PLEASE CHOOSE 1 PER CATEGORY!

I want to give a shot at making a sort of plugin census of everyone here and put it into a nice tallied up list here in this first post. Just reply with your favorite plugin in each category. I don't mean favorite as in desert island plugin, but favorite as in the one you find you use the most and like the best. Also, if you don't have many plugins, don't worry, just put down what you use most, even if its just a stock plugin.

Feel free to add any category and I'll add it to the master list. And feel free to not have to decide on any specific category if your at all unsure. Also include your most used or favorite DAW as well. Down the line if your favorite changes, just reply with the change and I'll take a point away and award it to the new favorite. (I hope I can keep up with this!)

In a sentence... pick the one you generally "reach" for first.

Check out the hardware version of this thread:

Ultimate Hardware Census

DAW
Logic - 41
Pro Tools - 37
Cubase - 27
Reaper - 17
Ableton Live - 9
Samplitude - 8
Nuendo - 6
Sonar - 6
Fruity Loops Studio - 2
Acid Pro - 1
Pro Tools M-Powered - 1
Sequoia - 1
Tracktion - 1


Equalizer
Sonnox Oxford/GML - 18
Waves SSL - 10
Digidesign EQ III - 7
Sonalksis SV-517MkII - 7
DMG Audio Equality - 7
Logic EQ - 6
Flux ePure II - 5
UAD Neve 88RS - 5
Waves Q10 - 4
Massenburg - 4
Waves RennEq - 4
Waves API - 4
UAD Neve 1073 - 4
Fabfilter Pro-Q - 4
UAD Cambridge - 3
Cubase EQ - 3
Stillwell 1973 - 3
Waves V - 3
DDMF IIEQ Pro - 3
URS CSP - 2
UAD Pultec - 2
McDSP Filterbank - 2
Algorithmix Red - 2
Samplitude EQ - 2
Softube Focus - 2
Apulsoft apEQ - 2
UAD Manley Massive Passive - 2
Trident A-Range - 2
Abbey Road TG Mastering Pack - 2
UAD SSL - 2
Nebula - 1
PSP MasterQ - 1
Nuendo 4 - 1
Equim - 1
De-Vice ISON - 1
UAD Harrison - 1
McDSP G EQ - 1
Magnus NyquistEq - 1
Wave Arts TrackPlug - 1
Nomad Factory Blue Tubes PEQ 322-3 - 1
Hydratone - 1
AMphibia - 1
Stillwell Vibe - 1
ReaFir - 1
PSP sQuad - 1
Fruity Parametric EQ - 1
Unequalizer - 1
UAD Neve 1081 - 1
ReaEQ - 1
Voxengo CurvEq - 1
Brainworx Digital - 1
MDE-X 4 Band EQ - 1
Ableton EQ 8 - 1
Izotope Alloy - 1
HoRNet ChannelStrip - 1
u-he Uhbik Q - 1
PSP NobleQ - 1



Compressor
Waves RenComp - 20
Waves API 2500 - 13
Softube CL 1B - 12
UAD 1176 - 8
Massey CT4 - 7
The Glue - 7
Logic Compressor - 6
Stillwell Rocket - 6
UAD LA2A - 6
Waves SSL Bus - 5
Sonalksis SV-315MkII - 5
Waves CLA 76 - 5
Softbue FET - 3
UAD Neve 33609 - 3
TC Electronic Tubetech CL1b - 2
Cubase Compressor - 2
TRacks 3 Opto - 2
PSP MasterComp - 2
FabFilter Pro C - 2
McDSP CompressorBank - 2
PSP Mixpressor 2 - 2
UAD Fairchild - 2
Duende Buss Comp - 2
Waves VComp - 1
Waves RVox - 1
URS CSP - 1
Digidesign Compressor - 1
Fairchild 660 - 1
De-Vice SliM-JiM - 1
Ammunition - 1
Waves C1 - 1
UAD LA3A - 1
Digidesign Smack! - 1
UAD 88RS - 1
AMtrack - 1
URS 1970 - 1
ReaFir - 1
PSP Oldtimer - 1
Maximus - 1
IKM Opto - 1
Elysia mPressor - 1
Flux Syrah - 1
Vonxengo Crunchessor - 1
4030 Retro Comp - 1
Smack! - 1
MDE-X DynaComp - 1
Ableton Compressor - 1
Sonnox Dynamics - 1
HoRNet ChannelStrip - 1
UAD Fatso - 1
DMG Compassion - 1


Limiter
Sonnox Limiter - 22
Elephant 3 - 16
Massey L2007 - 15
UAD Precision Limiter - 15
Waves L2 - 9
Waves L3 - 8
PSP Xenon - 7
Ozone - 6
Fab Filter Pro-L - 5
T-Racks Brickwall - 4
Waves L1 - 4
Flux Limiter II - 3
Stillwell Event Horizon - 3
Cubase Limiter - 2
OptiMaster - 2
Maxim - 2
UAD LA2A - 1
Wavearts Final Plug - 1
Sonalksis MaxLimit - 1
Roger Nichols Detailer - 1
UAD LA3A - 1
McDSP ML 4000 - 1
George Yohng w1 - 1
AMmunition - 1
Ferox Brickwall - 1
ReaFir - 1
Maximus - 1
Sonalksis Multi-Limit - 1
Waves SSL Bus Comp - 1
PSP Xenon - 1
Yohng W1 Limiter - 1
Slate Digital FX-G - 1
TSClip - 1
Logic Limiter - 1
Melda Production MDynamics Limiter - 1
Izotope Alloy - 1
Waves RComp - 1
GRM Reverb - 1


Reverb
Audio Ease Altiverb - 21
UAD Plate 140 - 12
Lexicon PCM Bundle - 12
Waves RVerb - 11
Space Designer - 10
TL Space - 9
IK Multimedia CSR - 8
112db Redline - 5
2C-Aether - 5
TC Electronic VSS3 - 4
Waves IR-1 - 3
Overloud Breverb - 3
Eos - 3
Sonnox Reverb - 3
Liquidsonics Reverberate - 3
D-Verb - 2
STW P100 - 2
Wizoo Verb - 2
Lexicon MX400 - 2
VariVerb Pro - 2
Reverence - 2
NI Reaktor Space master - 2
Lexicon TC6000 - 1
Acousticas - 1
Waves IR-L - 1
ReVibe - 1
Lexicon Pantheon - 1
Nuendo Real Verb - 1
McDSP Revolver - 1
Eventide 2016 - 1
Voxengo Pristine Space - 1
Bricasti M7 - 1
LAConvolver - 1
Audio Damage EOS - 1
Yellow Tools Halls of Fame - 1
Bootsy Epicverb - 1
Trueverb - 1
Roomworks - 1
Arts Acoustic - 1
MDE-X SpaceVerb - 1
SIR - 1
UAD RealVerb Pro - 1
Ableton Reverb - 1
UAD Lexicon 224 - 1
QL Spaces - 1
Sonar Perfect Space - 1
ValhallaRoom - 1



Delay
Echoboy - 42
Digidesign Delay - 9
Waves Supertap - 8
Logic Stereo Delay - 7
Logic Delay Designer - 6
Massey TD5 - 5
Dubstation - 5
Logic Tape Delay - 5
Ohmforce OhmBoyz - 4
Nuendo/Cubase - 4
UAD Cooper Time Cube - 4
Fab Filter Timeless - 4
PSP - 84/42 - 4
UAD RE 201 Space Echo - 3
Spacef Echo35 - 2
Ableton Delay - 2
arcDev ET-200 - 2
Waves H-Delay - 2
Blue Tube - 1
Lexicon MX400 - 1
IR Multi-Delay - 1
RealTape - 1
Analogic Delay - 1
U-he MFM2 - 1
Bionic Delay - 1
Euphonic Tape Delay - 1
E-Phonic Tape Delay - 1
ReaDelay - 1
Softube - 1
Logic Tape Delay - 1
Pod Farm 2 Delay - 1
Floaty - 1
H Delay - 1
Samplitude eFX Delay - 1
MDA Delay - 1
Audio Damage Ricochet - 1
MDE-X LCR Delay - 1


De Esser
Waves RenDesser - 24
Spitfish - 10
UAD D-Esser - 8
Sonnox SuprEsser - 3
Eiosis Desser - 3
Cubase DeEsser - 3
McDSP Desser - 2
Massey - 2
Digi Desser - 2
Maximus - 1
Antares Sybil - 1
Voxengo Voxformer - 1
FabFilter Pro-C - 1
Sonar VX-64 - 1
Ableton Compressor - 1


Synth
Omnispehere - 16
Absynth - 11
Reaktor - 7
Reason - 5
Zebra - 4
GMedia ImpOSCar - 3
Korg Legacy - 3
Logic ES2 - 3
Nexus - 3
DCAM Synth Squad Cypher - 3
Massive - 3
Dimension Pro - 2
NI Pro 53 - 2
Camel Audio Alchemy - 2
Access Virus Powercore - 2
Albino - 2
Arturia V Collection - 2
Logic Sculpture - 2
Sylenth - 2
Ableton Synth - 1
Digidesign Hybrid - 1
Rob Papen Predator - 1
Solaris - 1
Arturia Minimoog V - 1
Atmosphere - 1
Digidesign Vacuum - 1
Arturia Analog Factory - 1
Thor - 1
Lounge Lizard - 1
Kore 2 - 1
Sampletank - 1
Indigo - 1
Fusor - 1
Hypersonic - 1
Sytrus - 1
Vacuum - 1
Ultra Analog - 1
Sonic Projects OP-X - 1
Trillian - 1
Synth1 - 1
M-Tron Pro - 1
Gforce Oddity - 1
EXS24 - 1
Expand - 1
Synth Squad Strobe - 1
AAS Tassman - 1
Linplug Octopus - 1
Fabfilter Twin 2 - 1
Z3TA2 - 1


Sampler
Kontakt - 48
Logic EXS24 - 22
HALion 3 - 5
Ableton Sampler - 4
Reason (NNXT) - 3
STS 5000 - 2
Structure - 2
Battery - 2
Directwave - 2
Eastwest Play 2 - 1
Kore Player - 1
Beatscape - 1


Drum Samples
Toontrack Superior Drummer - 22
Steven Slate - 15
Self-Made - 14
BFD - 12
Battery - 9
EZDrummer - 8
Addictive Drums - 8
Stylus RMX - 7
Goldbaby - 4
Vengeance Electro Essentials - 3
Sample Magic - 3
Wave Alchemy - 2
Groove Agent - 2
Natural Drum Kit - 1
DKFH 2 - 1
Motu BPM - 1
Platinum Samples Jim Scott Drums - 1
Drumagog Drum Doctor Pack - 1
Reason 4 - 1
Aptrigga - 1
Toontrack Custom & Vintage - 1
NI Maschine - 1
Logic Ultrabeat - 1
Fpc - 1
Transfuser - 1
Nomad Factory Magnetic - 1
Lopp Master - 1
Drums on Demand - 1


Amp Modeler
Amplitube - 27
Guitar Rig - 19
POD Farm - 15
Logic Guitar Amp - 9
Softube VAR - 7
Waves GTR3 - 6
Eleven - 6
Izotope Trash - 3
Peavey Revalver - 3
Sans Amp - 2
Amplitube Fender - 2
Amphibia - 2
Cubase Amp Sim - 2
Studio Devil - 2
Overloud TH1 - 2
TC Electronics Tubifex - 1
Celmo Instrument Speaker Sim - 1
Little Green Amp - 1
Amp Farm - 1
Softube Bassamp - 1
Boogex - 1
Samplitude Vandal - 1


Saturation
PSP Vintage Warmer - 21
Massey Tapehead - 16
URS Saturation - 15
Sound Toys Decapitator - 9
PSP MixSaturator - 5
ReelTape - 5
MCDSP Analog Channel - 4
UAD Moog Filter - 4
Voxengo Warmifier - 3
DUY Tape - 3
Spacef FAT - 2
Sonnox Inflator - 3
Magneto - 3
UAD 4K Buss Compressor - 2
Nebula - 2
Logic Clip Distortion - 2
Ferox Tap Simulator - 2
Ableton Saturation - 2
UAD Studer A800 - 2
DUY Valve - 1
Hydratone - 1
Bootsy Tessla - 1
Cranesong Phoenix - 1
Homicide - 1
Colortone - 1
Sonnox Inflator - 1
UAD Precision Maximizer - 1
VOS Tessla - 1
Cubase Tube emu - 1
Maximus - 1
Breebaart Ferox - 1
Crysonic NX-tasy - 1
VirSyn V-Tape - 1
Airwindows Saturation - 1
Sonimus Satson - 1


Pitch Shifting/Harmony
Melodyne - 17
Variaudio - 3
Waves Tune - 2
Reatune - 1
Logic Pitch Correction - 1
Autotune - 1
Waves Doubler - 1
u-he S - 1
Newtone - 1


Filters
Sountoys Filterfreak - 3
UAD Moog Filter - 2
Fabfilter Volcano - 2
TAL Filter II - 1
Sonimus Satson - 1


Transient Designer
SPL - 5
Logic Enveloper - 2
Samplitude Pulse - 1
Melda Production MMultiband Transient - 1
Sonnox Transmod - 1
VirSyn T-Design - 1


tallied through post [228]

DAW
PTHD

Equalizer
Digi EQ III

Compressor
N/A

Limiter
L2007

Reverb
Eventide

Delay
Digi Delay

Synth
N/A

Drum Samples
I prefer to make my own

Amp Modeler
N/A

Wordclock


AD/DA


Cables

Amplifiers


Speakers


*************

DAW
PTHD

Equalizer
Sonnox Oxford/GML

Compressor
RenComp

Limiter
L2007

Reverb
Lexcon/TC6000

Delay
TC's and Digi Delay

Synth
Logic and 3rd party

Drum Samples

Amp Modeler
Waves GR3 & GuitarRig

Color Equalizer
Nebula

Clean Equalizer
Flux ePure

Character Compressor
Duende Buss Comp

Transparent Compressor
Duende X-Comp

Limiter
Waves L3 Multimaximizer

Reverb
Audio Ease Altiverb

Saturation (Tape, Tubes, Pres)
Nebula

DAW
Logic

Equalizer
PSP MasterQ

Compressor
PSP MasterComp

Limiter
UAD Precision Limiter

Saturator
URS Saturation/Sonnox Inflator

Reverb
UAD Plate 140

Delay
Echoboy

Synth
Reaktor 5

Sampler
Kontakt 3

Drum Samples
N/A

Amp Modeler
N/A

limiter
elephant3

DAW
Logic

Equalizer
Sonnox EQ

Compressor
TC - Tubetech CL1b

Limiter
Sonnox Limiter

Saturator
DUY Valve

Reverb
VSS3

Delay
Echoboy

Synth
Absynth

Sampler
Kontakt 3

Drum Samples
Battery

Amp Modeler
TC Tubifex

DAW
ProTools HD

Clean Equalizer
Sonnox EQ

'Colour' Equalizer
Waves SSL EQ

Compressor
Waves SSL Bus Comp

Limiter
Sonnox Limiter

Reverb
Altiverb 6 /w Lexicon impulses

Delay
N/A

Synth
Omnisphere

Drum Samples
Steven Slate

Amp Modeler
PODfarm

DAW
Pro tools

Equalizer
Waves api/Urs neve/Digi III

Compressor
api 2500/Urs CSPro

Limiter
Massey L2007

Saturator
MCDSP Analog Channel/DUY Valve

Reverb
TL Space

Delay
Massey TD5/Digi Delay

Synth
N/A

Sampler
N/A

Drum Samples
Steven Slate 3.0

Amp Modeler
Sans Amp/Digi Eleven

DAW
PTLE

Equalizer
Digi EQ III

Compressor
CT4

Limiter
L2007

Reverb
TL Space

Delay
Echoboy

Synth

Drum Samples
BFD

Amp Modeler
Eleven

alright! now we're talking...

A few things... for those of you adding more than 1 for each category I am only tallying the 1st one you list! If this is incorrect please repost with your number 1.

breg1 - which pro tools do you use, HD or LE?

Ermz - you bring up a great point with a color EQ and clean EQ - what do you guys think, should we have separate categories for these? We could maybe split up compressors into 2 as well... transparent and colored or harsh maybe? What's the general thought?

I think the multiple categories apply to each unit. There are clean and colour comps as well. We can also get into linear phase EQs, discerning between convolution and algorithmic verbs etc...

Depends what's easier for you to keep track of!

My main concern with getting to specific is it will really start to thin out the options. Pretty soon your down to just a few conv reverbs or tape delays or whatever. Plus a lot of us haven't gotten the chance to own or use a broad range of types and we might just know and use a few. I think keeping it narrow is a good idea. Though with the amount of comp and eqs out there it might be too broad, plus considering the wide range of uses.

Another thing is that generally one will use many eqs and compressors throughout a session whereas you could get by with just 1 reverb or delay etc.

I'm definitely up for splitting them, but I'd like to wait and hear what more people have to say about this...

I figure this might also be a good place to look up what other people use, so I wanted to add a post of what I have added.

DAW
PTLE

Compressor
CT4

Limiter
L2007

Reverb
Altiverb


Drum Samples
Natural Drum Kit

Amp Modeler
PODFarm/Gearbox

sorry N8tron...

I use Pro Tools LE

N8tron, you can add the following.

Saturator
Massey Tapehead

breg1 and mmf1978 - fixed those

little bump here... plenty of views, lets get some more tallies. The more info we have the more fun this will be.

DAW
Acid Pro

Equalizer
Have not used enough of them to make an informed decision.

Compressor
Dont have a fav....depends on what im compressing.

Limiter
Final Plug

Reverb
Have not used enough to make an informed decision.

Delay
Dubstation

Synth
Nexus (unless you dont consider a synth cause it's a rompler in which case I would say Vanguard)

Sampler
Dont use em.

Drum Samples
Often use Vengeance electro essentials. Arranged in Acid Pro.

Amp Modeler
Dont use one.

Saturation
Dont use one.

Thanks for the additions,

also, don't worry about picking the best, this is more of a census for what you use, whether its the stock one in your DAW or your favorite WAVES or UAD, just put down whatever you use most.

DAW
Nuendo 4.2.2
Nuendo 3.2.1 (This is project dependant)

Track Equalizer
General Duties
Nuendo 4 Stock EQ
Nuendo 4 Studio EQ
Specialist/Colour
UAD Neve 1073
UAD Neve 1081
UAD Cambridge
URS N Series

Buss Equalizer
UAD Neve 1081
URS N Mix
Steinberg OctoQ (surround)

Channel Strip
UAD Neve 88RS
URS CSP

Track Compressor
UAD LA2A
UAD 1176LN
Focusrite LiquidMix, Millennia Tube emulation

Buss Compressor (Where Used)
UAD FairChild
UAD Precision Buss Compressor
Steinberg OctoQ (Surround)

Limiter
UAD Precision Limiter
Steinberg ME Loudness Maximizer
Steinberg OctoMaxx (Surround)

Reverb
Audio Ease Altiverb
SIR 2
WizooVerb W5 (Surround)
UAD Plate 140


Delay
Nuendo Stereo Delay
UAD DM-1
UAD DM-1 L

Sampler
HALion 3

Drum Samples
BFD2

Amp Modeler
Amplitube 2
Ampeg SVX
NI Guitar Rig 3
Steinberg Warp VST
Steinberg Amp Modeller

Saturation
URS Saturation

Specialist non-standard
Nebula 3 - this has to be in here as it does so many different things.

DAW
Logic (recording, MIDI editing)
Reaper (mixing)

EQ
Waves V
Oxford
Sonalksis

Compressor
VComp
Opto compressor in T-Racks 3 (great for mastering)
Sonalksis

Limiter
Oxford
L2

Reverb
Waves RVerb
Oxford

Delay
PSP 84/42
Logic Tape

Drums
Addictive
EZDrummer

Saturation
PSP MixSaturator
Oxford Inflator

DAW
Ableton Live 7

Equalizer
1) UAD EQ (Pultec, Helios, Harrison, Neve, Cambridge, prec eq, depends of the material)
... and sometimes :
2) Liquid mix
3) Ableton EQ 8 for quick equalisation

Channel Strip
1) UAD 4K CS
2) UAD Neve 88RS
... sometimes :
3) liquid mix

Compressor
1) UAD comp (neve 33609, LA2A, LA3A, VCA VU, Prec Bus comp, 4k Bus comp, 1176 LN, fairchild) mainly
.... and sometimes :
2) liquid mix

Transient designer
1) UAD SPL TD

deesser/maximizer/enhancer
1) UAD tools (deesser/ maximizer/ enhancer)

Limiter
1) UAD Precision Limiter

Reverb
1) UAD Plate 140

Delay
1) UAD RE 201 space echo
2) UAD Cooper Time cube
3) Ableton Live Simple delay fx

Saturation
1) UAD moog filter (the drive is awesome in the full version)
2) Ableton Live saturator

Filter
1) UAD Moog Filter
2) Fab Filter Volcano 2

M/S encoder/decoder
1) Voxengo MSED

VSTi Sampler / Vsti synth
Ableton live impulse/simpler/sampler
Ableton live electric / tension / anlog / operator
Modartt Pianoteq 3 + electric addon

Drum Samples
my own samples

you certainly understand I mainly use UAD plugins.

note: I dont own all these products (but have access) so if I'm at home I'll use stillwell stuff instead.

Daw: ableton, or reaper cause it comes with the stillwell plugs.

"cleaning"eq: sonnox/flux/waves ssl... or stillwell

color eq: not a plugin: the ones on my Amek mixer or my mate sountracks mixer.

comp: rvox/sonnox/waves ssl... or stillwell

transient: sonnox... or stillwell

Limiter: sonnox... or stillwell

Reverb: Ir1, sonnox... or reaverb

Delays: blue tube, psp lexicon... or ableton/reaper delays

Filter: Korg MS20 fx

saturation: hydratone

OS
Stripped down Modified Version of Windows XP

Interface
MOTU HD 192

DAW
Nuendo

Equalizer
Waves SSL Channel

Compressor
Waves RComp

Limiter
L2

Reverb
Lexicon MX400 (Hardware Plugin)

Delay
Lexicon MX400 (Hardware Plugin)

Synth
Reason NN-XT, Maelstrom(Or however you spell it)

Drum Samples
Drum Kit From Hell 2

Amp Modeler
Amplitube 2/Metal

awesome, I'll get these tallied up...

neilwilkes, JPeters86, and choukette,
please choose just 1 per category. I'm not looking for a what you own census but more of a what you reach for first or use most. I'll use the first one listed until you tell me otherwise,

Thanks!

DAW: PTLE

EQ: URS CSP

COMPRESSOR: URS CSP

LIMITER: Ozone 4

REVERB: TL Space

DELAY: Massey TD5

SYNTH: Digi Hybrid

DRUM SAMPLES: no thanks

AMP MODELER: Isotope Trash

SATURATOR: Massey Tape Head

yes do it but don't ask me to chose one because i need them all (it's how UAD tools work IMO, you have to chose the best UAD plugins for the situation and audio material you have at the moment)

Tough call on some of these (compressors/reverbs are very project dependent) but if I had to choose...

DAW
Cubase 4.5.2

Equalizer
UAD Neve 1073

Compressor
UAD LA2A

Limiter
UAD Precision Limiter

Reverb
TC Electronic VSS3

Delay
UAD Cooper Time Cube

Synth
Omnisphere

Sampler*
Kontakt 3

Drum Samples
Toontrack Superior Drummer 2

Amp Modeler
Overloud TH1

Saturation
UAD Moog Filter


*I don't do sampling so I hardly ever use Kontakt, but I do use Synthogy Ivory all the time. Might be useful to add a sampled piano category?

One of the best thread on GS. Thanks for this! Hope it grows over the years.