Please add an oversampling option in this and all your plugins to address the aliasing problem!? It seems like something so common sense. I love your plugins but they CAN be better. Some other companies such as Cytomic already do this.
great plugin overall when i use it inside ddmf metaplugin and oversample it it's identical with the hardware counterpart I've compared it too, good job dirk and people have to learn it's not you're fault if super cpu aren't created yet to handle a full hardware emulation but you give people the options to get the same identical sound with oversampling support with you're plugins, thx again.
Black Box offer various 'trims' for the hardware for users who want their unit to sound brighter or darker. We have modeled 'our' golden unit meticulously, and the plugin even offers various settings to mimic using various hw units. Like with compressors, all hw units that react to the input volume will be A/Bed closest to the original with the same converters that our developer use. Ultimately, as Dom says, even every hw unit sounds a bit different. This is why we have a patent for out TMT (Tolerance Modeling Technology) which takes these differences of various units or channels into account. We may include TMT with a future HG-2 upgrade... ;-)
Thanks so much for chiming in Dirk! I am a massive fan of your plugins (I think you can tell on many of my videos 🙂) and the HG-2 has been a revelation for me. If you managed to include your amazing M-S capabilities that you have on the other plugins (like the Purple that I also own ) on the Black Box I would be in heaven! Thank you for creating all these amazing tools !
I have the software version. The software version sounds great but after listening just on my phone I can hear easily that the hardware version sounds even better. No question about it. Great video, thank you. 👍😁
This is hands-down the best review I have seen on this box I’ve been looking at it for a while but no one seems to cover the way you did thank you so much!!!!
The hardware sounds noticeably better than the plug in and I'm kind of bummed about it to be honest because there's no way i can ever afford the real deal. Don't get me wrong i'm happy with the plug in but the hardware just sounds wider, bigger, more natural in the top end and more 3D. When he switches to the plug in it actually sounds as if the hardware has been bypassed. At extreme settings it's not even close :(
1 word it's due to aliasing you get a loss in clarity so if you want to get the same tone use a plugin called ddmf metaplugin that will give you the option to oversample it and get rid of aliasing also be careful to activate it in online mode when mixing the track set it to 16x for example and keep the offline oversample to x64 for the best quality when exporting or bouncing.
@@aviatedviewssound4798 Most people don't understand that. Software has really closed to gap... and this is coming from someone who has a studio full of hardware gears and vintage synths.
The plugin sounds VERY good. Especially if you never heard the hardware unit. But the hardware unit has much better low/high end and just gives everything depth. Hardware pushes things back and forward in the mix. I feel like you can match the plugin with the hardware by pushing the low end a bit more than on the hardware.
Your videos are superb! You not only brilliantly demonstrated and compared the hardware with the software, but the way you use video in video to show what you are doing (and what we are hearing) is fantastic. I am going to get the plugin soon and manifest my way to the hardware - nice to have access to as much analogue fairy dust as you want! :) Thanks for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to make the videos - very much appreciated! 👍
What a great video! Possibly best I've seen comparing analog and virtual versions of a piece of gear. You're awesome, and your passion shines through dude. Thank you!! The analog version truly sounds amazing. I laughed a little bit when I heard the plugin equivalent cuz I am mad the real deal gear sounds so huge. For now plugin it is, but damn what a great piece to save up for.
Thanks Dom! I've got the plug-in, and have been using it quite often; but I notice the hardware sounds a bit brighter. Either way one goes, it's a great piece of kit.
Awesome video! As for "does the hardware sound better" argument, the only way to tell is to do a blind test. Otherwise there's inevitable biasing. I own the plugin and this video made me value it more!
Great video man - nice one! Top job from Plugin Alliance - just got this on sale at Chrimbo for $29 !! I really don't think you're average music consumer listening to a song mixed with the plugin would give a damn - they're just listening to the song, but through a pair of analytical headphones and a decent interface it's the usual differences between software and hardware and that's the sense of spatial depth that the hardware has going for it. I thought the tones were really close except when the saturation was maxed out on the vocal track - just my two cents :)
Excellent video and a great comparison. The hardware did seem to sound a bit better, but I felt that on most occasions the plugin version was quieter by ~2 dB. I could be wrong, but just saying what I felt when listening. Either way, I really enjoyed this video. Your explanation is always very easy to understand. Thanks so much! :)
At the subtle settings that you will be using 90% of the time they both sound quite similar. But at the more extreme settings the hardware is more pleasant. Since I never really push the plugin that hard I am happy that I watched this video. Thanks 😎👍🏾
well... today the plugin was $29 so, for 95% the sound of the hardware, I'm very happy!! The last 5% of the hardware does sound amazing though... much more open and spacious.
Came back here after 2 years because I'm seriously thinking about getting the hardware unit. If this thing wasn't 4k€, I'd have jumped aboard a long time ago. Completely agree with you on the quality of the Plugin: the Blackbox HG-2MS and The Oven (both by PluginAlliance) are by far my favourite saturation plugins out there.
Fantastic Video Dom! I found the hardware to have more weight in the low’s and wider and brighter in the high end than the plugin. Now I need to get the hardware for the master buss.
I understand that we are living in the era of plugins but the herdware is and will always be the best, it is like comparing a living being with a photograph
@@Vossflying they are in the box because they can get millions of dollars selling plugins and courses of "do it by yourself without breaking the bank" thats it
@@Vossflying and yes, the plugins are great, but it depends when. Some plugins do things that hardware cant do. But when we are talking about equalizers, saturators and compressors... Sorry bro, but just the hardware or the Acustica Audio plugins can give that smooth, sweet, opened and fuller sound for you and your song.
BRILLIANT!! After your review (and I am a Plug lover) ... FALL IN LOVE WITH HARDWARE UNIT. IT IS AWESOME. It sounds so natural. So powerful but a the same time you maybe be subtle with it and the response is mouthwatering. Great Video.
Very nice audio demo Dom! For something like this, you've go with the hardware! Like you said man, it's the tubes! How do you replicate the sound of tubes in 1's and 0's? Shoot. But yes, the convenience of having as many of these boxes as you want all over your mix with the plugin means - you just gotta have both. 🙂 The plugin does a great job at emulating the hardware and I'm sure the people at Analog Design wouldn't let PA put their name on it if it wasn't as you said, at least 95% of the way there.
I'll share some experience: The plugin really sound very different according to the signal chain: in my fist try I prefered it AFTER the compressor, but that's because I had already set up the compressor and added the Black Box Plugin later on the mixbus, next to the ending of my mixing process. Although it was the opposite the staff told, I'll try it before compression in my next works. I Used it only once I was very surprised, very amazed with the outcome. Fantastic plugin, fantastic gear (I hope I use the hardware someday).
Thanks ! Thel pug-in don't have the magic of the hardware. The hardware is mor precise, and opens more the "air', and glue more the mix. I prefer the hardware version ! ;)
The Black Box is a beautiful box (in my opinion both in hardware and software :)). There are still a few cases where I fin the plugin works better surprisingly! Glad you enjoyed!
In 19:00 - I agree totally with you. Level match tends to be a bad joke, since all you need is to add clarity and high gain without clipping. That's all tracking / mixing and mastering is about: Keep things the loudest and clearest as possible. If the bypass sound is equal, you're not cranking your best gear as it should be. If the gear or plugin allowed you to reach higher power without clipping, it means you were successful in your job (the right eq /filter cut, etc).
Absolutely great video! I bought the plugin too and I'm happy with it. It just didn't make it on my masterbus or drumbus 'cause it reduces the extreme highs (over 16kHz) by default and there is nothing to do about it. In parallel or on tracks that don't contain extreme highs it works very well.
I've seen this video so many times, and I saw it again today because I'll maybe get a HG2 hardware in the near future. I already have the Plugin Alliance HG2 the std and the MS version and love it. I hope that the hardware won't disappoint me. But seeing your smile while you play with it, I'm sure it will not 😊 BTW if you have any tip to give it'll be welcome. Thanks again for this fantastic video Dom. Na eisai kala
The HG-2 is an amazing unit. As for plugin VS hardware? It's not even close. The plugin seems to fold on the low end quite a bit, distorting it in a less than pleasant way. The hardware, on the other hand, keeps the low end deep and focused. Thank you for the comparison!
Loved the video Dom!! but there are some additional settings in the plugin version that I really hoped you would have tried!! for instance, the density nob at the top
Thank you Craig! I know, I tried to use only the settings that are replicable on the hardware too. The plugin has some really cool features like the density, the air amount (on the hardware you have to open the unit and use the trims in order to change the amount of air amount) ! Also, the video would become 2 hrs long hahaha!
Awesome video as always. As you said there's no big difference soundwise. But if you look at the price gap and the 'total recall ability', it's another story. That's why I vote for the plugin.
Really good comparison! What I noticed in the first sine wave comparison at extreme settings is that the hardware has a higher level of odd harmonics and lower level of even harmonics than the plugin, and that's also what I think the difference in sound is at lower settings. I think this difference gives the hardware a slightly more open feel in the high end and more tightness in the bass end. With the second high frequency sine test which results in aliasing, using the plugin at 96khz would help reduce aliasing, and maybe the plugin manufacturer could update the plugin with some oversampling. But at the end of the day I don't think most people would use this plugin at such extreme settings, so it's probably a moot point. I do like the hardware better than the plugin, but the difference is small as you say. I own this plugin by the way, and use it a lot in my mixes, it is one of the best plugin saturators I've ever used.
Great unit, which I will never have ($$$). When you rammed up the saturation, everything sounded great, but the guitars. Other the that, I really loved the soft highs and the overall "weight" of the sound. And the perceivable loudness difference was huge.
I've been using The Oven and love it but this sounds great too. The hardware sounds clearer and more 3D like and better on high frequencies. I'd love to hear a shootout between this and the Oven.
Great expose as usual Dom. Very well done. What a wonderful tool, so tempted by this Box! The plug in sounds very similar in a superficial way but to my ears its obvious that it lacks the depth, clarity, spaciousness and magic of the box unfortunately. To me the plugin sounds great on the tracks within the mix and I would be happy to use just the plugin that way. But on a whole mix the plugin adds the color of the HG-2 but to the expense of clarity, depth and stereo field. With the plugin and the high end sounds a tad harsh, probably at least somewhat due to aliasing. I would never use the plugin on a mixbus from what I hear here. With the HG-2 everything sounds so open and the color it adds does not take anything away from the mix but adds so much life. I would love it on my mixbus!
It is natural that hardware and software differ from each other, and I think each has its own merits. It is interesting because you can make your favorite sound using those tools.
I love the plugin, it gives all material a lot of life. Hardware sounds brighter. The plugin is somewhat more subdued and compressed, but it still sounds great. I liked the video a lot. Thank you for doing it. Maybe in the future I will buy it. I plan to buy more analog equipment. I am thinking of an ssl fusion, a silverbullet and the black box. I have to think about it carefully .. I hope you are well. a greeting
Awesome demo, love the hardware! Honestly I feel a huge difference in the saturation btwn them (by listening to the video)... When the plugin emulation is on, it sounds like a plastic (degraded) 'MP3 version' of the song. For me is not even close emulation of the real one
I have to say I use the plugin version and I love it, but the hardware has this hint of high-end sheen to it that makes it better than the plugin of course, but they are really close!! Great "vs." comparison !!!
I'm not a professional by any means of the word but that VST is well done. My untrained ears says that its possible to get damn near a replication of the hardware using that VST. The difference between the two can't be worth paying damn near 3000 more to own the hardware. In general the Black Box is a necessary tool. Thanks!
I would use the Hardware unit on the most "Saturated" track on your mix. Not on the master bus. Due to the fact you are mentioning about alliasing. If the difference is so minimal between the Plug-in and HW on subtle settings then that should be the way to go in my opinion. Great video again Dom. Keep them coming ;)
State of the Art Show. And great Voice of the Lady. Listened very carefull through Bayerdynamics Phones. I'll go with the Hardware.. seems to be more pristine an in your Face. Will check the Plugin with some transients.. Thanks!!
Hey Dom, thank you for the amazing review of this device. Question: Do you maybe know if we can compare the overall function of this device to the Drive/Density knobs on the SSL Fusion? Thanks
I really DO apriccate your HONEST reviews - there are just to man youtubers now that just make reviews for money and are simply not honest. Please don't change!! :D
Great video like ever! For me the hardware sounds noticeably better than the plugin. The hardware sounds more open and more 3D. The plugin saturates more or less the lower frequency range. The hardware also enhances the higher frequencies in a very nice way. Even with cheaper headphones there's a huge difference for me. Nowadays there are many accurate emulations of famous eq's, compressors etc. at the market - but this one isn't very close enough to replace such a great hardware.
The Gui on the vst could have higher resolution. Pixellsted vst’s feel like 90’s things to me, and a polished beautiful plugins are so inspiring, especially if it’s modeled after existing hardware. Roland Cloud plugins are amazing at that. Both sound and look great
what a lengthy video but, fun. there's always that voltage image that analog differs from plugins besides the foldback, but plugins sound picture perfect these days that the difference is only voltage. I describe using "voltage" because the digital world feels in front....this dont make sense but imagine some one holding a dollar bill pressed on a window sliding it side to side, that's like digital to me, as to some one holding a dollar bill with two hands and moving it side to side...same thing except no window, so if you think about it, neither is better just different. Great vid tho. Love the Hilo.
there is no way plugins can compete with original hardwares , On mastering i want open , big , punchy ,upfront and not muddy And every hardware does this . can't wait to get most of my favorite hardwares in my studio !!!
![Black Box Analog Design HG-2 [Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BXn4vJAvcPE/mqdefault.jpg)
Great video!
Thank you Dirk!
Please add an oversampling option in this and all your plugins to address the aliasing problem!? It seems like something so common sense. I love your plugins but they CAN be better. Some other companies such as Cytomic already do this.
great plugin overall when i use it inside ddmf metaplugin and oversample it it's identical with the hardware counterpart I've compared it too, good job dirk and people have to learn it's not you're fault if super cpu aren't created yet to handle a full hardware emulation but you give people the options to get the same identical sound with oversampling support with you're plugins, thx again.
@@DalleyMusic Tyhe oversampling is automatic in Plugin alliance plugins
@@Vossflying Not all of them are. If they did there would be no aliasing.
Black Box offer various 'trims' for the hardware for users who want their unit to sound brighter or darker. We have modeled 'our' golden unit meticulously, and the plugin even offers various settings to mimic using various hw units. Like with compressors, all hw units that react to the input volume will be A/Bed closest to the original with the same converters that our developer use. Ultimately, as Dom says, even every hw unit sounds a bit different. This is why we have a patent for out TMT (Tolerance Modeling Technology) which takes these differences of various units or channels into account. We may include TMT with a future HG-2 upgrade... ;-)
Thanks so much for chiming in Dirk! I am a massive fan of your plugins (I think you can tell on many of my videos 🙂) and the HG-2 has been a revelation for me. If you managed to include your amazing M-S capabilities that you have on the other plugins (like the Purple that I also own ) on the Black Box I would be in heaven! Thank you for creating all these amazing tools !
yes please on the TMT :)
and thank you Dom, this is the demo I've been wanting. Cheers
Hi Dirk, do you plan on adding oversampling to the plugin??
I have the software version. The software version sounds great but after listening just on my phone I can hear easily that the hardware version sounds even better. No question about it.
Great video, thank you. 👍😁
Good content!!!!! This channel is getting better and better...comparing hardware to plugin is definitely an awesome idea. 💯💯💯💯
You are a great presenter. Straight to the point and cover everything I wanted to know. Excellent video thank you.
This is hands-down the best review I have seen on this box I’ve been looking at it for a while but no one seems to cover the way you did thank you so much!!!!
Thank you for saving me 4k :) much love to the channel! thx
The hardware sounds noticeably better than the plug in and I'm kind of bummed about it to be honest because there's no way i can ever afford the real deal. Don't get me wrong i'm happy with the plug in but the hardware just sounds wider, bigger, more natural in the top end and more 3D. When he switches to the plug in it actually sounds as if the hardware has been bypassed. At extreme settings it's not even close :(
the plugins pretty damn close, most people wouldnt notice
1 word it's due to aliasing you get a loss in clarity so if you want to get the same tone use a plugin called ddmf metaplugin that will give you the option to oversample it and get rid of aliasing also be careful to activate it in online mode when mixing the track set it to 16x for example and keep the offline oversample to x64 for the best quality when exporting or bouncing.
also i work in reaper at 96khz sample rate and export at 192khz with oversampling on all my plugins
@@aviatedviewssound4798 Most people don't understand that. Software has really closed to gap... and this is coming from someone who has a studio full of hardware gears and vintage synths.
Valid point
The plugin sounds VERY good. Especially if you never heard the hardware unit. But the hardware unit has much better low/high end and just gives everything depth. Hardware pushes things back and forward in the mix. I feel like you can match the plugin with the hardware by pushing the low end a bit more than on the hardware.
For me (the poor), the plugin fits very well. When I'm rich, I'll buy some Black Box hardwares.
Damn your mixes are crystal clear! Great job with the mix, great song and great video Dom :)
Your videos are superb! You not only brilliantly demonstrated and compared the hardware with the software, but the way you use video in video to show what you are doing (and what we are hearing) is fantastic. I am going to get the plugin soon and manifest my way to the hardware - nice to have access to as much analogue fairy dust as you want! :) Thanks for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to make the videos - very much appreciated! 👍
You are so welcome my friend! Have fun with the HG-2! ❤️
This is one of the best reviews I've ever seen.....period. Thank you.
Alright. I’m getting this.
Edit: I appreciate the demo, bud!
One of the best harware/software comparisons I've ever seen (and I've watch quite a few).
Great work Mr Sigalas! 👍
What a great video! Possibly best I've seen comparing analog and virtual versions of a piece of gear. You're awesome, and your passion shines through dude. Thank you!! The analog version truly sounds amazing. I laughed a little bit when I heard the plugin equivalent cuz I am mad the real deal gear sounds so huge. For now plugin it is, but damn what a great piece to save up for.
With the Sine waves my cat came over wondering what the heck was going on lol. great video as always!
Dom DOOOOM BOOOOM ! THX BRO - i would like to have both :-) what is the DIFF between HG2- and HG2 M ?
This thing is incredible! Thanks for your review! I use the plug in all the time and it's great but this unit is a different beast! Clearly! Subbed
I love using the plugin on a vocal buss. It just gives it a bit of sparkle
Excellent demo! I really appreciate you taking the time to do this
Thanks Dom! I've got the plug-in, and have been using it quite often; but I notice the hardware sounds a bit brighter. Either way one goes, it's a great piece of kit.
Love your channel. I appreciate an honest opinion. The more videos I catch from you, the more you have earned a trusted opinion. Thank you very much
It's on the list :) Thank you for taking the time to make this video! Great production, music, presentation, etc.
Awesome video! As for "does the hardware sound better" argument, the only way to tell is to do a blind test. Otherwise there's inevitable biasing. I own the plugin and this video made me value it more!
Great video man - nice one! Top job from Plugin Alliance - just got this on sale at Chrimbo for $29 !! I really don't think you're average music consumer listening to a song mixed with the plugin would give a damn - they're just listening to the song, but through a pair of analytical headphones and a decent interface it's the usual differences between software and hardware and that's the sense of spatial depth that the hardware has going for it. I thought the tones were really close except when the saturation was maxed out on the vocal track - just my two cents :)
Excellent video and a great comparison. The hardware did seem to sound a bit better, but I felt that on most occasions the plugin version was quieter by ~2 dB. I could be wrong, but just saying what I felt when listening. Either way, I really enjoyed this video. Your explanation is always very easy to understand. Thanks so much! :)
Very nice review! And especially the comparison between hardware and plugin is very helpful!
At the subtle settings that you will be using 90% of the time they both sound quite similar. But at the more extreme settings the hardware is more pleasant. Since I never really push the plugin that hard I am happy that I watched this video. Thanks 😎👍🏾
well... today the plugin was $29 so, for 95% the sound of the hardware, I'm very happy!! The last 5% of the hardware does sound amazing though... much more open and spacious.
Now a lot of people got it for free (until 26th april 2022). So it was a totally win! I bought it too for 29.99 some time ago...
Came back here after 2 years because I'm seriously thinking about getting the hardware unit. If this thing wasn't 4k€, I'd have jumped aboard a long time ago. Completely agree with you on the quality of the Plugin: the Blackbox HG-2MS and The Oven (both by PluginAlliance) are by far my favourite saturation plugins out there.
Fantastic Video Dom! I found the hardware to have more weight in the low’s and wider and brighter in the high end than the plugin. Now I need to get the hardware for the master buss.
Great break down. I love how much fun you have with the gear. That's what its all about.
I understand that we are living in the era of plugins but the herdware is and will always be the best, it is like comparing a living being with a photograph
That's why ALL the best mixing engineer are in the box today hahaha
@@Vossflying they are in the box because they can get millions of dollars selling plugins and courses of "do it by yourself without breaking the bank" thats it
@@Vossflying and yes, the plugins are great, but it depends when. Some plugins do things that hardware cant do. But when we are talking about equalizers, saturators and compressors... Sorry bro, but just the hardware or the Acustica Audio plugins can give that smooth, sweet, opened and fuller sound for you and your song.
Not always. Computing will catch up.
Wonderful video! And I can't choose. I would love to have it in both hardware and software. 😅❤️
Very good presentation imo. I appreciate very much how differentiated you approach this plugin vs hardware matter. Great. Cheers
Love the black box HG2. I have the plugin and use it on my synth leads. Just magical. Wish I could afford the hardware unit.
Thank you Tom, beautiful and useful video!
Very nicely done video. Exactly what I was looking for!
BRILLIANT!! After your review (and I am a Plug lover)
... FALL IN LOVE WITH HARDWARE UNIT. IT IS AWESOME. It sounds so natural. So powerful but a the same time you maybe be subtle with it and the response is mouthwatering.
Great Video.
Really happy you liked it fada !
Very nice audio demo Dom! For something like this, you've go with the hardware! Like you said man, it's the tubes! How do you replicate the sound of tubes in 1's and 0's? Shoot. But yes, the convenience of having as many of these boxes as you want all over your mix with the plugin means - you just gotta have both. 🙂 The plugin does a great job at emulating the hardware and I'm sure the people at Analog Design wouldn't let PA put their name on it if it wasn't as you said, at least 95% of the way there.
I'll share some experience: The plugin really sound very different according to the signal chain: in my fist try I prefered it AFTER the compressor, but that's because I had already set up the compressor and added the Black Box Plugin later on the mixbus, next to the ending of my mixing process. Although it was the opposite the staff told, I'll try it before compression in my next works. I Used it only once I was very surprised, very amazed with the outcome. Fantastic plugin, fantastic gear (I hope I use the hardware someday).
i use the plugin a lot with the dry/wet shortcut convenience. amazing video bro!
Never thought of putting this on my vocals. I must try👈🏽
Those 12AT7 tubes sure are providing massive headroom, just as intended!
The software plug in sounds quite impressive! Probably much more worth it in my opinion... Great job on the video.
Thanks ! Thel pug-in don't have the magic of the hardware. The hardware is mor precise, and opens more the "air', and glue more the mix. I prefer the hardware version ! ;)
The Black Box is a beautiful box (in my opinion both in hardware and software :)). There are still a few cases where I fin the plugin works better surprisingly! Glad you enjoyed!
Well no shit, there is a reason why HW is over 10 times the price of SW.
@@robertszordykowski4919 yeah right. I don’t know any HW that is delivering the analog magic, and the “effect”. They do the effect, but no magic!
In 19:00 - I agree totally with you. Level match tends to be a bad joke, since all you need is to add clarity and high gain without clipping. That's all tracking / mixing and mastering is about: Keep things the loudest and clearest as possible. If the bypass sound is equal, you're not cranking your best gear as it should be. If the gear or plugin allowed you to reach higher power without clipping, it means you were successful in your job (the right eq /filter cut, etc).
this was great info, man ! i will scout your channel for more ! thank you !
Absolutely great video! I bought the plugin too and I'm happy with it. It just didn't make it on my masterbus or drumbus 'cause it reduces the extreme highs (over 16kHz) by default and there is nothing to do about it. In parallel or on tracks that don't contain extreme highs it works very well.
the plugin sounds really good. the hardware sounds really really really really good :P
this plug-in is very cool, i use it sparingly on my masters ,adds a nice vibe , sparkle, punch
Don thanks to you I met the () And I just bought it a brand new at the Vintage King Audio music store.
Thank you so much for a Miami Florida
Hardware so much better :'(
Beautiful sounding song! With the Black Box come a little crushing, but nice. Thank you.
I've seen this video so many times, and I saw it again today because I'll maybe get a HG2 hardware in the near future. I already have the Plugin Alliance HG2 the std and the MS version and love it. I hope that the hardware won't disappoint me. But seeing your smile while you play with it, I'm sure it will not 😊 BTW if you have any tip to give it'll be welcome. Thanks again for this fantastic video Dom. Na eisai kala
Love your videos Dom! 😊👍
I love this thing. I only have access to the software version, but that will do for now. Fucking awesome channel, dude.
The plugin rocks my world!!!
the aliasing example is great thx
Thank you a lot! Very useful information!!
Getting the black asap wow I've been sleeping on this unit
I don’t own the hardware but the plug-in so sick it will literally make anything sound better
Dom, you're a legend.
The HG-2 is an amazing unit. As for plugin VS hardware? It's not even close. The plugin seems to fold on the low end quite a bit, distorting it in a less than pleasant way. The hardware, on the other hand, keeps the low end deep and focused. Thank you for the comparison!
Hardware hands down, but I will be looking at the plugin too.
Both of them are beautiful in my opinion- I don't know what it is about them but they sound good on everything!
Loved the video Dom!! but there are some additional settings in the plugin version that I really hoped you would have tried!! for instance, the density nob at the top
Thank you Craig! I know, I tried to use only the settings that are replicable on the hardware too. The plugin has some really cool features like the density, the air amount (on the hardware you have to open the unit and use the trims in order to change the amount of air amount) ! Also, the video would become 2 hrs long hahaha!
@@DomSigalas I get it.... great video still. I hope to own an hg2 hardware unit one day!!
I love your work dude. Thanks for your awesome and informative videos. Your my idol. Gracias.
Awesome video as always.
As you said there's no big difference soundwise. But if you look at the price gap and the 'total recall ability', it's another story. That's why I vote for the plugin.
the best Black Box Video ever the Hardware is 1000000 times better
Really good comparison! What I noticed in the first sine wave comparison at extreme settings is that the hardware has a higher level of odd harmonics and lower level of even harmonics than the plugin, and that's also what I think the difference in sound is at lower settings. I think this difference gives the hardware a slightly more open feel in the high end and more tightness in the bass end. With the second high frequency sine test which results in aliasing, using the plugin at 96khz would help reduce aliasing, and maybe the plugin manufacturer could update the plugin with some oversampling. But at the end of the day I don't think most people would use this plugin at such extreme settings, so it's probably a moot point. I do like the hardware better than the plugin, but the difference is small as you say. I own this plugin by the way, and use it a lot in my mixes, it is one of the best plugin saturators I've ever used.
Amazing box 😍😍😍
Great unit, which I will never have ($$$).
When you rammed up the saturation, everything sounded great, but the guitars. Other the that, I really loved the soft highs and the overall "weight" of the sound.
And the perceivable loudness difference was huge.
Nice job, Dom. I thought the hardware sounded more open. The plugin had a bit denser sound to me, less energetic compared with the hardware.
really interesting thank you.
I've been using The Oven and love it but this sounds great too. The hardware sounds clearer and more 3D like and better on high frequencies. I'd love to hear a shootout between this and the Oven.
Great expose as usual Dom. Very well done. What a wonderful tool, so tempted by this Box! The plug in sounds very similar in a superficial way but to my ears its obvious that it lacks the depth, clarity, spaciousness and magic of the box unfortunately. To me the plugin sounds great on the tracks within the mix and I would be happy to use just the plugin that way. But on a whole mix the plugin adds the color of the HG-2 but to the expense of clarity, depth and stereo field. With the plugin and the high end sounds a tad harsh, probably at least somewhat due to aliasing. I would never use the plugin on a mixbus from what I hear here. With the HG-2 everything sounds so open and the color it adds does not take anything away from the mix but adds so much life. I would love it on my mixbus!
It is natural that hardware and software differ from each other, and I think each has its own merits. It is interesting because you can make your favorite sound using those tools.
I love the plugin, it gives all material a lot of life. Hardware sounds brighter. The plugin is somewhat more subdued and compressed, but it still sounds great. I liked the video a lot. Thank you for doing it. Maybe in the future I will buy it. I plan to buy more analog equipment. I am thinking of an ssl fusion, a silverbullet and the black box. I have to think about it carefully .. I hope you are well. a greeting
Awesome demo, love the hardware! Honestly I feel a huge difference in the saturation btwn them (by listening to the video)...
When the plugin emulation is on, it sounds like a plastic (degraded) 'MP3 version' of the song. For me is not even close emulation of the real one
I have to say I use the plugin version and I love it, but the hardware has this hint of high-end sheen to it that makes it better than the plugin of course, but they are really close!! Great "vs." comparison !!!
wonderful and very useful video
Definitely a MACHINE you have here :)
I'm not a professional by any means of the word but that VST is well done. My untrained ears says that its possible to get damn near a replication of the hardware using that VST. The difference between the two can't be worth paying damn near 3000 more to own the hardware. In general the Black Box is a necessary tool. Thanks!
bruh.... the hardware is a BEAST :o
I would use the Hardware unit on the most "Saturated" track on your mix. Not on the master bus. Due to the fact you are mentioning about alliasing. If the difference is so minimal between the Plug-in and HW on subtle settings then that should be the way to go in my opinion. Great video again Dom. Keep them coming ;)
State of the Art Show. And great Voice of the Lady. Listened very carefull through Bayerdynamics Phones. I'll go with the Hardware.. seems to be more pristine an in your Face. Will check the Plugin with some transients.. Thanks!!
Hey Dom, thank you for the amazing review of this device. Question: Do you maybe know if we can compare the overall function of this device to the Drive/Density knobs on the SSL Fusion? Thanks
Great review bro! Makes me wanna buy both :)
Maaaaaan ! Thank you! This unit is pure gold I never regretted getting it! You will love it for the stuff you do!
I really DO apriccate your HONEST reviews - there are just to man youtubers now that just make reviews for money and are simply not honest. Please don't change!! :D
Great hybrid Setup
I'd crank that Saturation more like 1 oclock or 2! Makes that track sounds better to me!
Used both of them and totally agree with you ;-)
The magician Dom with his magic box creating magic music! 😉
Naa Dom isn't a magician, he is just lucky, he don't know what he is doing... he try to do his best...😋🤭
No ok, he knows his craft... well done Dom
Mimidhof Dom Sigalas are extremely talented! If you disagree you don't know enough about him and his work and skills!
@@mimidhof2179 He is an awesome artist with a unique style! Who can doubt it?
CinderellaVasia You're very beautiful Cinderella! ❤️
Com'on I'm just joking...🖖😋
Great video like ever! For me the hardware sounds noticeably better than the plugin. The hardware sounds more open and more 3D. The plugin saturates more or less the lower frequency range. The hardware also enhances the higher frequencies in a very nice way. Even with cheaper headphones there's a huge difference for me. Nowadays there are many accurate emulations of famous eq's, compressors etc. at the market - but this one isn't very close enough to replace such a great hardware.
Dom, at 25:30 your pre filter is red and it looks like it’s bypassing certain frequencies; how!?
thanks for the video ! I prefer the hardware !
The Gui on the vst could have higher resolution. Pixellsted vst’s feel like 90’s things to me, and a polished beautiful plugins are so inspiring, especially if it’s modeled after existing hardware. Roland Cloud plugins are amazing at that. Both sound and look great
Acustica Audio Diamond smoke that. It’s modelt after Luca Pretolesis chain, included with the HG-2. But is a pain in the ass tu handle it.
what a lengthy video but, fun. there's always that voltage image that analog differs from plugins besides the foldback, but plugins sound picture perfect these days that the difference is only voltage. I describe using "voltage" because the digital world feels in front....this dont make sense but imagine some one holding a dollar bill pressed on a window sliding it side to side, that's like digital to me, as to some one holding a dollar bill with two hands and moving it side to side...same thing except no window, so if you think about it, neither is better just different. Great vid tho. Love the Hilo.
there is no way plugins can compete with original hardwares , On mastering i want open , big , punchy ,upfront and not muddy And every hardware does this . can't wait to get most of my favorite hardwares in my studio !!!