Hey Folia! Thank you so so much for this comparison, it's so precise and honest, you proved my point I had inside but was not sure 100%. With my friend we built diy ssl unit, and I compared it too, and YES - the analogue unit sounds 1-5% more lush and clear, but it still hard to differ plugin vs unit. So thank you for covering this thread, it's very and very helpful. CHEERS on great video !!!
Just a short notice - I engaged transformers on SA-4000, I didn't mention that in the vid. Anyway, what do you think about my test? What's your choice for an SSL style comporessor? Lemme know down below!
Thank you for this awesome comparison!!. I think the comparison is not apples with apples as you mentioned that the Stam unit had the transformers engaged which makes it's a total different compressor!. For the true SSL sound it has do be disengaged or it will degrade the signal as all transformers and specially output cards do. Hopefully you can compare again without the MOD ?That would be very cool as plugins are cleaner. I agree with your conclusion that plugins do a great work and both are useful tools for sure. Thanks again!!
I see no reason to be different. It's just not fun, it's not challenging nor interesting. Rigged opinions, rigged vids, biased reviews are just boring and harmful. Thanks for your support!
I know it’s close, but still I could hear the diference, it’s like 5% to 10% more cohesive! But to me the best thing about analog is is does not always act the same day, and more, you don’t have to buy upgrades, every time they change! I can have some plugins but I simply prefer to have that 10% better sound, but that is just me
Im using a ART Transy Stereo FET on Buses and a Makie 32.8 and Warm Audio G Cmp on Mastering....with Acustica Audio...and Im doing some really really good...High End Comprable Mixes
After hearing the first round.. I got them all right 🙂🎉 Glue sounds dull Acoustica sounds nice Hardware sounds similar but nicer SSL has more weight and punch in low end And sounds very different from the rest of them but equally nice
I'm going to brag a bit, but I could pick out the stam on my phone speakers on both. The compression effect may be similar, but the stam has a texture to it that pops out and feels very satisfying and natural, while the others. I don't think you wasted your money. Sounds great. The plugins sound like plugins. 🤷
On the individual tracks where you need to compress more the differences are more noticeable between a hardware and between different plugins. For example 1176 or LA-2A compression action is totally different between uad, softube and waves plugins. Also the tone is totally different. So where it comes to "classic" compressors emulations it's good to have a couple of them to paint the sound as you like in the mix.
Before hitting play i love the video already cause i know its going to be cool. Would be great if you also test Elysia Xpressor and maybe Warm Audio Bus Comp which is as far as i`ve heard a more „aggressive“ interpretation of the SSL which could be interesting . In general good entry level- affordable comps.. The also Oto Boum comes into mind and Elektron Analg Heat etc not only comps . I am excited already for no reason :-)
I love your facial expressions when you find out you are wrong 😆 Amusement at self is supergood++. Yes, there's this great myth of universal hardware superiority, and it is a myth. Hardware can at times be *different* but in utility functions like compression and EQ, different does not equate to better - whatever we see on U-tube. I am old enough to own some of the original hardware still from my studios in the '70's and I kept them because they are good and cost me really a lot of money. But mostly I use good plugins, and really, at this utility level, there's not a lot of difference. Also I only have one (or two) each of my compressor and eqs, so if I want one on each drum, rather than on a bus, better use the plugin versions! But I still have a g-bus or two... and I have this at the end of my chain. And thank you for using honest blind comparison. So many audio myths would die if all reviewers did so. That would leave us with the facts! I found out how easy it is deceive my ear via my expectations the hard way, and a long time ago now... there is no pipe or wire connecting the ear drum to the brain! 👍
I own an obscene amount of high end hardware and have also invested heavily in plugins from Acustica, UAD etc. To my initial surprise, when listening back to mixes/sub-mixes done exclusively with hardware or ITB, I often cannot tell which is which unless they are labeled… Plugins have come a very long way indeed.
Analog only masters on Pre Mastering Music before Vocals and Final Mastering After.....especially if you have Nebula and alot of Acustica Audio...like me...
If you can get hold on a Tascam M3500 Mackie 32.8 or 24.8 or 16.8 or a EURO Desk 4000 or a good SoundCraft Ghost or Spirit Those are the "Gems" that are going to give your Mixes that old school color and warmth.....on Digital Mixes
Wow..hate to say this...I think Sand 3 Sounds better than the Stam Audio...keep in mind.....Stam Audio Bus Comps cost 900 dollars and the Sand 3 is live Sampled from a $4000 X Logic SSL Comp...and I will add that Sand 3 sounds more Radio Ready.......very very dissapointing, got me re thinking.....rather im getting that or not....
In order to TRULY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANALOG AND DIGITAL. You have to record the Same Song Entirely on your computer, using only Plugins, no outboard hardware gear. And then use a Professional Mixing Console, and the Same Hardware Units that you used on your computer. Then record the Same Song to a Reel to Reel Tape Recorder. And I GANRUANTY you'll hear and feel the Difference. Trust me Digital is garbage. You'll never hear what your Hardware Units sound like because you're Converting the ANALOG Units into Digital. You have to use common sense.
Hey Folia! Thank you so so much for this comparison, it's so precise and honest, you proved my point I had inside but was not sure 100%. With my friend we built diy ssl unit, and I compared it too, and YES - the analogue unit sounds 1-5% more lush and clear, but it still hard to differ plugin vs unit. So thank you for covering this thread, it's very and very helpful. CHEERS on great video !!!
Just a short notice - I engaged transformers on SA-4000, I didn't mention that in the vid. Anyway, what do you think about my test? What's your choice for an SSL style comporessor? Lemme know down below!
Which transformer MOD is your SA4000?
Thank you for this awesome comparison!!. I think the comparison is not apples with apples as you mentioned that the Stam unit had the transformers engaged which makes it's a total different compressor!. For the true SSL sound it has do be disengaged or it will degrade the signal as all transformers and specially output cards do. Hopefully you can compare again without the MOD ?That would be very cool as plugins are cleaner. I agree with your conclusion that plugins do a great work and both are useful tools for sure. Thanks again!!
PD: Which MOD did you get?
I can barely feel the difference on my Adam S3H mid fields. The Glue is my fav SSL BUS w/ Oversampling.
I was amazed with this comparison too and didn't feel that big difference to invest kilo$$$ to unit or additional ssl plugin)
Great informative and entertaining show my friend
Thanks a lot, James, good to see you, as always!
that's why I trust you . because you are honest, even with yourself which is not the case for everybody
I see no reason to be different. It's just not fun, it's not challenging nor interesting. Rigged opinions, rigged vids, biased reviews are just boring and harmful. Thanks for your support!
I got the impression the #1 on drums was the HW because the low end seemed fuller. Makes sense?
I know it’s close, but still I could hear the diference, it’s like 5% to 10% more cohesive! But to me the best thing about analog is is does not always act the same day, and more, you don’t have to buy upgrades, every time they change! I can have some plugins but I simply prefer to have that 10% better sound, but that is just me
Im using a ART Transy Stereo FET on Buses and a Makie 32.8 and Warm Audio G Cmp on Mastering....with Acustica Audio...and Im doing some really really good...High End Comprable Mixes
1 was my 1st choice got me back to say yeah the boom glue is great to sounding close to 4
After hearing the first round.. I got them all right 🙂🎉
Glue sounds dull
Acoustica sounds nice
Hardware sounds similar but nicer
SSL has more weight and punch in low end And sounds very different from the rest of them but equally nice
I'm going to brag a bit, but I could pick out the stam on my phone speakers on both. The compression effect may be similar, but the stam has a texture to it that pops out and feels very satisfying and natural, while the others. I don't think you wasted your money. Sounds great. The plugins sound like plugins. 🤷
On the individual tracks where you need to compress more the differences are more noticeable between a hardware and between different plugins. For example 1176 or LA-2A compression action is totally different between uad, softube and waves plugins. Also the tone is totally different. So where it comes to "classic" compressors emulations it's good to have a couple of them to paint the sound as you like in the mix.
i didn´t catch which plugin the ""SSL" actually is. Are we talking about the official SSL Bus compressor plugin?
Yes, from the previous test he mentioned it's the SSL Bus Comp 2
I love "The Glue", super plugin.
Totally!
Before hitting play i love the video already cause i know its going to be cool.
Would be great if you also test Elysia Xpressor and maybe Warm Audio Bus Comp which is as far as i`ve heard a more „aggressive“ interpretation of the SSL which could be interesting .
In general good entry level- affordable comps.. The also Oto Boum comes into mind and Elektron Analg Heat etc not only comps . I am excited already for no reason :-)
Haha, thanks, man :D This is so cool to hear! I wou7ld also include Heritage Audio successor to this set, I've heard only good things about it!
@@FoliaSound add the Elysia Karacter to the list ! :-)
I love your facial expressions when you find out you are wrong 😆 Amusement at self is supergood++. Yes, there's this great myth of universal hardware superiority, and it is a myth. Hardware can at times be *different* but in utility functions like compression and EQ, different does not equate to better - whatever we see on U-tube. I am old enough to own some of the original hardware still from my studios in the '70's and I kept them because they are good and cost me really a lot of money. But mostly I use good plugins, and really, at this utility level, there's not a lot of difference. Also I only have one (or two) each of my compressor and eqs, so if I want one on each drum, rather than on a bus, better use the plugin versions! But I still have a g-bus or two... and I have this at the end of my chain.
And thank you for using honest blind comparison. So many audio myths would die if all reviewers did so. That would leave us with the facts! I found out how easy it is deceive my ear via my expectations the hard way, and a long time ago now... there is no pipe or wire connecting the ear drum to the brain! 👍
Thank you too, so good to hear that, man :) Enjoy the chan, it's a pleasure to record the vids for you!
there is a place for both and you should use both, watch the mind sets , we all get them
those drums sound great! where are they from
Pulsar Moduar P11 will change your life my friend! Better than all of those plugins.
Pulsar Modular! I have to review some of their stuff finally. Cheers!
I own an obscene amount of high end hardware and have also invested heavily in plugins from Acustica, UAD etc. To my initial surprise, when listening back to mixes/sub-mixes done exclusively with hardware or ITB, I often cannot tell which is which unless they are labeled… Plugins have come a very long way indeed.
No nieźle
Co nie?
I do wonder about hardware saturation, eq and compression never worried me as much ^^
Hardware saturation is very hard to replace faithfully in digital domain and I'm all for analog solutions here!
SAND3 ftw
Analog only masters on Pre Mastering Music before Vocals and Final Mastering After.....especially if you have Nebula and alot of Acustica Audio...like me...
I'm all Acustica Audio, man! :)
@@FoliaSound If you so, that where is your video on Tiger Ultra? it's so much to discover and compare😎
If you can get hold on a
Tascam M3500
Mackie 32.8 or 24.8 or 16.8
or a EURO Desk 4000
or a good SoundCraft Ghost or Spirit
Those are the "Gems" that are going to give your Mixes that old school color and warmth.....on Digital Mixes
Wow..hate to say this...I think Sand 3 Sounds better than the Stam Audio...keep in mind.....Stam Audio Bus Comps cost 900 dollars and the Sand 3 is live Sampled from a $4000 X Logic SSL Comp...and I will add that Sand 3 sounds more Radio Ready.......very very dissapointing, got me re thinking.....rather im getting that or not....
I also liked Sand 3 the best in these examples - Acustica takes a lot of hate but they really have made some incredible plugins
In order to TRULY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANALOG AND DIGITAL.
You have to record the Same Song Entirely on your computer, using only Plugins, no outboard hardware gear.
And then use a Professional Mixing Console, and the Same Hardware Units that you used on your computer. Then record the Same Song to a Reel to Reel Tape Recorder.
And I GANRUANTY you'll hear and feel the Difference.
Trust me Digital is garbage.
You'll never hear what your Hardware Units sound like because you're Converting the ANALOG Units into Digital.
You have to use common sense.
🫡
Helllloooo!