Thanks for the video! I have both and I use these every day, MBT is far ahead for the beauty of the sound that goes out of it, but I still love the fusion for the price.
really excellent mixes - shocked how nice the MBT sounded on that country mix - it was already a great mix but it was like an entirely different (better) song largely because of the stereo width and enhanced mid presence!!
I was really on the fence with getting the MBT before watching this video; not anymore. I’ll definitely get one. I already have a Fusion and I’ll keep it. I think both units can serve their purpose.
They both have their pros and cons. The separation on the Neve is great, but on the House mix for example the SSL sounds more cohesive, but I love the Neve on Soul mix. I’ve already got the Fusion, and just added 2 RNP 542’s to my mix bus chain to add some of that Neve weight. That’s a nice combo!
I lean towards the Fusion for the house mix; imo, it brings an added excitement with its transient response. Neve kinda slows it down by a small margin. On the other hand, the Neve MBT outshines the Fusion with its front-to-back imaging, rich mids, solid low end, and an overall captivating tone/detail. Can easily mix a hit with both, but i'd be more confident with the MBT! 🔥video
I own a MBT and it's even better than you hear in this video. He's either feeding too quiet of a mix into the box, or not driving the output enough to really juice it up. Also laying the silk on a little too thick for some examples. If you ever get one, refer to the user guide as they have helpful starting points and from there you tweak and listen.
They're different devices that do different things (e.g. the MBT has a compressor, whereas the Fusion does not). As great as the MBT sounds, I'm put off by the boutique price tag. The Fusion is awesome at what it does, and when paired with other devices, it really shines. There's no such thing as a "one-stop-shop" piece of hardware, and I prefer having multiple devices on my mixbus doing different things. For that, I prefer the Fusion. :)
Hmm, idk if I really think this is the best demo of the MBT. Every example I see here the song is barely peaking on the meters. Which actually renders the Zener Driver obsolete as you won't hear any audible difference until the unit is near clipping. In the user manual, you can see suggested starting points for certain genres and they spell it out where the peaks should be reading to get the intended sound from the box. Quote from the manufacturer's free PDF suggestion on a Modern R&B song: "Output Level Metering: 23-24dBu" vs. the 12-16dBu we see here.
This comparison is useless! The settings is totally random on both unit and especially on The Fusion the HF compression threshold is set to high all the time makes everything sounds muted and dull. Also the the space is either too narrow or super wide. 😒
Fusion is airier than I expected it to be. The Neve has great clarity and attack. I would like to see if you can make them sound close to each other. The Fusion sounded too compressed on all of the clips and didn't sound level matched with the MBT
Okay I've listened on my Genelec 8010 monitors. It's night and day up until the Rock mix which is a more even fight. The RND blows the SSL away with low end and detail. This video just took the Fusion off my list. I was more into the Bus+ anyhow but just in case I was wondering, this video put any other idea I had to bed. Thank you KMR audio. I'm a new subscriber for your help in deciding this. Respect
Yeah I've got the fusion, but it's honestly a toy for hobbyists like me. The MBT is a real tool and packs a serious punch for what it does. The big problem is that the MBT doesn't combine with the MBP half as well as the bus+ and the fusion do. The Fusion sold ridiculous numbers and the MBT is a strange product for the price tag. Like why not get dedicated mastering components if it's not your only unit. If it is your only unit, I guess that's fun haha!
I do not know, can be the settings. For example in the fusion have a 50 Hz low pass filter, can affect the low end, then they boost 50 Hz . I do see if the high pass in the MBT, but they boost the low with a shelving eq. So probably is the pilot than the hardware in this case.
It's way cheaper to just buy a SSL Fusion and a Neve 542 and Bus+ and there you go..... for the price of the MBT you can get the SSL Fusion and the Bus+, adding the Neve 542 you get the weight of the Neve with silk Red/Blue
neve and it’s not close. i use both every day. both have their merits. fusion is great but MBT is in another world. love the fusion LMC in some parallel action - didn’t get that in this video
That’s a fair comment. However, we thought it best to keep this short and just try to highlight the fundamental differences in character between the two units. An enhanced LMC is also available as a 500 Series module which could be added to the MBT chain of course. Maybe we should do that as a separate video some time?
Great video. I'm liking the Neve much more. However on the house mix, it seems like the highs are boosted more on the Fusion, so it opens it up a bit more. I think the Neve could easily do that just as well if the hi eq knob was boosted a tad bit more.
SSL is fast and punchy; Neve is slower and smooth.Depends on what is needed, or preferred. The music I make would mostly lean towards the Neve, but on faster tempos, the SSL would be perfect. Steak or Veggies? I like both.
The MBT, the way it's being used, has way more clarity in the high end. However, the Fusion sounds more "like a record." Perhaps if the MBT is followed by tape (or a tape emulator) it would sound more like the great records that were made on Neves, and less like crystal-clear, clean digital.
RND more wide more details and more spread. (great for final touches on rock, orchestral and instrumental music) SSL more foreword , more bottom , more in your face. (great for heavy bass music like hip-hop , reggae ,dance ...) both useful , i disagree with youtubers whose selling fusion for just MBT (most likely it is marketing stuff)
The genres can play a role in selection both are great but neve sounds cleaner and better bottom specially with the silk but I must say it’s not fair to judge as the persons ear mixing also plays a role and I feel the fusion could had bromide out these mixes the neve is like a cheat code you don’t have to go all crazy with touches
Can't help but feel like the way the SSL was set was completely wonky for each example... no I don't own a Fusion. I suppose the Neve is twice the price...
Bias smh. Why compare the two aren’t symmetric and besides you are over processing with the SSL Fusion which is a deviation from the manual’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Why so much HF Compression on all material with the fusion? Makes it sound dull and not as natural as it really sounds
I thought the same thing. They didn't add Hi EQ on the SSL. Look at the video.
It just astounds me how the imaging on these 2 units can be so different. Awesome stuff.
Lovely comparisson. Id still take both on my mix for sure!
Thanks for the video! I have both and I use these every day, MBT is far ahead for the beauty of the sound that goes out of it, but I still love the fusion for the price.
This is what I've been waiting for. This is the comparison of the like for like boxes IMO. Thank you. I'm straight in to watch it now
Hope you find it useful! 👍
@@kmraudio Oh yes. Very much. Thank you once again
More videos like this, thanks
really excellent mixes - shocked how nice the MBT sounded on that country mix - it was already a great mix but it was like an entirely different (better) song largely because of the stereo width and enhanced mid presence!!
I was really on the fence with getting the MBT before watching this video; not anymore. I’ll definitely get one. I already have a Fusion and I’ll keep it. I think both units can serve their purpose.
They both have their pros and cons. The separation on the Neve is great, but on the House mix for example the SSL sounds more cohesive, but I love the Neve on Soul mix. I’ve already got the Fusion, and just added 2 RNP 542’s to my mix bus chain to add some of that Neve weight. That’s a nice combo!
I lean towards the Fusion for the house mix; imo, it brings an added excitement with its transient response. Neve kinda slows it down by a small margin. On the other hand, the Neve MBT outshines the Fusion with its front-to-back imaging, rich mids, solid low end, and an overall captivating tone/detail. Can easily mix a hit with both, but i'd be more confident with the MBT! 🔥video
I own a MBT and it's even better than you hear in this video. He's either feeding too quiet of a mix into the box, or not driving the output enough to really juice it up. Also laying the silk on a little too thick for some examples. If you ever get one, refer to the user guide as they have helpful starting points and from there you tweak and listen.
They both sound good and different on different materials. I like the ssl on the electronic stuff. But the acoustic stuff def the Neve
Dear @KMR Audio, I can't stop listening to those guitars when the chorus hits in the rock mix. Any idea on how they were recorded? Cheers!
I'm afraid we don't - great job though. Kind of Mogwai-esque?
I like the country mix. Can it be found anywhere?
Hi People... lots of well observed comments here 👍 Thanks for the feedback - both positive and negative!
They're different devices that do different things (e.g. the MBT has a compressor, whereas the Fusion does not). As great as the MBT sounds, I'm put off by the boutique price tag. The Fusion is awesome at what it does, and when paired with other devices, it really shines. There's no such thing as a "one-stop-shop" piece of hardware, and I prefer having multiple devices on my mixbus doing different things. For that, I prefer the Fusion. :)
Rupert Neve Designs MBT easily ;) the separation in the instruments is so obvious. thnx for confirming this
Neve wins, but I'm not selling my Fusion. I'd rather just have both. Both are useful tools.
Hmm, idk if I really think this is the best demo of the MBT. Every example I see here the song is barely peaking on the meters. Which actually renders the Zener Driver obsolete as you won't hear any audible difference until the unit is near clipping. In the user manual, you can see suggested starting points for certain genres and they spell it out where the peaks should be reading to get the intended sound from the box. Quote from the manufacturer's free PDF suggestion on a Modern R&B song: "Output Level Metering: 23-24dBu" vs. the 12-16dBu we see here.
This comparison is useless! The settings is totally random on both unit and especially on The Fusion the HF compression threshold is set to high all the time makes everything sounds muted and dull. Also the the space is either too narrow or super wide. 😒
Fair Comparison between these two. I have always wanted the SSL then MBT came out now i am wondering which best for me
could that super silk be doing too much ? then ssl sound automatically little low on highend
Fusion is airier than I expected it to be. The Neve has great clarity and attack. I would like to see if you can make them sound close to each other. The Fusion sounded too compressed on all of the clips and didn't sound level matched with the MBT
👍👍👌👌👌
Okay I've listened on my Genelec 8010 monitors. It's night and day up until the Rock mix which is a more even fight. The RND blows the SSL away with low end and detail. This video just took the Fusion off my list. I was more into the Bus+ anyhow but just in case I was wondering, this video put any other idea I had to bed. Thank you KMR audio. I'm a new subscriber for your help in deciding this. Respect
Yeah I've got the fusion, but it's honestly a toy for hobbyists like me. The MBT is a real tool and packs a serious punch for what it does. The big problem is that the MBT doesn't combine with the MBP half as well as the bus+ and the fusion do. The Fusion sold ridiculous numbers and the MBT is a strange product for the price tag. Like why not get dedicated mastering components if it's not your only unit. If it is your only unit, I guess that's fun haha!
I’ve got the MBT. Pick one up and you won’t regret it.
I do not know, can be the settings. For example in the fusion have a 50 Hz low pass filter, can affect the low end, then they boost 50 Hz . I do see if the high pass in the MBT, but they boost the low with a shelving eq. So probably is the pilot than the hardware in this case.
It's way cheaper to just buy a SSL Fusion and a Neve 542 and Bus+ and there you go..... for the price of the MBT you can get the SSL Fusion and the Bus+, adding the Neve 542 you get the weight of the Neve with silk Red/Blue
I tried to close my eyes , and difference can be noticed. General the SSL sound a bit dry compare to the MBT. The MBT plays nice low frequence bass.
neve and it’s not close. i use both every day. both have their merits. fusion is great but MBT is in another world. love the fusion LMC in some parallel action - didn’t get that in this video
That’s a fair comment. However, we thought it best to keep this short and just try to highlight the fundamental differences in character between the two units. An enhanced LMC is also available as a 500 Series module which could be added to the MBT chain of course. Maybe we should do that as a separate video some time?
MBT all the way!
Great video. I'm liking the Neve much more. However on the house mix, it seems like the highs are boosted more on the Fusion, so it opens it up a bit more. I think the Neve could easily do that just as well if the hi eq knob was boosted a tad bit more.
SSL is fast and punchy; Neve is slower and smooth.Depends on what is needed, or preferred. The music I make would mostly lean towards the Neve, but on faster tempos, the SSL would be perfect. Steak or Veggies? I like both.
strange comparison...the neve has a compressor, the ssl only the HF comp...this will never sound similar.
MBT all day every day
What is crazy is that the snare almost disappeared when the MBT was engaged on the rock track
i would like to have both. Academic interest info but the Neve is 2+x the price of the Fusion
The MBT, the way it's being used, has way more clarity in the high end. However, the Fusion sounds more "like a record."
Perhaps if the MBT is followed by tape (or a tape emulator) it would sound more like the great records that were made on Neves, and less like crystal-clear, clean digital.
SSL: punchier, fatter on drums... Neve has a nice spit and harmonics on the top/ high-mids
RND more wide more details and more spread. (great for final touches on rock, orchestral and instrumental music)
SSL more foreword , more bottom , more in your face. (great for heavy bass music like hip-hop , reggae ,dance ...)
both useful , i disagree with youtubers whose selling fusion for just MBT (most likely it is marketing stuff)
The genres can play a role in selection both are great but neve sounds cleaner and better bottom specially with the silk but I must say it’s not fair to judge as the persons ear mixing also plays a role and I feel the fusion could had bromide out these mixes the neve is like a cheat code you don’t have to go all crazy with touches
*brought
Neve by far outshines the Fusion
for a fair comparison (AB), you should not switch on or off on a new section. Do it in the middle of a phrase!
Too crazy with the Silk. Was meant to be used sparingly - even says so in RND manuals.
Can't help but feel like the way the SSL was set was completely wonky for each example... no I don't own a Fusion. I suppose the Neve is twice the price...
Hf compressor on the fusion is destroying the signal. I say this because that’s what it does to your music if you use it wrong like how you using it.
Neve prefer, more "precise" for me
whatever that music is, it sure ain’t house
The same goes when comparing Citroen and Ferrari. Neve is so much better...
Bias smh. Why compare the two aren’t symmetric and besides you are over processing with the SSL Fusion which is a deviation from the manual’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
NEVE wins on everything has more mid punch
Very bad settings on fusion,it looks like you made it on purpose,I have one fusion and you can make it sound better