June 26, 2025
Beatmakers, Producers, and Recording Engineers | "Say No To Excessive Plugins" - Episode 99
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These days it seems like there are more #plugins available than ever before, but how many of them do we really need? Do we risk overdoing it?
I've been on the verge of less being more for a few years now. My DAW of choice is Cakewalk Sonar, and I can't help but wonder whether there's a point at which we should stop. After all, too many plugins can slow our DAW right down, so it's not as if there are no downsides to this.
But for now, I'm sticking with "less is more," at least for myself. In the end, it's more than likely a personal preference.
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https://www.notjustmusicpodcast.com
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480
what's going on it's your boy duan barino from
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:08.380
not just music podcast it's been a while but
00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:16.899
let's get to it all right what's going on it's
00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:22.199
your boy again duan barino quick question how
00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:24.379
many plugins do you have on your computer right
00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:39.829
now go check i'll wait Now, how many of those
00:00:39.829 --> 00:00:46.130
plugins do you actually use? This is my entire
00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:49.390
point. Along the years, I've learned since about
00:00:49.390 --> 00:00:56.929
2003, 2004, that the science of music can never
00:00:56.929 --> 00:01:02.109
really ever change. There may be some small nuances
00:01:02.109 --> 00:01:07.140
that changes, but considerably. The basic plugins
00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:11.519
are really the only thing you need. Which are
00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:19.120
what? Compressor. Equalizer. Multiband compressor.
00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:28.319
Maybe a de -esser. Maybe some limiting. So really
00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.799
five plugins that you'll probably really ever
00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:36.060
solidly use. Now, don't get me wrong. There are
00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.920
a lot of other things that we could use and consider
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:45.640
great plugins that enhance or make things quicker
00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:51.159
or however they may be. But again, how many plugins
00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:56.560
do you actually use? So as your plugin journey
00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.560
continues, just remember, a lot of you really
00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.379
fail to see. how easily you can get sucked in
00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:09.719
to buying plugins that you really don't genuinely
00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:13.319
need. Sometimes it's a trick of the mind to say
00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:16.719
that, hey, I'm going to buy this compressor because
00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.780
it's nice and pretty. But honestly, does this
00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:22.699
nice and pretty plugin actually do anything at
00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:28.280
all? Does it? So question yourself sometimes
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.460
before you buy another plugin. Look into it.
00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:37.139
Make sure that it actually makes sense to say,
00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:40.319
hey, am I going to buy this plugin for actual
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.960
use that makes my music better, that increases
00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.699
or does something in the nature that no other
00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:51.879
plugin has done? Or does it just do the basic
00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:54.000
same thing of what we've already been getting
00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:00.270
right out of the box? So, Dwan Bruno, not just
00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:04.509
music podcast. We're just talking music and audio.
00:03:05.030 --> 00:03:06.409
All right. Peace.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480
what's going on it's your boy duan barino from
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:08.380
not just music podcast it's been a while but
00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:16.899
let's get to it all right what's going on it's
00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:22.199
your boy again duan barino quick question how
00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:24.379
many plugins do you have on your computer right
00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:39.829
now go check i'll wait Now, how many of those
00:00:39.829 --> 00:00:46.130
plugins do you actually use? This is my entire
00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:49.390
point. Along the years, I've learned since about
00:00:49.390 --> 00:00:56.929
2003, 2004, that the science of music can never
00:00:56.929 --> 00:01:02.109
really ever change. There may be some small nuances
00:01:02.109 --> 00:01:07.140
that changes, but considerably. The basic plugins
00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:11.519
are really the only thing you need. Which are
00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:19.120
what? Compressor. Equalizer. Multiband compressor.
00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:28.319
Maybe a de -esser. Maybe some limiting. So really
00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.799
five plugins that you'll probably really ever
00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:36.060
solidly use. Now, don't get me wrong. There are
00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.920
a lot of other things that we could use and consider
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:45.640
great plugins that enhance or make things quicker
00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:51.159
or however they may be. But again, how many plugins
00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:56.560
do you actually use? So as your plugin journey
00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.560
continues, just remember, a lot of you really
00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.379
fail to see. how easily you can get sucked in
00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:09.719
to buying plugins that you really don't genuinely
00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:13.319
need. Sometimes it's a trick of the mind to say
00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:16.719
that, hey, I'm going to buy this compressor because
00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.780
it's nice and pretty. But honestly, does this
00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:22.699
nice and pretty plugin actually do anything at
00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:28.280
all? Does it? So question yourself sometimes
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.460
before you buy another plugin. Look into it.
00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:37.139
Make sure that it actually makes sense to say,
00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:40.319
hey, am I going to buy this plugin for actual
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.960
use that makes my music better, that increases
00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.699
or does something in the nature that no other
00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:51.879
plugin has done? Or does it just do the basic
00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:54.000
same thing of what we've already been getting
00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:00.270
right out of the box? So, Dwan Bruno, not just
00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:04.509
music podcast. We're just talking music and audio.
00:03:05.030 --> 00:03:06.409
All right. Peace.
