How to reduce the plugin count

To reduce the plugin count – a good idea?

Embarking on the journey of music production from the comfort of your home is an exciting yet challenging endeavor. As you dive into the world of recording and mixing, you’re met with a plethora of tools and techniques aimed at helping you craft your sonic creations. Among these tools, plugins stand out as indispensable assets, offering a numerous of effects, processors, and virtual instruments at your fingertips.

But there comes a point when less is more. This notion can be daunting, especially for those who are new to the world of home recording and production. Each plugin, after all, represents both a financial commitment and a time commitment dedicated to mastering its intricacies. It might seem strange at first to reduce the number of plugins in your system.

But there’s a good reason to streamline your plugin collection. As you navigate the complexities of music production, you’ll encounter numerous challenges and decisions along the way. From selecting the right microphone for capturing vocals to fine-tuning the EQ of a guitar track, every step of the process demands careful consideration.

In this context, plugins play two roles. On the one hand, they offer incredible versatility and creative potential, letting you craft your sound with precision and finesse. On the other hand, their abundance can lead to decision paralysis, hindering rather than improving your workflow.

How can you balance the power of plugins and avoid the pitfalls of too much complexity? This is where the concept of reducing your plugin count comes into play.

By focusing on the plugins in your arsenal that match your specific goals and workflow, you can create a more focused and efficient production environment. A leaner plugin collection can help you if you’re a beginner or seasoned producer looking to streamline your workflow.

In the following discussion, we’ll look at the various factors to consider when considering a reduction in your plugin count. From the emotional attachment to certain tools to the practical implications for your workflow and creative process, we’ll explore the multifaceted nature of this decision. We are going to optimize your music production setup and unleash your creative potential.

Reducing the number of plugins in your music production setup can seem like a daunting task, especially when you’re just starting out with home recording and mixing your songs. Here are some points to consider:

You’ve Invested in Your Tools: You’ve spent your hard-earned money on these plugins to enhance your music production. It’s natural to feel hesitant about uninstalling them or not using them to their fullest potential.
Time and Effort: Learning a new plugin takes time and effort. You’ve dedicated hours to understanding its features and experimenting with different presets to find the perfect sound. It feels like a waste to let go of all that effort.
Recommendations and Trust: Perhaps you acquired these plugins based on recommendations from mentors, idols, or other trusted sources in the music production community. You trust their judgment and believe that these plugins are essential for achieving professional-quality results.
Perceived Importance: Many sources rave about certain plugins, claiming they’re game-changers in the industry. You might feel compelled to keep using them because of their perceived importance in achieving a certain sound or level of quality.
Extensive Research: Before purchasing or subscribing to a plugin, you likely conducted extensive research. You watched countless comparison videos on YouTube, read reviews, and sought advice from experienced producers to ensure you were making the right choice.
Active Subscriptions: If you’re subscribed to a service that provides access to various plugins, you may feel obligated to utilize all available tools to justify the subscription cost. However, this mindset can lead to cluttering your workflow with unnecessary plugins.
Personal Experience: Reflecting on past experiences, you may recall instances where certain plugins, such as Slate Digital, Sound Toys, or Waves bundles, have significantly impacted your production process or improved the quality of your music.

Why reducing the plugin count is a good thing

Let’s delve into why reducing the number of plugins in your digital audio workstation (DAW) can be incredibly beneficial, from my personal experience to yours:

Future Cost Reduction: By trimming down your plugin collection, you’re effectively minimizing the need for frequent upgrades in the future. I’ve been there, spending a significant amount on updates and new versions, only to realize that I hardly use half of them. But with fewer plugins to manage, I’ve saved a ton on upgrade costs without sacrificing quality. Trust me, it’s a financial statement for good.
Increased Mixing Efficiency: Imagine mixing without being bogged down by endless choices. It’s liberating! You will mix faster with a reduced choice of tools. You don’t need 10 Tape plugins, you don’t need 5 different summing options, you don’t need 7 different emulations types of favorite console strip like a Neve, API or SSL. With fewer options, I’ve found myself mixing faster and more efficiently. And I have more fun! Gone are the days of scrolling through an ocean of plugins trying to find the perfect one. Now, I focus more on the creative process and less on decision fatigue. It’s like having a clear path to your musical vision. And you know what? I could do that even better!
Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome: We’ve all been there, right? The allure of shiny new plugins promising to revolutionize our sound. But let’s be real, how many of them actually live up to the hype? By reducing your plugin count, you can resist the temptation of constantly chasing the latest trends. Trust me, mastering the tools you already have is far more rewarding than constantly adding to your collection.
Time Saved on Updates: Ah, the dreaded update cycle. I used to spend nearly a whole day downloading and installing updates for a slew of plugins, only to realize that I barely touched most of them. Now, it took me just around two to three hours to update my full collection. And with a leaner plugin collection, I’ve reclaimed precious time that I can now spend making music instead of managing updates. It’s a relief, to say the least.
Disk Space Optimization: Let’s face it, our hard drives can get pretty cluttered with multiple plugin formats and unused plugins. But by decluttering your collection, you can free up valuable disk space for new projects and essential files. Every gigabyte counts in the longer run, especially when you’re working across different DAWs that require different plugin formats, like with Pro Tools that use AAX, or with Logic that uses AU, or with Cubase that uses VST. If we talk an about two dozen 3rd party plugins, that might not be a reason. But if you have installed over 200 hundred extra plugins, where you don’t even use the half count of that, you will save a lot of disk space. That space you could use better for new song productions. And only while you can buy bigger drives, don’t have to be mean that you should keep all files that you won’t actually use.
Maintaining System Stability: Nothing kills your creative flow faster than a system crash caused by a faulty plugin. I’ve had my fair share of frustrating moments trying to troubleshoot mysterious crashes, only to discover that it was a rogue plugin causing the havoc. Did you know that your system can be influenced by a faulty or failed of a plugin that is just install and not even used inside your active session? You don’t even know that this plugin is the source of the problem. By keeping your plugin count lean and focused, you can minimize the risk of such issues and keep your system running smoothly.

In essence, reducing your plugin count isn’t about depriving yourself of tools but rather about optimizing your workflow, saving time and resources, and ensuring a more stable and efficient music production environment. Trust me, I’ve been there, and the benefits are well worth the initial adjustment. So why not give it a try? You might just be surprised at how much more productive and creative you become.

How to reduce your plugin count

It is easier to say “remove or reduce your plugin” than to really do that. I know that for good. For that reason, I want to give you a quick list or way to work through, how it helped me myself.

Create a list

Create a list of the manufacture with all the plugins you have installed. Yes, that could take a lot of time, but you might even have that kind of list already, because of your update and upgrade processes.

Round ONE: Mark the plugins to in clutter the list

In a non priority list, mark all of your plugins with the following aspects:

which plugins do you use most of the time in your session with the last one or two years (or even longer)
which kind of plugins just work every time and are hassle-free helpers for you
what kind of plugins are special ones, that will be used only on specific things
cancel all plugins that you don’t have used in the last year
cancel all plugins that are or feel buggy at today

Round TWO: Intensive sorting with classification

Doing a classification and sorting your plugins by usage, you can achieve the best overview of how many plugins you really have for their specific task and why you will like and use them. There are reasons why you have one, two, there or even four different kinds of plugins you use for the same task. Sometime one works best, the next time the other. That is fine, and you should keep it that way. But you should know WHY you keep all of these needed tools in your collection.

Sort your plugins (Have look at my blog post about sorting the plugins inside plugin classification. That might help you to understand the way I mean a bit better.
Can you set now already on some manufacture from that you use the most of the plugins, and can you set some to the inactive side?
Can you cancel manufactures of plugins where you only use one or two of plugins and where you have enough redundancy of other plugins?
Require even more help? On what kind of plugins you will have the most upgrade coast? Can you reduce or change a subscription against a one-time payment?

Round THREE: The hard decision

remove the unused plugins from your disk
if it is too hard in the first take, archive the one in to a sub folder to get them out of your view
When you don’t miss them after a set time frame, for example 3–6 months, you probably won’t need them anymore.
Try to sell the plugins when you have the opportunity for, even if you can get just a few bugs of them
Delete the free once and the last you can’t sell anymore.

Be ready for the next challenge

Even while you did an enormous step with the reducing of your plugin count, it does not mean that you will stop reaching out for new ones. This is the second big challenge, but you can help yourself with the list of your plugin classification and, of course, with all your learned from the reducing part.

Celebrate Your Progress: Firstly, congratulate yourself on the progress you’ve made in streamlining your plugin collection. It’s a testament to your commitment to optimizing your workflow and enhancing your music production experience.
Openness to New Plugins: While you’ve made strides in reducing your plugin count, staying open to new additions can add fresh perspectives to your creative process. However, it’s essential to approach these opportunities with a balanced mindset.
Guiding Principles for New Plugins: When considering adding new plugins to your arsenal, leverage the lessons learned from your reduction journey. You can use your plugin classification system as a guide and tap into your newfound clarity regarding your essential tools.
Strategic Approach: Instead of impulsively jumping on every new plugin that comes your way, adopt a strategic approach. Here are some positive strategies to consider:

Time Perspective: Take a step back and assess whether the plugin is genuinely revolutionary or just riding the hype wave. Consider giving it some time, perhaps six months, to see if it maintains its status as a game-changer.
Assessing Need: Reflect on whether the new plugin fills a genuine gap in your toolkit, or if you already have suitable alternatives available. By critically evaluating your needs, you can make informed decisions about whether to invest in new plugins.
Limiting Testing: Set boundaries for testing new plugins to avoid overwhelming yourself with too many options. For example, allocate specific test periods or a maximum number of new plugins to explore within a given timeframe. This approach helps prioritize your time and resources effectively.

By approaching the integration of new plugins with intentionality and mindfulness, you can continue to refine and elevate your music production process while staying true to your creative vision. Remember, every addition to your toolkit should enhance your workflow and contribute positively to your musical journey.

Final thoughts

Deciding to reduce your plugin count can initially seem daunting. It’s understandable to feel hesitant about parting ways with plugins you’ve invested time and money into acquiring. However, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.

Yes, it will take some time to go through your plugin collection, assess their utility, and decide which ones to keep or let go. And yes, it might be tough to delete or sell a significant portion of your plugins. But the time and energy you invest in this process will pay off in spades.

By streamlining your plugin count, you’re essentially buying yourself back time – time that you can reinvest into your craft. With fewer plugins to sift through, you’ll find yourself with more time to delve deeper into mastering the ones you’ve kept. This translates to a more profound understanding of their capabilities and how to leverage them effectively in your productions.

Moreover, with a leaner plugin collection, you’ll experience a noticeable boost in your mixing speed. Without the distraction of excessive options, you can focus more on the creative aspects of mixing, resulting in faster and more efficient workflows. This newfound efficiency empowers you to produce better quality songs with greater ease and confidence.

So, while the process of reducing your plugin count may require some initial effort and adjustment, the long-term benefits are undeniable. By decluttering your workspace and honing in on the essentials, you’ll unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and musical excellence. Trust in the process, and you’ll reap the rewards in your journey as a music producer.

If you have further questions or want to get in contact, please consider using the contact form

Niels from Joker Tone Course

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