I'm a full time mix engineer. I'll agree that there is some dimension to hardware but I chose to be in the box and get the results that I want also because the thought of recalling hardware on multiple mix revisions everyday and then printing them all the time is enough to keep me away
Hipness!!! I have the Stam SA4000-5 as well and love it!!! I have it on my master bus insert in my RND 5060 and it's just flat out awesome!!! Great video and I feel your spot on 100% correct! Much continued success and thanks too! Ps, You mentioned having different flavors, I have three master comps to choose from... Stam SA4000-5, two RND 535s and RND MBP. Three different flavors that cover a broad realm of sounds and I decide what's best for each given song or project.
The SSL Bus Comp 2 really starts to shine when you enable the x4 oversampling. The hardware seemed to be a fair bit louder than the other examples, so hard to accurately compare them.
Hardware definitely sounds wider and has more clarity, purchased one of these a few weeks ago waiting for it to arrive, looking forward to it arriving.
Hardware is definitely a lot louder, to me the SSL plugin is actually compressing the peaks, the others aren’t hitting the peaks quite fast enough to be smooth… they are all good though, hardware is surly more fun to use… I’d back off the plugin some so it’s just barely knocking the tops off, it’s a little too aggressive for my taste… when I finally get around to building my 500 rack I’ll definitely keep it in mind, the SSL hardware is just way outside my budget… I already own the UC1/ SSL plugin and it’s pretty dang good, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s like throwing a blanket over the speakers in anyway whatsoever… it sounds like an SSL console to within a few percent of exactly like it… I still love hardware though, which is why I invested in the UC1/UF8…
hardware has now evolved into where you can have recall if you need that am hybrid I use both but I have the flock audio patch which let me save hardware as you do in the software world I know most client can tell what you use lol but it make the mix sound more present in the mix
I am definitely considering grabbing a Stam to check out. Almost pulled the trigger on the Wes Dione of the TK several times but the Stam caught my eye thanks to this video!
Geez, I've got a bunch of hardware in my home studio and own the SSL plugin and listening to these samples, the STAM has a bit more on top and slightly wider BUT the PA and SSL plugins ( hell even the Slate) did a really nice job with glue and sheen. Very impressive. It is really starting to get close. One sword I will die on though, is analog summing through a decent old console or even the newer SSL Six lines. Running your tracks through the console just gives them a nice cohesiveness and depth.
I ordered a Stam about a week ago. I had to wait for months and months to get my SSL UV EQ. Hopefully it won't take forever to get the Stam. The projected release date is July 2023 but I'm not holding my breath. I also had to wait for months to get my Capi 511 rack kit. It seems that about all of the clone hardware manufacturers except for Warm Audio are struggling. Audioscape is no different but I would use any of their products.
@@thumbody1 yikes. sorry to hear that. yeah they make awesome stuff but i personally don’t consider buying stam unless it’s listed as in-stock on their website or on Reverb. i got their SA-800Gmk2 on Reverb and it’s a great mic
On some SSL Bus Comp clones the transformers can be engaged or not. When those engaged you get this 3D thick sound. I've tried SSL Bus Comp plugin + analog tape saturation (500 format) . You get a very interesting sound with an analog feel.
Public Service Announcement: I placed an order for a Stam Audio SA4000-5 MK2 Tube, 500 series on July 9, 2022. I think I'm on my FIFTH change to the delivery date...and now I'm being told the ship date has slipped again to March 2023. Will it ship then? No f'ing idea. I was going to order a Stam SA-47 mk3 mic and EQP-1AS next. Not anymore. I'll never do business with Stam Audio again. Audioscape will get my hardware dollars.
amazing video barry. would like to use the stam g-bus or other hardware mainly for orchestral music & mockups? looking for hardware on my master channel to make it more sound natural…. it‘s as you said, it sounds always like a blanket just with plugins. i want this last 2 % of natural open sounding. what do you think about the ssl fusion & ssl bus g+ ? thank you, all the best
Great video man. I just did my own on this unit and actually I thought the SSL plugin version sounded really good. It's honestly the closest to the real one IMO albeit I haven't tried the brainworx. Regardless any plugin I've tried always has the 2D flatness/blanket you mention and also like you mention it just seems there NO way a plugin can get that separation/clarity etc. I always tell anyone that says plugins are just as good or better because ____ I'm like you think I'd have all this gear and investment and you think I don't every do my own A/B's on my own like all the time??? lol Just because I'll usually do my rough mixes with plugin versions of my analog gear and when I switch to analog it's just in another realm in comparison not even close just better in every way. Summing is another huge leap but that's another story. Anyway great video and love the channel!!
Absolutely - 2d flatness is the perfect description, hw just sounds better, especially on acoustic/real instruments. This is coming from someone who owns 'the glue' and a nekotronics sl4000 mk2
Hardware is still king. If you can get hardware you'd be crazy not to. For plugins, i recently heard someone say the FG-Grey still holds up in the plugin world, and i felt it was the best here, which is interesting because i always find the Slate stuff to be way off - so they really did a good job with this one. Still, i'd like to hear hardware vs DMG TrackComp 2 because i finally got round to testing it, and yup, no plugin comes close to how well it handles transients. It's the closest to hardware. I'm not sure about it's colour though.
Thanks Barry. I'm on the fence which direction to go for my mix bus. Stam for value...Weiss Dione...or splurge on the SSL Bus+ or WesAudio ngBusComp (!!). Better sit with this for a while.
Only we audio geeks go "ooh and ah" over a piece of circuitry with knobs displayed on a rotating platform... Then you said Elna Silmic, so geek "oversampling" and "maximizing"...
Hell, I'd use any of these hardware or plugins. I just subscribed to the Sonobus SSL Collection (And glad I did!) :-) \m/ Awesome reviews on these! :-) I LOVE the Slate Red Compressor! Been using it a LOT! I do want to one day own a 32 channel SSL Console as I hear a HUGE difference in Analog versus Digital. Digital is getting closer though.
I gotta say...I hated the stam in this comparison despite it being louder...it was noisier and didn't have the tonality I expect from an SSL style bus comp. The VSC-2 was the stand-out to me as presented, but you were hitting them all a lot harder than I'd want to. There was something really weird happening to the cymbals in some of them...idk...maybe that was youtube data compression or something. I also really didn't like the brainworx...but I really don't understand why people like them. None of their plugins are all that good to me.
I have a great good recommended advice for you, try stam audio buss compressor vs freeware SSL master mix buss glue compressor busterse by analog obsession, and let's see whatever happens🔥💜🌎💙👍🙏🙏🙏
@@BarryJohns thx i have the AS opto but was thinking of going with Stam for the bus. I am a R&B/ Gospel vocalist and as a result going with AS bus may yield great results. I’m very new to outboard gear so maybe I need to work with what I have and use the plugin alliance bus until I know what I am looking for.
I’ve still not fully decided. The only reason I’m in Nuendo has a the integration with the SSL UF8 is very, very good. It was “ok” with Studio One. I do really like Studio One for sure!
@@BarryJohns I think I had a comment on this on one of your other videos. For controllers, stability and performance, I am finding Nuendo taking the edge. I definitely like the S1 workflow, though. I would say if you are in the Steinberg ecosystem (Wavelab, SpectraLayers), Nuendo/Cubase is a good choice. The amount of content included with Nuendo is pretty impressive, too. Also, if you do a lot of multimedia production other than music, Nuendo is a great tool. It still runs well on older hardware, too.
@@AdamElteto I’m really liking its potential, however, it has what seems to me to be, a steep learning curve coming from other DAW’s. As a long time ProTools user, it seems like everything in Nuendo/Cubase is the opposite of the way you would think when working in ProTools. So I just have to adjust, I’ve watched a lot of videos, and I’ve seen it potential, and I’m excited about it. I just have to get past the learning curve.
@@BarryJohns Barry, I suppose it's been put forward before but what are your thoughts on Reaper? Evidently it integrates very well with SSL UF8. You can assign all your keyboard shortcuts, so it's just like using Tools. Being on Mac I thought you would migrate to logic. I'm on PC and have Softube Console and Fader as my control surface and now just received my Tour Box Elite (check that out) that just about eliminates using the keyboard. So far I've only used about half of the potential of the thing and I love it. Keep up the good work.
The biggest difference to me? When I bought the plug-in, I actually got it. After 9 months I asked for my deposit back from Stam. It was a shame really.
@@BarryJohns Hi Barry, that's exactly what I'm thinking about 🙂 Blind testing the audio samples from the video (but not only one of each - few more from different parts of the song to add variety). Then, the plug-ins are modeled after different pieces of gear, so this would induce a difference. Regarding the interfaces sound over time, we're overlooking some facts. I believe all of us know how many records were made on the digital with the DACs of the '80s and '90s and we don't find them sounding with "a blanket over them". Don't get me wrong, I like analog gear, I grew up with it since the '80s, playing music, recording and whatnot, but we're in an age where a simple blind test will save us some neurons in the brain in the long run 🤘🤘
Sorry I strongly, I repeat very strongly disagree with that. The problem I think you’re referring to and probably what you’ve heard of, is trying to master as you go. Using a bus compressor on your master bus while you’re mixing is as close to a necessary requirement as you can get.
@@BarryJohns well we can agree to disagree and we still love your channel but you can ask most professional mastering house about it and they will tell you they want the track naked. much peace and respect to you😉
@@TheRealNewBlackMusic I think this is probably the misunderstanding or confusion on the subject. You are correct I would remove the bus compressor before sending it to mastering, however while mixing it’s best to have one on.
Thanks so much for this wonderful review Barry!!, We are very honored at Stam, our warmest regards, Josh
Wow, Stam is so clear and amazing.
Thank you Brian!
I'm a full time mix engineer. I'll agree that there is some dimension to hardware but I chose to be in the box and get the results that I want also because the thought of recalling hardware on multiple mix revisions everyday and then printing them all the time is enough to keep me away
Exactly this. I sold nearly all my mixing gear about a year ago and not a single client of mine has even noticed.
If I ever go out of box, it would be outboard gear with total recall (hopefuly we will see more of it in the future)
What plugins compressor you use in the box
@@emanuelwhitehead6039 You're probably asking OP but use TimP's SSL Comp (via Acustica's Nebula) a lot on the mix bus.
@@emanuelwhitehead6039 Slate FG-Grey, UAD 1176's and LA2A are my most used
Hipness!!! I have the Stam SA4000-5 as well and love it!!! I have it on my master bus insert in my RND 5060 and it's just flat out awesome!!! Great video and I feel your spot on 100% correct!
Much continued success and thanks too!
Ps,
You mentioned having different flavors, I have three master comps to choose from... Stam SA4000-5, two RND 535s and RND MBP. Three different flavors that cover a broad realm of sounds and I decide what's best for each given song or project.
The SSL Bus Comp 2 really starts to shine when you enable the x4 oversampling. The hardware seemed to be a fair bit louder than the other examples, so hard to accurately compare them.
I agree the SSL plugin is a great one. Oversampling aside I think it's the closest to the real deal. (I own one and I plan to do a video showing this)
Definitely...I've switched to it on a lot of mixes but always with 4x
@@AtTheSourceStudios you made a video without oversampling it :(((
@@AtTheSourceStudiosno plugin sounds close to it’s counterpart and definitely doesn’t handle like it neither. Are plugins good? No doubt they are.
Thanks for the tip, going from 2x to 4x made quite a difference.
Mine will be here Friday! I can’t wait! Got the ultraviolet to go with it as well. Great video! Thank you!
Let me know what you think after you’ve put it through it’s paces. It can be sensitive, so turn dials slowly.
@@BarryJohns will do!
The Vertigo stood up pretty well to the Stam also
It did the best to my ears.
Hardware definitely sounds wider and has more clarity, purchased one of these a few weeks ago waiting for it to arrive, looking forward to it arriving.
How is it?
Have you received it ?
@@musiccreation1198 yes got it shortly after this video
@@rockchunk9417 Good for you! Seven months since placing my order...still waiting. Asked to cancel my order today.
@@musiccreation1198 the SA4000-5 MK2 are in stock at the moment
I have been waiting for this comparison. I am trying to decide between this SA 4000 and Eysia stereo compressor. The Stam sounds really good!
Hardware is definitely a lot louder, to me the SSL plugin is actually compressing the peaks, the others aren’t hitting the peaks quite fast enough to be smooth… they are all good though, hardware is surly more fun to use… I’d back off the plugin some so it’s just barely knocking the tops off, it’s a little too aggressive for my taste… when I finally get around to building my 500 rack I’ll definitely keep it in mind, the SSL hardware is just way outside my budget… I already own the UC1/ SSL plugin and it’s pretty dang good, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s like throwing a blanket over the speakers in anyway whatsoever… it sounds like an SSL console to within a few percent of exactly like it… I still love hardware though, which is why I invested in the UC1/UF8…
hardware has now evolved into where you can have recall if you need that am hybrid I use both but I have the flock audio patch which let me save hardware as you do in the software world I know most client can tell what you use lol but it make the mix sound more present in the mix
I am definitely considering grabbing a Stam to check out. Almost pulled the trigger on the Wes Dione of the TK several times but the Stam caught my eye thanks to this video!
Thank you very much for the video and for your thoughts, it is valuable🖤
You're so welcome!
I see you are team Steinberg now ;) Welcome! Joshua always makes amazing gear.
Geez, I've got a bunch of hardware in my home studio and own the SSL plugin and listening to these samples, the STAM has a bit more on top and slightly wider BUT the PA and SSL plugins ( hell even the Slate) did a really nice job with glue and sheen. Very impressive. It is really starting to get close. One sword I will die on though, is analog summing through a decent old console or even the newer SSL Six lines. Running your tracks through the console just gives them a nice cohesiveness and depth.
I ordered a Stam about a week ago. I had to wait for months and months to get my SSL UV EQ. Hopefully it won't take forever to get the Stam. The projected release date is July 2023 but I'm not holding my breath. I also had to wait for months to get my Capi 511 rack kit. It seems that about all of the clone hardware manufacturers except for Warm Audio are struggling. Audioscape is no different but I would use any of their products.
did you get it?
@@officialdiomer No. I cancelled the order in December. I got tired of waiting.
@@thumbody1 yikes. sorry to hear that. yeah they make awesome stuff but i personally don’t consider buying stam unless it’s listed as in-stock on their website or on Reverb. i got their SA-800Gmk2 on Reverb and it’s a great mic
On some SSL Bus Comp clones the transformers can be engaged or not. When those engaged you get this 3D thick sound.
I've tried SSL Bus Comp plugin + analog tape saturation (500 format) . You get a very interesting sound with an analog feel.
Public Service Announcement: I placed an order for a Stam Audio SA4000-5 MK2 Tube, 500 series on July 9, 2022. I think I'm on my FIFTH change to the delivery date...and now I'm being told the ship date has slipped again to March 2023. Will it ship then? No f'ing idea. I was going to order a Stam SA-47 mk3 mic and EQP-1AS next. Not anymore. I'll never do business with Stam Audio again. Audioscape will get my hardware dollars.
Barry good job but as a hobbyist I’ve got uad plug-ins.it might not sound as good hardware.but it’s good enough for me 👍👍👍
Hello Barry, thanks for sharing. I have and Apollo x interface and a OctoMic RME. How do you recommend conecting the Buss compresor?
even with youtube's ditherd sound the hatfware is still noticable more bigger more dynamic more wider more 3d more fuller
amazing video barry. would like to use the stam g-bus or other hardware mainly for orchestral music & mockups? looking for hardware on my master channel to make it more sound natural…. it‘s as you said, it sounds always like a blanket just with plugins. i want this last 2 % of natural open sounding. what do you think about the ssl fusion & ssl bus g+ ? thank you, all the best
Great video man. I just did my own on this unit and actually I thought the SSL plugin version sounded really good. It's honestly the closest to the real one IMO albeit I haven't tried the brainworx. Regardless any plugin I've tried always has the 2D flatness/blanket you mention and also like you mention it just seems there NO way a plugin can get that separation/clarity etc. I always tell anyone that says plugins are just as good or better because ____ I'm like you think I'd have all this gear and investment and you think I don't every do my own A/B's on my own like all the time??? lol
Just because I'll usually do my rough mixes with plugin versions of my analog gear and when I switch to analog it's just in another realm in comparison not even close just better in every way. Summing is another huge leap but that's another story. Anyway great video and love the channel!!
Absolutely - 2d flatness is the perfect description, hw just sounds better, especially on acoustic/real instruments. This is coming from someone who owns 'the glue' and a nekotronics sl4000 mk2
Hardware is still king. If you can get hardware you'd be crazy not to. For plugins, i recently heard someone say the FG-Grey still holds up in the plugin world, and i felt it was the best here, which is interesting because i always find the Slate stuff to be way off - so they really did a good job with this one. Still, i'd like to hear hardware vs DMG TrackComp 2 because i finally got round to testing it, and yup, no plugin comes close to how well it handles transients. It's the closest to hardware. I'm not sure about it's colour though.
Thanks Barry. I'm on the fence which direction to go for my mix bus. Stam for value...Weiss Dione...or splurge on the SSL Bus+ or WesAudio ngBusComp (!!). Better sit with this for a while.
I’d be happy to send you one to test mine!
@@joshuastam7704 are the 33609s going to be shipping around December?
@@JLP-333 yes!
@@JLP-333 Did they ship in Dec???
Only we audio geeks go "ooh and ah" over a piece of circuitry with knobs displayed on a rotating platform...
Then you said Elna Silmic, so geek "oversampling" and "maximizing"...
Hell, I'd use any of these hardware or plugins. I just subscribed to the Sonobus SSL Collection (And glad I did!) :-)
\m/
Awesome reviews on these! :-)
I LOVE the Slate Red Compressor! Been using it a LOT!
I do want to one day own a 32 channel SSL Console as I hear a HUGE difference in Analog versus Digital. Digital is getting closer though.
Hi Barry , great vid
How does the RME compared to the carbon that you sold?
I gotta say...I hated the stam in this comparison despite it being louder...it was noisier and didn't have the tonality I expect from an SSL style bus comp. The VSC-2 was the stand-out to me as presented, but you were hitting them all a lot harder than I'd want to. There was something really weird happening to the cymbals in some of them...idk...maybe that was youtube data compression or something. I also really didn't like the brainworx...but I really don't understand why people like them. None of their plugins are all that good to me.
Noisier? 😂😂😂🤦🏾♂️
I have a great good recommended advice for you, try stam audio buss compressor vs freeware SSL master mix buss glue compressor busterse by analog obsession, and let's see whatever happens🔥💜🌎💙👍🙏🙏🙏
How does the Stam compare to the Audioscape bus comp in your honest opinion?
I have not used the AudioScape.
@@BarryJohns thx i have the AS opto but was thinking of going with Stam for the bus. I am a R&B/ Gospel vocalist and as a result going with AS bus may yield great results. I’m very new to outboard gear so maybe I need to work with what I have and use the plugin alliance bus until I know what I am looking for.
I would do the best with what you have until you can make a decision you feel good about.
thanks!
What happened to your lighting, Barry? Is Florida experiencing brown-outs this summer?
I’m experimenting…..you gotta make mistakes to move forward!
It's not that bad at all lol chill bra looks fine to me?
The VS2C2 is the closest thing to the stam which retains the top end more naturally than the plugins seem to.
What happened to Studio One?
Steinberg won out?
I’ve still not fully decided. The only reason I’m in Nuendo has a the integration with the SSL UF8 is very, very good. It was “ok” with Studio One.
I do really like Studio One for sure!
@@BarryJohns I think I had a comment on this on one of your other videos. For controllers, stability and performance, I am finding Nuendo taking the edge. I definitely like the S1 workflow, though. I would say if you are in the Steinberg ecosystem (Wavelab, SpectraLayers), Nuendo/Cubase is a good choice. The amount of content included with Nuendo is pretty impressive, too. Also, if you do a lot of multimedia production other than music, Nuendo is a great tool. It still runs well on older hardware, too.
@@AdamElteto I’m really liking its potential, however, it has what seems to me to be, a steep learning curve coming from other DAW’s.
As a long time ProTools user, it seems like everything in Nuendo/Cubase is the opposite of the way you would think when working in ProTools. So I just have to adjust, I’ve watched a lot of videos, and I’ve seen it potential, and I’m excited about it. I just have to get past the learning curve.
@@BarryJohns Barry, I suppose it's been put forward before but what are your thoughts on Reaper? Evidently it integrates very well with SSL UF8. You can assign all your keyboard shortcuts, so it's just like using Tools. Being on Mac I thought you would migrate to logic. I'm on PC and have Softube Console and Fader as my control surface and now just received my Tour Box Elite (check that out) that just about eliminates using the keyboard. So far I've only used about half of the potential of the thing and I love it. Keep up the good work.
Can you take us through your current outboard list pls?
Let me drive the boat ⚙️
What happened to the light
The biggest difference to me? When I bought the plug-in, I actually got it. After 9 months I asked for my deposit back from Stam. It was a shame really.
"I've been waiting patiently..." ;)
Almost 2 months that i am waiting for my SA4000...
Are differences between them? Yes.
Can they be recognized in a blind test with more audio samples? No.
If you are talking picking which plug-in is which I agree, if you are comparing the samples in this video, I really don’t know what to say to that.
@@BarryJohns Hi Barry, that's exactly what I'm thinking about 🙂
Blind testing the audio samples from the video (but not only one of each - few more from different parts of the song to add variety). Then, the plug-ins are modeled after different pieces of gear, so this would induce a difference.
Regarding the interfaces sound over time, we're overlooking some facts. I believe all of us know how many records were made on the digital with the DACs of the '80s and '90s and we don't find them sounding with "a blanket over them".
Don't get me wrong, I like analog gear, I grew up with it since the '80s, playing music, recording and whatnot, but we're in an age where a simple blind test will save us some neurons in the brain in the long run 🤘🤘
It's not even close. Not saying the plugins are terrible but there's a dramatic difference.
First!
Huge differences
Thanks again for this shoutout!
If u are using out of house mastering, put nothing on the mix outs.😉
Sorry I strongly, I repeat very strongly disagree with that. The problem I think you’re referring to and probably what you’ve heard of, is trying to master as you go. Using a bus compressor on your master bus while you’re mixing is as close to a necessary requirement as you can get.
@@BarryJohns well we can agree to disagree and we still love your channel but you can ask most professional mastering house about it and they will tell you they want the track naked. much peace and respect to you😉
@@TheRealNewBlackMusic I think this is probably the misunderstanding or confusion on the subject. You are correct I would remove the bus compressor before sending it to mastering, however while mixing it’s best to have one on.
That's incorrect, just make sure to leave plenty of headroom for the M.E
SSL put the SSL G comp for 1300 bucks
It just sounded s bit louder..
you are cool dude not the brightest .......videos are cool
Hardware