Spend big bucks on the sound card and get the best you can. Have at least one nice hardware compressor just in case you have a very dynamic source you need to tame.Ĥ. Then you can collect ones that color the sound like tube models and Neve copies.ģ. Created by enigmatic mastermind, Peter Reardon, this five. Few pieces of audio hardware are as revered as the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor. Designed by Brainworx, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in is a thorough emulation of the high-end hardware. So you can also use it as a high quality direct box. UAD Plugins Without Hardware: Brainworx Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor.

Preamps, at least one very clean fast one like a Grace, Millinia, Avalon (solid state), etc. Microphones, selection is key get a bunch of different types and at least one very good one.Ģ. You can always choose another plugin during the mix but you only get one shot at getting the best quality you can on the way in. Microphones, preamps, and maybe even a compressor or two. Hardware that is only used in the audio chain before it goes to the soundcard input is where to spend the money. Now you know why they used so many tracks.

Pro studios do this all the time and even did back in the tape days. So if you do use a hardware reverb you should record the output to a stereo track before the mix and get the hardware out of the loop. I think you should start and end the mix in the box so you can repeat it even if you no longer have the hardware. Will it sound better then your software plugins ? Depends on the one you like best, others might not. After all when you buy a hardware digital reverb it's just software that comes with the computer, it's still just software. Now I am in the middle of upgrading my studio, I dont have alot of space so I was wondering are plug-ins just as good as hardware? Or should I just get the hardware and screw the plugins? And if plug-ins are the answer what are some sugguestions?Įffects that would be done on the mix should be software.

Uad plugins vs hardware