New user--Best way to buy plugs, and which to get?

[kittyboy]

Hi everybody, and thanks for the great site.

In spite of the fact that UAD-1 is becoming obsolete it still seems like the best solution for me right now, so I'm going to go ahead.

I'm running Tracktion on a G5 dual 2.0 using a Metric Halo 2882 as an interface. I'm guessing that the most plugs I'll ever need at once is about 24. I'd like to run 88.2/24 but could live with 44.1/24.

How many cards would you suggest, and what's the most cost-effective way to get the cards and all the plugs I'll need? I'm figuring I'll want all the best comps and eqs along with reverb, nigel and ???

What plugs do you recommend, and more importantly how do I most intelligently buy them?

Thanks,
David

 

[billybk1]

Well, if you wanted the best, end of year, bang for the buck, I would get two cards, which you can get for about $1300 @ http://www.jrrshop.com:

PCIe Express Pak: $445 or so
PCIe Expert Pak $855 or so

Which would get you the Pultec EQ, 1176LE, RealVerb Pro, Nigel & Channel Strip (CS-1) plugins automatically..

You would then qualify for about $950 in plugin vouchers.

Then while the current holiday plugin discounts are going on I would cash them in. Even though the vouchers don't expire you have until December 31st to take advantage of the plugin discounts.


If it was me starting all over again, based on current discounts and needs, I would get:

1176LN $111.75
LA-2A $111.75
EMT Plate 140 $119.20
Fairchild 670 $104.30
Precision Mastering Limiter $169.15
Neve 1073 $224.10
Cambridge EQ $89.00

$929.25 ($263.75 savings from normal prices)


This would still leave you a $20.75 voucher balance that you can put toward other plugins in the future. So with all the plugin vouchers and holiday discounts you would essentially get $1213.75 worth of additional (bonus) plugins, for your initial $1300 investment. But, you need to move fast!

Happy holidays,

 

[kittyboy]

Thanks for the great reply, Billy. Anybody else have any suggestions?