Voxengo Voxformer
I'm using this on Linux (kxStudio 16.04 64bit) via the WinVST adaptor. Finally a way to run VSTs in a very stable way. Well, not all VSTs, but all from Voxengo that I use so far.
The Voxformer turned out to be my bread & butter workhorse. On pretty much all vocals I mix, I use the Voxformer compressor and de-esser. Since I do mostly live recordings, I got plenty of not-so-optimal SM58 and alike mics, which may also benefit from the Presence function in Voxformer.
I also use it on bass and drums sometimes, depending on my needs. Overall, I must say now that I found a way to run Voxengo plugins on Linux reliably, the Voxformer is the best vocal channel you can get for the price.
I've been eyeing Voxformer for a while and finally decided to buy it. After using it on two mixes, I believe it is THE ideal channel strip for a digital setup.
Here's why:
1. The EQ comes with 5 bands so you have less decision fatigue, and you can bandpass preview the spectrum using ctrl/cmd+click to really determine where you want to add/subtract energy. There is also no cramping in the higher frequencies when using peaking filters.
2. The compressor crossover function allows for easy management of the dynamics of certain instruments' low end and high end/midrange, separately.
3. The presence function can really make the vocals sit just right, either by increasing the high end or (and I didn't know this was possible) by making it warmer.
4. The preview/delta solo available for the de-esser (and the other functions have it too).
5. It has a gate. It works.
6. Voxengo presets in general work out of the box, and if not they're a really good starting point.
7. The saturation sounds amazing.
8. Super low CPU usage! Most of the popular channel strips (BX consoles, Waves SSL EV2, etc) aren't nearly as CPU efficient.
9. THE fastest workflow. Faster than individual EQs and compressors on tracks, and faster than "analog modeled" channel strips, even without using presets.
Would heartily recommend this. I was surprised at being able to reach -8 LUFS in the mixing stage without any limiting, with the widest, clearest sound I've been able to get so far. I attribute that purely to the workflow and ease of use of Voxformer.
I just bought this plugin, and have to say it's absolutely brilliant!
For years now, I have been using some plugins that came with my DAW, which I had become accustomed to. I have always struggled to get my mixes to sound sufficiently loud without making them sound squashed.
As soon as I tried Elephant for the first time, I could hear the difference that this plugin could make to my work. Elephant is truly amazing - it is incredibly transparent, and the metering and graphing options come in very handy too.
Thanks so much for such a great product! I'd recommend Voxengo Elephant to anyone who needs super high quality buss compression.