Should I eliminate this plugin ?

[Seth Pack]

Sup guys,

So I've been wondering, I know it doesn't really matter a whole bunch but I guess I'm trying my best to have very few plugins/hardware to get really good at.

When I first started out I ran a plugin brothel, but for the last few years I've gotten rid of everything I barely used or needed and the Rcomp specifically is killing me.
My go to Comps are Simple, The LA trinity and the Built in comp with the SSL strip Which doesn't get used too often. My LA76 goes on everything on planet earth, my 3-a is practically all I use for acoustics, and the 2A owns vocals mainly softer ones. Simple I like it. However, the Rcomp does this breathing thing On the room bus of my drums I can't replicate anywhere else I'm not sure what It is but it's dark, swooshy, Nothing else sounds right but I'ts killing me to keep that sucker there for "That" purpose when i feel like I might be able to live without it. I don't know, should I can it?

PS. I know it sounds a bit dumb and hey maybe I'm anal compulsive but I do get this comforting feeling looking at my plugin browser and seeing only a few top notch plugins I actually use daily and I don't think (I hope) I'm the only one.

 

[AzzaDutt]

I would say keep it. I totally get narrowing down plugins, but if you have a valid use for it (which I'd say you do), I'd keep it.

 

[mickrich]

My solution to your problem is the same as I tell my music tech students.
Buy a few good plugins that you will use all the time.
Waves ssl and CLA compressors, Klanghelm SDRR and Valhalla vintage verb will get you great mixes.

A lot of my students tend to have 100s of cracked plugins and, not only does it get confusing, they place no value on them.
Once you buy a couple of good plugins and learn to use them there is great satisfaction.
There are plenty of great deals popping up all the time for plugins.

 

[RiF]

I would say keep it. I totally get narrowing down plugins, but if you have a valid use for it (which I'd say you do), I'd keep it.

Exactly. If you have an explainable reason to keep it (and you do), keep it. If not, get rid of it.

My solution to your problem is the same as I tell my music tech students.
Buy a few good plugins that you will use all the time.
Waves ssl and CLA compressors, Klanghelm SDRR and Valhalla vintage verb will get you great mixes.

+1 for CLA comps, SSL bundle and Valhalla stuff (including Übermod).

 

[ArthurD]

Keep it! You use it. I only have few plugins now, but I use all of them.
Basic setup for me: Metric Halo Channel Strip, CLA comps, Valhalla Room (prefer over vintage verb).


The plugins I use for mixing: Slate VTM, VCC and VBC, Metric Halo, Cla Comps, Equality, Echoboy, Microshift, Decapitator, Bass rider, Vocal Rider, Q10, Fab Filter Pro MB and Pro L, Ozone, Valhalla.

I still have 12 to 15 extra plugins that I really don't use, including RenEQ and Rcomp. With both setups above I can do any mixing.

 

[Seth Pack]

Thanks seriously ! In don't know how some people can have a ton of plugins, maybe I'm just not that good yet, but I'm glad I'm not he only one.

 

[RiF]

In don't know how some people can have a ton of plugins,

Senseless impulse buys

 

[Studdy]

You can't have too many plugins in my opinion. Even though i do only have a few go to plugins. Sure organize your plugin lists for simplicity and to stay on track. But the beauty of plugins is so many flavors and tools without having to have analog pieces. You dont hear too many people saying they wish they had less analog toys. If you never use the plugin hide it if you prefer. Also running every track through the same eq/compressor chain can "blend" everything which can be good. But in a lot of cases just changing the compressor/eq/plugin of any type can make a track stand alone and give it its own space. One mistake i made early on was not giving stock plugins enough credit.