whether it sounds like the real thing or not, i think it's still one of the best digital buss compressors around...
Waves API plugin... Is it good?
- Thread starter muckypup1
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whether it sounds like the real thing or not, i think it's still one of the best digital buss compressors around...
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
That's cool, you're entitled to think so if it works for you. I'm just putting it out there that it didn't even touch the real thing on the test. Honestly it was so far off it may as well have been another compressor altogether.
With the EQs, I'm not sure which model is closer to the real thing, but the Nebula one most certainly did sound better in my own direct A/B comparisons. And once again, I take issue with that particular model of EQ because 2dB is way too broad for me. My EQ tweaks are usually done in the realms of 0.2dB, so that model is effectively useless. Fortunately AlexB sampled the mastering version with Nebula, which has increments of 0.5dB. Much more usable.
With the EQs, I'm not sure which model is closer to the real thing, but the Nebula one most certainly did sound better in my own direct A/B comparisons. And once again, I take issue with that particular model of EQ because 2dB is way too broad for me. My EQ tweaks are usually done in the realms of 0.2dB, so that model is effectively useless. Fortunately AlexB sampled the mastering version with Nebula, which has increments of 0.5dB. Much more usable.
I diagree Ermz, they are some of the best sounding plugs out there. I have not tried nebula or the ssl series, but the API plugs sound really good. I use the 2500 on my master bus and it gels everything really well, couldn't live without it now. The eq's are great as well, even though you cannot do those surgical eqs, I use these on busses and other eq's as track inserts. I must have a look at nebula, you seem to be really listening to all the hype over at gear slutz, buying the softube, ssl, cla, nebula etc. You should really try the API plugs for yourself first, before saying they are the most useless set in the waves plugins.
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
I *have* tried them. In fact I demo'd every single one of those you listed prior to buying. I don't blindly listen to hype - on the contrary I'm sharing my own direct observations here. Take it or leave it.
fair enough, each to their own. With the nebula, which ones are you using and is there a trial version out there? Really interested in them considering you have treied the API and still like nebulas API emulations better. I live in AUS too, I think forrester savell is from melbourne too, one of my fav mixes.
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
Yeah Forrester works out of The Base over in South Melbourne.
I'm not sure if you can demo AlexB's stuff with free versions of Nebula. It's all still very clunky and experimental, but the kicker is that the sound just owns everything else. It's the closest we have to outboard at the moment, and the CPU/Memory usage is enormous. I wouldn't recommend using them as a matter of standard procedure. I mostly just reserve one or two instances for transparent high-end boosts when mastering. I mostly use Nebula for the SSL console saturation that Alex released. Absolutely astounding what that does... and my i7 is always running at 80%+ usage, so I'm back to struggling pretty hard when mixing.
I'm not sure if you can demo AlexB's stuff with free versions of Nebula. It's all still very clunky and experimental, but the kicker is that the sound just owns everything else. It's the closest we have to outboard at the moment, and the CPU/Memory usage is enormous. I wouldn't recommend using them as a matter of standard procedure. I mostly just reserve one or two instances for transparent high-end boosts when mastering. I mostly use Nebula for the SSL console saturation that Alex released. Absolutely astounding what that does... and my i7 is always running at 80%+ usage, so I'm back to struggling pretty hard when mixing.
TheWinterSnow
Den Mørke Natt
you misunderstood. I demo the software by getting a hold of cracked plugins, if you like the plugin, you buy it, if you don't like it, delete the plugin and stop using it. Thats the only way to get a demo of it for most people and that is what AIR does (they even say if you like the software, actually go out and buy it).
See what I am thinking is the usefulness between the plugins, most will say that the API plugins are generally more useful than the SSL plugins, regardless of how accurate they are to the real thing.
P-E
Munchkin
I dunno. Not that flamable to me. It's not that unethical at all IMHO and it guarantees money's not wasted.
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
You can get a demo directly from Waves. There is no ethical reason to be taking back channels. Not saying I'm Mr Ethics, but I don't try to justify my actions as noble if they aren't.
TheWinterSnow
Den Mørke Natt
thats what most members will admit, that they aren't legitimate while they test out what they like and when they get the money they buy it. What most of the members will flame at is regarding the kids in their bedrooms who will use cracked plugins, charge bands to record (undercutting all the local studios) then coming over to this forum to ask how to use the plugins, then bragging that they have them. And typically they have no intention to buy it as they want everything they can get for free without any work.
Now there is no harm testing something out to see if its worth buying or not, especially if you know how to use it with the intention of buying and NOT making any profit on the cracked plugins. Its the same as downloading albums or streaming them from myspace etc, you listen to it and if you like it, you support the artist/company and buy the product.
BLUElightCory
Member
It's flame-able because most of us would have some difficulty believing that someone would pay hundreds of dollars to purchase software they already had up-and-running. We've already seen what piracy has done to the music industry so it's hard to accept that it's ever ethical or harmless, especially when we're talking about the cost of most professional software these days.
You want to check out the software? That's what the demo is for. If you need more than 10/14/30 days, just email the manufacturer and they will almost ALWAYS grant you an additional demo license.
It's just frustrating to me that people think it's okay to rip off companies that put countless man-hours and resources into creating good software for us to use. I don't care how big the company is, it's still negatively affecting the industry. Just because most of us aren't personally affected by software piracy doesn't make it OK, because it's taking food off of SOMEONE'S table, no matter how much people try to pretend it isn't.
TheWinterSnow
Den Mørke Natt
get off your noble self-righteous high horse and realize that there are some people who generally want to do the right thing but don't have the money to buy the software on a whim. And does it really matter if you got the demo from the manufacturer or a cracked version, you are still using the plugin for free. And believe it or not there are some people who will do the right thing and actually buy the software, you have to remember not everybody is a snot nosed teenage punk.
the 2500 is pretty cool.
the EQ's have a cool vibe and sound good, but are not very versatile. SSL bundle gets used way more here but it's nice having the API plugs too.
the EQ's have a cool vibe and sound good, but are not very versatile. SSL bundle gets used way more here but it's nice having the API plugs too.
Lasse Lammert
HCAF Blitzkrieg
I also disagree, I'm loving the Plugs fpr Vocals. actually the API EQ is the only EQ I'm using for vox (if any at all)
...which is also illegal, and depending who you ask, highly unethical
way to prove your point there duder
and i'm not trying to get into an argument over the validity of using cracked plugs...i really don't give a shit...but i WILL tell you that it's pretty well documented that their use, and even the discussion of it, is frowned upon on this forum
Lasse Lammert
HCAF Blitzkrieg
egan.
daylightdies.com
I never understood the logic in the argument. Does that mean it's cool to d/l movies as long as I don't charge admission? Noone ever paid me to write, does that mean a crack of Word is somehow less stolen than if I worked for a news paper?
I 100% agree with Ermz on this one. Do whatever you want but own your actions and don't build some moral Rube Goldberg machine to justify yourself. I don't want to get into a big thing...just saying.
Lasse Lammert
HCAF Blitzkrieg
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