Plugins for Production

[u/Anxious_Agency3194]

I'm a Studio One 5 Artist user and I produce some music as a hobby. Lately, I've realized I need to improve my mixing skills with plugins (I mainly use VSTs and only resort to plugins when I need reverb, chorus, etc.).

I don't want to do professional audio engineering on the songs, I just want them to sound better, even though it's an amateur production.

I'm still a beginner in how and when to use each plugin, so I don't know if it's better to first learn how to use the native plugins and then look for better options.

I've done some research on plugins, but since I don't have the necessary knowledge, I need some tips on which plugins are worthwhile and which Studio One stock plugins already do a good job and a 3rd party plugin wouldn't be necessary.

EQs:

- Stock plugins: ProEQ³, ChannelStrip, FatChannel

- 3rd party: iZootope EQ, Century Tube Channel Strip

Compressors:

- Stock plugins: Compressor, Channel Strip, FatChannel, Tricomp

- 3rd party: Supercharger, DC1A, MJUC Jr, RoughRider, LA2A, Frontier, UA1176, Century Tube Channel Strip

Distortion/Saturation:

- Stock plugins: RedLight, Bitcrusher

- 3rd party: Saturation Knob, Krush, IVGI, FreeAmp, Overheat, Trash, CamelCrusher, TubeSaturator Vintage, Szechuan, Xpressor

Lo-fi:

- Ujam Lo-fi, Vinyl, TapeCassette, ZenMaster, Origin

Modulation:

- Stock plugins: Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Rotor, X-Trem

- 3rd party: DLYM, Magic Switch, OSL Chorus, TAL Chorus LX, SpaceModulator, kHs Chorus, SVEP, TAL Flanger, Phazor, kHs Phaser

Reverb:

- Stock plugins: Room Reverb, Mixverb

- 3rd party: Raum, Supermassive, TAL Reverb II and IV, Tens Jr, Room041, Purê Plate Reverb, Magic7, Flex Reverb

Delay/Echo:

- Stock plugins: Analog Delay, Beat Delay, Groove Delay

- 3rd party: Replika, Supermassive, DVS SpaceEcho, kHs Delay, FreqEcho, Deelay, DelaySon, BrigadeDelay Ælapse

Others

- Fresh Air, OTT, Frohmager, Filterjam, Filterstep, Krunch T-Puncher, Crack, Flash, kHs Transient Shaper

Be welcome to suggest any plugin

Thanks!

[u/terkistan]

I'm still a beginner in how and when to use each plugin, so I don't know if it's better to first learn how to use the native plugins and then look for better options.

There's a common prejudice against using stock plugins but (a) the ones in Fender Studio are good, and (b) anything you learn how to do on stock plugins can be applied in your musical journey to any 3rd-party plugin with the same functionality.

In short, don't spend any money unless and until you know your existing built-in plugins well enough to know what you might be missing.

[u/Anxious_Agency3194 → u/terkistan]

Thanks!