I love free plug-ins as much as you do. Probably even more. And I've certainly downloaded more than my fair share of them. But like anything done in excess, loading up on free plug-ins can be unhealthy and counter productive if you don't have some purpose and discipline to go with it. Here are a few things you should consider before you grab the next freebie that comes your way. Talk to your doctor about Plug-in Acquisition Syndrome Free plug-ins make it easy to just grab a new plug-in whenever you want. Sure, I know I don't need another compressor, but this one might add the perfect character to this vocal track I'm working on. And why not, right? It's free! But if you're getting free plug-ins that do something you can already do in your DAW, or that you don't even need, you may just be creating a bad habit of obtaining new plug-ins. Let's call it Plug-in Acquisition Syndrome, or PAS. And trust me, eventually "why not, it's free" turns into "why not, it's on sale". Ask your doctor if once-a-day Plugitor is right for you. Too many plug-ins can mess up your workflow For most of us DIYers, one or two of each kind of plug-in is enough. In fact, having fewer choices is often an advantage because you can really get to know how each of them work and learn to make the most of them. When you have too many plug-ins - a problem greatly enhanced by the millions of free plug-ins out there today - you often get bogged down by the long process of deciding which one to use. Then you try several options on a track and start losing your objectivity spending an hour on something that sounds worse now than when you started. So if you're recovering from PAS like me and have acquired several plug-ins over the years, try this: if your DAW will let you, create a separate folder inside your plug-in manager called "favorites" or something like that. Then pick one favorite of each type of plug-in and mix a song using only the ones you put in that folder. You may find you're more focused on the mix and less caught up in picking plug-ins. And it will probably sound better! Practice your skills before you look for new tools
If you're just starting out, the difference between the stock plug-ins in your DAW and the third-party, "better" versions isn't significant. But free third-party plug-ins can be very tempting for the budget-minded beginner who thinks new plug-ins are the key to sounding more professional. That line of thinking is a slippery slope down the path to PAS. So if you're not happy with the way your mixes sound, don't reach for a new plug-in yet. Practice the skills needed to make your mixes sound better first. Once you've honed your skills, new plug-ins might be able to make good mixes sound better, but they can never make bad mixes sound good. Don't try to fill a skill gap with a new plug-in. If in doubt, ask your doctor if you're healthy enough for free plug-ins. Free plug-ins can be such a tease A lot of free plug-ins are really good. For example, Valhalla Freq Echo is amazing, a ton of fun and free! But when I picked it up I wasn't looking for a delay plug-in, I was [hanging my head in shame and avoiding eye contact] just looking for free plug-ins. So what happened? Well, now I'm looking at Valhalla VintageVerb. To recap: I wasn't looking for a delay plug-in but now I'm about to pay for a reverb I wasn't looking for either? I got sucked in! Hold on while I pop another Plugitor. So what do I recommend? The whole point of this article is that most of us with modern DAWs probably already have all the plug-ins we need to make great sounding recordings. So when we look for new plug-ins, free or paid, we should be deliberate about it. Look for the ones that do something you actually need and can't do already. Or wait until you've developed your skills to the point that it's actually the plug-ins that will make your mixes better - and not a skill gap. If you're struggling - like maybe you clicked that Valhalla link above and now you want to buy VintageVerb - I won't judge you. But just remember the symptoms of PAS and ask your doctor if Plugitor is right for you. |
Jeff ThomasThis is the story of an average Joe learning to record like a pro. Archives
July 2017
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