The most popular plugins

Klaustrophil · January 25, 2024, 2:38pm

I was bored and wanted to learn something so I did some redneck data analysis with the publicly available pedal board data. What I did:

get all pedal boards
extract the URIs of the used plugins and count them
enrich the URIs with more plugin data
create separate tables for the top 5 plugins in each category

What I didn’t do (yet):

remove duplicates for plugins with multiple categories
remove duplicates on a single board before counting
take unique users in account to reduce the bias towards a single users favourite plugins
look at the publishing dates of the boards and correlate them with the plugins to get an idea about the actuality
plausibility checks, there might be bugs in my code lol

This was a fun task but I’m wondering if MOD Audio has more accurate data available. Would be highly interesting to see to get some inspiration. And if we treat it the other way around maybe there are hidden gems which haven’t been discovered yet?

My results will be in the post below because I hit the character limit for a single post

Klaustrophil · January 25, 2024, 2:48pm

Are you ready?

SPOILER: The overall winner is...

Gain 2x2

Ok seriously, I think it’s not very interesting to count certain categories in the global list so I excluded ControlVoltage, MIDI, Mixer and Utility.

General top 20

+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                               | uri                                                            |
+=========+====================================+================================================================+
|     187 | GxTubeScreamer                     | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gxts9#ts9sim           |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     158 | Modulay                            | https://github.com/ninodewit/SHIRO-Plugins/plugins/modulay     |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     153 | Bollie Delay                       | https://ca9.eu/lv2/bolliedelay                                 |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     140 | Vintage Cabinets                   | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/cabsim-vintage         |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     139 | Roomy                              | http://www.openavproductions.com/artyfx#roomy                  |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     132 | Shiroverb                          | https://github.com/ninodewit/SHIRO-Plugins/plugins/shiroverb   |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     121 | x42-eq - Parametric Equalizer Mono | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/fil4#mono                            |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     115 | abGate                             | http://hippie.lt/lv2/gate                                      |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     114 | GxCabinet                          | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_cabinet#CABINET     |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     113 | C* Plate - Versatile plate reverb  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/Plate                       |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     103 | GxAlembic                          | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_studiopre#studiopre |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      96 | Onyx                               | http://VeJaPlugins.com/plugins/Release/onyx                    |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      95 | TAP Stereo Echo                    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/echo                         |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      94 | Invada Compressor (mono)           | http://invadarecords.com/plugins/lv2/compressor/mono           |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      90 | TAP Mono Dynamics                  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/dynamics                     |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      83 | reverb                             | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/reverb                        |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      78 | C* AmpVTS - Tube amp + Tone stack  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/AmpVTS                      |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      72 | Open Big Muff                      | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/BigMuffPi              |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      71 | GxAmplifier-X                      | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_amp#GUITARIX        |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      66 | ZamComp                            | urn:zamaudio:ZamComp                                           |
+---------+------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Amplifier

+---------+--------+-------------------------------+
|   count | name   | uri                           |
+=========+========+===============================+
|      31 | RMPro  | https://remastermediapro.com/ |
+---------+--------+-------------------------------+

Chorus

+---------+--------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name               | uri                                                |
+=========+====================+====================================================+
|      46 | CS Chorus 2        | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/cs_chorus2        |
+---------+--------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
|      26 | CS Chorus 1        | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/cs_chorus1        |
+---------+--------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
|      23 | Triple chorus      | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/triple_chorus     |
+---------+--------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
|      16 | rkr Flanger/Chorus | http://rakarrack.sourceforge.net/effects.html#chor |
+---------+--------------------+----------------------------------------------------+

ControlVoltage

+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                 | uri                                                         |
+=========+======================+=============================================================+
|     186 | Control to CV        | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/mod-cv-control      |
+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|     145 | Attenuverter Booster | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/mod-cv-attenuverter |
+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      89 | Slew Rate Limiter    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/mod-cv-slew         |
+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      76 | AMS VCO3             | http://github.com/blablack/ams-lv2/vco3                     |
+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      74 | AMS LFO2 - Freq      | http://github.com/blablack/ams-lv2/lfo2_freq                |
+---------+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Delay

+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name            | uri                                                        |
+=========+=================+============================================================+
|     158 | Modulay         | https://github.com/ninodewit/SHIRO-Plugins/plugins/modulay |
+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|     153 | Bollie Delay    | https://ca9.eu/lv2/bolliedelay                             |
+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|      95 | TAP Stereo Echo | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/echo                     |
+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|      66 | TAP Reflector   | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/reflector                |
+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|      64 | MDA DubDelay    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/DubDelay                 |
+---------+-----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+

Distortion

+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name             | uri                                                                         |
+=========+==================+=============================================================================+
|     187 | GxTubeScreamer   | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gxts9#ts9sim                        |
+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|      72 | Open Big Muff    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/BigMuffPi                           |
+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|      64 | DS1              | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/DS1                                 |
+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|      46 | GxBaJaTubeDriver | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_bajatubedriver_#_bajatubedriver_ |
+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|      34 | rkr Distortion   | http://rakarrack.sourceforge.net/effects.html#dist                          |
+---------+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Dynamics (includes compressor)

+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                     | uri                                                  |
+=========+==========================+======================================================+
|     115 | abGate                   | http://hippie.lt/lv2/gate                            |
+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+
|      94 | Invada Compressor (mono) | http://invadarecords.com/plugins/lv2/compressor/mono |
+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+
|      90 | TAP Mono Dynamics        | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/dynamics           |
+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+
|      66 | ZamComp                  | urn:zamaudio:ZamComp                                 |
+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+
|      46 | TAP Stereo Dynamics      | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/dynamics-st        |
+---------+--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+

Equaliser

+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                                 | uri                                               |
+=========+======================================+===================================================+
|     121 | x42-eq - Parametric Equalizer Mono   | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/fil4#mono               |
+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|      27 | x42-eq - Parametric Equalizer Stereo | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/fil4#stereo             |
+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|      25 | Kuiza                                | http://www.openavproductions.com/artyfx#kuiza     |
+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|      18 | TAP Equalizer                        | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/eq              |
+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|      13 | rkr Parametric EQ                    | http://rakarrack.sourceforge.net/effects.html#eqp |
+---------+--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

Expander

+---------+------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name       | uri                                                           |
+=========+============+===============================================================+
|       2 | GxExpander | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_expander#_expander |
+---------+------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+

Filter

+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                               | uri                                                    |
+=========+====================================+========================================================+
|     121 | x42-eq - Parametric Equalizer Mono | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/fil4#mono                    |
+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|      51 | HighPassFilter                     | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/HighPassFilter |
+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|      40 | Filta                              | http://www.openavproductions.com/artyfx#filta          |
+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|      37 | Calf Envelope Filter               | http://calf.sourceforge.net/plugins/EnvelopeFilter     |
+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|      31 | Auto-wah                           | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/autowah               |
+---------+------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+

Flanger

+---------+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name         | uri                                                         |
+=========+==============+=============================================================+
|       8 | GxFlanger    | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_flanger#_flanger |
+---------+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|       6 | MDA ThruZero | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/ThruZero                  |
+---------+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Gate

+---------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name       | uri                                                             |
+=========+============+=================================================================+
|     115 | abGate     | http://hippie.lt/lv2/gate                                       |
+---------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      10 | GxSlowGear | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_slowgear_#_slowgear_ |
+---------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

Generator

+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name        | uri                                                         |
+=========+=============+=============================================================+
|      64 | Fluid Drums | http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/plugins/FluidPlug_FluidDrums |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      37 | MDA JX10    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/JX10                      |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      28 | MDA ePiano  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/EPiano                    |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      23 | MDA DX10    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/DX10                      |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      22 | amsynth     | http://code.google.com/p/amsynth/amsynth                    |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Instrument

+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name        | uri                                                         |
+=========+=============+=============================================================+
|      64 | Fluid Drums | http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/plugins/FluidPlug_FluidDrums |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      37 | MDA JX10    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/JX10                      |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      28 | MDA ePiano  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/EPiano                    |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      23 | MDA DX10    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/DX10                      |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      22 | amsynth     | http://code.google.com/p/amsynth/amsynth                    |
+---------+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

MIDI

+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                       | uri                                                     |
+=========+============================+=========================================================+
|     227 | the infamous mindi         | http://ssj71.github.io/infamousPlugins/plugs.html#mindi |
+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|      44 | MIDI Simple Channel Filter | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/midifilter#onechannelfilter   |
+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|      31 | MIDI Step Sequencer8x8     | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/stepseq#s8n8                  |
+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|      25 | MIDI Step Sequencer8x4     | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/stepseq#s8n4                  |
+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|      25 | MIDI Chromatic Transpose   | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/midifilter#miditranspose      |
+---------+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Mixer

+---------+---------------+---------------------------------+
|   count | name          | uri                             |
+=========+===============+=================================+
|     178 | Stereo X-Fade | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/xfade |
+---------+---------------+---------------------------------+

Modulator

+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name               | uri                                                         |
+=========+====================+=============================================================+
|      58 | TAP Tremolo        | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/tremolo                   |
+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      54 | TAP Chorus/Flanger | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/chorusflanger             |
+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      46 | CS Chorus 2        | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/cs_chorus2                 |
+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      36 | Calf Phaser        | http://calf.sourceforge.net/plugins/Phaser                  |
+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      27 | Harmless           | https://github.com/ninodewit/SHIRO-Plugins/plugins/harmless |
+---------+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Oscillator

+---------+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
|   count | name                                | uri                                    |
+=========+=====================================+========================================+
|       1 | C* CEO - Chief Executive Oscillator | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/CEO |
+---------+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

Phaser

+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                                                    | uri                                                       |
+=========+=========================================================+===========================================================+
|      15 | C* PhaserII - Mono phaser modulated by a Lorenz fractal | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/PhaserII               |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|      12 | Invada Stereo Phaser (mono in)                          | http://invadarecords.com/plugins/lv2/phaser/mono          |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|       9 | Invada Stereo Phaser (stereo in)                        | http://invadarecords.com/plugins/lv2/phaser/stereo        |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|       7 | CS Phaser 1 with LFO                                    | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/cs_phaser1_lfo           |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|       6 | GxPhaser                                                | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_phaser#_phaser |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+

PitchShifter

+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name          | uri                                                         |
+=========+===============+=============================================================+
|      25 | MDA Detune    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/Detune                    |
+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      11 | GxOC-2        | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_oc_2_#_oc_2_     |
+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|      11 | MDA RePsycho! | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/RePsycho                  |
+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|       8 | Autotune      | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/fat1                              |
+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|       5 | Gxdetune      | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_detune_#_detune_ |
+---------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Reverb

+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                                              | uri                                                          |
+=========+===================================================+==============================================================+
|     139 | Roomy                                             | http://www.openavproductions.com/artyfx#roomy                |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|     132 | Shiroverb                                         | https://github.com/ninodewit/SHIRO-Plugins/plugins/shiroverb |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|     113 | C* Plate - Versatile plate reverb                 | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/Plate                     |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|      83 | reverb                                            | http://drobilla.net/plugins/fomp/reverb                      |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|      55 | C* PlateX2 - Stereo in/out Versatile plate reverb | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/PlateX2                   |
+---------+---------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Simulator

+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                              | uri                                                            |
+=========+===================================+================================================================+
|     140 | Vintage Cabinets                  | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/cabsim-vintage         |
+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     114 | GxCabinet                         | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_cabinet#CABINET     |
+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|     103 | GxAlembic                         | http://guitarix.sourceforge.net/plugins/gx_studiopre#studiopre |
+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      96 | Onyx                              | http://VeJaPlugins.com/plugins/Release/onyx                    |
+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|      78 | C* AmpVTS - Tube amp + Tone stack | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/AmpVTS                      |
+---------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Spatial

+---------+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|   count | name                              | uri                                        |
+=========+===================================+============================================+
|      24 | C* Wider - Stereo image Synthesis | http://moddevices.com/plugins/caps/Wider   |
+---------+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|      24 | Ping Pong Pan                     | http://distrho.sf.net/plugins/PingPongPan  |
+---------+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|      21 | TAP AutoPanner                    | http://moddevices.com/plugins/tap/autopan  |
+---------+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|       5 | MDA RoundPan                      | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/RoundPan |
+---------+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+

Spectral

+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name         | uri                                                 |
+=========+==============+=====================================================+
|      64 | Drop         | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/Drop        |
+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
|      42 | Super Whammy | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/SuperWhammy |
+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
|      35 | MDA SubSynth | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/SubSynth          |
+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
|      31 | 2Voices      | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/2Voices     |
+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
|      25 | MDA Detune   | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mda/Detune            |
+---------+--------------+-----------------------------------------------------+

Utility

+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|   count | name               | uri                                                     |
+=========+====================+=========================================================+
|     575 | Gain 2x2           | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/Gain2x2         |
+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|     308 | Gain               | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/Gain            |
+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|     227 | the infamous mindi | http://ssj71.github.io/infamousPlugins/plugs.html#mindi |
+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|     188 | TinyGain Stereo    | http://gareus.org/oss/lv2/tinygain#stereo               |
+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|     179 | Switchbox 1-2      | http://moddevices.com/plugins/mod-devel/SwitchBox2      |
+---------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

pslh · January 25, 2024, 7:19pm

Hi Klaustrophil, thanks for the interesting experiment, I am using only a handful of these plugins so perhaps I am missing out.

I just want to note that this classification depends strongly on the way the plugins are tagged: for example
there are Chorus plugins such as the TAP Chorus/Flanger - MOD Audio that are not marked with the “Chorus” tag, but only with “Modulation”. Similarly the Mixer - MOD Audio and it’s stereo variant are both marked as “Utility” but not “Mixer”. The “Amplifier” tag appears to be used by two plugins, [ Plugins - MOD Audio ] but in the classification above I only see the RMPro not the GxCreamMachine - MOD Audio . This does perhaps expose some inconsistencies in the way plugin tags are assigned.

Techno · January 25, 2024, 8:34pm

I am trying out plugins as I got my device only weeks ago and it’s so hard to choose. This list gives me some hints on what to try first.

Thanks for the effort!

Zavorra · January 26, 2024, 7:19am

Thanks, really interesting.

I didn’t knew many of them