Game Audio Network Guild

It seems a bit counter-intuitive, doesn't it? Why not purchase every single plugin that Waves makes? Why not download every single Native Instruments product? There might be a time when you need them all.

And technically it's true. There might a time when you need to utilize that one sound from a VST that you've never used before. But I contend that it's healthier to have a manageable VST/Plugin set that grows only on an as-needed basis. Why? Here are my top 5 reasons:

1) KNOW YOUR PALETTE. It's important for a painter to know what his tools are before painting a masterpiece. The same goes for music composers. By keeping your library slim and only purchasing what you need when you need it, you will be able to understand your palette much more intimately. If you buy in bundles or groups, it's difficult and time-consuming to get to know each sound deeply.

2) CREATE A SIGNATURE SOUND. As a composer it's important to have a signature sound. This sound differentiates you from others in your field and helps you grow a fan base. If you continually use different VST's in each composition, it's more likely than not that your sound will never truly emerge. Instead, most successful composers use a core set of VST's and plugins with which they are comfortable. Any new VST's/VSTi elements that are added are chosen and added carefully.

3) EXPERIMENT WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. Many composers keep buying VST's to get the most 'realistic' sound possible. While I understand the sentiment, I don't buy into it. The most 'realistic' sound is always going to come from live musicians, not from VST's and VSTi's. Really, you should know your existing sounds well enough that you understand their strengths and weaknesses--and understand how to augment each patch so it sounds the way you need it to. This might mean adding insert effects. Or maybe tweaking synth parameters. Or even layering the patch with another sound. The point is that you may already have what you need at your fingertips without hitting that 'add to cart' button.

4) STAY ORGANIZED. Organization is a big issue for composers. As self-starters that manage our own deliverable timetables, we have to be able to keep on task while juggling multiple projects at any given time. By keeping to a smaller, thinner VST and Plugin library, you have quick and efficient access to the sound you need at any given time. A larger, more unwieldy library can take a bit of navigating before finding that perfect patch for your piece--especially if you don't know your sounds well.

5) LOGISTICS. Obviously cost and memory are logistical issues that need to be taken into account here. While I'm certainly not advising you how to spend your hard-earned dollars, I challenge you to approach each new purchase as a cost-benefit equation. Do you really need that Gamelan VST or will the one from your Yamaha Motif do the trick? You might be surprised at how much money you can save by cutting out non-essential purchases.

So there you have it.

Now I want to make clear that there are certainly times where buying in small bundles or packs makes absolute sense. But, in my opinion, these are usually smaller products like NI's "Evolve Mutations 1 & 2". I certainly wouldn't buy something like NI's "Kore" off the bat, but I would consider a cross-grade after I've gotten to know some of the sound sets through one-off purchases. For me, approaching VST/plugin purchases in this way allows me to stay organized, productive, and creative!