<SNIP>

I want us to gather a list of what we have found to replace (or not to be replaced by) the Slate Digital Plugins, without "hurting" our music.

Keep it simple, and for information only (and no bashing please).

My list....... so far:

FG-N = DDMF 6144 (emulation of the Neve Portico 5033).
FG-116 = CLA 1176, Softube FET.
FG-S = SSL Duende Channel Strip, Waves SSL CS.
VCC SSL = SSL Duende Channel Strip + SSL Bus Comp, Waves SSL CS.
VCC Neve = Sonimus Britson, DDMF The Strip (same eq as the 6144).
FG-Red = Focusrite Red 3.
FG-Grey = SSL Bus Comp.
FG-MU = Klanghelm MJUC, Waves Puigchild.

Has Slate Digital become the new "alternate to" company. It was Waves and then UAD... I'm sure there have been others. They don't even have that many plugs ins yet so it should be easy to find alternatives. Now, finding alternatives that sound as good and are as easy on CPU is another story. That is where the Slate stuff seems to shine. There are plenty of alternatives as you have already listed although some may not be as friendly on CPU. If you could somehow measure usable instances of said replacements that would be interesting. I really like Klanghelm SDRR for the subtle desk mode but I don't use it on every channel like VCC before due to CPU usage. So I just run it on the busses. I think that is what makes it tough, you may have to compromise due to stuff like that.

For SSL add the N.I solid Mix series. They are better than I first thought and do the job fine (replaced Duende here for which I was a long time user but have moved away from iLok)
Same of the 76/la2a emus - the softube N.I comps are tops!

<SNIP - off topic, let's keep it to direct answers to the question>

my 2c, i think vbc is relatively easy to substitute for. vtm though - i lost use of it for several months, bought several hi-end competitor plugs, but nothing came close enough.

id be surprised if most people who own several slate plugs thought they were all easily replaceble, i think many will have more than one irreplaceble favourite.

I bet this thread was created by slate to make his plugins look better.

No it wasn't. It was started by one who like Slate plugins, but HATE the rack.

This is/was supposed to feed me and others with me with suggestions and alternatives to their plugns.

I agree, nothing beats the VTM for analog tape emulations. But that one is no problem.

keep friendly...... and keep'em coming

Metric Halo Channel Strip
MJUC (everybody's new fave!)
Ozone 6 - yes, cpu hungry, but very versatile

Literally every stock plugin you own can replace a slate device.

I know it's a different animal but Nebula has a lot programs that can cover most of the Slate plugins. I use the VCC and VBC Grey all the time, they're convenient (don't mind the rack or iLok, it just sits there) and do a great job. I could replace the VBC with Waves API2500 and Nebula Reel to Reel Studer 30ips is phenomenal to replace the VTM.

Have you tried U-he Satin?
IMO it's on par with VTM.

I like the VCC and wonder what plugin can replace it. ??????

I agree with you on all three. I would also add in the Eventide Channel Strip.

Try AlexB's programs for nebula.

You can get SSL, API, and Neve consoles.

In terms of sound, I could mix with nothing but slate plugins. So when I need analog simulations its almost always the slate plugs I end up using.

But if its not simulation vs simulation then, plugins I sometimes use instead of my slate plugs (but because of different flavor)

VBC - Ozone/DMG Compassion/Vertigo VCS2
VTM - If I need tape nothing can touch this, but for a similar make big and thick sort of effect, Sonnox Inflator is my go to. If I had only one choice, Inflator would be it.
VMR - Ozone (I still prefer VMR for most tasks, and ozone only at the very last part of the chain)
VMR Compressors - DMG Compassion
VMR EQs - DMG Equilibrium (very different, but if I had to choose this would be DMG)
VMR Revival - Awesome tool, but I also prefer Inflator,decapitator, or other saturation tools for this task.
VCC - Decapitator (Different enough though, but decapitator can do a bit of the same, but not as transparently)


The beauty of the Slate plugs is I find them to be the most coherent collection of plugins. Like owning them all, you are pretty good to go, and I find them much better than anything waves makes. I literally don't use my 1176 (and they are them cheap copies) for mixing anymore.

Basically anything by Softube. Great EQs and compressors, and Tsar-1 is a killer reverb.

As an important bonus, all their stuff is now iLok-free. They listened to their customers.

Then there's also Voxengo... Fantastic EQs and more.

Of course there's lots of alternatives to Slate.
I have v1 of vmr - the eqs are really nice - I use them a lot especially as the cpu is so low, and really rate them, though I also use IK versions when cpu allows.
Re. compressors - tend to favour the IK blackface over the vmr version, and now of course Klanghelms latest.
Am using toneboosters reelbus3 over vtm (which I own) - I think the v3 update was a great improvement - sknote roundtone also gets use too.
Demoed VBC and passed, as again toneboosters buscompressor is very good, and a lot cheaper. Also pretty happy with my IK multimedia comps - especially the classic compressor.
Have the free VCC module, but use it rarely.

FG-N: Sonimus Burnley, Waves Scheps 73, IK 73/81
FG-116: IK Black 76, Waves CLA76
FG-S: SSL Duende, Waves SSL EQ
*FG-401: Waves SSLChannel, SSL Duende CS, IK British Channel

*Revival: Waves Aphex, BBE, Sknote Presence

*Custom EQ: Sonimus SonEQ Pro, Waves Manny Marroquin EQ
Custom Lift: DMG Equlibrium, Kush Clariphonic

*VCC: Sonimus Britson & Statson, Waves NLS

*FG-Red: Focusrite Red 3
FG-Grey: Cytomic The Glue, SSL Duende
FG-MU: Klanghelm MJUC

*VTM: Waves J37, Uhe Satin



* Notes:

FG-401 Pretty versatile SSL channel comp. With its custom transformers not really a direct replacement.
Revival Lots of good exciters but not one that does what this does.
Custom EQ It has different curves for boost and cuts and emulation per band. Something like DMG Equilibrium could do this (and more) but the quickness is where this shines.
VCC Still the best for console emulation imo.
FG-Red The Snap on this is pretty hard to beat.
VTM Not one that can be replaced. With VTM & J37 you would have all your tape needs covered.

I now only own VCC, VTM, Revival and wont be getting ride of these anytime soon.

Slate Revival: Waves Vitamin

Been investigating this very topic. I liked the Slate plugins, but Slate consistently makes marketing decisions aimed at alienating me.

VCC: Sonimus Satson/Britson. I mixed the same song using VCC2 on the SSL G setting and Sonimus Britson. I changed only the plugins, matching the individual channel levels and the level of overdrive as much as I could, which was hard given Slate's wonky metering. I bounced the files and did an ABX test and I had a VERY hard time telling them apart. I could not get better than 60% in the ABX. VCC seemed to have a smoother top, while Satson seemed to have more depth. Did the same with Britson and the VCC Neve setting. I had a hard time telling them apart--and again VCC was very slightly smoother, Britson had more apparent depth. Differences were extremely small. Also with sonimus you can name your groups, a feature Slate decided we didn't need anymore. I dumped VCC. Overall Satson seems a tiny bit more like VCC to me.

FG N, the Neve EQ Sonimus Burnley. This is a really nice "color" EQ if you haven't tried it. It has two saturation modes, console and mic, and changing the saturation level changes the eq curves--very cool, it sound much more "like" than just adding fizz to an eq curve. FG-N was the VMR Eq I used the most and this replaces it for me. For uncolored eq I use Equalibrium


VMR Comps: I'm really really liking MJUC. It's versatile and has a combination of density and clarity. It's not a good replacement for the black comp in VMR, because it doesn't emulate that style. But I never liked that comp very much. MJUC kills the red VMR comp for me

Lift: Try GoodHertz tilt/shift. it's a badass, more versatile than Lift. Also Kush Clariphonic or Satson Sweetone.

VTM. I still use VTM because no rack. But Satin is excellent imho, better in some ways but more tweaky. Goodhertz Faraday limiter does atone of tapey stuff and is an extremely useful, colorful and well designed plug.

VBC. MJUC is way better than FG-MU. It doesn't have that henious high mid boost that FG Mu has. I still like the FG red and FG gray

FG-X. It's not transparent, but I really dig the Goodhertz Faraday Limiter. It's extremely analog-ish in a variable way.

Too many to list. Slate is not that relevant....in the sense that there are so many great options. Most companies also don't alienate people the same way Slate seems to. And on a variety of other forums there is far less interest than here at GS.

To name one in the spirit of the thread, try the Dynamic Spectrum Mapper by Paul Frindle. No iLok, no BS and a plug that has unbelievable capabilities to help tracks and mixes in a variety of ways.

Almost any other plugin is a suitable replacement nowadays. 95% of plugins out there can get the job done without drama.

Yeah almost all modeling plugins are within like the 99th percentile of each other. Most of them sound closer than several different hardware units.

And most of the 'sound' created by a specific compressor or what have you is the shape of the attack and release(or bandwidth in the case of an EQ), something that most stock compressors will let you alter.

Yep, I agree.

PS. This thread has become what I hoped to be. Nice easy going guys

While I have many of the mentioned plugins, there are also some I had forgotten about, and even some new to me.
It is nice to see that there are people here confirming that there are not only ONE option/kingdom when it comes to digital signal processing in the year of 2015.

This is inspirational, and I have made a (handful) list of plugins to check out.
I am all set, but is actually in need of a good and simple HP/LP filter plugin.

Thanks again guys for keeping it civil

Just got my MJUC compressor and it's a game changer. Amazing design and programming, everything I put it on sounded better. It just replaced the Acqua Titanium on my drum buss, something I didn't think would ever happen. So it definitely can replace the VMR compressors, which I also like but this is special.

MJUC really is a game changer for me as well. I never thought I would hear a compressor that reacts like analog until MJUC - just the lightest touch is needed to make a change for the better. It doesn't work everywhere, but when it works, its smooth ITB magic for me.

And sometimes you do need a little FET action so I like the CLA76 or the Softube FET. The UA 1176 is also very useful in that regard.

I still haven't found anything ITB that can replace my vintage LA3A's. Any recommendations?

+1 on the MJUC
I couldn't agree more
Tony (Klanghelm) did an amazing job!!

After a few A\B test i don't need the Slate EQ with theses.

Sonimus: SonEQ Pro

Sonimus: Burnley 73 Released

DDMF: VST plugins, AU plugins, AAX plugins, AAX wrapper, RTAS plugins, audio software

How is the MJUC jr. for drum busses and mixes in general? Just curious since it usually takes me a mix or two to learn if I like a plug, and since this looks like freeware, it may be a good one to try.

MJUCjr (free) is good, but it is a tease because it doesn't have the tone shaping controls or modes that MJUC ($30) has.

MJUC is incredible as s bus compressor. MK3 can be set relatively clean, while MK2 and MK1 apply instant tone even without GR applied.

If you even remotely like MJUCjr, then its a safe $30 bet that you will get your moneys worth from MJUC. After using it for a month, I would gladly pay $200 for it now. It sounds that good to me.

Thanks, yeah the price is right. I currently use the Fat channel strip in Studio One and am debating if I should get another comp to add at the end of the mix chains and on busses to make everything sound glued together and more like a record.