Producing With Pro Tools

Digidesign/A.I.R. unveiled its next foray into virtual instruments with Eleven, a guitar amp simulation plug-in. I downloaded the 30-day free trial (yeah, 30 days free… I like that) a few days ago. After listening to the demo online, I was VERY skeptical as the sample was nowhere close to impressive. However, I used Eleven myself in a session yesterday and was pretty impressed. I ran a Rickenbocker bass through the Jazz Bass Tweed setting and got a nice, smooth full tone that I didn’t have to alter at all. I used that sound on the track. I also ran a Strat through a bunch of the guitar amps and ended using two different settings, both of which I tweaked with EQ and also with the “speaker breakup” control… and both ended up in the mix too.

This free version is light on some features that other guitar simulators have, but I’m waiting to see what the full version includes. They say on the Eleven site “The final release will come loaded with even more presets and other goodies.”

Overall, I think this plug-in has some good sounds. I’ve used pretty much all of the other amp simulators plug-ins and, for me, each one kinda has some “go to” sounds. I’m excited that after one use, Eleven seems to have a few that I’ll definitely use again. And, I’ve just scratched the surface.

Download the plug-in here:

http://www2.digidesign.com/eleven/

I’ve been using a ton of instrument plug-ins lately… and I feel like I have an addiction to them. I want to get all the ones that are available for Pro Tools. I’ve been very impressed with the stuff that Digidesign has put out under it’s A.I.R. division, including Xpand!, Hybrid, Velvet, Strike, and Structure. If you don’t have any of these, definitely get your hands on Xpand! It’s free and its really got some great sounds. There’s also a free version of Structure. Granted, Structure Free is pretty limited, but you’ll get a taste at least. If you’re an electric piano, Rhodes, or Wurli player, I highly recommend the Velvet plug. There’s something about that instrument that every time I play it, something cool comes out… either a new song idea, or a new part to the song I’m working on.

Digidesign is offering a boxed set of their A.I.R. virtual instruments - click here to check it out

What are you favorite instruments and why? One of my personal favs these days is Access Indigo. Although its been around for a while, its so robust, easy to use, and has so many cool presets that its hard to beat as my first call synth. For the music I make with my band, the arpeggiator on that plug-in rules. And, I CANNOT WAIT until Spectrasonics finally gets the Intel Mac updates for Atmosphere and Trilogy. I want to use those natively in Pro Tools without the VST wrapper. I’ve heard they’re close to releasing them. Go to http://www.spectrasonics.net/updates/index.php to check.

Talk to me about your favorite instrument plugs…