This article will discuss if you need third-party plugins for music production.
Third-party audio plugins can be added to a digital audio workstation (DAW) or other audio software to extend its capabilities. These plugins can be created by independent developers or companies other than the manufacturer of the DAW, and they typically offer additional features, effects, and processing capabilities.
Examples of third-party audio plugins include virtual instruments, effects plugins such as reverb, delay, and distortion, and audio processing tools such as compressors and equalizers. These plugins can enhance the sound of recorded audio, create new sounds and textures, and automate audio processing tasks.
Many DAWs support third-party plugins in various formats, such as VST, Audio Units, and AAX. Users can purchase or download these plugins from various sources, including developer websites, plugin marketplaces, and online stores.
Overall, third-party audio plugins are a popular way for musicians, producers, and audio engineers to expand the capabilities of their audio software and achieve their desired sound. Now let’s get to the main topic of discussion.
Do You Need Third-party Plugins?
While third-party plugins are not necessary for music production, they can greatly improve your workflow, horizon, and quality of music. Some producers prefer third-party plugins because they offer unique sounds, better quality, or more advanced features than the built-in plugins of their DAW.
However, third-party plugins can be expensive, and having a large collection of plugins to make great music is not always necessary. Many professional music producers have achieved success using only the built-in plugins of their DAW.
Using third-party plugins in music production can have both advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of their pros and cons that you can consider.
Pros of using third-party plugins
- Expanded Capabilities
Some third-party plugins offer more advanced synthesis capabilities, such as granular synthesis, wavetable synthesis, or frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. These techniques can be used to create complex and evolving sounds that are not easily achievable with stock synthesizers.
For example, Serum (given below) is a Wavetable and subtractive synthesizer by Xfer Records, which is capable of advanced drag-and-drop modulations, MACRO controls, and deep sound design capabilities that no other stock synth is capable of doing. In addition, it’s a versatile synthesizer and a one-stop-shop for electronic music synth sounds.
A synth like Serum is a great asset for any music producer/sound designer. Hence, third-party effects plugins can offer a range of unique and creative effects unavailable in stock plugins. Examples might include glitch effects, ring modulation, or vintage emulations of classic hardware effects processors.
In addition, many third-party plugins offer more precise and fine-tuned control over the processing of your audio signals. For example, a compressor plugin may offer advanced options for adjusting the attack and release times or the knee setting, allowing you to tailor the compressor to the specific needs of your mix.
- Unique Sounds
One of the advantages of using third-party plugins in music production is the ability to create unique sounds that are not easily replicated with stock plugins. For example, some third-party plugins are designed to create unique distortion and saturation effects that can add warmth, grit, and character to your sound.
Examples might include tape emulation plugins, tube saturation plugins, or specialized distortion plugins that can create everything from subtle harmonic distortion to extreme fuzz and crunch. Next, many third-party plugins offer advanced modulation capabilities that can be used to create unique and evolving sounds.
For example, the RC-20 Rectro Color plugin offers great-sounding, unique, and high-quality effects. It has great detuning, noise oscillator, distortion, and many other features. Overall, it’s a great multi-fx plugin.
Other examples might include LFO (low-frequency oscillator) plugins that can be used to modulate parameters such as pitch, filter cutoff, panning, or step sequencer plugins that can be used to create complex rhythmic patterns. One such plugin is the LFO Tool by Xfer Records.
Further, some third-party plugins offer advanced sampling and granular synthesis capabilities that can be used to create unique soundscapes and textures. These plugins can allow you to manipulate and chop up samples creatively or create complex soundscapes from a single sound source.
Lastly, third-party virtual instruments can offer a range of unique sounds that are not available in the stock instruments of your DAW. Examples might include virtual analog synthesizers, sample-based instruments, or specialized instruments that emulate the sounds of vintage hardware synthesizers or acoustic instruments.
For example, Arturia has a great collection of virtual instruments and their emulations. One such example of that is the DX7 plugin emulation by Arturia.
- Better Quality
Another advantage of using third-party plugins in music production is that they can often offer better sound quality than the built-in plugins of your DAW. Firstly, third-party plugins are often designed by companies and developers specializing in creating high-quality audio processing algorithms. These algorithms can be more advanced and better optimized for specific tasks than those used in stock plugins.
Next, many third-party plugins offer support for higher sampling rates than the built-in plugins of your DAW. This can result in a more accurate and detailed representation of your audio signal, particularly for high-frequency content. For example, Serum allows you to adjust the quality of your plugin to suit your workflow and CPU needs. At its highest level, it exhibits great quality.
Similarly, all FabFilter plugins have the option to oversample at 2x or 4x your session’s sample rate. The image given below shows Pro-C2 by FabFilter and its option to adjust its oversample feature.
Further, they are designed to emulate the sound of classic hardware processors, such as compressors, EQs, and reverbs. These emulations can be more accurate and faithful to the original hardware than the built-in plugins of your DAW. For example, the Waves CLA-76 compressor emulation plugin is well-known for its precise re-creation of the classic compressor and its high-quality sound.
Lastly, third-party plugins often offer more fine-tuned control over the processing of your audio signals than the built-in plugins of your DAW. This can allow you to tailor the plugin more precisely to the needs of your mix, resulting in a better overall sound.
- Specialized Functionality
Specialized functionality is another advantage of using third-party plugins in music production. Here are a few examples of specialized functionality that third-party plugins can offer. For example, some third-party plugins designed specifically for vocal processing can offer advanced features for tuning, de-essing, and enhancing the sound of vocal recordings.
For example, the FabFilter Pro-DS is great for de-essing vocals.
To use Pro-DS on vocals, insert the plugin on the vocal track in your DAW and adjust the threshold and range parameters to target the sibilant frequencies.
Use the listen mode to hear only the affected frequencies and adjust the processing accordingly. Next, you can also use the sidechain option to trigger the de-esser with a different audio source. Additionally, Pro-DS offers advanced features such as lookahead and multiband processing for precise control over the de-essing process.
Similarly, Waves Tune is a pitch correction plugin that can be used on vocals to correct pitch inaccuracies. To use Waves Tune on vocals, insert the plugin on the vocal track in your DAW and select the appropriate mode (such as chromatic or scale) depending on the type of correction needed.
Once the plugin is loaded, select the scale/key of the song, as shown in the following image.
Enable the tracking mode to detect the pitch of the vocal and use the tuning knob to adjust the pitch as desired. You can also use the vibrato knob to control the amount of vibrato in the vocal performance. Finally, its main parameters are the speed and note transition knobs which will define the extent of the plugin on vocals.
These plugins can also offer presets specifically designed for different vocal styles and genres. For example, the CLA Vocals by Waves is a plugin specialized for vocal processing, and it includes single-slider reverb, delay, compression, saturation, and stereo imaging effects, which save a lot of time and effort, especially while mixing under a deadline.
On the other hand, some third-party plugins are designed specifically for mixing and mastering tasks, offering specialized features such as stereo widening, EQ matching, and dynamic range processing. These plugins can help you achieve a more polished and professional-sounding final mix or master.
For example, the Ozone 9 plugin and bundle consist of many plugins like Match EQ, Maximizer, etc., which you can use for mixing and mastering effects.
Next, many third-party plugins offer specialized features for sound design, such as advanced modulation capabilities, sample manipulation tools, and granular synthesis options. These plugins can allow you to create unique and original sounds that are not easily achievable with stock plugins. The Serum FX is one such plugin, which is designed just for adding effects and unique characteristics to your sound.
Lastly, some third-party plugins, such as guitar amps or drum samplers, are designed for certain instruments. These plugins can offer advanced modeling and processing capabilities specifically tailored to the needs of that instrument, resulting in a more authentic and realistic sound.
Cons of using third-party plugins
- Cost
The cost of third-party plugins can vary widely depending on the type of plugin and the developer. Some plugins are free, while others cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, the cost of a plugin does not always indicate its quality or usefulness.
For example, the Omnisphere 2 by Spectrasonics is an incredible synthesizer, but is really heavy on the pocket, as it costs about USD 500. To give context, DAWs like FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Abelton cost less than half of it.
Free plugins can be a great way to try new sounds and processing techniques without spending money. Many developers offer free plugins as a way to promote their products or gain exposure in the market. However, free plugins may not always offer the same level of quality or support as paid plugins, and their functionality may be more limited.
- Compatibility Issues
When using third-party plugins in music production, compatibility issues can arise that can cause problems with your workflow. These issues can relate to the operating system, the DAW software, or the specific plugins. For example, a plugin may only be compatible with a certain operating system version, or it may not work correctly with certain DAW software. Additionally, plugins may have compatibility issues with other plugins or hardware devices, such as audio interfaces or MIDI controllers.
To avoid compatibility issues, it’s important to research and test any new plugins thoroughly before incorporating them into your workflow. This can include checking the system requirements, reading reviews and user feedback, and trying out the plugin in a test project before using it in full production. It’s also important to keep your software and hardware up-to-date, as updates may include fixes for compatibility issues with certain plugins.
For example, the following image shows the system requirements of the plugin Stepic. Since it doesn’t support AAX hosts, it’s not compatible with Pro Tools.
Similarly, it may be possible that your hardware doesn’t support the plugin.
When compatibility issues do arise, there are several steps you can take to address them. This may include updating your software or operating system, troubleshooting hardware connections, or contacting the plugin developer for support. Sometimes, switching to a different plugin or using an alternative method to achieve the desired result may be necessary.
- Learning Curve
One potential drawback of using third-party plugins in music production is the difficulty of using them effectively. Some plugins can have a steep learning curve, requiring significant time and effort to master. This can be particularly true for plugins with advanced or specialized functionality, such as granular synthesis or vocal processing.
Learning how to use a new plugin effectively can take time away from other aspects of music production, and it may be frustrating to struggle with a new tool when you’re trying to create or finish a project. Additionally, some plugins may require a deep understanding of music theory or audio engineering concepts to use effectively, which can be challenging for producers just starting.
However, despite the potential difficulties of learning new plugins, many resources are available to help producers overcome these challenges. Plugin developers often provide documentation, video tutorials, and support forums to help users get the most out of their plugins. Additionally, many online communities and resources are dedicated to music production, where producers can share knowledge and learn from each other.
- Performance Issues
Performance issues can be a concern when using third-party plugins in music production. Plugins can require significant amounts of processing power, leading to CPU usage and latency issues. This can result in audio dropouts, lag, or other problems that can disrupt the creative process and negatively impact the quality of the final product.
Performance issues can be particularly problematic for producers working on large projects with many tracks and plugins or those using plugins with high CPU demands, such as complex synthesizers or convolution reverbs. Additionally, older or less powerful computers may struggle to handle multiple plugins or complex processing chains.
To mitigate performance issues when using third-party plugins, there are several strategies that producers can use. One approach is to optimize your DAW and system settings for performance, such as increasing buffer size or disabling unused plugins. Another strategy is to use plugins more sparingly or to “freeze” tracks that use heavy processing to reduce the overall load on the system. Additionally, upgrading to a more powerful computer or audio interface can help improve performance and reduce latency.
Do professionals use stock plugins?
Many professional music producers and engineers use stock plugins bundled with their Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). These plugins often include essential tools such as equalizers, compressors, reverbs, and delays that are versatile and effective.
Some professionals prefer stock plugins because they are designed specifically to work seamlessly with their DAWs and are optimized for performance. While third-party plugins can offer expanded capabilities and unique sounds, stock plugins can often get the job done just as effectively and sometimes even better.
One major advantage of using stock plugins is their integration with the DAW. Since stock plugins are designed by the same company that created the DAW, they are often optimized for performance and stability and can be more reliable than third-party plugins.
Additionally, stock plugins are often more lightweight and efficient, which can help reduce CPU usage and improve overall system performance. Another advantage of using stock plugins is their simplicity and ease of use, as they often come with straightforward interfaces that are easy to navigate and understand.
Finally, since stock plugins are included with the DAW, they are typically available at no additional cost, which can significantly benefit producers on a tight budget. That being said, many professionals also use third-party plugins, particularly for specialized processing or to achieve a specific sound.
However, deciding to use third-party versus stock plugins is ultimately a matter of personal preference and workflow. Both options can be effective for creating high-quality music.
Conclusion
In conclusion, third-party audio plugins can enhance the capabilities of a digital audio workstation or other audio software and offer expanded synthesis, effects, and processing capabilities. Third-party plugins can create unique sounds, offer better sound quality, and provide specialized functionality.
They can improve workflow, horizon, and quality of music. However, they can also be expensive. While third-party plugins are not necessary for music production, they can offer advantages to producers looking to achieve specific sounds or manipulate audio uniquely.
Shaurya Bhatia, is an Indian Music Producer, Composer, Rapper & Performer, who goes by the stage name MC SNUB, and is also 1/2 of the Indian pop music duo, called “babyface”. A certified Audio Engineer & Music Producer, and a practicing musician & rapper for more than 6 years, Shaurya has worked on projects of various genres and has also been a teaching faculty at Spin Gurus DJ Academy.