I think Cubase has given us some incredible plugins, and the functions as of C12 and 13 are simply amazing.
That said, I don’t think I could deliver a product by just using what Cubase offers.
I finished my plugin journey some time ago (pending anything incredible that might come out, but I am plugin-ed out) and am happy to say I was very selective (with the odd mistake, easily done).
But…there are a few 3rd party plugins I simply can’t work without.
That said, with love, care, attention, and talent, I am sure that an extremely respectable, professionally sounding result is achievable with just what Cubase has offer.
Of course, this is a very personal taste. However, as I mentioned, it is the fact that the frequencies are fixed. For example, if I want to add a little bottom to the Kick, I will solicit the frequencies around 50 to 100 hz. With an EQ like API-550, you have in the LF the fixed frequencies of 30-40-50-100-200-300-400 hz as selections with a volume increment or decrement in 2dB, so the choice is simple.
The fixed frequencies vary from one EQ to another, so if one does not do the job, another will surely do, otherwise Cubase EQs are very efficient too, but we are often tempted to select the perfect frequency…
It is not necessarily for the Vintage sound, but rather the ease with which we can manipulate the frequency bands and the pleasure I have in using them.
Cubase doesn’t have a good waveshaper and without it it’s impossible to make good mixes.
A 3rd party waveshaper/saturator/clipper is a must-have for Cubase users.
Also, Soothe2 is the industry standard now.
For metal music - Cubase doesn’t have good guitar amps and cabinets. It has half-baked convolution reverb which UI is so bad that it is impossible to use it.
For electronic music - it is missing a lot. Especially something like a modular environment (Patcher in FL Studio, Max for Life in Ableton, Grid in Birwig, plugdata, Mux Modular)
My production raised to a new level when I got Multipass from Kilohears.
Hmm…,
Interesting reply. Thanks. I think ive been hearing about Soothe, but not sure because I thought my friend said “Smoothe.” He definitely said “…with an ‘e’ on the end!
For some, the love of the tool or even love of the DAW is the hobby. The objective of a finished track doesn’t exist. And IMO there is nothing wrong with having thousands of plugs to compare, contrast, shoot-out, and argue in forums until the next newer better more transparent plug gets released next month.
Again, they aren’t creating art.
However for many I suspect marketing plays a huge role over the past 10 years. Marketing generally proclaims or creates for the innocent, the sonic problems they might have not known even existed. Then consumer confirms the problem on their end. Then of course Marketing offers the no-brainer $29 solution. Often, it’s something that can be achieved with a combination of tools already owned, but this one will be easier and faster.
Cubase may very well need other stuff depending on your objectives and genre. But IMO the “other stuff” isn’t nearly as necessary as it was 20 years ago when many stock DAW plugs just simply sucked.
I think that you have made some very intelligent points here. Also, with the advent of AI, many “quick fix” tools will probably be soon redundant as a “virtual George Martin,” possibly called “George,” may we’ll be the plug-in of choice.
Thanks for your insights!
Whenever there is a choice between a 3rd party plugin and a Cubase stock plugin there are advantages for the stock plugin:
right-clicking paramters allows to reveal the automation lane in the project
if you work with surround or immersive sound, the stock plugins are made for this
an instrument like Groove Agent can automatically let you create a drum map; likewise certain libraries for Halion (Sonic) let you create Expression Maps with one mouse click
Steinberg’s instruments respond to Note Expression, Hermode Tuning, and MicroTuning (from the MIDI plugin)
I was thinking the same thing…a good spectral, resonant type plugin utilizing what they already have with their spectral synths and Spectralayers would be tight.
I was going to originally say, I don’t think going full modular is really needed. You can plugin something like Reaktor or VCV Rack or others. BUT if they took the foundation of Halion and expanded that with a full modular, easy to use UI, that would also be tight. Halion kind of needs a better UI anyway.
I use three shapers and they all do a great job.
I use them for different “scenarios”
But hey! that’s me!
The Attack/Release are different on all I find. Also the frenquencies.
Cubase Multiband Envelope Shaper
Soothe2
Softtube Transient Designer
A guaranteed result if all three failed,
Surgical Edits! I’ll grab my good old Scissors, use the fades and down & up the drapes! (gains)
