API EQ Shoot Out | HARDWARE vs PLUGINS
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- In this video, I compare the hardware version of the API 5500 EQ to their plugin counterparts by Waves & Universal Audio
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I actually put my hand on my studio monitors while you were switching back and forth. Not only did a hear a certain difference in the 'bounce' of the grove throughout all frequencies in favor of the hardware, but I felt the woofer was moving more deliberately, almost 3D, compared to the plugins which sounded flat. The difference is relatively small, but I would imagine over an entire mix it can make a huge difference. Decisions compound! Keep up the great work, learning so much.
Yes, there is a little more low end punch and depth to the hardware but it was pretty close to the plugins. Much closer than when we have done compressor hardware vs plugins. In that case, the hardware was much more a clear winner in my opinion.
@@MixingMusicAnalog Yea that is the observation i'm seeing repeated everywhere. EQ is pretty close, reverbs are pretty dam close, delays are fine, but compression and even distortion still have a way to go. Heft, depth and nice spatialisation is present with hardware, and nearly every plugin falls flat on that front. We'll get there one day !
I'd take the UAD for my money, openness is breath of fresh air. Waves sounds like it has adds a thin layer of Saran Wrap to my dynes that the UAD does not add.
Great. Thanks for watching!
IMO, the UA sounds soooooo freakin close, but the waves is duller, lacks excitement. At times i preferred the UA to the HW, but overall think the HW has a slight more air and realism.
Thanks for watching!
To me the API 5500 Hardware had way more body in the snare and more depth on the snare especially compared to the waves. The stereo width on the hardware was obvious too, as you went to the plugins, it's like they completely narrowed.On the UAD its closer to the hardware to me, but the Hardware sounds less harsh in the highs.
I like that hardware as well, but to me the difference was not as much as I thought it would have been
I think there was a big difference, not just marginal. On the Snare, the hardware sound like it boosted twice as much top, but without actually sounding too bright.
It also seems to treat the transients slightly differently.
Thanks for checking out the video!
@@MixingMusicAnalog Thanks for making it!
I thought maybe the uad sounded the best actually.. interesting
Great. Thanks!
IMO: If you know what the hardware actually sounds like (via years of experience), you don't need hardware to get great sounds out of plugins. However, having hardware translates to saving time and time is $$$. Plugins have come a long way, but nothing sucks the life out of creativity like mouse-clicking, licensing issues, having no internet connection, having too many plugin options (not committing to a sound), failed drives, software crashes, subscriptions and all other things that tend to happen with software mid-session. Great demo! Thanks! I'm a huge 550b fan myself.
Ok, thanks for watching!
Yeah but I have a ton of hardware that needs to be serviced often.
Same with plugins.
In 20 years I've never had any of these issues, except for too many plugins 😂
I didn't care for the excessive "sizzle" in the HW, but I liked the UA the best at any rate. Waves was a little "smaller" sounding. Cheers
The U/A is really good
Exactly my thoughts too! :)
You need to push the eq vsts hi freqs so they begin to crap out, 2 dBs is nothing, u need to go 8, 10, 12 dbs like CLA 😂
Ok, thanks
It would be incredible a comparison between the distressors hardware and UAD 😁 Cheers!
Noted!
You could add a second ua api eq in series and cut 400 which is close to 500. BTW is that a foo's song?
Thanks for watching!
The hardware clearly wins here. I think the reason is the API op-amp and output transformer. It has a certain character and thickness. The Waves obviously didn't model the op-amp characteristics and the UAD is close. There is just something magical about that combination of the 2520 op amp and the 2503 output transformer. I have a DIYRE version of the API op-amp and output transformer sitting on my 2-bus for this very reason
Maes sense. I am considering the API 2500 for my master bus as well.
@@MixingMusicAnalog Yeah, that's a bucket-list compressor for sure. But $3k 😱
The hardware is the best. Cymbals also sound better.
Thanks!
i¨m working testing plugins for various brands, and is always the same: Plugins cant have the same input signal though them comparing to the hardware. So with EQ and Compressors you cant crack them without noticing the "plastic" effect. This is why from my humble opinion, is better to use more instance with small moves, than one with all of them.
Thanks for watching!
That's the problem with digital, the low end. Its why people that mix in the box only have such a hard time getting the low end right. Most that get into mixing and stay in the box eventually give up cause they cant get to a pro mix level. Of course to have enough hardware in 500 series to really do a pro level mix is 20-30K barrier to entry. Its doenst sound like much here but over 40 tracks and 100+ plug ins versus a mix with hardware almost exclusively the culmination of the analog gear being just a little better adds up! Its adds up to a far better sounding mix.
Well said. Thanks for watching1!
i'm listening with audeze lcd-x and the difference is there... obvious if you don't have problems with your hearing.. the low end extension in the hardware is significant different. Also to the top end is way better with the hardware. If you want to hear the difference loop a small section and you will see. If you listen with "ok" headphones probably you won't hear the difference but that doesn't mean that you can get the same with a plugin... If you wanna see it more clearly, I bought an API 550a myself and sent it back years ago because i didn't hear the difference but now that i have better speakers and better headphones i can pick all the nuances.
Thanks for watching!
I totally agree to you. I have the 550B 500 series Rack and I agree to you. You can use the channel strip form API Universal Audio. It has the 550B eq on it. You bypass the other things.
True. That is an option
I've yet to go to one place on RUclips where someone tells the truth that the hardware sounds way better than the plug-in I don't know why people are afraid to go against the words of clever advertising for plugins it's like you can't get an honest answer in this industry anymore everything is to sell you...
Thank you Paul. I really appreciate it because I take a ton of "heat" for being honest on this channel. LOL. That said, I love plugins and use them all the time when working ITB. They are great. However, there are very few that sound like the hardware in my experience especially compressors. Now of course, I have a limited amount of hardware so I have not compare everything out there but I have def seen a pattern.
The hardware dynamics on the attack and openness is very different than the Waves which is smoother and more polite. Looking forward in you testing out the Blackbird BBA5 API EQ to this one as modeling has come a long way since the Waves version
Thanks for watching!
I'm at 7:05 and I'm telling you these are the drums from Everlong, but played later. but really cool. I'm just thinking about getting the API as hardware. I'm very curious what the comparison shows. but for now I'll keep looking …thanks for your videos 😉👍🏼🤘🏼
You're welcome
Hardware is worth it for toms alone. Since hardware has a transformer i wonder if you drive signal in harder if it gets a little but better than the plug in?
Maybe a very subtle difference.
Great Video! I would love to hear you add in Acustica Audio Pink4 emulation of the API
not a fan of Acustica Audio.
Everlong! I’m listening on my living room hi fi system. The hardware has some additional sizzle on the top, especially the hats. As well as a thicker low end than the waves. The universal audio was closer. I think the hardware is more dynamic. The plugins sound like they are flatter… like the harmonics are all there, but they don’t punch out like the hardware. Its something I’ve noticed before when mixing in the box, I have a bought hardware eq’s because I couldn’t get that extra 5% I was looking for.
Thanks for checking out the video!
Nice comparative video....maybe later you can add another plugins like the ones in IK multimedia, Overloud, Slate Digital and Volko. They have emulation of that eq.
HI Ricardo. I wont be able to do that. I have a very limited amount of plugins on this rig to keep it simple. I can tell you the result would be pretty much the same regardless of the plugins, in my opinion
Very nicely done. The hardware seems a little more forceful than the plugins to me. That's my favorite but all sound good. The UAD comes in second to me but it may be the 500hz that's not cut. Would you consider doing a null test between them? Again, very nicely done.
A Null test? Not at this time but maybe at one point
The hardware sounds more controlled and punchy in the low end. That’s where I hear it.
Great. thanks for watching
It really is impressive how close that is. To me, the hardware had just a smidge more sub info than the plugins. I don't have the Waves API stuff (I think!) but I do have the Overloud EQ550. I used it on the drum buss of my September MME mix to emulate what you did in the videos and I'm a believer now, too.
Well said!
Haha! Everlong! I did a drum cover of this tune. Great video! Definitely gets thinner when you go from the hardware to the Waves and then the UA is in between. You can hear those transformers for sure kick in.
Rock on!
UAD have the 4 bands EQ on the channel strip
Thanks for watching!
Also the 550 a and b are a bit different sonically
Yes they are
Great info! Can you please explain how you are routing the DrumBus software EQ both physically and digitally between S1 and the SSL? Also, do you route (software plugins) DrumBus Comp the same way but on an additional SSL fader?
Maybe at one point I'll do that video