This week got crazy, I was evacuated from my home due to potential flooding, so I misspoke in a couple places - Gem Tapedesk I said “usually sounds good somewhere in the red”, sometimes it does sometimes it doesn’t - I didn’t edit out the part where I said “show you my set up” for Zulu 500, I showed the settings just a moment before - I didn’t go under the hood on the UAD Studer which does have additional parameters Apologies, but I wanted to get this video out this week.
In my opinion it's a plugin that either works really well, or really doesn't, depending on the exact source. Kinda like in the drum section, I didn't really dig it on the drums in this case, but as soon as I slapped it on the guitar I loved it.
The Zulu is the clear winner; it's not even close! It delivers a heft and a peak-shaving that plugins can never provide. But out of the plugins, I actually like the Overloud Tapedesk the most; I think you can tweak its sound really nicely if you dive into the controls, and it's pretty versatile. I like it a lot.
Me personally, i like the studer on individual tracks, and their Ampex on the master. Its one of the last things (i say that now) that i wanted to add to my tools. So i downloaded every demo i could possibly find, and just all around was my favorite and combod
I love my uad studer...I know from Allen Sides that he provided his Studer to uad so that plugin actually emulates the same studer that Dr.Dre and Michael Jackson used!
Also it’s interesting to see mix head in this because it doesn’t sound like tape while the others are definitely trying to emulate tape but that’s the quirky thing about that box!
When you made that blended sound on the Mixhead, it reminded me immediately of a Juice World vibe. I enjoyed that! That's a powerful feature. I liked it on the drums!
softube Tape is extraordinary for a variety of bus purposes. Current fav - it can basically delete 3-6 db of snare spikes in overhead drum tracks in such a transparent way. The high frequency boost is crazy great… I’m very interested in trying the new Serban joint, though. Enough hype on that one that it intrigues me :) Love the channel, Matt!
Excellent as always, Matthew. Question for you: I've had many Pro Tools mixers/editors comment on the fact that I use plug-ins on my Master Fader. What are your thoughts/opinions related to plug-ins on the Sub Master vs the Master Fader?
The only real difference is that the Master fader volume is pre-insert whereas a submix aux would have a post fader output. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. I typically use an aux, but that's just what I'm used to.
There's a lot of plugins and hardware out there to choose from, I just picked some of the ones that were of interest to me... and not even all of them because the video is already 30min. I left out Cranesong Phoenix which is a classic as well.
@@coldskoolbeatzfor real. I have that as well as the many usuals and a Zulu desktop and Satin is cool sometimes in what it does to low end slightly breaking up. Found myself using it in tracking keys with big pads pushing to the edge of breakup with a pillowy sort vibe. Something I found satin did very well compared to others was it’s kind of breakup wasn’t advertising the function like others do. It saturates like tape is supposed to but doesn’t have this like no saturation to too much even low point. Very natural
I generally use tape emulators in two contexts - sound design, and sweetener. For sweeteners I'm typically placing it on a bus, unless I'm trying to tame down harshness. For sound design, on the individual channel.
overloud smoked the digi ones. the sorcery done at the end with the eq shaping into the analogue is on another level tho. fantastic. you ever use the pentode and triode settings of the crane song to achieve similar effects to the zulu ?
Matt's technique of pushing highs into the mixdown deck actually has it's roots in the old school days of mixing to 1/4" tape. You'd often see console EQ on the channels boosted heavily to get as much treble onto tape, so it could counteract the expected 14khz roll off that analog tape was known for! It created some amazing top end clarity opportunities that we had to add to Zulu's DNA. Personally I love what tape does to bottom end.
I’m having a hard time with this video and other audio videos in general. I’m struggling to hear a difference between examples. Too often I’m hearing what is happening musically and missing what is going on sonically and that lack of ear is my biggest issue in recording and mixing
I just sold my Zulu because I didn’t use it enough. I would have to hook it up to my patch bay and it was clunky. I had no idea there was a 500 version! That would be sweet!
Dude…..Zulu is so deserving of being experimented with. I highly suggest trying it in whatever platform and try different pres going in and out. It’s loaded with unique vibe and just nothing else like it. Dimensionality on top of tracking with it different flavors of tape formula can do some crazy cumulative effects you’ll find by the end of tracking this weight on your RMS levels getting close to mastering point without losing the dynamic.
@@nikdrown yeah. For sure. I absolutely liked it, I just didn’t like the design. I don’t have tons of room so I’d have to pull it off the shelf and run XLR to 1/4 cables into the patch bay. So I would mainly use it on a full mix or a bus. The 500 ones look awesome though. I have a couple slots open so it would be a much smoother and used piece of gear compared to the desktop unit imo.
Remember it’s emulating a digital tape emulator… so it’s not going to necessarily have the “expected” tone qualities, which is part of why I picked it for this
For close to real tape emulation I like IK Tape Machines. UAD Ampex would be nice to have here. Fuse Audio Labs Flywheel is good, too, although not really sounding real. Mixhead is overrated.
This week got crazy, I was evacuated from my home due to potential flooding, so I misspoke in a couple places
- Gem Tapedesk I said “usually sounds good somewhere in the red”, sometimes it does sometimes it doesn’t
- I didn’t edit out the part where I said “show you my set up” for Zulu 500, I showed the settings just a moment before
- I didn’t go under the hood on the UAD Studer which does have additional parameters
Apologies, but I wanted to get this video out this week.
you da man! I appreciate your videos!
People have been crapping on that MixHead plugin but I fricking love it!
In my opinion it's a plugin that either works really well, or really doesn't, depending on the exact source. Kinda like in the drum section, I didn't really dig it on the drums in this case, but as soon as I slapped it on the guitar I loved it.
Simple formula: Matthew posts a video = I watch.
Facts
The Zulu is the clear winner; it's not even close! It delivers a heft and a peak-shaving that plugins can never provide. But out of the plugins, I actually like the Overloud Tapedesk the most; I think you can tweak its sound really nicely if you dive into the controls, and it's pretty versatile. I like it a lot.
Me personally, i like the studer on individual tracks, and their Ampex on the master. Its one of the last things (i say that now) that i wanted to add to my tools. So i downloaded every demo i could possibly find, and just all around was my favorite and combod
I love my uad studer...I know from Allen Sides that he provided his Studer to uad so that plugin actually emulates the same studer that Dr.Dre and Michael Jackson used!
Thanks so much for including us in this video!!
Also it’s interesting to see mix head in this because it doesn’t sound like tape while the others are definitely trying to emulate tape but that’s the quirky thing about that box!
When you made that blended sound on the Mixhead, it reminded me immediately of a Juice World vibe. I enjoyed that! That's a powerful feature. I liked it on the drums!
softube Tape is extraordinary for a variety of bus purposes. Current fav - it can basically delete 3-6 db of snare spikes in overhead drum tracks in such a transparent way. The high frequency boost is crazy great… I’m very interested in trying the new Serban joint, though. Enough hype on that one that it intrigues me :) Love the channel, Matt!
Not mention “mixfx” functionality
Would love to see a full review of the Zulu 500 🙌🏾
Good food for thought on using tape emulators. Thanks as always.
Very Interesting. I'd love to see a full review on Zulu 500.
Can you do a full comprehensive Zulu 500 review? Would love to see one!
Great video man, many thanks!! Keep ‘em coming, much appreciated!
The ultralinear presets on the A800 are a must, perfect for just adding a little life to tracks but you can push them of course.
Thank you for including the Zulu 500 in the shootout! #tapegang make sure y'all watch this shootout on real speakers. ❤
Excellent as always, Matthew. Question for you: I've had many Pro Tools mixers/editors comment on the fact that I use plug-ins on my Master Fader. What are your thoughts/opinions related to plug-ins on the Sub Master vs the Master Fader?
The only real difference is that the Master fader volume is pre-insert whereas a submix aux would have a post fader output. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. I typically use an aux, but that's just what I'm used to.
@@WeissAdvice Thank you for the reply. . I also tend to use an aux most of the time due to the pre fader inserts.
if i had to choose between the 3 of them i will go with the Overloud first then comes MixHead and the UA Studer A800
Im surprised to not see uhe satin it's for sure my go to
Criminally underrated.
There's a lot of plugins and hardware out there to choose from, I just picked some of the ones that were of interest to me... and not even all of them because the video is already 30min. I left out Cranesong Phoenix which is a classic as well.
@@coldskoolbeatzfor real. I have that as well as the many usuals and a Zulu desktop and Satin is cool sometimes in what it does to low end slightly breaking up. Found myself using it in tracking keys with big pads pushing to the edge of breakup with a pillowy sort vibe. Something I found satin did very well compared to others was it’s kind of breakup wasn’t advertising the function like others do. It saturates like tape is supposed to but doesn’t have this like no saturation to too much even low point. Very natural
@@nikdrownIf you had to pick between the Zulu and Satin for your sole tape emulator, which would you go with?
I would like to see a review of Zulu 500!
For me, I like the tape plugin best.
Would you prefer to mix into all of these or engage them later down the line when the mix is starting to take shape?
I'd bring this early on if not from the very beginning of the mix - just like an actual tape layback. Although in this case I didn't, oddly enough.
@@WeissAdvice even the Mixhead?
great video!
i personally prefer the uad Ampex atr102, but the mixhead sounds crazy too
Zulu is pure magic 🧙♂️
would love to see some
more vsx mixing and mastering tips !
How do you like to use your tape emulator plugin? Do you put it on a track, instrument bus, mix bus, or parallel?
I generally use tape emulators in two contexts - sound design, and sweetener. For sweeteners I'm typically placing it on a bus, unless I'm trying to tame down harshness. For sound design, on the individual channel.
overloud smoked the digi ones. the sorcery done at the end with the eq shaping into the analogue is on another level tho. fantastic. you ever use the pentode and triode settings of the crane song to achieve similar effects to the zulu ?
the crane song you're seeing is an Avocet II which is a monitor controller, not signal processor.
Matt's technique of pushing highs into the mixdown deck actually has it's roots in the old school days of mixing to 1/4" tape. You'd often see console EQ on the channels boosted heavily to get as much treble onto tape, so it could counteract the expected 14khz roll off that analog tape was known for! It created some amazing top end clarity opportunities that we had to add to Zulu's DNA. Personally I love what tape does to bottom end.
For me UA Studer.
You literally read my mind 😮
Some wrong info here. The Over-bias setting on the Tape Desk plugin dampens high frequencies. Not the other way around as presented in this video.
i like this page fr
I’m having a hard time with this video and other audio videos in general. I’m struggling to hear a difference between examples. Too often I’m hearing what is happening musically and missing what is going on sonically and that lack of ear is my biggest issue in recording and mixing
There's also the extreme volume change at 5:07.
Cant find a zulu anywhere :(
The 500 series units are on sale all summer! buyzulus.com takes you right to the store. ❤
I just sold my Zulu because I didn’t use it enough. I would have to hook it up to my patch bay and it was clunky. I had no idea there was a 500 version! That would be sweet!
Dude…..Zulu is so deserving of being experimented with. I highly suggest trying it in whatever platform and try different pres going in and out. It’s loaded with unique vibe and just nothing else like it. Dimensionality on top of tracking with it different flavors of tape formula can do some crazy cumulative effects you’ll find by the end of tracking this weight on your RMS levels getting close to mastering point without losing the dynamic.
@@nikdrown yeah. For sure. I absolutely liked it, I just didn’t like the design. I don’t have tons of room so I’d have to pull it off the shelf and run XLR to 1/4 cables into the patch bay. So I would mainly use it on a full mix or a bus. The 500 ones look awesome though. I have a couple slots open so it would be a much smoother and used piece of gear compared to the desktop unit imo.
Come back to Zulukanda. Enjoy the warmth. We have some of the best mouser pads in the industry!
@@langstonmasingale3365 I was just looking at the 500 modules. Are they available still? The link sent me to a Reverb page that said sold out.
@davidasher22 we will be on sale on the 4th of July! Keep your eyes and coins ready!
I wish Mixhead had the sort of tape eq curves on the 15ips and 30ips settings that one would expect. I miss that low end head bump vibe.
Remember it’s emulating a digital tape emulator… so it’s not going to necessarily have the “expected” tone qualities, which is part of why I picked it for this
airwindows totape7
For close to real tape emulation I like IK Tape Machines. UAD Ampex would be nice to have here. Fuse Audio Labs Flywheel is good, too, although not really sounding real. Mixhead is overrated.
In hip hop does it even matter?
Hip hop right now is so gritty and ghetto. These new consumers don’t even care about distortion