New Slate Bundle additions are awesome

[Gravity Jim]

Slate is making your Everything Bundle subscription more valuable much faster than I ever expected.

The new Virtual Preamps (part of the Mix Rack) are already out and sound fantastic, but now at NAMM they've announced partnerships (like the one they have with Relab that brings us the LX480 Complete) with Eiosis on their Air and Earth EQ plugs, and with Scuffham for their guitar amp emulations. Look for those to show up in your Gobbler feed soon.

I get the feeling that I wouldn't want to hang out with Mr. Slate, but I love what he's doing for my studio and workflow. Rock on.

[mhschmieder]

I hemmed and hawed last month, and ended up deciding to buy the perpetual license for the new stuff instead, even though three of those items are not otherwise available for sale at all (at his site).

I've seen too many companies that are on top, disappear at some point. Maybe I'm being overly superstitious. I will say that in the case of Slate, trust is not the issue as it is with other vendors who have in fact gone subscription-only in some cases (and who I refuse to patronize as a result).

I can't possibly predict my usage of any software that I buy as I wear a lot of hats and am constantly thrown onto the unexpected, so planning is very difficult. Slate lets you drop the subscription and pick it back up again if you do it month-by-month though. I may still consider that.

Oh, back to these new pre-amps, they are definitely great and a valued addition. I haven't had a chance to use them on actual production work yet as my current focus (when I'm not working or gigging, which is rare these days) is more on continuing to improve the arrangements and parts for my jazz album that I thought I had signed off on during the end-of-year holidays.

[waxman]

I read they are not supported on DP. Any issues?

[labman]

I read they are not supported on DP. Any issues?

Working great on two rigs here

[Gravity Jim]

Yeah, I don't know how that got started: probably one guy who had a problem and just kept posting and posting and posting. But they run fine here, and sound dynamite. A couple of new third-party plugs are getting added to the bundle soon, and Slate Digital says they're cooking new Slate plugs, too, so I think the value of the All-In bundle will increase quite a bit.

[mikehalloran]

I haven't drunk the subscription Kool Aid but what I have works great.

[FMiguelez]

Slate is making your Everything Bundle subscription more valuable much faster than I ever expected.

The new Virtual Preamps (part of the Mix Rack) are already out and sound fantastic, but now at NAMM they've announced partnerships (like the one they have with Relab that brings us the LX480 Complete) with Eiosis on their Air and Earth EQ plugs, and with Scuffham for their guitar amp emulations. Look for those to show up in your Gobbler feed soon.

I get the feeling that I wouldn't want to hang out with Mr. Slate, but I love what he's doing for my studio and workflow. Rock on.

I keep hearing people raving about them (I didn't know them until now, thanks to your post).

I just visited their website and everything looks amazing... I think I will try the monthly deal.

So you REALLY like them? Which ones are your favourite, and why?
How do they compare to their counterparts or equivalents?

I really want to try their tube and tape stuff!

[Gravity Jim]

Compared to other plug-ins in the same vein, the Slate compressors, channel strips, preamps, etc., all sound cleaner, less obtrusive and smoother. The FG-X mastering plug is amazing in this regard: it seems to me that its approach to the combination of compression and leveling us just closer to what a musician wants than other similar tools.

The ReLab LX480 Complete has quickly become my first-try reverb... It just sounds so damn good and has so much control. And for a very quick fix, a lot of tracks just need a dose of Lift.

They're really, really good.

By the way, the Scuffham guitar stuff they promised became available today. Haven't tried it and with my new amp I probably won't have much call, but they certainly have a good rep on this forum. I can't wait to hear the Air and Earth EQs, myself.

[James Steele]

I get the feeling that I wouldn't want to hang out with Mr. Slate, but I love what he's doing for my studio and workflow. Rock on.

I would. He's a totally cool guy. I've talked with him at NAMM a couple of times. Very nice. Even donated a door prize in the past for the MOTU-MAC dinner.

[labman]

So you REALLY like them? Which ones are your favourite, and why?
How do they compare to their counterparts or equivalents?

I really want to try their tube and tape stuff!

Yesh FM, we REALLY like them. Every stinking one of them. Our engineer gets stuff done way faster with them. Probably cause they are just sonically 'right' for us older guys. It aint forensic type tools. But every one of them is used here. Those plus Soundtoys, Melodyne plus SPAT and maybe a handful of the Waves stuff is all we would probably need at this point.

[FMiguelez]

Compared to other plug-ins in the same vein, the Slate compressors, channel strips, preamps, etc., all sound cleaner, less obtrusive and smoother. The FG-X mastering plug is amazing in this regard: it seems to me that its approach to the combination of compression and leveling us just closer to what a musician wants than other similar tools.

Yesh FM, we REALLY like them. Every stinking one of them. Our engineer gets stuff done way faster with them. Probably cause they are just sonically 'right' for us older guys. It aint forensic type tools. But every one of them is used here. Those plus Soundtoys, Melodyne plus SPAT and maybe a handful of the Waves stuff is all we would probably need at this point.

AWESOME!

Thank you for your answers, Jim and labman.

I also discovered (through an old post by RadioGal) the Melda Productions plug-ins. They are great too! Man, I think I've spent too long with my Waves Platinum plugs. They used to be THE option years ago, but I definitely realise I've been missing out on a lot of new stuff. I'm quite impressed!

[waxman]

got the everything bundle with the CLA course... Love em both

[monkey man]

Slated(!) for purchase later in the year.

I've said all along that when I eventually buy plugs, it'll be from reputable entities that have long-term futures. I've always wanted stable, low-CPU-cycle consuming plugs that didn't cost the earth or threaten to become obsolete at the first OS upgrade that came their way.

Slate fulfils all these requirements, and I haven't even mentioned audio / processing quality. I place PSP and Spectrasonics in this category too, just off the top of my head. The Slate bundle will likely place some of the PSP purchases I had in mind for a later date in jeopardy.

I say go for it, 'Nandito!

[Gravity Jim]

The frankly awful UI on the Melda plugs killed them for me. I got the giant bundle for a pittance awhile back on Radiogal's recommendation, so I'm sure they sound great. But when I rebuilt my drive recently, I didn't bother to put them back.

Slate plug-ins have rapidly replaced almost everything I used to use. The sonic transparency is head and shoulders above the pack.

[mhschmieder]

For just a few more hours, the annual full bundle subscription is available to loyal customers for $250. Has anyone taken advantage of this offer who was sitting on the fence like I am? Terribly torn on this, as it is too hard for me to predict in advance how much I'm going to use specific tools, and when.

I own all but the Scuffham Amps and the mini-versions of AirEQ (which I own from Eiosis in the full edition). But likely the timing of the sale means stuff is going to be announced at MusikMesse tomorrow or Monday.