One of the best Mastering Compressors in the world, head to head with the Acustica Plugin. A great shootout to let you hear both of these greats tools for making louder mixes
I can't like this video enough. I am coming back every few months and I'm hearing new nuances in similarities and differences of the plugin and hardware. Awesome video, not only for understanding these particular devices but hardware vs software comparison in general. Thank you!
Thanks for putting the time in to do this vid , I was toying with getting this plugin for a few weeks and got it the other day , you can't beat the hardware but that's a great plug in and at the price it's selling for now it's no brainer :)
you hear the difference it makes when it passes converters. This has always been a trick when you listen to side by side. The box sound cannot escape the flat dynamic range. No matter what they do, it's a code there is no real components.
One of the first fair and incredible shootouts of acustica vs hardware I have seen, thank you! At 5:1 and FF-PK the right channel was not working, I already reported it to acustica and it was fixed 7 days later.
Great video. The plug is certainly usable for bus compression and getting extra gain, but it does break apart in the lows if you push it too much. MBP is so smooth.
the hardware has that sheen that the plug doesn't have, almost catches the transients super fast and almost deesers the Highs and obviously adds the thickness. But with a ssl sigma or great summing unit maybe that shine would be very close. The hardware sounds loads better in my opinion. But every year its getting better!! Thanks for sharing these!
Thank you for the content, I just ordered some extra memory for my computer, I had a MPB, sold it to a friend and Just got me the snow last night, very impressive 😀.
u are using the ZL version. It is a bit less oversampled and a bit worse. However, they are not close at all. The Acustica sounds like a different sound. There might be some similarities in the color, but that's all.I don't like the aqua plugin's sound. The Nebula Impulses sound much more 3D and transparent. However, the Volterra approach has always sounded thin in the low end since the days of Focusrite have been the case.I just like to use them very lightly as they have a gentle tone. The Algorithm emulation plugins sound shockingly bad. They make things so much worse sounding they are absolute snake oil.On good converters you can hear the differences
Dope video! One of the best Acustica vids ive seen to capture how I feel about them. It's rather incredible! I made a preset so I can do summing with Snow and it's amazing.. I just got to the mastering stage today. Ive been putting in 60-120hr mixing/mastering sessions per song just so I can take advantage of printing all this Acustica gearXD That LP-3x is phenomenal in the Diamond Transient, especially the option to really push it and parallel with the wet/dry. The gain reduction on the Camel has inspired me to write songs differently. I always loved Bohemian Rhapsody as a kid (schwing). Cool vid man im gonna dive in more. Subscribed!
@@user-bo8ex4ji7n put preamp on each channel. From memory pre1 is centered, good for bass tracks , 4-7 good for vocals and synths. The frequency response will help tracks sit together nicely making mastering more enjoyable Navy and Sand are also good for itb summing
@Doug Jenkins Great vid. Would be good to see a comparison with less hardcore settings, e.g. -3 to -4db and using the 96khz version of Snow (If not already).
The plugin sounds like a pumping mess compared to the MBP. Some comments about the plug sounding fuller in the low mids - which is true - but that's not what the track sounds like. Its a lot of low mid build up that any mixer would be pissed about post mastering. I keep trying Acustica plugs, and really hoping for good results but sonically and especially CPU efficiency always has me deleting them before the trial period is over. And their installer is a crash fest on my Mac Pro.
That was fun. Would love to hear integral LUFS matched candidate masters using optimal settings from each. Hard to really assess the difference otherwise though I thought I heard some awkward pumping on the Snow. MBP sounded really uncompressed considering what those meters were showing. Thanks!
@@jamescassidy4045 is it actually large amounts of magically transparent compression or is it just over-reporting meters? no offense intended, just sincerely curious. and i understand you may not have bothered to measure such things with test oscillators and stuff
@@dirkchurlish4074 Hey Dirk. No dude, its really just that Natural/Transparent sounding! Even at like 6-8 DB's where most compressors would sound very obvious, this stays super natural and transparent. Ive actually used mine on some mixes and hit 8-10 db's on peaks if that says anything! Its hard to explain because it's not like you don't hear the compression, like it will definitely grab and level, but it just sound so un obvious. You can even get like 12-18 DB's of GR out of this thing and it wont sound over compressed(even though it is) If that makes any logical sense haha!
Great idea and glad to see it. Next time can you put some meters up there? For everything, DB's, Lufs, True Peak, stereo spectrum analyzer, etc., or toss up Izotope Insight as it has a decent scope of most of em? I'm really curious as well to see what it does dot the sound so some sort of frequency analyzer as well would be useful! Even just putting up ProQ3 would be useful. Although I prefer Nugen Audio's stuff for that personally, the NUGEN Audio VisLM2 is invaluable to me for my workflow. However I'm just really curious what it does to the signal. Curious to see what's happening in the lows, highs, mids, etc., stereoscope, and everything in between! Thanks for the video, keep it up!
Hi Doug, how have you found the comparison of the SFE section in isolation (if you have compared them)? I’ve been shooting out Snow vs my other stereo width/depth plugins, and it seems clearly in front. Wondering if the hardware is next step up again for this section, or about the same. Appreciate any thoughts you could offer.👍🏻
Yeah it seems its very similar. The width and depth section on the hardware seems to do a bit better as far as transparency while in eq mode it really is a powerful piece but the plugin is definitely one of the best for the in the box example. Something about the hardware has a specific detail i don’t hear in the plugin. Hope that helps
Hardware is tighter. Better imaging and separation. Speeding up the attack and release on the plugin will get u closer but it will still sound 2D. Also, hardwares audio bandwidth is a lot higher. Plugin is limited to the sampling theory and nyquist
Nice I have a antelope synergy core Discrete 4 I am going to pic up Antelope synergy corea Discrete 8 Clock them together I enjoy your videos well done
This one surprised me....It´s adding some extra lows, and that can be a good or bad thing....I thing is better to mix every channel with this comp in the 2th buss always on.....Many different volume levels is your test Doug, so sometimes it's difficult to follow it....But again nice mixes, a nice review and a nice AA plugin. But ;-), listening the reverbs: the hardware is getting up the reverb, and other important stuff, while the plugin is inert...Thanks for this review!!!!
Thanks for the Video. Soundwise, I do like the Hardware much more. One Question: if you use the Gain Knob on the Neve MBP... why is there more Gain Reduction on the Meters? i thought it is just a Make-Up Gain? Thanx 👍
Digital still has a way to go before being able to match the backend fullness and roundness of analog hardware, until then digital will remain flat with no back 😉
Cant get behind the snow...I wanted to....just cant. It feels louder but the HW is way more transparent even with the aggressive compression. U feel the pump on both ofcourse its just more intense on the plugin. Im sure the plugin would fair better on more conservative settings
What I noticed as an acustica guy is the acustica sounds very static and lifeless. All acustica plugins steal the life from the mix.I think it's because of their impulse technology
Man, why does software suck at drums. Hardware always keeps percussive hits tight, consistent and smacking. The plugin has some positives, like the clear mid-highs, but it sounded like it was pumping a bit. Hardware handles being driven so much better.
Well it sounds shit... Like all Aqua plugins. Another point the demo plugins from Acustica are only 44 and 96 kHz. That means if you work with a 48 session the plugin co vert the vectors
its so close...why pay...$3500 instead of $200....I slap that on...run it through my rack and it sounds just as good as his physical neve console...LOL
I can't like this video enough. I am coming back every few months and I'm hearing new nuances in similarities and differences of the plugin and hardware. Awesome video, not only for understanding these particular devices but hardware vs software comparison in general. Thank you!
Thanks for putting the time in to do this vid , I was toying with getting this plugin for a few weeks and got it the other day , you can't beat the hardware but that's a great plug in and at the price it's selling for now it's no brainer :)
Do you just want to protect you investment or why do you think the plugin can't beet the hardware?
Hardware def sound more focused and depth like you said. But man Acustica got really close! Just bought it. Great video! Thank you!
you hear the difference it makes when it passes converters. This has always been a trick when you listen to side by side. The box sound cannot escape the flat dynamic range. No matter what they do, it's a code there is no real components.
One of the first fair and incredible shootouts of acustica vs hardware I have seen, thank you! At 5:1 and FF-PK the right channel was not working, I already reported it to acustica and it was fixed 7 days later.
Great video. The plug is certainly usable for bus compression and getting extra gain, but it does break apart in the lows if you push it too much. MBP is so smooth.
Snow will be a helluva beast when it gets the Hyper treatment!
Thanks for making this insightful video
Great staff. Awesome video. Remarkable job done by AA.
That was truly amazing to hear Doug Thanks.
Not really notable differences, amazing plugin and amazing hardware.
Why do I prefer the crisp version of the plugin, instead of the depth but smeared version of analog ?
the hardware has that sheen that the plug doesn't have, almost catches the transients super fast and almost deesers the Highs and obviously adds the thickness. But with a ssl sigma or great summing unit maybe that shine would be very close. The hardware sounds loads better in my opinion. But every year its getting better!! Thanks for sharing these!
Thanks for the comparison..very very similar!
Thank you for the content, I just ordered some extra memory for my computer, I had a MPB, sold it to a friend and Just got me the snow last night, very impressive 😀.
Lol feel bad for you the plugin sucks, listening on PMC monitors, the hardware is just way more transparent.
@@JuanNungaray Hhmm. That's not a good news for me. Because I want this sound but don't want to spend over 4000 € for it.
I'm an Acustica guy but it's gratifying, in a way, to know that the hardware still sounds better.
great video, thank you Doug 👍
u are using the ZL version. It is a bit less oversampled and a bit worse. However, they are not close at all. The Acustica sounds like a different sound. There might be some similarities in the color, but that's all.I don't like the aqua plugin's sound. The Nebula Impulses sound much more 3D and transparent. However, the Volterra approach has always sounded thin in the low end since the days of Focusrite have been the case.I just like to use them very lightly as they have a gentle tone. The Algorithm emulation plugins sound shockingly bad. They make things so much worse sounding they are absolute snake oil.On good converters you can hear the differences
Dope video! One of the best Acustica vids ive seen to capture how I feel about them. It's rather incredible! I made a preset so I can do summing with Snow and it's amazing.. I just got to the mastering stage today. Ive been putting in 60-120hr mixing/mastering sessions per song just so I can take advantage of printing all this Acustica gearXD That LP-3x is phenomenal in the Diamond Transient, especially the option to really push it and parallel with the wet/dry. The gain reduction on the Camel has inspired me to write songs differently. I always loved Bohemian Rhapsody as a kid (schwing). Cool vid man im gonna dive in more. Subscribed!
What is your summing technique? Do you put a preamp on every channel and use different lines?
Ye would you explain a lil more?
@@evavaldez1206 I would have you liked my comment! A little bit of gratitude goes a long way in reciprocation and honor in sharing!
@@andrewerdman7633 what nonsense. No summing technique is possible using this plugin.
@@user-bo8ex4ji7n put preamp on each channel. From memory pre1 is centered, good for bass tracks , 4-7 good for vocals and synths.
The frequency response will help tracks sit together nicely making mastering more enjoyable
Navy and Sand are also good for itb summing
@Doug Jenkins Great vid. Would be good to see a comparison with less hardcore settings, e.g. -3 to -4db and using the 96khz version of Snow (If not already).
Sounds like a good plan
The plugin sounds like a pumping mess compared to the MBP. Some comments about the plug sounding fuller in the low mids - which is true - but that's not what the track sounds like. Its a lot of low mid build up that any mixer would be pissed about post mastering. I keep trying Acustica plugs, and really hoping for good results but sonically and especially CPU efficiency always has me deleting them before the trial period is over. And their installer is a crash fest on my Mac Pro.
That was fun. Would love to hear integral LUFS matched candidate masters using optimal settings from each. Hard to really assess the difference otherwise though I thought I heard some awkward pumping on the Snow. MBP sounded really uncompressed considering what those meters were showing. Thanks!
Thats one of the amazing things about the MBP!
@@jamescassidy4045 is it actually large amounts of magically transparent compression or is it just over-reporting meters? no offense intended, just sincerely curious. and i understand you may not have bothered to measure such things with test oscillators and stuff
@@dirkchurlish4074 Hey Dirk. No dude, its really just that Natural/Transparent sounding! Even at like 6-8 DB's where most compressors would sound very obvious, this stays super natural and transparent. Ive actually used mine on some mixes and hit 8-10 db's on peaks if that says anything! Its hard to explain because it's not like you don't hear the compression, like it will definitely grab and level, but it just sound so un obvious. You can even get like 12-18 DB's of GR out of this thing and it wont sound over compressed(even though it is) If that makes any logical sense haha!
Great idea and glad to see it. Next time can you put some meters up there? For everything, DB's, Lufs, True Peak, stereo spectrum analyzer, etc., or toss up Izotope Insight as it has a decent scope of most of em? I'm really curious as well to see what it does dot the sound so some sort of frequency analyzer as well would be useful! Even just putting up ProQ3 would be useful. Although I prefer Nugen Audio's stuff for that personally, the NUGEN Audio VisLM2 is invaluable to me for my workflow. However I'm just really curious what it does to the signal. Curious to see what's happening in the lows, highs, mids, etc., stereoscope, and everything in between! Thanks for the video, keep it up!
Volume will be up and down during the video, Please be Cautious with your headphones, speakers
The plugin sounded fuller to me on my ATC 100's
I have Bower and Wilkins 801s and i am hearing very similar results honestly
@@DougJenkins Good news! :-) Because I want the hardware sound without investing over 4000 €.
@@DougJenkins I have amphions and I'm also hearing this
Hi Doug, how have you found the comparison of the SFE section in isolation (if you have compared them)? I’ve been shooting out Snow vs my other stereo width/depth plugins, and it seems clearly in front. Wondering if the hardware is next step up again for this section, or about the same. Appreciate any thoughts you could offer.👍🏻
Yeah it seems its very similar. The width and depth section on the hardware seems to do a bit better as far as transparency while in eq mode it really is a powerful piece but the plugin is definitely one of the best for the in the box example. Something about the hardware has a specific detail i don’t hear in the plugin. Hope that helps
Very good presentation bro. Thanks.
Hardware is tighter. Better imaging and separation. Speeding up the attack and release on the plugin will get u closer but it will still sound 2D. Also, hardwares audio bandwidth is a lot higher. Plugin is limited to the sampling theory and nyquist
Nice I have a antelope synergy core Discrete 4 I am going to pic up Antelope synergy corea Discrete 8 Clock them together I enjoy your videos well done
super cool that u did this, is the scale on the hardware meters different then plug?
I will have to double check good question
Listen the bass region. it is saying the difference a lot.
Hi Doug, great review. Where in the chain do you moste often
have the MBP?. Best/Mathias
Usually right at the end, or I some times place a Maag after it.. Awesome piece of gear
Superb video. Though that maginfier was lil distractor.. Keep it simple.. Thanks a ton..
Agree.
This one surprised me....It´s adding some extra lows, and that can be a good or bad thing....I thing is better to mix every channel with this comp in the 2th buss always on.....Many different volume levels is your test Doug, so sometimes it's difficult to follow it....But again nice mixes, a nice review and a nice AA plugin. But ;-), listening the reverbs: the hardware is getting up the reverb, and other important stuff, while the plugin is inert...Thanks for this review!!!!
Thanks for the comment. !!
Thanks for the Video. Soundwise, I do like the Hardware much more. One Question: if you use the Gain Knob on the Neve MBP... why is there more Gain Reduction on the Meters? i thought it is just a Make-Up Gain? Thanx 👍
Yeah the makeup drives the limiter compressor it was well thought out. Once i understood it, made setting levels nice
Ok cool ✌🏻 Thanks
Why are you use ZL version? It 's not for mixing/
This is an excellent comparison video but for some reason I have to have the attack all the way down to 64 ms to see any gain reduction on my meters.
great gear awesome plug :)
Buen vídeo!!!🔥🔥🔥
Can you demonstrate with heavier material..sub" 808. Hip hop. Pop. Club to see how it handles
You need the drop MORPH?
Send me a song man
I see that HA 609. I have one the thing is an underdog. I think it's better than the neve. I said it!
the plugin sounds fatter to me and im on a hp laptop i dont know but the plugin sounds bigger to my ears
Digital still has a way to go before being able to match the backend fullness and roundness of analog hardware, until then digital will remain flat with no back 😉
HW is way better & organic.
Cant get behind the snow...I wanted to....just cant. It feels louder but the HW is way more transparent even with the aggressive compression. U feel the pump on both ofcourse its just more intense on the plugin. Im sure the plugin would fair better on more conservative settings
Whaaaaat uuuuup doug hope is all well good vid always.📊
whats up man, !!!
@@DougJenkins chilling like a chilli dog 😁 you should check out Azure2 by Acoustica 🔥🔥🔥🔥swear one of the eq i master with.
What I noticed as an acustica guy is the acustica sounds very static and lifeless. All acustica plugins steal the life from the mix.I think it's because of their impulse technology
@My outlook on TheWorld No I don't
нижняя середина отсутствует в плагине!
I like Acustica's better tbh
Interesting, Thanks for sharing
@@DougJenkins I am listening on closed back headphones. The hardware added more low mid. which could be good or bad.
@@bobsanders2145 Thanks, The plugin is pretty remarkable right?
@@DougJenkins yes! plugins are getting better for sure. I was worried 10 years ago but the future looks bright.
Man, why does software suck at drums. Hardware always keeps percussive hits tight, consistent and smacking.
The plugin has some positives, like the clear mid-highs, but it sounded like it was pumping a bit. Hardware handles being driven so much better.
Well it sounds shit... Like all Aqua plugins. Another point the demo plugins from Acustica are only 44 and 96 kHz. That means if you work with a 48 session the plugin co vert the vectors
So…what plugins do you use it ?
its so close...why pay...$3500 instead of $200....I slap that on...run it through my rack and it sounds just as good as his physical neve console...LOL
Your rig glitched so bad you can’t hear the plugin! Get a new computer!
Thanks Kevin
What you guys need to realize is the plug-in cannot get the exact sound a physical transformer can create