LIQUID MIX VS WAVES SSL, URS, McDSP, etc..

[dsound]

I'm thinking of adding to my mixing plugs in Logic. Right now, I use stock Logic plugs, Waves Gold and Sonnox comp, eq and trans mod. I was looking at Waves SSL and/or V series but then a friend of mine told me to check out the Focusrite Liquid Mix. He said for the price, it can't be beat. Has and one compared Liquid Mix with any of the above mentioned plugs?

[T_R_S]

check this LINK

[eugd]

I've been loving the Liquid Mix compressors. They sound great to me and you have so many options. I haven't gotten too deep in testing the EQs yet, but having those bundled too and plenty of DSP power to offload the computer is great. And all this for less than the Wave SSL or API pack? I think it's a steal.

But, hearing is believing. I'm tempted to post blind A/B comparison files similar to T_R_S's post for the buss compressors, but for SSL EQ, and different compressors on the Liquid Mix that are based on real hardware (which is hopefully where other people could contribute those files).

Anyone interesting in comparisons for:
SSL G-series EQ (Waves, Duende, liquid mix, other)
SSL E-series EQ (Waves, Duende, liquid mix, other)
Pulteq EQ, LA2A compression, etc?

I have plenty of plugins, Duende, and liquid mix, but would others to contribute real HW and UAD and Protools files.

[eugd]

Well, just for fun, here's a quick little wav from FM7 with plenty of frequency content across the board and then some air added with Duende, Liquid Mix, Oxford Sonnox, URS_S_Series, and Waves SSL G-Series Eq (Analog switch off).

First the original file:

And then 5 files, randomized. (all VST within Nuendo). Applied a 12db boost with a shelf at 7.1 kHz.

Any favourites? Can anyone run it through a real G-Series SSL desk? Does anyone care at all? :)

[eugd]

Last two:

[eugd]

Here's another test. This time comparing API 550B eq models. In the race: Liquid Mix, URS, and Waves.

They all sound different. Although I'm not sure that one is any better than the other. They just miss the target differently, but might all still sound good. Might be cool to know what the original API hardware sounds like, especially if you care about how close your plugins model the original.

[eugd]

Here are the settings (in no particular order)

[Lowas]

I'm not so used to these types of sounds but to me Air 1-3-5 sounds the most "correct" and "digital" and 2 and 4 sounds more "smooth".Air 4 lacking some "sheen/spark", kinda hard to imagine nr 4 has been boosted 12dB at 7.1 kHz or the "sharpness" of the other examples fooled my ear.I had a few more listens and I would probably pick plug nr4.Many of the examples sounds "middy" considering its a 7.1 kHz boost compared to the original.

If nr2 is at equal loudness I would consider that a plug that sounds good but "small".

[eugd]

Yeah, the trouble with the odd synth sound I chose is that it's probably a bad metric. It doesn't really sound great, it's just an FM7 preset slightly modified, and not very natural. But it did have all the frequencies covered. I'm happy to re-run different materials through the same test if someone wants to hear vocals, drums, etc.

[Lowas]

In the API test API nr3 seems to have the "most" separation between the bass note and the higher notes.API nr1 sounded thinner to me than the other two.

I demoed the Wave's API just recently and it was hard for me to hear anything significantly better in their EQ's than what I already have, at least in "isolation".I don't know the "API" sound that well tho.

[Lowas]

Yeah, the trouble with the odd synth sound I chose is that it's probably a bad metric. It doesn't really sound great, it's just an FM7 preset slightly modified, and not very natural

I was pointing at my own shortcomings rather than yours

[Lowas]

When I lined the air examples up in Sonar and adjusted the levels a little bit I think I would like to try out and fool around with the air4 plug.PM me the air4 plug name will ya?

What I feel I lack from my current eq's is some "bite" and "punch".

I think the "slope" in the highshelf matters a lot too in these examples, if the "slope" was closer to eachother I think it would be harder to tell them apart.

air6 is my plug :P

[eugd]

Originally Posted by Lowas

I think the "slope" in the highshelf matters a lot too in these examples, if the "slope" was closer to eachother I think it would be harder to tell them apart.

For sure. But most of these plugins don't have a shelf slope control. They are supposed to match the slope of SSL G-Series High shelf EQ. And obviously at least 3 of them fail. (The Oxford does have a slope control and i set it by hand it's clearly the most different - but just threw it in for fun).

[Lowas]

This test sure shed some light on my quest on updating my EQ's, thx for the PM

I have one more plug that needs some luv for what it is:P, it was difficult to "levelmatch" this one tho, I work with 24bit/88.2kHz too so my examples might differ because of that.

[eugd]

Wow. Air07.wav is really close to Air04.wav. Nicely done. I'm curious to know what plugin that is and what settings you used.

I've run some tests with 4 EQ bands on drums, strings, and piano. posting soon in the audio file comparison section.

[eugd]

OK. Here's the new thread:

SSL-G Series EQ emulation shootout (audiofiles included)

[Lowas]

Wow. Air07.wav is really close to Air04.wav. Nicely done. I'm curious to know what plugin that is and what settings you used.

That was Voxengo's HarmoniEQ.
12dB @ 7.1kHz with an "even" slope, Boost, Woofer and Soft mode.

air06 was Voxengo's Lampthruster, I don't use Lampthruster for high boosts tho really.

[TranscendingM]

You may find my thread useful, check it out here

Compression Listening Comparisons: LiquidMix,Waves, others

[Absolute]

Originally Posted by Lowas

That was Voxengo's HarmoniEQ.
12dB @ 7.1kHz with an "even" slope, Boost, Woofer and Soft mode.

air06 was Voxengo's Lampthruster, I don't use Lampthruster for high boosts tho really.

Lampthruster is a very unique Plugin isnt it? VST is so far ahead in Drive saturation and harmonics than TDM . I have to smile when people rave about the input section of the URS console pro(which has no drive, saturation, or harmonics) when Voxengo has had this type of thing for years

What kind of things are you using Harmonic EQ and Lampthruster on?

[Lowas]

What kind of things are you using Harmonic EQ and Lampthruster on?

I've been in the "drumlab" for a while :P so mostly drums.HarmoniEQ has gotten the most use I think, when I demoed the Waves API I could get pretty close to it with the Lampthruster adjusting the "Q" to Api's behaviour.

My goto EQ has been Neon HR for quiet a while and I'm trying to incorporate more "coloring" EQ's along with it.

I feel it takes too long often to dial in Lampthruster tho, and yes it's kind of a "special" EQ.

I usually use a combination of plugs though and PSP's MixSaturator(mostly valve) and Voxengo's Transmodder has been on the top of my list recently.Voxformer is also something I'm looking to get probably.

Drive, Saturation, Harmonics etc, love it :D

[Absolute]

Originally Posted by Lowas

I feel it takes too long often to dial in Lampthruster tho, and yes it's kind of a "special" EQ.


:D

It works good for Guitars..especially clean or medium gain. Because its so unique its actually best to run through the presets and you'll hear the voicings of the guitar shift along with the crunchyness

[AMIEL]

EUGD/ thanks!

But there is a way you can test the Waves SSL, Duende, and liquid Mix with Vocals and maybe Acoustic Guitar? and with just some nice Vocal EQ ?
ah and post the raw track too!

[Lowas]

It works good for Guitars..especially clean or medium gain. Because its so unique its actually best to run through the presets and you'll hear the voicings of the guitar shift along with the crunchyness

Yea, I have actually used it on guitar when I look back, I also spent some time with the "Thruster" and made some presets dialing in the Thruster+different Models.

[eugd]

If anyone cares... the plugins were:

Air01.wav - Liquid Mix
Air02.wav - Oxford
Air03.wav - Waves
Air04.wav - Duende
Air05.wav - URS

API_01.wav - Liquid Mix
API_02.wav - Waves
API_03.wav - URS

The Liquid mix doesn't boost the lows nearly as much as the Waves and URS API. I found the same problem with my SSL G-Series EQ tests (on the other thread). I don't know if it's a problem with dynamic convolution in general, or just with Liquid Mix's emulations of API 550B and SSL-G, but it's hard to get big bass with both.

[eugd]

AMIEL: I would gladly post vocal EQ comparison of SSL-G series EQ and API EQ. But i honestly don't have any good vocal tracks, nor a good means to make some. If anyone wants to post a raw track and desired EQ settings, i'm happy to run the plugins on it and post blind comparison for everyone.