If you are after a one stop free (and commercial) plugin page, go visit www.kvraudio.com
By far the most comprehensive plugin site on the net. And no, while I'm a member there, I'm not affiliated with them in any way - you'll just find like any free plugin ever released there, including a search option (free/commercial, format, type, etc...).
George Yohng does a very convincing C1, which he calls the W1, found on his site http://yohng.com
Which brings me to another point:
I do documentation, publicity (lightly, hence I haven't mentioned it yet), and other general work for a freeware development consortium (we hesitate to use the word "company" since we're awaiting our first commercial release, which may or may not ever come-- we're having fun with the freeware thing!) called BetabugsAudio. Don't let the name scare you off, our plug-ins are tested and found to be pretty stable. For some reason, FLStudio causes headaches for our devs from time to time, but the existing lineup of plug-ins is tested and stable.
Now, the reason for the sequitur (re: George Yohng) is that his W1 uses host GUI. For those who prefer a GUI, we provided one for a special BBA release of the W1. Same code engine, just a different interface. In all honesty, I prefer working without the GUI because I like the numerical feedback better than the knobs. But it's there for people to download and use anyhow.
Sign up for the forum (Bughouse) and you can submit ideas to the "Idea Monastery". Some user ideas have already been made into plug-ins (ie. Moneo), SVF2.
Greg
BobYordan Recording Org Pro Audio Forums
Joined: Oct 15, 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Sweden a part of EUtopia
An awesome set of "flat-looking" (no fake shiny LEDs or Photoshopped wood panelling and screws here, thankfully!!) go-to bread-and-butter plug-ins, along with the only acceptable freeware Autotune-like plug-in, a great audio-controlled "synth" (it's a VST not VSTi, but it produces synth sounds based on guitar input), a great-sounding compressor that also serves to help learn how compression works... and a bunch of other top-notch stuff!
It's designed as a creative effect, not a 'practical engineering' tool. Might as well ask, "What practical purpose can an engineer use a Whammy pedal for?" But, here's a scenario:
You have a stereo drum track, but you find that for whatever reason, you captured the left side a bit more than the right. Now, you don't want to just 'turn it down', though of course you can do that with Moneo, as well. Instead, you pan the left a bit more towards the right, using your ears to decide when the sound is more balanced.
Sometimes we haven't a clue what people will use these things for. The idea was simply: instead of just panning in stereo (which is actually just an attenuation of either the left or right sides, not an actual pan), you treat both halves of the stereo stream as mono files, giving them individual panning and level controls.
It's awesome. Add in the included filter x-y pad and some automation (or slider control!), and it's fantastic for manipulating stereo-field synth patches, too.
Cool. My feeling is that it's easier to just split the mix and pan the left track, especially considering how extremely rarely one might do that. No sense in adding a .dll to your plug-in folder for this, if need be just assign a macro. I think betabugs is good but Moneo seems extraneous.
The all time classic talkbox effect on Steely Dan's Haitian Divorce was added long after the guitar part was recorded, so one could say that a practical use for an engineer to use a whammy pedal might be in a similar context, i.e. the guitarist is gone but you need a whammy effect. That's something you'd need that pedal for whereas Moneo doesn't extend the functionality of your rig.
Anyhow thanks for the answer. Nice work on betabugs. It would be nice to see you guys put out one really useful original plug-in instead of many simple ones IMO. I like your GUIs.
Funnily enough, I think Moneo is the most interesting, useful, and creative plug-in we have going. You don't see the creative potential in it, which is fine, but it's also very "telling" about your production style. It was actually created as a response to a user request, so there have got to be other people out there who would also find it interesting, useful, and creative, in addition to me and the other Betabugs.
The whole point of the BBA project is for people who have regular day-jobs to still have the opportunity to pursue their plug-in creating hobby. Not too many of those are going to code the next Amplitube or Nitro. If you don't find SVF2, Moneo, or FloFi, or GetaBlitch Jr. to be original or creative, I don't know what to tell you.
As for more 'traditional' effects, there's nothing out there that touches SpinBug for bringing something new to the 'rotary speaker' effect world. There are plenty that fake rotary effects and plenty that do a fair enough impression of stompbox-based or Leslie-based rotary effects, but none that have the unique shimmer of SpinBug, which is due to its manipulation of audio phase relations and interpolation algorithms more than a straight-up "fluctuate the levels and pan the signal".
MonstaChorus is the most lush Chorus you can get in the freeware realm, and although BugPass has a simple purpose, it has one of the steepest cut-offs, making it a truly useful band-pass or notch filter. It's amazing to me that nobody has done Band-pass with the same kind of GUI that we used, but there you have it, we're the only one I'm aware of.
I could go on, but the fact remains: it's freeware, written out of love and out of response to user requests. You can take it or leave it. I certainly can't "sell" it to you!
"One useful plug-in" is kind of odd to say because everyone will have their own needs. If someone's looking for a plug-in that does what Moneo does and Moneo's the only one they find, it's infinitely useful. If somebody wants a rotary speaker that adds something special to their rhythm part, and only SpinBug is giving them the sound that makes them go, "YES, that's the one!!!" then you can't put a value on how useful that is.
And if we did a hugely-complicated plug-in, it would ruin the entire raison d'etre of BetabugsAudio. Didn't you read the "what...?" page?
I'm very creative. Moneo seems not to be. Feel free to prove me wrong by posting some productions you've made with it which you feel are impressive on a professional level. I'd love to hear all the hype in action.
As for the self promotion, no offense but betabugs is a handful of very limited, overpackaged plugs right now. A wonderful start but not a foundation as a provider of meaningful production tools yet. FWIW I never said anything about "hugely-complicated", is mentioned originality and usefulness. In your own words, you obviously don't see the potential in it, which is fine, but it's also very "telling" about your development style.
This thing about, "We can't build that, it exceeds our philosophy" is a recipe for mediocrity IMO. And I work for a development team, that's how I make a living so I'm no stranger to the challenges. Anyhow cheers Greg, thanks for the info.
IIRs Recording Org Pro Audio Forums
Joined: Oct 10, 2005
Posts: 644
Location: Sheffield, UK
You missed the point of it all.. the plug-in and the 'company', and I'm not about to get into a pissing contest with you about it. I know lots of people who thank us for the tools and love the sound and potential of most of the plug-ins. If you don't count yourself in those ranks, you don't have to download them. I suspect you've exercised that option, and are passing judgement without actually having tried them. Cool enough-- I don't download every tool that comes across my path, either.
One of our permanent coders is from fxPansion, another guest coder is from Apulsoft, and some of the non-professional coders are not only creative but highly talented, so it's not a matter of "ability." Rather, it's a matter of fun.
Did I mention that it's all freeware, offered at our own expense? Take it or leave it.
If we developed something with any level of complication or which tapped into a completely unheard of territory in the plug-in game, we would (and have) internally discuss the possibility of commercial release. Until then, our developers do it because they find it fun. Thanks for your encouragement and support, and may all of your recordings be shining personal successes.
I believe I said positive things about betabugs. But it is what it is, be realistic about your claims or post examples to back them up is all I'm saying. Hype is just hype.
Frankly, I don't understand what you're on about. And if you knew me, you'd know I'm the last person to spout off needless hype. You want examples, download the (did I mention free?) plug-ins and try for yourself. I have never made any sound files for demo purposes, quite frankly most of my own songs use very few plug-ins at all (ours or otherwise), and I haven't the inclination to create a bunch of clips to assuage someone who's seemingly (and confusingly I might add) trying to "call me out". I'm a straightforward guy-- I know the plug-ins because I've beta-tested them and messed around with them a bunch. Then I write the documents. Then I don't use them very much.
If you want examples, I'm afraid you're going to get off your keister and make some for yourself. Or don't, and continue to just dismiss them.
Again, you missed the point-- I AM very realistic. BetabugsAudio makes very simple plug-ins that look "cartoonish" (Mully refers to it specifically as a "cartoon" GUI style) and we've been fortunate enough to have some kick-butt developers contribute to our little project. You're welcome to contribute, too. C++ or Delphi would be best.
I don't know what your deal is... I have nothing to sell here.
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