SSL X-Rack E-Series Hardware VS Plugin

[Iglesias]

Hey,
here's a comparison between the SSL E-Series Hardware and Plugin. I used the (as close as possible) same settings on both the plugin and the hardware. EQ and Comp. I would be very interested if you guys can tell the difference and find out which one is which. I tried to get the volume pretty close, but there may be a slight difference.
Guitar is a Taylor 814 CE recorded DI into a Blue Robbie Pre, straight into a 96I/O.

[DR Music]

Originally Posted by Iglesias

Hey,
here's a comparison between the SSL E-Series Hardware and Plugin. I used the (as close as possible) same settings on both the plugin and the hardware. EQ and Comp. I would be very interested if you guys can tell the difference and find out which one is which. I tried to get the volume pretty close, but there may be a slight difference.
Guitar is a Taylor 814 CE recorded DI into a Blue Robbie Pre, straight into a 96I/O.

I like 1 bit better.. Sounds more 3D to me. (and I dislike that word.. lol)
1 is a tad louder..
Thanks for the shootout!

[tekn0]

Clip two sounds more compressed.

[rogerioalves21]

1 - hardware
2 - plugin

[G-Spot]

The first one has more highs, the second is not so bright.
The first feels wider because we can better hear the strings being "attacked", hence more easy to hear the little tinny time differences between left and right.
The files are not really similar (eq or dynamic wise).

I have both (Hardware and Software) and I prefer the Hardware, but when I don't have more left, I grab the plugin which does a great job.
One comes closer by matching by hear than by numbers (settings), at least that's my experience.

[DR Music]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

The first one has more highs, the second is not so bright.
The first feels wider because we can better hear the strings being "attacked", hence more easy to hear the little tinny time differences between left and right.
The files are not really similar (eq or dynamic wise).

I have both (Hardware and Software) and I prefer the Hardware, but when I don't have more left, I grab the plugin which does a great job.
One comes closer by matching by hear than by numbers (settings), at least that's my experience.

Very true Gspot

[Iglesias]

Yeah I agree that you should go by ear not by numbers, but I specifically wanted to compare the 2 with the same settings. Just wanted to see which one you guys prefer when you didn't know which is which.

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by Iglesias

Yeah I agree that you should go by ear not by numbers, but I specifically wanted to compare the 2 with the same settings. Just wanted to see which one you guys prefer when you didn't know which is which.

Fair enough!

I had to hear in the mix to find the better one... but by its own, I really don´t know... the first I find a bit too bright, the second a bit too compressed

[Iglesias]

Hey, so here's the answer:
1 is the plugin
2 is the hardware

Funny thing is while I was recording them my braun was always telling me hardware sounds better. But now I must say I am very impressed at how good the plugin actually is.

[yerusalan]

The plug-in version rounded the highs and killed the vibe and string resonance. HW version is much better and sw sounds plastic in comparison.

[DR Music]

Originally Posted by yerusalan

The plug-in version rounded the highs and killed the vibe and string resonance. HW version is much better and sw sounds plastic in comparison.

Don't agree. Bet I can get the settings pretty close...

[ionian]

Originally Posted by yerusalan

The plug-in version rounded the highs and killed the vibe and string resonance. HW version is much better and sw sounds plastic in comparison.

If this is true, why didn't you correctly pick which was hardware and which was the plug and state this opinion BEFORE he revealed which was which?

In fact, why did you wait for him to reveal the answer before you decided to post at all?


Regards,
Frank

[DR Music]

Originally Posted by ionian

If this is true, why didn't you correctly pick which was hardware and which was the plug and state this opinion BEFORE he revealed which was which?

In fact, why did you wait for him to reveal the answer before you decided to post at all?


Regards,
Frank

Thank You..!!!
That's the problem with gearslutz...
Opinions after results come in..

[yerusalan]

Originally Posted by ionian

If this is true, why didn't you correctly pick which was hardware and which was the plug and state this opinion BEFORE he revealed which was which?

In fact, why did you wait for him to reveal the answer before you decided to post at all?


Regards,
Frank

Oh, I would had I seen this thread earlier. I thought it was pretty clear from the shootout. If someone can't hear the highs gone in plug version (all together with the strings resonance) I'm sorry for him. They do not sound close to me. Post other clips I'm sure it is going to be easy to tell which is which. Sounds like you're defending the plug for some reason. G-Spot nailed it it's just I wouldn't say the plug-in version stands well against the hw.

EDITED: see my later post. I confused clip 2 for 1

[yerusalan]

disregard

[ionian]

Originally Posted by yerusalan

Oh, I would had I seen this thread earlier. I thought it was pretty clear from the shootout. If someone can't hear the highs gone in plug version (all together with the strings resonance) I'm sorry for him. They do not sound close to me. Post other clips I'm sure it is going to be easy to tell which is which. Sounds like you're defending the plug for some reason

Na, I just always get a kick out of people who post after the results are revealed. You should check the threads with polls. It's awesome! Entire polls have shifted from one choice to the other after the answers have been revealed.

Since you're new, here's one of the better ones :
Can You Tell The Difference? ART vs. Great River!

Where before the reveal 75% of the votes had chosen the ART pre-amp as superior. After the answer had been revealed, votes started pouring in for the great river. It's a long thread but a fun read.

Plugs vs. hardware is a popular topic here so I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to show everyone how easily you can tell them apart.

Regards,
Frank

[yerusalan]

Haha now I see I got confused. So it's vice versa in my first comment. Should read like this:

The HW version rounded the highs and killed the vibe and string resonance. SW version is much better and HW sounds plastic in comparison.

Sorry for confusion boys. I must had been tired and placed them in a different order in foobar - like 2-1

[yerusalan]

ionian, it's ok don't sweat darling. I don't care for your statistics. I'm not taking it as a pissin contest. I only check threads I find a fun or of an interest to me.

I dl it again just to make sure. they're not far apart but yes I like 1 better - better resonance in the highs and transient responce. Original raw file would reveal if that's something the plugin added or hw taken out

[ionian]

Sweat this? Naaa...This website serves as entertainment. Although I will admit I got a tingle when you called me "darling".

Regards,
Frank

[RaySoul]

What is the plugin? Duende?