Dude, you've been the ONLY reviewer that actually mentioned the worthy facts that makes the difference between a Great Interface vs Starting Interface. Noise levels, decibels, Round Trip Latency with low buffers and Pre-Amps. +1 and great job
i own an SSL 2+. the straight mic preamps are great. 4K adds an attempt to sound like an 80's slightly overpushed analog channel, but sounds more tape burn, and on some sources rather bright and biting. handy but not a 'go to' button. self noise is pretty good for me with a noise floor of around -110db no input and -100db with the valve mics in wavelab. bang for buck it can't be beat and the reliable sound from SSL is legendary. we will hear a lot more from users in the future and the success they achieved for low budgets. hopefully new high end budget stuff from the likes of SSL and opposition interfaces will raise the bar even further... but hey, if you have this level of interface, good mics/instruments, a bit of talent etc.... all you need is the right song... this unit is capable of commercial grade releases and that's exactly what we dream of.
can you run a bass amp or guitar amp luxury plugin (BX , Softube etc) and get no noticeable lag? UAD Apollo X4 is my go to - and their amps are like playing the real thing - and I own the real thing, lol.
Mine buzzes and crackles in the first instrument channel and the 2nd channel just outright failed. It wasn't like that after I first bought it ... The SSL 2s don't last ... Only had it for about a year. I don't know why these things are getting such solid reviews.
Out of everyone who reviewed the new SSL interface...Yours is simply the best.. You actually Tested it...no one else tested shit lol .... the others all read what the specs say and just repeat it....after taking an hour to unbox it... THANK YOU Ola
@@Hugmir Oh I saw those before this ....and I could give a shit about podcasting and how a Shure SM7B either works with this or not...A microphone I will never own...thanks
Is it me , or last sunday you said that making a man Bun with your hair is bad ,😏 mmmmmmhhhhh . Ola , explain this pls edit : thanks To everyone for liking this comment , and thank you Ola for liking it as Well, even tho i edited the comment and your like disapearded, you made my day Ola and everyone else too , and then people think metalheads are angry and agressive all the time , they have never watched Ola's videos , metalheads actually take care of each other and respect other metalheads, the metal community is the best community that i've been part of
Wasn't Ola's point that keeping your hair tied up for long periods of time damages the hair and scalp? He wasn't saying to never do it unless I am thinking of the wrong video.
Man Bun's apparently only for very serious professional hardware reviews. *pokes Ola* This makes me laugh and Peace to Ola and all people of Sweden. Lols :-)
I have used and tested both interfaces. The RTL for the SSL 2 (usb) is twice that of the Arrow (thunderbolt). You have to go into the settings of the arrow and set the lag to zero, then you get sub 4ms RTL at 96 kHz w/128 samples. But the Arrow is meant to be used with the onboard DSP, for which the RTL is 1-2ms, even without changing the settings.
@@levondarratt787 SSL 2 has true direct monitoring, so you can hear your DI (no effects) in real time. That works great for bass, not so much for vocals or electric guitar.
Ola! San Antonio, Texas here! What a great job comparing the SSL 2 Audio interface with the Arrow and Ensemble units. Very impressive. Nerdy but necessary.
Just bought an SSL2+ and did those tests and my noise level its completely low, looking just like the Apogee Ensemble one, but mine starts in the 2k area. The Latency is 6,8 roundtrip (2,8 Output) Overall I'm loving it, specially for the price, since here in Brazil we're in a terrible situation and the Apogee one's are just too expensive. Anyway thanks Ola, amazing video!
Dang that noise floor... i bought an SSL2+ unit that sweetwater had used in some demonstrations so i got it cheaper, and a couple weeks before most ppl got theirs. Im really happy with the 4k sound, it helps me get killer guitar tones
Honestly impressed with the review, wish there were more interface reviews like this. One point of constructive criticism: The difference in levels on the DI recording made judging the samples really difficult. To our ears louder sounds better, and thus my initial impression was that the SSL sounds way worse than the other too, which I'm not sure is correct. You may want to normalize these clips so they have the same energy level.
At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Those are minor differences that look huge when you zoom on the. But we're walking details here and there that could be matched with slight EQ moves.
the main reason the ensemble noise floor is higher than the UAD arrow is the preamp gain is 10db more than the arrow,in the high gain situation, 10db is a big step
You should totally do a short home recording series! I know there are plenty of videos out there but people want to see YOU specifically. I imagine it would go over well!
Important information for people who have old M-Audio interfaces: Windows 10 recognizes the devices and runs the latest version of the M-Audio app. That means altough they're not supported anymore you can use them without drivers. I was about to buy a new interface but decided to give it a shit a sure enough my Mobile Pre USB and my Jam lab both work just fine in Windows and reaper.
I couldn't tell you how many creators / influencers that I've watched on the topic of audio interfaces. But you're the only one so far that have addressed the true questions and priorities of a working engineer / musician. Thank you!
Worth mentioning, they recently updated the drivers with software loopback. So its as easy as selecting loopback as your audio input for live streaming or playing over zoom etc. Thats a feature that isn't mentioned on the box.
Great demo of this interface! I've just recently started to use my SSL 2+ and I'm really happy with it. I try to make a slightly wide range of recordings and it really works well for most every use case. Great punchy clean tones and shows off the sound of my stratocaster in funk and works great with my plug ins when I do a more distorted metal sound!
Nice review. I watched it about a month or so back prior to buying the SSL as a backup interface. But after some meticulous testing Ive come to the conclusion that you must have some kind of USB noise or interference going on there. The only way I could even come close to what you demonstrated was using an unbalanced cable with both LINE and HI-Z in the ON position and the input volume maxed out, and even then it wasn't close to the amount of noise you were getting. Its also worth mentioning that the difference between the input gain being at 9 versus 10, the audible noise was significantly lower. I then tested some guitar recordings and found that even just recording directly from the guitar to the SSL, there was no usage scenario where I really needed to have the input volume past 50%-70% up. And certainly not 90%-100%. SO I think in every day use this noise will not be a problem, and for stereo signals with balances cables, its non-existent. Unless users have some kind of USB interference going on, or record only mono inputs using unbalanced cables with the input gain beyond 70%, its not likely to be problematic. For those that fit that criteria, maybe skip this LOL. Overall, I think its a decent little interface (dare I call it "little") for the price, especially the lesser expensive 2x2 version. I also have an Apollo, so this is just a backup unit for me. Thanks again for the review!
I noticed breaking up and noise in mine, amd I'm curious if there are any noise reducing usb cables that can filter any of that out on the way to the computer.
The magic of the SSL is the noise and distortion it produces, that’s the color of those crazy expensive consoles… the sound of billions of dollars in hugely successful recordings… I love my SSL2+, just kills it, it takes that sterile sound away and makes damn near everything sound better… the 4K is like magic… The only thing I’ll bitch about is the monitor drive is a little weak it doesn’t push my monitors hard enough… If you can’t make a recording with the SSL then you need to find a different musician not a better interface….
Just for fun, I tested my U-phoria UMC22 by the same standards you presented here. The noise level was unbelievably low (on par or even LESS than the UAD Arrow) and the latency was pretty close to the SSL2 (7,2 round trip and 3,2 output). The last interface I used was a TC Electronic Impact Twin and the clarity is on par with that. Apparently the MIDAS preamp they put in these things is pretty legit. I use it with an SM7b and EMG 81/85s and it sounds crazy good. When I bought mine, they were literally $40. They've since gone up in price to $68, but still. An absolute steal as a backup or even a main (since I'm using mine now all the time). Check it out sometime!
People dismiss Behringer stuff as cheap and trash, but honestly it's some pretty good stuff. I haven't had any issues with my 404HD and I've had it for 2 years. I had one issue trying to use it as my main sound card in Windows but I finally realized all this time I had the WRONG one installed. Apparently they had one specifically for Windows 10... Sure as the world my issue was gone. I felt really dumb after that.
Epic tip with how to test the noise...lol sorry for the multiple comments but I love this video. Lots of cool stuff and info here! I just tested my interface with the multimeter plugin (make sure to turn any noise gates off!) and it's in line with your Arrow.
Hi! Happy to read that :) I was wondering, what was your previous interface? At the moment I have a Focusrite Scarlett, and I don't know what's the best upgrade. God bless ya
Thanks Ola! Very helpful video as I just got an M1 Mac and wanted an interface. You saved me from making a mistake going with something like Focusbrite.
Nice! I was recommending this to our guitarist, but he chose the focusrite scarlet, because it is cheaper. I would say in a budget range get this SSL or the Audient ID14! The scarlet is not too bad, but when I compare his and my DI signals the Audient wins for sure. And for the noise floor... that is an issue, but you will not crank the gain up to such levels to record anything except maybe some whispering vocals. So the noise floor is not really a problem. Like Ola said, it is pretty great for the price for homerecording. Interfaces are one of the most important parts in your studio and worth the 100 bugs more in comparison to other budget interfaces. And the SSL is pretty versatile with that midi option, too! If I'd buy a new budget interface it would be this one! If you are a beginner you cannot go wrong with it! I am still happy with the ID14, but this is really great for the price!
What did you have connected to the input when you looked at the noise at max gain? If you have the input open, then it will have high noise, but it's not a meaningful test. Julian Krause found the SSL 2 to have exceptionally low noise with a dummy load connected to the input.
About time you got nerdy again Englund, great demonstration thanks.
4 года назад+1
I'm planning to buy SSL 2+ and this comparison review is the best ever about this product. You should make more videos about recording gear Ola, Thanks!
Really great content man! Those kind of reviews are putting numbers into play when it comes to compare one product to another. It's not nerdy, it's professional. One suggestion I may give for a futur video would to analyze different kinds of distorted guitar signal chains in terms of their frequency content. There must be quite a lot to say about a good chugging guitar sound spectrum and a bad one...
I really liked this video! It was awesome for you to show the input latency which a lot of people in other videos gloss over. Thank you, Ola. I've been looking for a new interface because I'm sick of the driver annoyances with my Focusrite 2i2 2nd gen. I'm trying to decide between this unit and the Axe I/O.
Hi Ola, it would be really cool if you could compare more consumer level audio interfaces like the audient id14 or focusrite scarlett 2i2 with your other gear. Thanks for this really informative comparison!
Hi Ola, just a note when testing the noisefloors of the preamps with gain maxed. Some interfaces ground the preamp input if no jack is plugged in, while some don't; so to ensure a fair comparism it's worthwhile to put a jack plug (with no cable) in the input.
@@c0ldcity No, I think you want to short the input on all interfaces. The noise level of a floating high impedance input is not really representative of anything.
That was very beneficial video to me. I was thinking to buy SSL, and after seeing this I will change my mind to another interface less noisier. Thank you Ola. I would buy something more expensive. But, better sound quality and last longer. It's like an investment.
Thank you! I've been looking forward to your review of the SSL! Sounds like a good replacement for my old Line6 UX1. BTW, you are awesome! Thanks for all the great work you do!
This is EXACTLY why I’m a member. I have been trying to figure out how to select a good audio interface between the cheaper (100-600 USD) and then the jump to (1-3K) audio interfaces. I’m too much of a recording newbie to go buy a badass Apogee interface, but the I’ve been eyeballing a couple UADs and the fact the UAD is so comparable to the Apogee just solidified my decision I do believe. Thanks again Ola 🤘🏼
Got this one, very happy with it! Its nice and small, does its job well and doesnt put myself as a beginner with the whole interface stuff in front of too many questions... Thanks for the recommandation!
The IK Axe I/O solo is ~$20 more than this and not only do you get the tone controls / active & passive pickup selector on the pre-amp, but you can also use it as a re-amp box. When I saw "budget" in the title I thought this was going to be like $150-100 or less. Doesn't seem worth it to me, but that's just my opinion ^_^ Also FYI, the original company SSL has little to do with making these. They sold their company in 2017, these units are made in China, and basically they just have the SSL branding slapped on there...just seems like a blatant cash grab to me. They were not made in the same place or even by the same people that designed those legendary SSL mixing consoles that helped create all the music that we love.
Loved how thorough you are with this testing. I wish other content creators did such a thorough job. I'm in the market for an audio interface and am thinking of going with the Tascam Model 12 because it covers so much. I just wish there was a thorough video documenting tests like this one for it.
Ola, great video! this is very helpful for me, as i have been in the market for a new interface for awhile, and you're doing a great job educating me, teaching me exactly what i want when looking for a new interface.
Excellent, Ola! Nerdy stuff is ok, I think most of us are nerdy as hell, like you maybe, so please do more like this, I'm sure lot of people enjoyed this one as much as I did, It remainds me some of your old videos. Awesome one, cheers from Venezuela.
MOTU M2 and M4 has my attention not only for their great sound and lowest noise floor but supposedly they have the lowest latency of any budget interface. Important if you use softsynths etc. They also have front panel meters that are very high end looking and actually useable.
I know this reply is 2 years late but this is correct. Julian Krause has a great video on these interfaces and even has a video about both MOTU m2 and the SSL showcased here.
Ola, you probably already know this, but it's worth checking: see if the power adapter for the unit is too close to another one that makes noise, and/or if any of your signal cables are passing close to it. I've come across this when dealing with my interface -- my phone charger emits high-frequency noise which both the interface power adapter and headphone cable would pick up. Moving the power adapter for the interface 1 or 2 plugs away and making sure all the signal cables weren't near the noisy bit helped a ton.
@@user-dv1jz5od6k Not sure I understand how your question relates to my comment :) I was explaining how the noise that Ola got in the video might not be from the interface.
I like my scarlett 2i2 but the output and pad on the preamps isn’t configured properly. I can clip the line level input running my guitar direct to interface. It should barely register on line level input. You get what you pay for up to a certain point which is a shame because the scarlett preamps sound good at that price point.
@@NOKnova same I have the 2i2 and it clips like a bitch. Waste of money. Are you using the 1/4" input or the XLR? I've ordered a Neutrik XLR to TRS adapter (female/female) so that I can try using my Rockboard MOD 5 cab sim into it
I use a scarlett solo so not exactly a 2i2 but using 1/4" jack also gives me the clipping with line on and off, just settled with cranking down the gain on my esp and my input channel
There's no point, dude. The SSL2+ beats the focusrite scarlett by a fuckin landslide. I know this, because I just got my ssl2+ in the mail today, and sold my scarlett. The scarlett is trash. Seriously. Trash. The converters are ass, the noise floor is high, the DRIVERS ARE ASS, ive had the scarlett for like a year or so, and it has produced so many goddamn problems that have messed up my workflow as a producer. The drivers alone are so flawed for win10 that I've experienced like 10 crashes in the last few months. You can get around it by plugging the device into a USB hub rather than into the usb port on the computer... but it does create even more latency. SSL2+ is the best audio interface in this price range to date in terms of sound quality, conversion quality, in terms of low noise floor, it runs flawlessly on windows 10 with no hiccups, and the software you get along with it is far superior to the focusrite scarlett software. You get 4k analog processing and you will not find any type of analog processing on any audio interface in this price range. The SSL preamps are far superior to the preamps in the scarlett. You dont need a review now. i just gave you one. Also id like to point out that the ssl2+ stands next to UAD apollo and twin. We should be thanking ssl for this. This is a good start. The scarlett is completely irrelevant now, good riddance. Apollo twin needs to have a price reduction of at least $300 since the SSL2 came out. Ssl2 killed focusrite, killed audient, killed m-audio, killed tascam, killed UAD as far as interfaces in this price range. they should all be scrambling to make a better, and cheaper rival product now. I feel bad for anyone who gets stuck with a scarlett, and worse for those who burned a hole in their wallets paying for overpriced UAD interfaces.
I've got ssl2, and i can tell you the preamps are amazing and 4k adds little character for very nice sound. No problems so far, clear and true to life sound, even old condenser microphone sounds good 👍
Hey Ola, let's nerd this out full-on re latency! The UA Apollos come with built in DSPs and when you combine this with "in the box" monitoring it allows for a suuuuper short latency, while STILL having for example a killer TS/Diezel sound to record with (dry and/or wet). Compared to all other interfaces, THIS is the greatest selling point for the Apollo interfaces for guitarists - 1.5ms latency definitely feels so much better than 7.9ms! Prost!
Yes, the UAD stuff FEELS like playing a guitar in a room. Latency has always bugged me and distracts me from just relaxing and playing. I agree UAD is well worth the cost difference.
This is a cool comparison Ola, interesting to see and hear the differences between the different preamps, I’ve been using the same Focusrite Scarlett seemingly every amateur uses, so its great to tangibly hear the added value I could gain (pun intended) from something more high end, cheers!
Very nice to see a somewhat straight forward (nerdy) video on here, would love to see more like this. Also im curious about his choice of dialing back the gain on the interface when recording, when i watch Misha Mansoor doing his tutorials he always turns the gain up to right before you start to clip (go from green to yellow/red) when doing heavy chugs.
Great review! Bought a new Mac and found out my Thunderbolt T4 isn't compatible with the latest Mac OS. Need to get recording and I think this is all i'll need. Thanks for making up my mind for me, Ola!
Really good video. Pity you did not include comparable offering from Focusrite. SSL do say that the 4K is mainly for vocal or special microphone applications, such as recording percussion. My SSL 2+ is nowhere near as noisy as your demo. I am using an active mains filter to power my PC and good quality USB cable with RF choke. (That's the lump on the cable to reduce electrical influence through the cable.)
It's simple. When you play modern metal with maxed out gain even a 4000$ won't make a huge difference. Most of the time the noise would be much higher in your pickups compared to an interface. High gain metal guitars especially. Everyone should consider the Mooer GE series as a budget option. I have tried the GE200 and with third party IRs and the new amp profiling that was introduced in the latest upade it sounds absolutely massive for a 250usd multi effects unit. It also also helps that it has a built in interface that you can use to use PC based amps and IRs. Of course the DAC and ADC in the interfaces that Ola is testing here are much better than the Mooer ones it still gets the job done when it comes to maximum gain metal.
Alright here you go, an EXTREMELY nerdy video of the SSL interface! See Description for a link to the DI files I made for this video,
Love the nerdfest video. I still get shit for recording DI but it’s way more versatile when recording in my opinion.
I only "disliked" because the "likes" were @ 333..haha \,,,/
Hey Ola, do you use Superior Drummer for your drums?
Thanks! altho slightly disappointed by that buzz when pushed, still ordering this!
I watch some “audiophile” videos. They talk about noise from the power block of sources. You can buy blocks with shielded cables. Might help.
Dude, you've been the ONLY reviewer that actually mentioned the worthy facts that makes the difference between a Great Interface vs Starting Interface. Noise levels, decibels, Round Trip Latency with low buffers and Pre-Amps. +1 and great job
i own an SSL 2+. the straight mic preamps are great. 4K adds an attempt to sound like an 80's slightly overpushed analog channel, but sounds more tape burn, and on some sources rather bright and biting. handy but not a 'go to' button.
self noise is pretty good for me with a noise floor of around -110db no input and -100db with the valve mics in wavelab.
bang for buck it can't be beat and the reliable sound from SSL is legendary. we will hear a lot more from users in the future and the success they achieved for low budgets.
hopefully new high end budget stuff from the likes of SSL and opposition interfaces will raise the bar even further... but hey, if you have this level of interface, good mics/instruments, a bit of talent etc.... all you need is the right song... this unit is capable of commercial grade releases and that's exactly what we dream of.
can you run a bass amp or guitar amp luxury plugin (BX , Softube etc) and get no noticeable lag? UAD Apollo X4 is my go to - and their amps are like playing the real thing - and I own the real thing, lol.
Mine buzzes and crackles in the first instrument channel and the 2nd channel just outright failed. It wasn't like that after I first bought it ... The SSL 2s don't last ... Only had it for about a year. I don't know why these things are getting such solid reviews.
Ola: the difference becomes more clear when you add distortion
Me: hearing even less difference
I just tracked my bands entire album with the SSL 2+ for the vocals and they came out insanely good. Great piece of equipment here 🤘🏻
Is the album online? Would love to hear it.
@@StarWarsRumors yep, search: Wild Chariot - reaching for the sky
@@jesseaviman wow, sounds amazing. We’re the guitars sims or real amps?
it's not my kind of music, but really good work on the sound, the voices, the mix, and nice playing !!!!!
@@StarWarsRumors thanks. Yes all real amps and drums too with samples blended.
Like videos like this, lace us up Ola, the more nerdy more better,
Yeah, a whole side series oh home recording is needed! Love this stuff even if more clarity means exposing my amateur playing...
All about the nerdy tests Ola. Keep em coming.
exakt! ... Ola knows his stuff 👍
A thorough and concise review. Thanks for mentioning latency, as most interface reviews don't, for some reason.
Out of everyone who reviewed the new SSL interface...Yours is simply the best.. You actually Tested it...no one else tested shit lol .... the others all read what the specs say and just repeat it....after taking an hour to unbox it... THANK YOU Ola
Are you unaware of the existence of Podcastage? or Julian Krause's channel? People did test this thing on other channels.
@@Hugmir Oh I saw those before this ....and I could give a shit about podcasting and how a Shure SM7B either works with this or not...A microphone I will never own...thanks
Is it me , or last sunday you said that making a man Bun with your hair is bad ,😏 mmmmmmhhhhh . Ola , explain this pls
edit : thanks To everyone for liking this comment , and thank you Ola for liking it as Well, even tho i edited the comment and your like disapearded, you made my day Ola and everyone else too , and then people think metalheads are angry and agressive all the time , they have never watched Ola's videos , metalheads actually take care of each other and respect other metalheads, the metal community is the best community that i've been part of
I thought the very same thing.
Man bun. Lol.
I kno. I went around all day thinkin I was a douche! Lol I immediately put my hair down. Thanks Ola!
Wasn't Ola's point that keeping your hair tied up for long periods of time damages the hair and scalp? He wasn't saying to never do it unless I am thinking of the wrong video.
Man Bun's apparently only for very serious professional hardware reviews. *pokes Ola*
This makes me laugh and Peace to Ola and all people of Sweden. Lols :-)
This was a great review. My personal favorite that you've done.
Round-trip latency. Finally a comparison of it. THANK YOU OLA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I have used and tested both interfaces. The RTL for the SSL 2 (usb) is twice that of the Arrow (thunderbolt). You have to go into the settings of the arrow and set the lag to zero, then you get sub 4ms RTL at 96 kHz w/128 samples. But the Arrow is meant to be used with the onboard DSP, for which the RTL is 1-2ms, even without changing the settings.
@@alexcarey6569 year...so no way to play the SSL2+ as a tight bass player in real time?
@@levondarratt787 SSL 2 has true direct monitoring, so you can hear your DI (no effects) in real time. That works great for bass, not so much for vocals or electric guitar.
Ola! San Antonio, Texas here! What a great job comparing the SSL 2 Audio interface with the Arrow and Ensemble units. Very impressive. Nerdy but necessary.
Dude, that soundboard at the beginning gets me everytime.
I played that part over and over. Laughed every single time. I'm okay with it
Hi Ola !
I bought the SSL2 after seeing this, and it's f$#**#* great !
I bought mine last week entirely based on your excitement for it and it's SO good. Thank you for being excited about it haha
I just bought mine for the exact same reason.
Sounding serious and professional while discussing recording. How long it has been.
These videos are pure gold
Right lol it kinda threw me off I was like oh shit... It's business Ola today guess I better clean up my posture.
Remember his how to record metal guitar videso 😂
2:44 Some seconds of Christopher Walken impression - Ola, you nailed it!
Just bought an SSL2+ and did those tests and my noise level its completely low, looking just like the Apogee Ensemble one, but mine starts in the 2k area. The Latency is 6,8 roundtrip (2,8 Output) Overall I'm loving it, specially for the price, since here in Brazil we're in a terrible situation and the Apogee one's are just too expensive. Anyway thanks Ola, amazing video!
This is too noisy, must be a USB ground loop or something
Dang that noise floor... i bought an SSL2+ unit that sweetwater had used in some demonstrations so i got it cheaper, and a couple weeks before most ppl got theirs. Im really happy with the 4k sound, it helps me get killer guitar tones
I just got the SSL2+ and it sounds so beautiful on guitars and drums! 🔥 So happy with it
So wierd I was just thinking about what interface options were out there. Thx Ola
start watching video thinking about the SSL 2, leave video needing the Apogee Ensemble
I had an Ensemble, worst piece of gear I ever brought. It even completely died just after the warranty ended.
The audience ID14 is pretty killer for this type of application. good customer support too
@@lordmanshaft1112 Audient*
@@23Guitardood Thanks; Autocorrect strikes again.
Save your money and buy an Audient id44, better DAC, or just go all out and get a metric halo
This video couldn't come at a better time for me. I have just purchased an audio interface and this answered some of my question.
Goddamn I love the gear nerd videos, it kicks ass just talking about gear in depth!
Honestly impressed with the review, wish there were more interface reviews like this.
One point of constructive criticism: The difference in levels on the DI recording made judging the samples really difficult. To our ears louder sounds better, and thus my initial impression was that the SSL sounds way worse than the other too, which I'm not sure is correct. You may want to normalize these clips so they have the same energy level.
At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Those are minor differences that look huge when you zoom on the. But we're walking details here and there that could be matched with slight EQ moves.
Super interesting video. Considering upgrading my focusrite these days without not knowing what to look for. This is gold
I also read that a very good price-point competitor would be the Audient iD14.
the main reason the ensemble noise floor is higher than the UAD arrow is the preamp gain is 10db more than the arrow,in the high gain situation, 10db is a big step
NOT a nerdy vid at all! Great honest a/b comparison, I do not have $10000 falling from my pockets. Great vid! my hats off....Kevin
You should totally do a short home recording series! I know there are plenty of videos out there but people want to see YOU specifically. I imagine it would go over well!
Important information for people who have old M-Audio interfaces: Windows 10 recognizes the devices and runs the latest version of the M-Audio app. That means altough they're not supported anymore you can use them without drivers. I was about to buy a new interface but decided to give it a shit a sure enough my Mobile Pre USB and my Jam lab both work just fine in Windows and reaper.
How do you not have more subscribers? Seriously, youre fucking hilarious and seem as down to earth as a fresh grave. You deserve more.
I couldn't tell you how many creators / influencers that I've watched on the topic of audio interfaces.
But you're the only one so far that have addressed the true questions and priorities of a working engineer / musician.
Thank you!
Worth mentioning, they recently updated the drivers with software loopback. So its as easy as selecting loopback as your audio input for live streaming or playing over zoom etc. Thats a feature that isn't mentioned on the box.
Great demo of this interface! I've just recently started to use my SSL 2+ and I'm really happy with it. I try to make a slightly wide range of recordings and it really works well for most every use case. Great punchy clean tones and shows off the sound of my stratocaster in funk and works great with my plug ins when I do a more distorted metal sound!
How's it going after 7 months?
Nice review. I watched it about a month or so back prior to buying the SSL as a backup interface. But after some meticulous testing Ive come to the conclusion that you must have some kind of USB noise or interference going on there. The only way I could even come close to what you demonstrated was using an unbalanced cable with both LINE and HI-Z in the ON position and the input volume maxed out, and even then it wasn't close to the amount of noise you were getting. Its also worth mentioning that the difference between the input gain being at 9 versus 10, the audible noise was significantly lower.
I then tested some guitar recordings and found that even just recording directly from the guitar to the SSL, there was no usage scenario where I really needed to have the input volume past 50%-70% up. And certainly not 90%-100%. SO I think in every day use this noise will not be a problem, and for stereo signals with balances cables, its non-existent. Unless users have some kind of USB interference going on, or record only mono inputs using unbalanced cables with the input gain beyond 70%, its not likely to be problematic. For those that fit that criteria, maybe skip this LOL.
Overall, I think its a decent little interface (dare I call it "little") for the price, especially the lesser expensive 2x2 version.
I also have an Apollo, so this is just a backup unit for me. Thanks again for the review!
I noticed breaking up and noise in mine, amd I'm curious if there are any noise reducing usb cables that can filter any of that out on the way to the computer.
"is this the longest cable in the world right now?" that was really funny!
The magic of the SSL is the noise and distortion it produces, that’s the color of those crazy expensive consoles… the sound of billions of dollars in hugely successful recordings… I love my SSL2+, just kills it, it takes that sterile sound away and makes damn near everything sound better… the 4K is like magic… The only thing I’ll bitch about is the monitor drive is a little weak it doesn’t push my monitors hard enough… If you can’t make a recording with the SSL then you need to find a different musician not a better interface….
Tks Ola, I was awaiting for a metal Guy to test the ssl!
most thorough and proper test of an interface I've seen, more technical stuff please
You have no idea for how long I've been looking for a video like this, awesome dude! Very informative and to the point
I actually think this is exactly how one SHOULD REVIEW THESE!!!!!! THANKS!!!!
Glad you did a video on this interface for all us nerds. thanks ola.
Just for fun, I tested my U-phoria UMC22 by the same standards you presented here. The noise level was unbelievably low (on par or even LESS than the UAD Arrow) and the latency was pretty close to the SSL2 (7,2 round trip and 3,2 output). The last interface I used was a TC Electronic Impact Twin and the clarity is on par with that. Apparently the MIDAS preamp they put in these things is pretty legit. I use it with an SM7b and EMG 81/85s and it sounds crazy good. When I bought mine, they were literally $40. They've since gone up in price to $68, but still. An absolute steal as a backup or even a main (since I'm using mine now all the time). Check it out sometime!
People dismiss Behringer stuff as cheap and trash, but honestly it's some pretty good stuff. I haven't had any issues with my 404HD and I've had it for 2 years. I had one issue trying to use it as my main sound card in Windows but I finally realized all this time I had the WRONG one installed. Apparently they had one specifically for Windows 10... Sure as the world my issue was gone. I felt really dumb after that.
Epic tip with how to test the noise...lol sorry for the multiple comments but I love this video. Lots of cool stuff and info here! I just tested my interface with the multimeter plugin (make sure to turn any noise gates off!) and it's in line with your Arrow.
I bought SSL2 because of this video 😀 My guitar sounds so much better then trough my old interface. Presets in my amp-sim now sounds great.
Hi! Happy to read that :) I was wondering, what was your previous interface?
At the moment I have a Focusrite Scarlett, and I don't know what's the best upgrade. God bless ya
@@alanterry9993 I dont think that SSL2 is much of an upgrade to Scarlett. But I had old Fender Mustang 1 amplifier with usb connection.
@@alanterry9993 definately an upgrade, i owned the solo, 2i2 and 4i4. Since owning the SSL2+ have never had a desire to upgrade to anything else.
@@Afrofeet The SSL2 pre-amps mop the floor with the Scarlett.
Thanks Ola! Very helpful video as I just got an M1 Mac and wanted an interface. You saved me from making a mistake going with something like Focusbrite.
what did you wind up getting? I'm about to pull the trigger on Mac Mini M1 as my old Mac Pro just died. Basically I'm going from 2008 to 2022.
Nice! I was recommending this to our guitarist, but he chose the focusrite scarlet, because it is cheaper. I would say in a budget range get this SSL or the Audient ID14! The scarlet is not too bad, but when I compare his and my DI signals the Audient wins for sure. And for the noise floor... that is an issue, but you will not crank the gain up to such levels to record anything except maybe some whispering vocals. So the noise floor is not really a problem. Like Ola said, it is pretty great for the price for homerecording. Interfaces are one of the most important parts in your studio and worth the 100 bugs more in comparison to other budget interfaces. And the SSL is pretty versatile with that midi option, too! If I'd buy a new budget interface it would be this one! If you are a beginner you cannot go wrong with it! I am still happy with the ID14, but this is really great for the price!
Hello! What do you think about Motu M2? Is Motu M2 better?
What did you have connected to the input when you looked at the noise at max gain? If you have the input open, then it will have high noise, but it's not a meaningful test. Julian Krause found the SSL 2 to have exceptionally low noise with a dummy load connected to the input.
i was thinking that that noise measurement could not be right.
Also, this interface seems it will be super useful for me. Thank you for your hard work you put into your demos 🤘🏻🤘🏻
These are the kind of videos we're looking for when we look for differences between audio interfaces. Thanks good man for a proper well made video.
About time you got nerdy again Englund, great demonstration thanks.
I'm planning to buy SSL 2+ and this comparison review is the best ever about this product. You should make more videos about recording gear Ola, Thanks!
Been waiting for this video. I’m in the market and needed Ola’s stamp of approval! Thank you!
Really great content man! Those kind of reviews are putting numbers into play when it comes to compare one product to another.
It's not nerdy, it's professional.
One suggestion I may give for a futur video would to analyze different kinds of distorted guitar signal chains in terms of their frequency content.
There must be quite a lot to say about a good chugging guitar sound spectrum and a bad one...
I really liked this video! It was awesome for you to show the input latency which a lot of people in other videos gloss over. Thank you, Ola. I've been looking for a new interface because I'm sick of the driver annoyances with my Focusrite 2i2 2nd gen. I'm trying to decide between this unit and the Axe I/O.
I got the axe i/o a few months ago, isn't too bad, plus amplitube 4 comes with it.
I bout the Axe I/O recently and am super happy with it so far. No noise at all and low latency
Hi Ola,
it would be really cool if you could compare more consumer level audio interfaces like the audient id14 or focusrite scarlett 2i2 with your other gear. Thanks for this really informative comparison!
Hi Ola, just a note when testing the noisefloors of the preamps with gain maxed. Some interfaces ground the preamp input if no jack is plugged in, while some don't; so to ensure a fair comparism it's worthwhile to put a jack plug (with no cable) in the input.
Just to add -- even better than a metal jack is a piece of 6mm wooden dowel, just to open the jack socket switch contacts.
@@c0ldcity No, I think you want to short the input on all interfaces. The noise level of a floating high impedance input is not really representative of anything.
That was very beneficial video to me. I was thinking to buy SSL, and after seeing this I will change my mind to another interface less noisier. Thank you Ola.
I would buy something more expensive. But, better sound quality and last longer. It's like an investment.
Thanks for the upload, I just bought this unit because of youre video .
Bra och tydlig genomgång av produkterna, kul att du dessutom körde gitarren direkt i ljudkorten.
Thank you! I've been looking forward to your review of the SSL! Sounds like a good replacement for my old Line6 UX1. BTW, you are awesome! Thanks for all the great work you do!
Did you buy the ssl? How is it vs the ux1?
This is EXACTLY why I’m a member. I have been trying to figure out how to select a good audio interface between the cheaper (100-600 USD) and then the jump to (1-3K) audio interfaces. I’m too much of a recording newbie to go buy a badass Apogee interface, but the I’ve been eyeballing a couple UADs and the fact the UAD is so comparable to the Apogee just solidified my decision I do believe. Thanks again Ola 🤘🏼
Got this one, very happy with it! Its nice and small, does its job well and doesnt put myself as a beginner with the whole interface stuff in front of too many questions... Thanks for the recommandation!
Word of the day "yourself" Nice video and very informative Ola!
OMG I had no idea SSL finally made an interface for home studios?!?!?!!!!!! Thank you for covering this!!!!🙏🏻
The IK Axe I/O solo is ~$20 more than this and not only do you get the tone controls / active & passive pickup selector on the pre-amp, but you can also use it as a re-amp box. When I saw "budget" in the title I thought this was going to be like $150-100 or less. Doesn't seem worth it to me, but that's just my opinion ^_^ Also FYI, the original company SSL has little to do with making these. They sold their company in 2017, these units are made in China, and basically they just have the SSL branding slapped on there...just seems like a blatant cash grab to me. They were not made in the same place or even by the same people that designed those legendary SSL mixing consoles that helped create all the music that we love.
Great video! I love the very organized and structured review format!
Loved how thorough you are with this testing. I wish other content creators did such a thorough job. I'm in the market for an audio interface and am thinking of going with the Tascam Model 12 because it covers so much. I just wish there was a thorough video documenting tests like this one for it.
This video came at the perfect time for me. Thanks for the advice, Ola.
This was a great, sound, analysis. You continue to be the man!! Thanks, and stay safe and sane...ish.
Ola, great video! this is very helpful for me, as i have been in the market for a new interface for awhile, and you're doing a great job educating me, teaching me exactly what i want when looking for a new interface.
More of these comparing interfaces, really informative!
just bought SSL2+ and saw the lowest buffer size available is 16 samples. 2.5 latency which surprised me for real. good buy overall.
Excellent, Ola! Nerdy stuff is ok, I think most of us are nerdy as hell, like you maybe, so please do more like this, I'm sure lot of people enjoyed this one as much as I did, It remainds me some of your old videos. Awesome one, cheers from Venezuela.
MOTU M2 and M4 has my attention not only for their great sound and lowest noise floor but supposedly they have the lowest latency of any budget interface. Important if you use softsynths etc. They also have front panel meters that are very high end looking and actually useable.
I know this reply is 2 years late but this is correct. Julian Krause has a great video on these interfaces and even has a video about both MOTU m2 and the SSL showcased here.
Ola, you probably already know this, but it's worth checking: see if the power adapter for the unit is too close to another one that makes noise, and/or if any of your signal cables are passing close to it. I've come across this when dealing with my interface -- my phone charger emits high-frequency noise which both the interface power adapter and headphone cable would pick up. Moving the power adapter for the interface 1 or 2 plugs away and making sure all the signal cables weren't near the noisy bit helped a ton.
@@user-dv1jz5od6k Not sure I understand how your question relates to my comment :) I was explaining how the noise that Ola got in the video might not be from the interface.
@@morphine0000 sorry
Now compare the SSL 2 against something half the price like a Focusrite Scarlett or a Steinberg UR12!
audient evo tooo
I like my scarlett 2i2 but the output and pad on the preamps isn’t configured properly. I can clip the line level input running my guitar direct to interface. It should barely register on line level input. You get what you pay for up to a certain point which is a shame because the scarlett preamps sound good at that price point.
@@NOKnova same I have the 2i2 and it clips like a bitch. Waste of money. Are you using the 1/4" input or the XLR? I've ordered a Neutrik XLR to TRS adapter (female/female) so that I can try using my Rockboard MOD 5 cab sim into it
I use a scarlett solo so not exactly a 2i2 but using 1/4" jack also gives me the clipping with line on and off, just settled with cranking down the gain on my esp and my input channel
There's no point, dude. The SSL2+ beats the focusrite scarlett by a fuckin landslide. I know this, because I just got my ssl2+ in the mail today, and sold my scarlett.
The scarlett is trash. Seriously. Trash.
The converters are ass, the noise floor is high, the DRIVERS ARE ASS, ive had the scarlett for like a year or so, and it has produced so many goddamn problems that have messed up my workflow as a producer. The drivers alone are so flawed for win10 that I've experienced like 10 crashes in the last few months. You can get around it by plugging the device into a USB hub rather than into the usb port on the computer... but it does create even more latency.
SSL2+ is the best audio interface in this price range to date in terms of sound quality, conversion quality, in terms of low noise floor, it runs flawlessly on windows 10 with no hiccups, and the software you get along with it is far superior to the focusrite scarlett software. You get 4k analog processing and you will not find any type of analog processing on any audio interface in this price range. The SSL preamps are far superior to the preamps in the scarlett.
You dont need a review now. i just gave you one.
Also id like to point out that the ssl2+ stands next to UAD apollo and twin.
We should be thanking ssl for this. This is a good start. The scarlett is completely irrelevant now, good riddance. Apollo twin needs to have a price reduction of at least $300 since the SSL2 came out.
Ssl2 killed focusrite, killed audient, killed m-audio, killed tascam, killed UAD as far as interfaces in this price range. they should all be scrambling to make a better, and cheaper rival product now.
I feel bad for anyone who gets stuck with a scarlett, and worse for those who burned a hole in their wallets paying for overpriced UAD interfaces.
I've got ssl2, and i can tell you the preamps are amazing and 4k adds little character for very nice sound. No problems so far, clear and true to life sound, even old condenser microphone sounds good 👍
Believe it or not, I’ve been really stoked for this video lol, TY
Hey Ola, let's nerd this out full-on re latency! The UA Apollos come with built in DSPs and when you combine this with "in the box" monitoring it allows for a suuuuper short latency, while STILL having for example a killer TS/Diezel sound to record with (dry and/or wet). Compared to all other interfaces, THIS is the greatest selling point for the Apollo interfaces for guitarists - 1.5ms latency definitely feels so much better than 7.9ms! Prost!
Yes, the UAD stuff FEELS like playing a guitar in a room. Latency has always bugged me and distracts me from just relaxing and playing. I agree UAD is well worth the cost difference.
I love the nerd deep dive videos with Ola :D
I like Mr Ola Nerdy Manbun!
This is a cool comparison Ola, interesting to see and hear the differences between the different preamps, I’ve been using the same Focusrite Scarlett seemingly every amateur uses, so its great to tangibly hear the added value I could gain (pun intended) from something more high end, cheers!
Really liked this video. Do more of these please!
Awesome video!! Very usefull, thank you Ola!
I just got my signed copy of the sun & the moon 😁 I totally forgot this was coming so it was an awesome surprise
I was just looking for comparisons on interfaces a few days ago. Nice coincidence.
Very nice to see a somewhat straight forward (nerdy) video on here, would love to see more like this.
Also im curious about his choice of dialing back the gain on the interface when recording, when i watch Misha Mansoor doing his tutorials he always turns the gain up to right before you start to clip (go from green to yellow/red) when doing heavy chugs.
Great review! Bought a new Mac and found out my Thunderbolt T4 isn't compatible with the latest Mac OS. Need to get recording and I think this is all i'll need.
Thanks for making up my mind for me, Ola!
ola I was literally looking for one of these thanks sm
Nerdvana at it's finest. Most appreciated!
So nerdy and technical with this stuff. But then I remember how much I love old school death metal and gross sounding guitars
Great demo Ola! I think you were both fair and through in your assessment. 🤘🏻
Really good video. Pity you did not include comparable offering from Focusrite. SSL do say that the 4K is mainly for vocal or special microphone applications, such as recording percussion. My SSL 2+ is nowhere near as noisy as your demo. I am using an active mains filter to power my PC and good quality USB cable with RF choke. (That's the lump on the cable to reduce electrical influence through the cable.)
i really hear the effets on the harmonics of the 4K mode with your riff of guitar !
It's simple. When you play modern metal with maxed out gain even a 4000$ won't make a huge difference. Most of the time the noise would be much higher in your pickups compared to an interface. High gain metal guitars especially. Everyone should consider the Mooer GE series as a budget option. I have tried the GE200 and with third party IRs and the new amp profiling that was introduced in the latest upade it sounds absolutely massive for a 250usd multi effects unit. It also also helps that it has a built in interface that you can use to use PC based amps and IRs. Of course the DAC and ADC in the interfaces that Ola is testing here are much better than the Mooer ones it still gets the job done when it comes to maximum gain metal.
Excellent video, you did a great job with this dude. Hope you and your family are well!
An comparison with IK'S AXE I/O would have been great...!