Hardware still has the edge

[Revelation]

I am checking out the new Langevin Mini Massive (yes a Massive Passive that is mini) I recorded 2 versions of bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and vocals so far and there is a clear difference. I compared the Mini Massive to the Waves Lin EQ, UAD Cambridge, UAD Pultec Pro, Waves SSL and Waves Ren EQ. I found the hard ware EQ to be fuller, punchier and more in front of the mix. The plug ins have more of a sound that is laid on top of the signal compared to being part of the original source like the hardware EQ.

At tracking you have to use EQ gently and in every instance it was used to touch up the sound, bring out the high's make the low end a little fuller. It looks like there is a strong possibility that a non approved purchase will be made.

[theblue1]

Thanks for clearing that up!

I guess we can all move along with our lives, now.

[redddog]

Sweet Mother of all that is holy.

Not again.

[statikcat]

My life just changed.

[Revelation]

Ok ok, yeah I know to many it is very obvious. However I was curious with how close the plug ins are getting compared to the higher end hardware. With my simple test, it's not even close.......yet.

[noiseflaw]

Thanks for your personal opinion

..........So what.

[lovingj]

After all those flames, I am going to just say that your post was insightful. Yeah, most everyone agrees that hardware still has the edge but not every one has the opportunity to observe that difference.

Software is slowly creeping up but hardware will not become obsolete anytime soon if ever. That being said, I'm sure hardware fanatics can concede that instant recall and unlimited instances is hard to live without.

[SpaceShipStudio]

hello,

I think for me, hardware will always have an edge, because in five years, i will still have the same hardware boxes(hopefully- knock on wood.), and god only knows what computer, software I will be using.

ryan

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by Revelation

Ok ok, yeah I know to many it is very obvious. However I was curious with how close the plug ins are getting compared to the higher end hardware. With my simple test, it's not even close.......yet.

Oh -- it's not actually always obvious to me. Some plugs sound good. Some hardware sounds good. And some VERY EXPENSIVE hardware sounds VERY GOOD (or at least has a very characterful, hard to replicate signature... which to a lot of folks means the same thing)...


Now, science, I guess, does suggest that for certain non-linear processes like limiting/compression, digital processing introduces more errors than in more linear processes like mixing, EQ, etc.

But I have a comp plug I use all the time that, even at its inflated list (I got it with the "pro" edition of my DAW a few versions back) is still much cheaper than all but a couple of my hardware compressors -- yet, to my possibly deluded ear -- it does a superior job to at least one or two of them and is far more flexible than the remainder.

Now -- is ANY of that high end? No. Most definitely not. But I don't live at the high end. Especially now that I'm not taking clients anymore -- just servicing my own songwriting and production needs. I don't have to impress anyone and I'm not thinking I'll hit the musical lottery and win all my expenses back...

So, for me, a compression plug that sounds superior or generally as good as my affordable HW compression, yet allows me to slap copy after copy into individual tracks is a winner.

I have no doubt that if I was sinking multiple thousands of dollars into my compressors, I might recalculate that equation. But, for now, software is working pretty well for me.

[microstudio]

Originally Posted by Revelation

I am checking out the new Langevin Mini Massive (yes a Massive Passive that is mini) I recorded 2 versions of bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and vocals so far and there is a clear difference. I compared the Mini Massive to the Waves Lin EQ, UAD Cambridge, UAD Pultec Pro, Waves SSL and Waves Ren EQ. I found the hard ware EQ to be fuller, punchier and more in front of the mix. The plug ins have more of a sound that is laid on top of the signal compared to being part of the original source like the hardware EQ.

At tracking you have to use EQ gently and in every instance it was used to touch up the sound, bring out the high's make the low end a little fuller. It looks like there is a strong possibility that a non approved purchase will be made.

Did you record through the MP or just use it after?

[briefcasemanx]

i think your observation about it sounding together as part of the signal instead of laid on top is accurate.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by lovingj

....... Yeah, most everyone agrees that hardware still has the edge but not every one has the opportunity to observe that difference.

........ .

I think that it should be said that ...... more inportantly....... not everyone has the DEVELOPED LISTENING SKILLS TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLUGS AND GREAT HARDWARE PROCESSORS.

[theblue1]

I'm not sure how pertinent to most folks decision paths it is comparing "great hardware" to plugs...

You usually can't even begin to touch what I would consider (most) "great hardware" until you get well into the thousands of dollars per unit.

For the same money, you can buy a whole heck of a lot of the most desirable plugs -- and typically instantiate them over and over in a project as needed. If you bust your bank buying one "great" boutique or classic compressor (and if you do you probably should rejigger your purchasing strategy), you're going to have one or two channels of that compressor and that's it.

Is it better?

My guess is almost certainly.

Can you be "proud" you own it? Sure, if you're the kind of guy who takes pride in what you own, rather than what you do.


Now if you've got a budget in the six figures, you can probably pick up more than a few pieces of great hardware and it'll probably make some sense.

But for those of us who are stuck in the four or low-five figure budgets, we have to pinch our pennies -- we have to make compromises.

For us, a rack full of vintage or boutique gear is simply not feasible.


BTW... what is this thread doing in the Computer forum, anyhow?