Alternatives to Waves Plugins

[Blueflame]

Been systematically phasing out all my Waves Plugins, and only got a few left:

Smack Attack
Torque
Submarine
PuigChild
Abbey Road RS124
S1 Stereo Imager

The PuigChild I can swap out for another Fairchild. The RS124 is tricker because it does do a fee things that seem more or less unique.

The others must have alternatives though - any suggestions?

[alexis]

Would recommend a review of Melda Production's exhaustive catalog, seems like they have a plugin for everything!

[Wonks]

Acustica’s Cream 2 channel strip includes an RS124 compressor but may lack some of the features of the Waves version.

/https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/CREAM

Currently reduced price and there seems to be a trial version available.

[Bob Bickerton]

I really like the Universal Audio Fairchild emulation - use it all the time - and is now has a native version, so you don't need UA hardware to run it (https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/comp ... CiXRcYFn2x).

It's currently on special US$29 instead of US$299 (no brainer).

As to the S1, I use the SSL Fusion Stereo Image Plugin (https://store.solidstatelogic.com/plug- ... e-plug-in-) - expensive, but they pop up on special on a regular basis.

Bob

[R_A]

Been systematically phasing out all my Waves Plugins, and only got a few left:

S1 Stereo Imager

Mathew Lane Stereo Delta

[Martin Walker]

James Perrett and I both use Reaper’s own substitute for the Waves S1 Imager.

[James Perrett]

James Perrett and I both use Reaper’s own substitute for the Waves S1 Imager.

Yes - the JS Stereo Field Manipulator does most of the things that S1 does. If you don't use Reaper then you can download ReaPlugs which allows you to use many of Reaper's effects as VSTs in other hosts.

[awjoe]

I really like the Universal Audio Fairchild emulation - use it all the time - and is now has a native version, so you don't need UA hardware to run it (https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/comp ... CiXRcYFn2x).

It's currently on special US$29 instead of US$299 (no brainer).
Bob

Thanks very much, Bob.

[Blueflame]

James Perrett and I both use Reaper’s own substitute for the Waves S1 Imager.

Thanks. I do use Reaper and wasn’t even cognisant of this stock plugin!

[IAA]

wasn’t even cognisant of this stock plugin!

Not to get into a “this is better than that debate”, but when I reviewed my plug ins during my last Mac upgrade I was very impressed by the Logic Pro stock compressors, reverbs and eq. In fact I’d say to my ears they were as good as some from respected third parties that I subsequently bought. So this check seems useful I’d say before any purchase.

Sometimes because it’s a stock plugin I used to ascribe it a somehow lower status than some whizz bang thing discounted by 90%. A learning point for me too.

(I know I kinda have got into the comparison thing, but not as the main point)

Ian

[James Perrett]

James Perrett and I both use Reaper’s own substitute for the Waves S1 Imager.

Thanks. I do use Reaper and wasn’t even cognisant of this stock plugin!

It is well worth spending some time in the JS folder. There's a great Stillwell Aural Exciter and a similar Bass Enhancer in there as well as General Dynamics which is a very versatile dynamics controller. You can also create some fairly advanced processing by stringing together some of the basics in a novel way.

If you can't find what you are looking for then try the Reaper Stash

https://stash.reaper.fm/

where there are all kinds of user generated effects, themes and other goodies.

[Martin Walker]

It is well worth spending some time in the JS folder. There's a great Stillwell Aural Exciter and a similar Bass Enhancer in there as well as General Dynamics which is a very versatile dynamics controller. You can also create some fairly advanced processing by stringing together some of the basics in a novel way.

If you can't find what you are looking for then try the Reaper Stash

https://stash.reaper.fm/

where there are all kinds of user generated effects, themes and other goodies.

I'd already created my own basic presets for the Stereo Imager, Aural exciter and Bass Enhancer (but still largely forgotten about the latter two since then).

However, I hadn't explore the Reaper Resources before - what a revelation, and what generosity from other reaper users!

If you know even a little about coding, clicking on the Edit button inside any of these fx can also be a revelation, when you realise how few lines it takes to perfectly reproduce some well known paid effects

[Zukan]

Reaper is so cool! However, maybe Blue doesn't use it so...

I use IK Multimedia, Acustica Audio, Tokyo Dawn Labs, FabFilter and PSP as my main 'go tos'. However, I love supoorting smaller companies and buy depending on functionality as opposed to brand.

It's a great time to load up on plugins as everyone and their pets are scripting.

[jimjazzdad]

And then there is Airwindows. I think Chris is brilliant but I wish I had more time to play with/learn his stuff. There's a lot of it.

[Martin Walker]

And then there is Airwindows. I think Chris is brilliant but I wish I had more time to play with/learn his stuff. There's a lot of it.

Chris Johnson has developed and released hundreds of Airwindows plugins over the years, so the choices can be a bit overwhelming at first, especially as you don't get any instructions, and the GUIs are basic in the extreme.

I've whittled things down to 60 carefully chosen items in my Airwindows folder, but if you're starting out, it's a lot easier to instead use his Consolidated multi-effect plugin that collects all 400 effects together into a single 8MB downloadable file that runs on Windows, Mac or Linux.

Consolidated also includes integral onscreen documentation, and some suggested parameter settings to achieve specific results, and to help you wade through everything you can narrow down the options by switching from 'All plugins' to much more restricted choices including Basic, Latest, or Recommended.

https://github.com/baconpaul/airwin2rac ... /DAWPlugin

Well worth exploring!

Martin

[James Perrett]

Reaper is so cool! However, maybe Blue doesn't use it so...

He does...

Thanks. I do use Reaper and wasn’t even cognisant of this stock plugin!

Hence my further suggestions.

I've also started to explore the Tukan JS plug-ins which cover quite a few bases and may appeal to those who like their plug-ins to look like the gear that they are emulating.

https://www.realinks.net/links/tukan-jsfx-pack/

will take you to an introductory page.

[Zukan]

Teaches me to read all responses thoroughly...sigh.

Ignore my advice. Good looking out James.