ITB 2-Bus: Waves SSL VS UAD1 Neve 33609

[John J.]

Slutz!

Let's hear it - who's using which one to add that glue to the 2-bus mix? The SSL plug accounts say it finishes a mix nicely while the Neve plug sounds nice and polished like a "finished album".

What say ye?

- John

[FULL-DUPLEX]

I think the UAD-Neve on the 2-Bus will beat the SSL Comp... From time to time I use the SSL-Comp. It is a nice sounding plugin I love to use it on drums.

Kind regars,

F.D.

[Sammy]

My guess is that the SSL will be more modern sounding (borderline aggressive), whereas Neve is a bit more laid back and vintagy... But then again I only have the SSL currently, so the Neve bit is based on opinions read here.

[noiseflaw]

Originally Posted by FULL-DUPLEX

I think the UAD-Neve on the 2-Bus will beat the SSL Comp...

"UAD-Neve on the 2-Bus will beat the SSL" - dude perhaps youy should qualify such a sweeping open statement.

Beat it at what?...............a race!

before posting such statements you might consider how in your terms the Neve will 'beat' the SSL. I use the SSL and do not have the Neve but what I heard on the website (for what it's worth) sounded pretty good - however it certainly did not have the aggressive punch of the SSL.

If I had a UAD card, which I don't (but that's another story, one instance per card! ) - I would definately buy the plug though.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by noiseflaw

Beat it at what?..

Instance count ofcourse! Err... wait... it loses on that. Nevermind

[FULL-DUPLEX]

That statement was subjective...

The SSL sounds really cool for sure. Because the threadstarter has started the battle against these 2 plugins, I have posted my opinion.

Regards,

F.D.

[Ghost Logic]

Originally Posted by John J.

Slutz!

Let's hear it - who's using which one to add that glue to the 2-bus mix? The SSL plug accounts say it finishes a mix nicely while the Neve plug sounds nice and polished like a "finished album".

What say ye?

- John

Isn't this like asking whether the hardware SSL is better than the hardware Neve for the same purpose? I think its a matter of taste, ideally you'd try them both and see which seem to fit your style of music the best. I will say you hear an awful lot more "hype" and "buzz" about the hardware SSL bus comp than you do over the hardware Neve.

[AlexLakis]

The Neve is more squishy.

The SSL is more smooshy.

[John J.]

Originally Posted by Ghost Logic

Isn't this like asking whether the hardware SSL is better than the hardware Neve for the same purpose?......

Well, no.

You've misinterpreted my questions - I haven't asked which plug is better.

I wanted to know how any Slutz were using either as well as their opinions.

You see, some users of both plugs will have real world knowledge not only from having A/B'd both - some will have experience of the actual hardware from which the plugs were derived.

I was looking forward to possibly hearing from both these camps as well as the Slutz already sharing their input.

AAARrrrrrrhh

- John

[Poplab Studios]

i use the SSL comp on every mix! it glues the mix in a very modern style.
have tried the neve for the demo period, but i think it´s just a different color, not another level. i´ll get the neve for sure too.

my 2 cents

[Teacher]

for how I mix(usually sound edgy) the 33609 compliments me much better, but i still stick the waves ssl comp on my drum bus, though i'd probably use the 33609 if it wasn't such a resource hog...

[tilman]

Originally Posted by AlexLakis

The Neve is more squishy.

The SSL is more smooshy.

Nothing more to say!

[Flying_Dutchman]

What about the fairchild? Hard to beat in some cases, i think....

[Steve MacMillan]

Hijack alert!

A lot of us ProTools users would love to use the 33609 or the Fairchild, but UAD dropped TDM support and never did port these to TDM. There is no way I'll ever be adding a UAD card to my 7 card ProTools system. But I have always been a big champion of the sound of the La2a and the 1176 and still use them today. I'll be sad when I update my computer to Intel and lose them forever. UAD are losing out on a lot of plug-in sales. They should at least, release RTAS versions of their plugs. The truth is, as much as I like them there are worthy alternates.

I do use the Waves SSL for stereo buss compression. Its definitly my favorite out of the multitude of TDM compressors I have. It sounds best when you don't hit it too hard, with a slow attack. Follow it with a Oxford Limiter or a L3 swinging a couple db, and your mix sounds polished without squeezing the life out of it.

STeve

[M2E]

For what it's worth....We did a test between the SSL Quad Compressor, Neve 33something (Their Masterbuss compressor) and a Massenberg Stereo Compressor (Don't remember the exact model). This is all hardware of course and this was about 8 to 9 years ago. We were at Pacifique Studios in Hollywood.
This was on vocals instead, Sorry, so way off post.
It was for BGV's. We wanted the best sounding, warmest, and best attack compression and the engineer at the time suggested the Massenberg while we wanted to try the SSL and Neve.
To make a long story short.
1. The SSL though it was sounding good it was sooooo noisey.
2. The Neve was better sounding but still very noisey.
3. The Massenberg beat them all in sound and was incredibly low in noise. We were in shock. The engineer laughed and said, we get this all the time.

Thought someone might like the story....Sorry...Go fourth in urrr journey.

By the way...Love the Waves SSL Compressor. Very true sounding to the original but, without the hiss...Hahahaha

By the way, if urrr using Pro Tools HD you might want to try the Compressorbank plugin. I think it's CB4. It has a Neve emu that's the best I've heard on most things.

Hope this helps...

M2E

[Franco]

Originally Posted by Steve MacMillan

UAD are losing out on a lot of plug-in sales.

What if they don't care? Some of you cats forget that they're not just a software company; they make hardware (that sells pretty well from what I've noticed). You're either on board or you're not, it's that simple. Like you said, there's plenty of other plugin companies out there, take your pick. Audio guys don't cry, they just do it (read that in a bumper sticker somewhere).

Back to the topic though:

I've got both and use both for different things, if you "know" the sound of the 33609 and want that on your stereo bus, cool. If you want the punch and "modern" sound of the SSL comp, then that's what's popping.

[M2E]

Originally Posted by M2E

For what it's worth....We did a test between the SSL Quad Compressor, Neve 33something (Their Masterbuss compressor) and a Massenberg Stereo Compressor (Don't remember the exact model). This is all hardware of course and this was about 8 to 9 years ago. We were at Pacifique Studios in Hollywood.
This was on vocals instead, Sorry, so way off post.
It was for BGV's. We wanted the best sounding, warmest, and best attack compression and the engineer at the time suggested the Massenberg while we wanted to try the SSL and Neve.
To make a long story short.
1. The SSL though it was sounding good it was sooooo noisey.
2. The Neve was better sounding but still very noisey.
3. The Massenberg beat them all in sound and was incredibly low in noise. We were in shock. The engineer laughed and said, we get this all the time.

Thought someone might like the story....Sorry...Go fourth in urrr journey.

By the way...Love the Waves SSL Compressor. Very true sounding to the original but, without the hiss...Hahahaha

By the way, if urrr using Pro Tools HD you might want to try the Compressorbank plugin. I think it's CB4. It has a Neve emu that's the best I've heard on most things.

Hope this helps...

M2E

Sorry, didn't read the first post correctly....I use the Compressorbank on my busses but never on the Master.
I always use the Waves SSL on my Master now.
The key though, is to mix into it. Really sounds great that way.

Hope this helps....

M2E..1ne