Producer Thoughts: Top 3 Plugins For Q3 2023

Here are 3 plugins I’m using quite a bit in Q3 of 2023:

1. Valves by Audio Thing

A powerful little vintage tube overdrive that I got for free with my Loopcloud subscription. Using it instead of EQ for individual instruments to help give them a little more point or edge. Also find myself using it on my busses after reverbs. Helps bring forward the mid-range detail making the reverb more present.

Haven’t really used the cabinet or filter section much yet so I want to explore those some more. Definitely worth having if you don’t have a drive/saturation you reach for all the time.

2. Taupe by Acustica Audio

What an emulation. This thing is definitely a ‘betterizer’. I’m using Taupe primarily on the drum bus and master bus at the moment. 

On the drum bus for acoustic and electronic drums. Just using the tape component of the plugin. I push the input gain up and generally flick between preset A0 and A1 to see how the kick and snare sits. Just does a great job at evening out the kit and helping it to sound more together.

On the master bus I’m liking the preset called Mix 1. It’s a good starting point and then you tweak the EQ and compressor to taste. Usually only just kissing the compressor as I have another SSL emulation before it.

3. Sonible Smart: EQ 3

AI plugins fascinate me. This EQ plugin sounds amazing as an EQ but the AI functionality is very helpful when working quickly on a mix. Favourite use cases:

• Vocals: Pop it first in the chain on a vocal. Choose a vocal profile. Give the AI a good sample of the vocal and let it find a curve. Tweak the strength and add some dynamic to the curve and pop in a high pass filter for the mud. 8 time out of 10 it gets me in the ball park.
• Mix Bus: Over an entire mix. Set to the universal profile. Play the AI a full spectrum section of the track. Whilst I use MCompare to compare my mixes and masters with other reference songs I’m finding that Smart:EQ 3 can be used sort of like a spirit level for frequencies. I can immediately see potential problem areas in the mix by what it ads and cuts. I can then go into the mix and fix the issue. The bass might be too loud or need some tub cut out. The high hats might need a -3dB shelf to balance things in the top end. Very handy and has pointed out some mix issues before I get to mastering many times in the past. 

So there they are. Let me know if you’ve used any of the above and what you think.

The takeaway: AI is becoming an interesting tool in audio engineering and music production. Saturation is often a good option instead of EQ. Taupe is a bit of a secret weapon and worth your time to check out.