SSL vs what else? SSL

[T_R_S]

With all the SSL Plug-ins out these days Compare for yourself
the Contenders:

01.wav = Digidesign Impact TDM
02.wav = Waves SSL TDM
03.wav = Waves SSL RTAS
04.wav = SSL Duende
05.wav = Focusrite Liquid Mix with SSL compressor sample
06.wav = URS 1980 TDM
07.wav = URS 1980 RTAS

[T_R_S]

Last 3 Files

[T_R_S]

The Settings if anyone cares to post a hardware SSL Comp

[horseface]

The Duende one sounds the best.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by horseface

The Duende one sounds the best.

My pick as well....

LOL


T_R_S, any chance of posting the original unprocessed files as well?

[3rdeyeKnight]

I was tossed between the Duende and the Digidesign Impact...I think the Digidesign Impact sounds more favorable to this type of song..it sounds slightly warmer to my ears...this is a great sounding song by the way...I love that whole 70's dance vibe with the female vocals..did you produce this T_R_S?

[T_R_S]

I guess I should have said this is a blind test
The Comps listed are not in the correct order. The file NOCOMP.wav is no compression
1st hint Wrong guess 01.wav is NOT Duende

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

I guess I should have said this is a blind test
The Comps listed are not in the correct order. The file NOCOMP.wav is no compression

Sorry I missed that part.... carry on....

lol

Thanks man.

[upscaps]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

1st hint Wrong guess 01.wav is NOT Duende

ha! here we go again

[audiomichael]

Wow. I was expecting a much wider variation between the files. How much gain reduction are you hitting?

Honestly I like the nocomp version the best, followed by 1 and 7.

[3rdeyeKnight]

In that case, I like #5....#1 sounds a little more up front but #5 compliments the style of music that I like. Did you produce that song T_R_S?

[Old Dog]

Wow! That is nerve racking. They all sound quite similar. There does seem to be some variation in the perceived level of some of the files, but if the settings are the same for each of the plugs it's a fair comparison. It could be how the comp squishes the highs differently which makes it appear softer. I did obviously have to match the "no comp" version and I have to agree with some of the other posts, it does sound really good as is.

Anyhoo, I like #6. Seems to be the most open while having that SSL "grab." I won't even begin to guess which one is which they are all so similar.

[thermos]

I liked 5 and 6.....

[krid]

I liked #6 the best and it does remind me a lot the G384 sound.

[coder]

#6 fav, then #5 and #3...
not so: #1,#2,#7

[not_so_new]

First off.. wow what a great mix!!! Really nice work.



Is this your mix? It sounds like Natalie Merchant so maybe it is off one of her CD's, I don't know, I don't have anything from her (but she is cool).

Anyway...

Second I agree with others that there is not a huge difference to my ears with any of these but I am listening on phones so take this for what it is worth. 4 kind of stands out to me as having a little better middle, the snare is not a rounded on this as it is on 5 for instance (which would be my least favorite).

So all ITB? If it is then this is another good example of a great ITB mix that makes me less worried about hardware goodies... again hats off man, great mix.

[Ruudman]

Using my earphones/laptop, I believe example 1 to be URS 1980.

But it's hard to say, having not tested Duende and Liquid Mix.



ruudman

[aussie_techie]

good song and mix overall the differenences in the plugs sound very subtle but i would like to hear how the real hardware compares, no matter how good a plug-in its never the same as hardware.

[Sammy]

I'm liking #2 the best so far...

[The Beatsmith]

Are you sure the auto release on the Duende is totally working?

[RoundBadge]

I like #6 [has some bounce and depth]..and the no comp the best
7 was ok
The rest seem kinda flat compared to 6.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

... i would like to hear how the real hardware compares, no matter how good a plug-in its never the same as hardware.

It might be good as a point of reference, but the point of the "test" is to compare the various plug ins to each other, not how much they sound like the original.

I liked #6. I don't really care how much it sounds like the real thing. It sounds the best to my ears. Would I buy the plug? I just might. Would I buy an SSL? No freakin' way.

Why is it every thread around here has someone chompin' at the bit to fire up the "hardware sounds better" argument. If you don't like plugs, don't buy them, and quit bending the ear of those of us who do. It's an old, stale, dead debate and it's REALLY tiresome.

[aussie_techie]

I’m not saying that hardware will always sound better, a plug-in can give you just what you need and if its something different not just an emulation there will be times where no hardware can do the same thing and having every piece of hardware that you can have an emulation of just isn’t feasible anyway. the point is they are two different things and no matter how good an emulation is its not the same as hardware. That doesn’t make it better or worse just that it is different.
I would be interested to hear the hardware unit as a references not because im going to run out and buy an SSL. If all these companies are going to use the 'have every piece of hardware in one box' to sell their products then its fair to make a comparison to the real thing. it doesn’t detract from how good a plug-in is in its own right but it often begs the question of why they call it the same thing as the hardware unit.

[midigod]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

It might be good as a point of reference, but the point of the "test" is to compare the various plug ins to each other, not how much they sound like the original.

While in general that's true, I think this test is different, because it includes Duende. From the SSL site:
"Based on the digital technology behind SSL’s C-Series consoles, Duende delivers the complete SSL mix experience"
Also,
"...an authentic SSL channel strip with filters, E and G series EQ and dynamics processing, as well as the legendary SSL Stereo Bus Compressor. "

Since this product is being made by the very company being replicated, (and in print ads, SSL says "Not just an emulation - it's the real deal"), then I think it's very valid to ask what it sounds like comapred to other SSL products.

-Craig

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

If all these companies are going to use the 'have every piece of hardware in one box' to sell their products then its fair to make a comparison to the real thing. it doesn’t detract from how good a plug-in is in its own right but it often begs the question of why they call it the same thing as the hardware unit.

Originally Posted by midigod

Since this product is being made by the very company being replicated, (and in print ads, SSL says "Not just an emulation - it's the real deal"), then I think it's very valid to ask what it sounds like comapred to other SSL products.

Good points, guys. They are all trying to sell these as emus of the real thing, so which one really does sound like the real thing. I don't think it would have much bearing on my purchase though. I would look at the plug that most pleased my ears. Back when the Waves SSL plugs came out there was a shootout with the real SSL buss comp, Waves and URS. I liked URS the best even though it didn't sound the most like the original. It will be interesting to see what #6 is. I'm afraid it's the Duende, cause I'd hate to have to shell out that kind of money for that sound.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

It will be interesting to see what #6 is. I'm afraid it's the Duende, cause I'd hate to have to shell out that kind of money for that sound.

Well, you could always do worse (like buying a C200 for that sound)

[T_R_S]

Originally Posted by The Beatsmith

Are you sure the auto release on the Duende is totally working?

Well that question would be better off put to SSL .. but Duende has some bugs, and I found them in about 30 seconds from install

[The Beatsmith]

Hi

That was me telling you, in a round about way, that it doesn't work yet! ...so your test isn't really fair.

It should come soon though... what it currently does is pretty pleasant! But not correct.

Cheers!

[upscaps]

i may in the minority but i like the no comp version the best.

[InjuredEar]

Just curious T_R_S,
Looking at the pictures, the Duende threshold is just a notch below +20, while the Waves' threshold is just a notch below +15, though they're both at the same visual setting.

Does this mean that the threshold for the Duende was +18 while the threshold on the Waves was at +14, and that makes for a difference in how the 2 plugs behave?
Were all the plugs showing similar amounts of needle deflection (and is that even a measure you can't trust since that's modelled too?)

Thanks,
Greg