Reaper standard VSTs

[JD01]

OK, there's millions of them that are just included with Reaper and it would take years to try them all out properly so the only way you tend to find them and use them is by recommendations from people. They also tend to look a bit shit and be difficult to use which is why its hard to find ones that you like.

If you shared what ones you used and what you like about them that would probably be really helpful.

1. ReaVerb - I find this is a great way of hosting impulses. Its actually one of the few that is simple to use.
2. ReaEQ - this is an amazing interface where you can add as many bands and shelves as you like and cut/boost as much as you like really easily
3. ReaComp - I actually think this is a bit shit, not 'cos its not fucntional, but just 'cos its so difficult and intuitive to use - I only use it for the NY Drum Bus preset. There's also a preset called "Spanky Bass" which I like.
4. ReaDelay - again, it looks a bit crap but it has a pre-set called Vocal Thickener which can sound good and is easy to tweak once you have the preset as a starting point.
5. JS: Event Horizon - This is a mastering limiter. It just seems to be really easy to use rather than the complex other ones available in the standard Reaper set. I think Armistice drew my attention to this one.
6. ReaTune - Reaper's AutoTune, this is effective and easy to use. When you're quite a shit singer (like me) its nice to do a couple of takes to get the timing right and get the tuning half decent, tune the fuck out of it so you sound like Cher, then sing along with the tuned version.

Are there any others you use with regularity that are easy to miss in amongst Reaper's massive pile of standard VSTs?

[Greg_L]

just 'cos its so difficult and intuitive to use

Lol. How can something be difficult and intuitive at the same time?

I think you might need to get a better understanding what the settings and parameters do on effects/processing devices. For example, a compressor is a compressor. Sure, they can all look different, but the settings and functions are pretty much always the same. Threshold is threshold. Attack is attack. Release is release. Ratio is ratio. ReaComp is actually a pretty useful compressor....if you know how to use it. It's not a one-knob jobbie. You can tweak all sorts of shit on it.

I don't use it simply because I don't like the GUI of it, but I could if I wanted to because I understand how to set a compressor.

ReaEQ is the cat's balls. My favorite EQ plug. It's probably the only native Reaper plug I use all the time.

[JD01]

Lol. I meant un intuitive

[Armistice]

I use ReaEQ all the time. ReaComp is my go-to compressor - I prefer sliders to knobs on stuff like this anyway, so I don't mind the interface. ReaTune mainly to check pitch on things - I don't find the pitch correction to be all that good, but as it's all I have, I'll use it if I have to - almost exclusively this is on multi-harmonies rather than anything more forward in the mix.

There's another thing in there... can't remember what it's called... bubba pointed it out as useful for getting a good crack on snares - some type of exciter I think - a JS series plug.

ReaVerb for impulses.

That's about it for the stock ones. I don't actually use the JS Event Horizon, I have the full version I got somewhere else.

I don't use a shitload of plugs generally. I've had trouble finding a decent guitar pedal type delay plug, so I got a proper stereo guitar delay pedal for Christmas and I'll be using that, I expect. Increasingly I'm "going to tape" with things like reverbs and delays on guitars, because they are a feature of the sound I'm creating, rather than something I want to tweak later.

[JD01]

That's about it for the stock ones. I don't actually use the JS Event Horizon, I have the full version I got somewhere else.

It was you that pointed it out to me though, wasn't it? Or am I just making shit up?

[Greg_L]

I don't use a shitload of plugs generally. I've had trouble finding a decent guitar pedal type delay plug, so I got a proper stereo guitar delay pedal for Christmas and I'll be using that, I expect. Increasingly I'm "going to tape" with things like reverbs and delays on guitars, because they are a feature of the sound I'm creating, rather than something I want to tweak later.

I don't know if they still exist, but I got this delay plug a loooong time ago called Kjaerhus Classic Delay. I like it. Still use it.

[Armistice]

That's about it for the stock ones. I don't actually use the JS Event Horizon, I have the full version I got somewhere else.

It was you that pointed it out to me though, wasn't it? Or am I just making shit up?

Yeah, it was... I discovered it was Reaper stock when I was looking through the endless list for interesting things to play with. I should use it - save me being nagged by the real version for payment and having guilt moments each time I fire it up.

[Armistice]

I don't use a shitload of plugs generally. I've had trouble finding a decent guitar pedal type delay plug, so I got a proper stereo guitar delay pedal for Christmas and I'll be using that, I expect. Increasingly I'm "going to tape" with things like reverbs and delays on guitars, because they are a feature of the sound I'm creating, rather than something I want to tweak later.

I don't know if they still exist, but I got this delay plug a loooong time ago called Kjaerhus Classic Delay. I like it. Still use it.

Cool - I shall hunt for it. I was using this TAL-Delay thing but I don't get on with it.

[Greg_L]

Cool - I shall hunt for it. I was using this TAL-Delay thing but I don't get on with it.

If you can't find it, let me know and I'll give you the .dll for it. It doesn't require any install as far as I remember.

[Armistice]

Cool - I shall hunt for it. I was using this TAL-Delay thing but I don't get on with it.

If you can't find it, let me know and I'll give you the .dll for it. It doesn't require any install as far as I remember.

Will do. Thanks.

[rayc]

http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=1874
I've had it for years but I only use it occasionally as I don't play lead so have little use for delay unless I'm going psychaedelic again.
It's only 32 not 64 though.

[Greg_L]

http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=1874
I've had it for years but I only use it occasionally as I don't play lead so have little use for delay unless I'm going psychaedelic again.
It's only 32 not 64 though.

I actually only use it for vocals. very rarely on guitar.

[ocnor]

ReaEq is about the only stock vst that I use. I also use the Kjaerhus Classic Delay on vocals and sometimes guitars.

[rammer24]

I don't use it simply because I don't like the GUI of it, but I could if I wanted to because I understand how to set a compressor.

That's pretty much why I don't use any of the stock plugs in REAPER. I'm sure they're all fine. I just can't get into using them.

I use a variety of plugs; Mostly Waves, and a shit ton of free ones.

[Greg_L]

Yeah Reaper plugs are often like that SIR thing - looks like they were designed in 1992 and never changed. They do work great, they just look terrible.

[JD01]

and a shit ton of free ones.

We should have a sticky of links to free VSTs

[rammer24]

Not a bad idea.

Here are a few pages that I check out regularly:

http://www.vstwarehouse.com/


http://www.vst4free.com/


https://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/downloads/

[ocnor]

Not a bad idea.

Here are a few pages that I check out regularly:

http://www.vstwarehouse.com/


http://www.vst4free.com/


https://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/downloads/

That's pretty much the places that I've gotten most of my plugins from.

[Bubba]

ReaEQ is the only native plugin that I use on absolutely every track I do. I do like the JS exciter on snare.

The Kjaerhus suite of plugins is very good, despite being 32-bit. Their delay is excellent and their chorus is still the best reproduction of an analogue chorus that I've ever heard.

[rayc]

Ah, on vocals - well, that's my learning for Friday done.