Stock plugins are oftentimes underrated and overlooked by professionals. But there is good reason to consider using them – they offer exceptional compatibility with your system, deliver excellent performance for minimal resource usage, and in some cases can even stand toe-to-toe against their more premium counterparts.
Backwards Compatibility
When taking on professional projects, it is essential to plan ahead for potential future needs. Digital audio production may come with the risk of losing backward compatibility or archival access over time. To preserve a session in its fullest form through even decades later, stock plugins are an ideal choice as they maintain consistent core code despite OS and DAW updates. This allows users to open older sessions without worrying about incompatibility issues — giving reassurance that you can work confidently now while being prepared for what lies ahead down the line!
Working with a project can be difficult when you don’t have the right plugins needed to complete it. Unavailable effects or missing audio components may alter the sound of an entire session, leaving professionals frustrated and faced with having to buy new plugins.
Efficiency
Stock plugins can be an incredibly efficient solution for audio professionals, particularly in situations where large post-mixes feature hundreds of EQs and compressors. This makes them a great resource to save time and increase productivity while still delivering quality sound.
Mixers need assurance of smooth performance and can rely on the combination of DSP and native power to ensure no hiccups in the process.
As many third-party developers strive to optimize their code, some, unfortunately, do not – leading to an intense strain on the system. This situation is all too familiar in forums, where users are left searching for ways of balancing excessive CPU load due to inefficient plugins.
Pro Tools, the DAW of choice for post houses and many larger studios, offers mixers versatility on their plugins. Not only do they offer a wide variety of both stock and third-party options to choose from; but if resources run low these plugins can easily switch between native versions without skipping a beat – making them an ideal pick by those in sound production.
Despite significant investments, audio professionals are now stuck with outdated equipment that has been rendered obsolete due to a lack of software support.
They Sound Great
Many professionals are turning to stock plugins for their production mixes as they often possess a great sound quality. Recent audio evaluations even showed that it was hard for trained ears to differentiate between premium and stock options! Moreover, some third-party alternatives also demand extra processing power such as the UAD system which require cards or interfaces in order work appropriately.
Despite their affordability, the plugins included with popular DAWs are no slouches—their sound quality has powered many hit records, films and TV shows over time. Don’t write off those stock options too quickly – you may find your perfect go-to plugin among them!
So, Stick With Stock Only?
Stock plugins are unable to keep up with the power and precision of their premium counterparts. For instance, specialized audio processing needs cannot be met by standard offerings; brands like iZotope’s RX or ACON Digital’s solutions come in here to save the day – as well as being able to do clever phase trickery with ones such Sound Radix Auto Align Post. There is a large range of dedicated plugins on offer for those seeking specific functionalities, presenting an alternative option besides purchasing all-in one bundles.
For those looking to add depth and emotion to their audio, reverb is a must. Unfortunately, stock plugins can leave much to be desired in terms of quality – high-end brands like LiquidSonics or Valhalla provide superior algorithms that are designed with precision and finesse. Leveraging the benefits offered by these specialized reverbs could make all the difference for your project!
In Conclusion
When it comes to common mixing and mastering tasks, you may be surprised at how powerful the stock plugins that come with your DAW can be. Before rushing out and buying something new, take advantage of what’s already available – after all there is not much risk involved in using them. In some cases though, a third party solution might still be necessary, but often times existing tools are more than capable of getting the job done well!
So why not have a go? Are there any particular stock plugins that you love working with?
