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Old 07-02-2017, 02:24 AM   #1
KerBaz
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Default Best VSTi/plugins for a complete newbie

Hi there. I am completely new to Reaper and, indeed, multitrack recording in general, so I doubt this will be the first question I'll be asking.

I was wondering, since Reaper doesn't come with VSTs or plugins, what are the best paid or free virtual instruments (guitar, bass, drums, piano, horns, synth) and effects plugins you all would recommend?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Baz.
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Old 07-02-2017, 04:35 AM   #2
Ianuarius
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This is a bit broad question and very subjective in many respects. Like asking what are the best instruments in general. Naturally, there are going to be some that are just very bad and some that have extra features that you may or may not ever even use.

So, if you are merely looking for suggestions, then I'm not sure what input anyone here could offer that you can't find in thousands of "Best of" lists via a simple Google search.

Download a bunch of them. Free ones only take space on your hard drive and the commercial ones often provide a demo version. Just test, test, and test. When you have some more specific questions, we might have some more specific answers.

Here's a good place to start with the free ones:

https://ask.audio/articles/55-top-fr...-synth-plugins
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Old 07-02-2017, 05:05 AM   #3
Bri1
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Quote:
Download a bunch of them. Free ones only take space on your hard drive and the commercial ones often provide a demo version.
Welcome op.
Although a lot of people recommend this -I do not-this is potentially how a lot of invasive crap can enter a system -tbh.
No offense to vst makers,but there are some scoundrels amongst them.

Reaper has all you need itb-it's simply a matter of applying knowledge to use what's already available.
I would then recommend purchashing 1 decent sampler or reasynthesizing vst,which reaper does not offer currently-and learn that like the back of your own hand.The details come with experimentations.
Harmor is still a winner here-it does a lot for your bux.
GLHF.
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Old 07-02-2017, 05:17 AM   #4
slipstick
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Reaper is pretty good for effects (ReaDelay, ReVerb, ReaEQ, ReaComp etc) but the included instruments are not up to much.

Fortunately there are many good FREE instruments and effects. Some of the best are collected here - http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=52382 And they'd soon be off the list if they contained any "invasive crap".

Pretty much everything I use is in that list somewhere and so far I haven't felt the need to actually buy any soft synths at all.

Steve
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Old 07-03-2017, 01:51 AM   #5
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And for the price of one digital copy Computer Music, you gain access to their extensive "vault" of instruments, effects and utilities. Very good quality and definitely safe...
http://www.musicradar.com/computermusic#
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Old 07-03-2017, 03:19 AM   #6
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As mentioned Reaper comes with it's own Plugins called Rea, all are useful some are great.
What you may want to purchase or get free versions of is Vsti's (synths etc)
Starting off with Reaper FX and JS FX will give you a grounding in your initial learning phase.... until you learn perhaps how to listen well and act to that listening with sound altering FX.
Hope that assists don't get to feeling that Reaper FX are somehow inferior.

Grinder
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Old 07-05-2017, 08:47 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bri1 View Post
Welcome op.
Although a lot of people recommend this -I do not-this is potentially how a lot of invasive crap can enter a system -tbh.
No offense to vst makers,but there are some scoundrels amongst them.

Reaper has all you need itb-it's simply a matter of applying knowledge to use what's already available.
I would then recommend purchashing 1 decent sampler or reasynthesizing vst,which reaper does not offer currently-and learn that like the back of your own hand.The details come with experimentations.
Harmor is still a winner here-it does a lot for your bux.
GLHF.

Have to respectfully disagree with the dangers of free VSTIs as long as you get them from a site that vets them. I've downloaded probably every free plugin linked from http://www.kvraudio.com ( http://www.kvraudio.com/?t%5b%5d=free) and never had the slightest problem with malware. I agree that it's a bad idea to download free plugins from links found by Googling, but I think starting with free VSTis and ROMplers is a good way to find out what you desire in a paid plugin
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Old 07-05-2017, 09:43 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grinder View Post
As mentioned Reaper comes with it's own Plugins called Rea, all are useful some are great.
What you may want to purchase or get free versions of is Vsti's (synths etc)
Starting off with Reaper FX and JS FX will give you a grounding in your initial learning phase.... until you learn perhaps how to listen well and act to that listening with sound altering FX.
Hope that assists don't get to feeling that Reaper FX are somehow inferior.

Grinder
^^^^^ this!
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Old 07-05-2017, 10:21 AM   #9
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For a beginner, the reaper plugins are definitely the best, in so far as compressors and everything like that are concerned. They are good for non-beginners as well, but for a beginner they have all the features you'd want to learn about, and they often make you rely on your ear a lot.

For instruments, it depends on what you want. For Synths, I would start with the stupidest easiest ones to get started. Maybe not the reaper ones because they don't have any visuals to help you, but I'm sure there are some free ones that are way too basic to be used in real professional audio, exclussively at the very least, without sounding maybe a bit flat, or "simple".

But that will help you understand the features.
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Old 07-06-2017, 09:59 PM   #10
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http://bedroomproducersblog.com/free-vst-plugins/

http://www.schristiancollins.com/vi-orchestra.php

Great free strings (also free Taiko drums): One instrument includes legato/staccato/Pizz/tremolo and a truly beautiful crossfade between legato and tremolo. (Only for personal--not professional/paid--use)


http://simplesamsamples.com/virtual-...lo-violin.html

It says: Signor Paganini is the ultimate Solo Violin spiccato/staccato library. And I have to agree. And if you don't agree, I'm convinced you'll agree its the absolute best value at $14.95!

People pay hundreds of dollars/Euros for choral librarys...why not use freesound.org? Of course there are (or may be) limitations on commercial usage, but for a mock-up, it truly serves the purpose:

https://www.freesound.org/people/Tim...page=3#comment

Pipe Organ:

http://vi-control.net/community/thre...freebie.61994/

http://www.mediafire.com/file/6wu1b0...ject+Organ.zip


https://www.samplephonics.com/produc...own-hall-organ

Free orchestral soundfonts are always good...why not choose the best (IMHO):

Soundfont Player:
https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/

http://virtualplaying.com/virtual-playing-orchestra/

http://bigcatinstruments.blogspot.co...orchestra.html

Want that big (really big) piano sound? Want it for free? I do too!

https://cinesamples.com/product/jerry-s-pianos

http://www.ivyaudio.com/Piano-in-162

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=302813

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewto...bbb2b&start=30


Here's a list of free orchestral instruments:

http://bigcatlists.blogspot.com/

Clarinet w/vibrato!

http://vi-control.net/community/thre...freebie.28446/
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Old 07-07-2017, 01:30 AM   #11
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Thread on free:
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=52382
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