Hi Tim, thank you so much for this video. Wow the difference is so clear. Now I have to make the big move 😀. Tim I really appreciate the time you put in and also keeping your word. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
The hardware sounds more 3d with more depth, hard to explain, but it gives a nice finished “expensive sound” if thst makes sense. Great video man thx!!
Hey! Both are top-notch but serve different purposes. The Elysia Alpha is super clean, precise, and punchy - great for tight, modern hip hop/pop mixes where you need transparency and control. The DW Fearn VT-7, on the other hand, has a beautiful tube warmth and musical vibe, perfect for adding depth and character. If you want a more polished and detailed sound, go with the Alpha. If you're after warmth and vibe, the VT-7 is your guy. Hope this helps!
An abysmal difference, beautiful medium-bass harmonics, it almost seems that they are not matched A/B. I too wanted to make a similar video but I never finished. I am a happy owner of the Alpha compressor and I find it amazing. He does stunts to solve a unique mastering. You don't think there is a comparable machine!
Thank you for your comment. In fact there are many outstanding mastering compressors. To my taste DW Fearn VT7 and Alpha are the best ones. Together they work just fine.
@@boogiesnail 165 / 5.000 Risultati della traduzione Risultato di traduzione star_border The DW.....VT7 is also beautiful. Unfortunately at the time I chose a manlei vari mu and The Phoenix Mastering Plus... But I would really like to have a VT 7 . Good work.
@@bomimasteringstudio Manley Vari MU is a mastering classic 👍 and the Phoenix is an outstanding mastering comp 👌 I know both of them!!! Thank you! Happy mastering!
Thanks for the video. Holy cow the difference is night and day in terms of cohesiveness of sound and just the quality of the processing. Now I don't know what to do as that Alpha hardware unit is outta my price range... something to aim for :)
What really would be interesting is to compare the Alpha to a modern digital mastering compressor like Tone Projects Unisum. There would be less of a difference in tone I bet. Also it would be interesting to hear the difference because the Unisum has advanced parameters which could be benefitial in a comparison.
Hi, one question I have regarding all plugin vs hardware comparisons including this one, is the hardware signal affected/improved/more 3D etc as a result of added harmonics via the necessary signal chain?
Thank you for your question. Hardware processors often provide a certain warmth and color that many audio engineers and producers find desirable. The analog circuitry can introduce harmonics and subtle distortion, which can be pleasing to the ear. More than that each piece of hardware has its own unique sonic character, which can add a distinct flavor to the audio. This can be especially valuable in mastering to add a touch of uniqueness to the final product.
Sorry for the delay - thank you for the explanation. For the test to be accurate, should/was the plugin be operated from a second computer routed into the same console/conversion as the hardware so the hardware Alpha is not benefiting from any additional harmonics imparted by the console? @@boogiesnail
Do this with no fade. After a slow fade, whatever comes in next at full volume will sound “best” every time. It takes a very trained, discerning ear to REALLY hear the differences here tat aren’t volume-related. 6:13
@@boogiesnail Hardware makes the sound better, more detail in mids, better and punchier bass.. but i can achieve this with much less expensive gear. It`s amazing compressor tho, if you can afford it 💯💯
@@DJURBANBG Totally get it! Hardware does add that special something-better mids, punchier bass. But yeah, you can get great results with cheaper gear too. It’s like driving a Ferrari vs. a Honda-both get you there, but one feels extra fancy. 😄 Glad you liked the compressor! If only we could all afford a rack full of these! 🙏
can you please show how you set the MAAT DRM MK II and all of its feature and its usage next, like your favourite setup, what to aim for, what to pay attention during mastering etc ? Thanks.
It's a very noticeable difference, but the plugin still sounds good. It doesn't sound anemic. I may be able to get one high-end compressor. Out of everything I've heard on RUclips videos, I prefer the sound of the Shadow Hills the most. Even more than something like an Unfairchild. Have you ever worked with one? I'm definitely interested in your opinion of it.
Thank you for your comment. I had a chance to try the Shadow Hills. It is a great compressor. Though I invested in DW Fearn VT7. To me this tube compressor is more outstanding than the SH. I never had a chance to try the Unfairchild but I hear only positive reviews about it. I'm very interested to try it in action. As for the ALPHA, I'm over the moon!!!
I bought the Unfairchild which I tried so hard to love it but after couple of weeks trying everything, I have to return it.. It was painful. Now I’m going to try the alpha in couple days if it’s gonna give me what I’m looking for. The unfairchild couldn’t retain the low ends so lets see if the alpha will. With the tube sound I don’t if the black box hg2 hardware will produce that magic combination with the alpha . Finger crossed 🤞🏾😊
@@OfficialAlexZitto Thanks for sharing this detail about the Unfairchild. To retain the low end in mastering is quite an important thing. As for ALPHA, it is so versatile. It works perfectly with the low end and high end and stereo image. You can apply various techniques to achieve an outstanding result. Try it and hopefully you'll love it as me :)
@@OfficialAlexZitto I was listening to a bunch of wav files of various compressors in a Gearspace thread earlier. A lot of hardware can sound very forward, even abrasive. Alpha was toward that style. The Shadow Hills Van der graaf or whatever the name is was really smooth. So was Dangerous, Manley Smack, and Thermionic Phoenix. VSC-2 was also really good. There was another one I really liked. I guess some of the samples were done with more compression than one would normally use. Just to show how they are when pushed. You might want to go have a listen. For me, I still prefer that Shadow Hills sound signature most of the time. It’s also the way it organizes the stereo image. To find that thread I think I searched google for SHMC and thermionic phoenix. Or maybe it was tubecore. That one had a good sound too. I listened to the Fearn compressor and it was really kinda clean in the videos I saw. Reminds me of Acustica, but better. It’d be great if we could just get all sorts of hardware used on the same clips in one easy to find place. It’s just this big guessing game trying to make a decision based on limited info.
They have different input and threshold stages. Strange compare. Software version has an activity, while hardware isn't and this is the reason why it sounds cleaner and louder (what our mind percieve as better), cuz it's not compressing to me anyway. It could be more significant if you could apply more compression to listen how both version handles it and sounds. Anyway i appreciate your intensions and time. It was interesting to watch and listen.
I've been using the plugin and achieving my best masters ever when added to my post-Fusion plugin chain. Getting down to crunch time to see if I can get some new hardware or not. How is the transformer compared to the warm button on the plugin? Sounds like they modeled something else for the latter based on the PA manual. I've listened to this again a few times and the hardware has a much wider stereo image, more impact, deeper bass, and clearer highs. Plugin still sounds pretty decent, but this hardware is just next level.
The HW's transformer button is quite a different beast in comparison with the warm button on the plugin. Alpha HW is evident example why hardware cannot be fully replaced by software. Plugin represents very well overall character of Alpha and I use it with pleasure. What plugin cannot capture to full extent is feel of space. It somehow subtracts a layer of that and makes whole sonic picture less 3D. After several months of using Alpha HW I remain impressed by its core sonic qualities, compared to virtually any mastering compressor I've used in my life. The alpha HW is an outstanding and amazing compressor.
@@boogiesnail So, you’d take that over Shadow Hills or a good Fairchild clone? Can I ask if this Alpha hardware is something that draws clients to you? Here I have no way to test gear. Skill cannot replace what the Alpha hardware does. Saying stuff like that triggers a lot of people for some reason. So much complaining in hardware vs plugin discussions. But at least your viewers are civil. You run a great channel here. You’re maybe the only one really showing the Alpha hardware a lot. Very hard to find samples of it. Thanks again for providing them!
@@viciousblissvideos Thank you. No it is not true that customers chose my mastering service because of the analog gear I have in my studio. They don't care. They need the result. And all my analog gear is my tool to achieve this result. You may achieve your result just using only digital tools. Everyone of us chooses our own way to develop our signature style so to say. As for the Shadow Hills, it is a great compressor but I personally preferred to invest in DW VT7 and ALPHA and Roger Foot P4SME.
@@boogiesnail That's definitely interesting. I've had three other guys on here tell me hardware ended up enticing the clients. Two said the Shadow Hills was the big draw with one saying just the way it looked drew them in even if they ended up using something else. This Alpha video may end up drawing you some clients eventually, you've done a really good job showing what it can do!
Not even close. Oddly, something more comparable to the hardware in DSP land is the Sonoris Mastering Compressor - it's got a very similar attack/release behaviour, keeps the highs and transients intact like good hardware, and can also pull off some of the Xpressor tricks convincingly (but not the negative ratios). I don't know why something that's not supposed to be an emulation sounds so much more like the hardware, whereas the officially licensed plugin isn't even in the same league at all.
Can you show yourself in front of the hardware unit? Or better, hold the hardware in the video? What I can see is two GUI's in the video - no hardware. Your video's don't look like you are in a studio - it looks like amateur green screen backgrounds.
Thank you for your kind comment 🙏🏻 My Alpha is in my rack, that’s for sure. I’ve got another video review where I’m holding this piece of art in my arms. Here it is ruclips.net/video/22FUgbRyg-s/видео.htmlsi=m_DEvnnAd3h-5hu1
Hi Tim, thank you so much for this video. Wow the difference is so clear. Now I have to make the big move 😀. Tim I really appreciate the time you put in and also keeping your word. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you 🙏🏻 You’re always welcome 🤝
The hardware sounds more 3d with more depth, hard to explain, but it gives a nice finished “expensive sound” if thst makes sense. Great video man thx!!
🎯🎯🎯 Thank you 🙏🏻
Hey Tim. Since you’ve used both, which comp do you think is best suited for modern hip hop/pop? Alpha or VT-5? Hard to demo both.
Hey! Both are top-notch but serve different purposes. The Elysia Alpha is super clean, precise, and punchy - great for tight, modern hip hop/pop mixes where you need transparency and control. The DW Fearn VT-7, on the other hand, has a beautiful tube warmth and musical vibe, perfect for adding depth and character. If you want a more polished and detailed sound, go with the Alpha. If you're after warmth and vibe, the VT-7 is your guy. Hope this helps!
@@boogiesnail PERFECTLY described. Hard to get opinions from people that haven’t used both. Thank you!!
Night and day
🎯🎯🎯🙏🏻🤝
An abysmal difference, beautiful medium-bass harmonics, it almost seems that they are not matched A/B.
I too wanted to make a similar video but I never finished. I am a happy owner of the Alpha compressor and I find it amazing. He does stunts to solve a unique mastering. You don't think there is a comparable machine!
Thank you for your comment. In fact there are many outstanding mastering compressors. To my taste DW Fearn VT7 and Alpha are the best ones. Together they work just fine.
@@boogiesnail
165 / 5.000
Risultati della traduzione
Risultato di traduzione
star_border
The DW.....VT7 is also beautiful. Unfortunately at the time I chose a manlei vari mu and The Phoenix Mastering Plus... But I would really like to have a VT 7 . Good work.
@@bomimasteringstudio Manley Vari MU is a mastering classic 👍 and the Phoenix is an outstanding mastering comp 👌 I know both of them!!! Thank you! Happy mastering!
Thanks for the video. Holy cow the difference is night and day in terms of cohesiveness of sound and just the quality of the processing. Now I don't know what to do as that Alpha hardware unit is outta my price range... something to aim for :)
Thank you 🙏🏻 Check Roger Foote P4S ME please. It’s not that expensive but it’s one of the best mastering compressors on the market 👍🏻
@@boogiesnail I will, thank you for the heads up!
@@owlmuso Always welcome 🙏🏻
Hardware 10! Plugin 7 ! The problem is 10K !😔😔😔
Thank you 🙏🏻 very well 👍🏻🎯🎯🎯
What really would be interesting is to compare the Alpha to a modern digital mastering compressor like Tone Projects Unisum. There would be less of a difference in tone I bet. Also it would be interesting to hear the difference because the Unisum has advanced parameters which could be benefitial in a comparison.
Thank you 🙏🏻 Good idea 👍🏻 I will think about it 🤝
Hi, one question I have regarding all plugin vs hardware comparisons including this one, is the hardware signal affected/improved/more 3D etc as a result of added harmonics via the necessary signal chain?
Thank you for your question. Hardware processors often provide a certain warmth and color that many audio engineers and producers find desirable. The analog circuitry can introduce harmonics and subtle distortion, which can be pleasing to the ear. More than that each piece of hardware has its own unique sonic character, which can add a distinct flavor to the audio. This can be especially valuable in mastering to add a touch of uniqueness to the final product.
Sorry for the delay - thank you for the explanation. For the test to be accurate, should/was the plugin be operated from a second computer routed into the same console/conversion as the hardware so the hardware Alpha is not benefiting from any additional harmonics imparted by the console? @@boogiesnail
@@johnhaddad1270 Thank you for pro advice 👍🏻🙏🏻🤝
Do this with no fade. After a slow fade, whatever comes in next at full volume will sound “best” every time. It takes a very trained, discerning ear to REALLY hear the differences here tat aren’t volume-related. 6:13
Thank you for your comment 🙏🏻 I'll keep that in mind next time 🤝
SOFT > 1:40 / 4:14 - 4:40 / 7:04 - 7:19 / 8:57 / 11:30
HARD> 2:54 / 5:44 - 6:10 / 7:57 - 8:13 / 10:08 / 12:37
Ah, the secret formula to mastering with Alpha!
Thanks for the timestamps, looks like you've got the Alpha GPS! 🚀 😉🤝
@@boogiesnail Hardware makes the sound better, more detail in mids, better and punchier bass.. but i can achieve this with much less expensive gear. It`s amazing compressor tho, if you can afford it 💯💯
@@DJURBANBG Totally get it! Hardware does add that special something-better mids, punchier bass. But yeah, you can get great results with cheaper gear too.
It’s like driving a Ferrari vs. a Honda-both get you there, but one feels extra fancy. 😄
Glad you liked the compressor! If only we could all afford a rack full of these! 🙏
can you please show how you set the MAAT DRM MK II and all of its feature and its usage next, like your favourite setup, what to aim for, what to pay attention during mastering etc ? Thanks.
Thank you. Yes, sure 👍🏻
It's a very noticeable difference, but the plugin still sounds good. It doesn't sound anemic. I may be able to get one high-end compressor. Out of everything I've heard on RUclips videos, I prefer the sound of the Shadow Hills the most. Even more than something like an Unfairchild. Have you ever worked with one? I'm definitely interested in your opinion of it.
Thank you for your comment. I had a chance to try the Shadow Hills. It is a great compressor. Though I invested in DW Fearn VT7. To me this tube compressor is more outstanding than the SH. I never had a chance to try the Unfairchild but I hear only positive reviews about it. I'm very interested to try it in action. As for the ALPHA, I'm over the moon!!!
I bought the Unfairchild which I tried so hard to love it but after couple of weeks trying everything, I have to return it.. It was painful. Now I’m going to try the alpha in couple days if it’s gonna give me what I’m looking for. The unfairchild couldn’t retain the low ends so lets see if the alpha will. With the tube sound I don’t if the black box hg2 hardware will produce that magic combination with the alpha . Finger crossed 🤞🏾😊
@@OfficialAlexZitto Thanks for sharing this detail about the Unfairchild. To retain the low end in mastering is quite an important thing. As for ALPHA, it is so versatile. It works perfectly with the low end and high end and stereo image. You can apply various techniques to achieve an outstanding result. Try it and hopefully you'll love it as me :)
@@OfficialAlexZitto I was listening to a bunch of wav files of various compressors in a Gearspace thread earlier. A lot of hardware can sound very forward, even abrasive. Alpha was toward that style. The Shadow Hills Van der graaf or whatever the name is was really smooth. So was Dangerous, Manley Smack, and Thermionic Phoenix. VSC-2 was also really good. There was another one I really liked.
I guess some of the samples were done with more compression than one would normally use. Just to show how they are when pushed. You might want to go have a listen.
For me, I still prefer that Shadow Hills sound signature most of the time. It’s also the way it organizes the stereo image. To find that thread I think I searched google for SHMC and thermionic phoenix. Or maybe it was tubecore. That one had a good sound too.
I listened to the Fearn compressor and it was really kinda clean in the videos I saw. Reminds me of Acustica, but better. It’d be great if we could just get all sorts of hardware used on the same clips in one easy to find place. It’s just this big guessing game trying to make a decision based on limited info.
They have different input and threshold stages. Strange compare. Software version has an activity, while hardware isn't and this is the reason why it sounds cleaner and louder (what our mind percieve as better), cuz it's not compressing to me anyway. It could be more significant if you could apply more compression to listen how both version handles it and sounds.
Anyway i appreciate your intensions and time. It was interesting to watch and listen.
Спасибо 🙏🏻 Хорошее замечание 👍🏻 Учту на будущее 🤝
Well seems the plugin is emulating well the faceplate... not to mention the crazy peak/apparent level difference between plugin and hardware
Thank you for your comment 👍🏻🎯
even with pretty basic monitoring when you turn it up you can hear the hardware has more depth/3d width esp on the edm example sub bass
maybe this can be enhanced a bit ITB doing some processing on m/s but i dunno for tracking/production, i'll take the hardware
100% 🎯🎯🎯
It's because the transients are slightly blurry on the PA and UAD versions. Apparently it's the AA filter that causes this effect.
What is that red unit behind you
DW Fearn VT5 and DW Fearn VT7
How does the VT7 compare to the Alpha?
Ouvindo pelo smatphone e ja da pra peecerber que é noite e dia.
Absolutely! It's like comparing a flashlight to the sun. Who knew our little devices could reveal such epic battles? 😂🌞📱
Hardware definitely
🎯🙏🏻🤝
I've been using the plugin and achieving my best masters ever when added to my post-Fusion plugin chain. Getting down to crunch time to see if I can get some new hardware or not. How is the transformer compared to the warm button on the plugin? Sounds like they modeled something else for the latter based on the PA manual. I've listened to this again a few times and the hardware has a much wider stereo image, more impact, deeper bass, and clearer highs. Plugin still sounds pretty decent, but this hardware is just next level.
The HW's transformer button is quite a different beast in comparison with the warm button on the plugin. Alpha HW is evident example why hardware cannot be fully replaced by software. Plugin represents very well overall character of Alpha and I use it with pleasure. What plugin cannot capture to full extent is feel of space. It somehow subtracts a layer of that and makes whole sonic picture less 3D. After several months of using Alpha HW I remain impressed by its core sonic qualities, compared to virtually any mastering compressor I've used in my life. The alpha HW is an outstanding and amazing compressor.
@@boogiesnail So, you’d take that over Shadow Hills or a good Fairchild clone? Can I ask if this Alpha hardware is something that draws clients to you? Here I have no way to test gear. Skill cannot replace what the Alpha hardware does. Saying stuff like that triggers a lot of people for some reason. So much complaining in hardware vs plugin discussions.
But at least your viewers are civil. You run a great channel here. You’re maybe the only one really showing the Alpha hardware a lot. Very hard to find samples of it. Thanks again for providing them!
@@viciousblissvideos Thank you. No it is not true that customers chose my mastering service because of the analog gear I have in my studio. They don't care. They need the result. And all my analog gear is my tool to achieve this result. You may achieve your result just using only digital tools. Everyone of us chooses our own way to develop our signature style so to say.
As for the Shadow Hills, it is a great compressor but I personally preferred to invest in DW VT7 and ALPHA and Roger Foot P4SME.
@@boogiesnail That's definitely interesting. I've had three other guys on here tell me hardware ended up enticing the clients. Two said the Shadow Hills was the big draw with one saying just the way it looked drew them in even if they ended up using something else. This Alpha video may end up drawing you some clients eventually, you've done a really good job showing what it can do!
@@viciousblissvideos So far I haven't got any request from a customer to use this comp :) Let's see!
Not even close. Oddly, something more comparable to the hardware in DSP land is the Sonoris Mastering Compressor - it's got a very similar attack/release behaviour, keeps the highs and transients intact like good hardware, and can also pull off some of the Xpressor tricks convincingly (but not the negative ratios). I don't know why something that's not supposed to be an emulation sounds so much more like the hardware, whereas the officially licensed plugin isn't even in the same league at all.
🎯🎯🎯👍🏻
Finally
🙏🏻🤝
⭐️⭐️
🤝✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤝👍🏻
❤
🤝🙏🏻
Can you show yourself in front of the hardware unit? Or better, hold the hardware in the video? What I can see is two GUI's in the video - no hardware. Your video's don't look like you are in a studio - it looks like amateur green screen backgrounds.
Thank you for your kind comment 🙏🏻 My Alpha is in my rack, that’s for sure. I’ve got another video review where I’m holding this piece of art in my arms. Here it is ruclips.net/video/22FUgbRyg-s/видео.htmlsi=m_DEvnnAd3h-5hu1
I listen to DT-990 headphones and immediately hear the difference... But I don’t have $10,000 ((((
Thank you for your comment 👍🏻That’s a pity 🤗
Hardware 10 from 10
Plugin 4 from 10
Hardware sounds louder...
Thank you for your comment 🙏🏻