sup sp-forums.

my copy of reason broke when i updated my OS :'(
BUT i still have my trusty 202!

so right now i just got that and ableton

i cant really catch onto abletons interface for making full songs so im thinking about just using it for EQing and compression and a place to store my 202 loops/ ideas.

can anybody recommend some good free VSTs for compression, EQ, filters, or tape distortion/compression?

thanks.

hey man...i highly recommend checking out https://splice.com/plugins.....its a good place for free trustworthy plugins as well as a place to share project files w/ folks and collaborate.And if i were you id learn ableton man...theres like a million different ways to approach making shit in there.Ive even discover ways to mimic the SP workflow by using the set buttons just like mark when creating loops off the grid.The benefit being all the control a daw affords.
Hope this helps

Composing off the grid in Ableton?!! I'm listening!
Got time to explain more?

Heres how i compose an off the grid beat in ableton
1)Make a drum loop in session view either by playing it in via midi or drag and drop but do it off the grid.Then up at the top of the screen where it lists what you want the clip to quantize to i.e.. 1 bar,2,3 etc...select the drop down and click none.This enables you to to use the set end button in the clip without quantizing just like the sp mark button.

2)load a sample into a separate drums rack and make your chops by arranging the start position where you thing it sounds good.Duplicate that and find a new start point.

3)once you have your chops copy the clip form the drums rack and delete the data.This will allow you to keep the clip length right so it loops properly.Then play your chops in live while listening to your drums.

4)Once you have enough clips just drag them to the arrange view and here is where you want to keep the grid so it loops right and also allows you to properly duplicate parts.

5)any extra editing can be done in arrange view like dealing parts taking out some stuff adding stuff etc.

Also keep in mind that you can use additional drum racks for whatever extra shit you want to put in but want to keep the effects and eq separate.

Edit:just thing of the drum rack as an mpc/sp only on your screen in a daw instead of hardware.Also you can bounce any of this to sp for extra grit.

All I use is the Kjaerhus Audio Classic Series (here: http://www.acoustica.com/plugins/vst-directx.htm), Buzzroom GranComp3 (here: http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=467) and any old looper effect. For a DJ Looper effect, I dunno what vst is best. I use an internal stutter effect on my DAW, but I remember SUPERTRIGGA being pretty good just for the fact that it has both 'repeat' (like DJ Looper) and 'shuffle' which is more like on the fly beat chopping. It's here: http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=6

Hopefully that has at least one thing in there you like. Synth wise, I only use Synth1, MDA DX10, Drumatic (I use 3, it's freeware, 4 is 35 bucks, fug that) and lastly Tapeworm, for all my mellotron needs. They are here:

http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/
http://mda.smartelectronix.com/synths.htm
http://www.e-phonic.com/plugins/drumatic3.php
http://www.tweakbench.com/tapeworm


That should put you square into 2002 technology and sound....

Great, thanks for the thorough explanation! Got to try this.

Computers are cool and cheap and all. But nothing beats analog gear. Plug and play.
Why not run your stuff through a graphic equalizer and then resample. And then run your mixes through a REAL compressor (like a BBE MaxCom
Compressor/Limiter/Gate with Built-In BBE Sonic Maximizer).

jb ferox, as a free tape hiss emulator

Would be ideal but got no $$$
Maybe one day. That comp sounds tight

Whe it cones to computer stuff, it almost makes more sense to go with a $30 plugin rather than buy $800 in gear.

I just like Using the actual gear More and sounds better using analog equipment.


Ritchrd, Wheyou could always dub some tapes with your sounds and sell them to get some funds for more gear.

Would def purchase a cassette

The only reason I know about that compressor is because I'm making a tape and already started thinking about mastering.

It's on Sweetwater for $199.

A good software alternative is T-racks mastering suite. I last used it back in early 2000, but it's come a long way and got some great tools that emulate expensive gear.

Ritchrd did u ever get your copy of reason to work btw?Propellerhead used to have a forum but i think they took it down.Ableton did the same thing...sucks.

All the more reason to go hardware, all the computer problems, viruses, crashes.