty impressive effort and it's helped me figure out some of the sim stuff. I try to keep lists of all this myself but I'm not the gear saaviest of doods so any model name matches helps.
 
To put it into perspective I had been trawling youtube vids of GR5 trying to pin down manus/models for the components with middling success at best. Just having the GR5 and TH2 lists was worth the price of entry. Figured other likeminded weirdos might find it useful.
 
Also if they see some extra traffic (I'm assuming this is a small project site) maybe they'll get inspired to keep going.
 
They seem to give Cakewalk credits too but I think there were some ommissions. I can't really tell. Might be worth someone to take a look and email them with details on anything they missed.
 
Meh.

Beepster
 
(due to physical bullpizzle)

Beep, you have the most colorful vocabulary of anyone on this forum! 

Heh... yeah I've been known to be a bit of a wordbender. I try not to do that too much here so I don't confuse people but the odd Beepsterism still slides through. Bullpizzle has been in the arsenal for a while. Not sure if I lifted it from somewhere or concocted it to be more family friendly/circumvent forum filters. IRL I have a pretty foul mouth.
 
The Beep in Beepster is partially meant as a censored expletive. Also a deviation of an old nickname... so more word bending. I did however find out it's a slang term for a rabble rouser that is almost admirable in his obnoxiousness. Pretty funny and kind of apt. lol

bitflipper
Wow, somebody put in a lot of time and trouble to compile that list!
 
I wonder, though, how many users really care if a plugin emulates some specific piece of hardware, given that most plugin users have never seen, used nor heard any of those classic processors.
 
For me, I'm actually put off by software emulations because I know it means reduced functionality. An LA2A or 1176 emulation definitely has its place, but I like having a wide range of compression ratios and attack times, look-ahead buffering, wet/dry mix, RMS detection, sidechaining, channel unlinking and other features that never existed on classic hardware compressors.

That's one reason I really like the MeldaProduction plugins. I'm not confronted by emulation jargon all the time or the limitation of the emulated product and I get a larger palette to play with. Of course emulations do have their place and I do use them eg when someone wants me to duplicate a sound from an LA2A then naturally I'll use an emulation of one.