It should just be EQ but there is a clear change in the spatialisation, the hardware sort of fills out the x,y,z dimensions, gives the impression of an atmosphere. As soon as the comparison switches to the plugin the shape changes, flatter, darker, smaller

@ast4127

7 ай бұрын

Good point. Very very cool that "atmo effect" might buy one for that, sounds very "expensive"

@bontempo1271

7 ай бұрын

@@ast4127 I find this is a consistent trait amongst different types of hardware processors. It's more common in compressors than EQ

@ast4127

7 ай бұрын

Yes it reminds me a bit of the Vertigo compressor @@bontempo1271

@DaveChips

3 ай бұрын

Just that punch snd bottom in drums was super noticable and i was listening over the laptop. Im afraid of switching to monitors xD

The hardware retains the mids definition and transients as well as the stereo image . The plugin seems to smear these areas imo . Don't know how easy it is to pick these differences in a blind A/B, though

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

This comment is the general consensus every time I do these AB comparisons

The hardware wins hands down to my ears. The highs are most impressive. Smooth, never spikey and harsh. In a word, beautiful. The hi-hat sounds like a good hi-hat sounds up close and personal. The cymbals are perfect. The "Air" is also perfect. The hardware has dimension, spaciousness, width. The plugin works well but definitely is 2-D even "hazy" sounding compared to the EQ4M. The difference is more than a small one. I'm certain the 18V power rails on the hardware contributes to the difference a bit. What is powering the plugin? You have to consider the Volts, you can hear Voltage. The voltage gives headroom. Hardware pitches a no-hitter here.

I have the EQ2 plugin. I picked it up instead of the EQ4 because of the additional 15khz air band. If you look at the results from plugin doctor, the 40khz band is the one that is most different from the others as it impacts the mid and high-mid frequencies the least. The airband affects all the way down to 1-2khz even on the highest frequency setting. I have a few EQ plugins and so far I'm not reaching for this as much as I thought. My use case is to add a bit of sparkle towards the end of the mastering chain, and I am still learning it, but so far it has been impacting lower frequencies in a way that I wasn't expecting.

Hardware: 3D + the highs are precise but not harsh. Software: 2D-flat, the highs are at once dull and harsh.. which is kinda weird. Everytime I hear tests, it is always the same results: the "3D" aspect of hardware is unreplicable. Maybe one exception thought: the UAD SSL Channel strip. That one stil surprises me.

@HugoDaSilva7

7 ай бұрын

Do you tested the brainworx and acústica audio? I think there is some 3d in there to

@EpilepsyGod

2 ай бұрын

Try to use Brainworx SSL 4000, they gave us opportunity to achieve this 3 d effect, and, by the way, this is just "not same" eq lines in right and left channel, this is why we always feel this 3 d effect in analog gear, but you can replicate this easy

Thanks for this. Currently looking to purchase the plugin version. Definitely a difference. As many are saying here, the rack has a 3D vs a near 2D quality. It's almost as if there is a HAAS effect coming from the rack. On a budget, nothing wrong with the plugin as it's close to the finish line. But still... decisions, decisions.

@AudioAnimalsStudio

5 ай бұрын

£29 vs £2000 is there 70 times better quality. No. So, for someone who couldn't warrant paying £2000 more for something that is 20% better, it isn't an essential purchase and can't be warranted. The plugin does the job just fine, the hardware does it slightly better but at a big cost. Weigh that up into your decision.

@Tyrell_Corp2019

5 ай бұрын

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Well put. I'll probably get it. One thing is sure. I'm 100% happy I found your channel and subscribed. 🙂 Cheers mate!

@AudioAnimalsStudio

5 ай бұрын

@houdinididiit one thing I will say is that if you do decide to get the hardware, you will love it. And it will be money well spent.

Hardware always has the edge. I have a lot of the same hardware in my racks including this piece and the difference is not subtle. I thought the same thing when they came out with a plugin version of the Clariphonic. When using a plugin the image kind of collapses and sounds flat/pinched IMO. Plugins have come a long way though!

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Definitely differences. Would be interesting to do a blind test on this one.

The plugin sounds like plugin, voltage makes a difference

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

100% a plugin can emulate a piece of hardware to a certain degree. But there are certain factors that just aren't there yet.

this plugin sounds amazing

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

I agree. The plugins close enough for most people.

@benjaminmiller9656

7 ай бұрын

For a plugin...

You are right, the plugin version gets a lot closer to the hardware in this emulation - although it doesn't nail the naturalness of the hardware unit, especially in the high end where the air band is ironically. I always found the EQ4 difficult to work with, though, as I don't really understand how to get what I want out of fixed bands. I assume there is quite an art to it

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

The fixed bands make it an EQ that goes well with a nice 4 band EQ that includes frequency and Q. The maag is great for the sub band and airband. What's in between is hit and miss. Works with some tracks not with others.

This is somewhat surprising....I was kinda listening to differences in the top end, but what really got my attention was the transients. The hardware preserve the transients better, it's simply more punchy over the entire spectrum. I can feel the kick-drum in my chest more with the hardware unit, and I don´t feel it in the same way with the plugin (it is difficult to describe, but it just gets smeared a little with the plugin.) The difference is really subtle though, and I'll probably do fine with both. (although the real EQ4 is actually on my to-buy-list, and I believe it is one of those units which deliver something unique which none of my plugin can give me)...and that air-band is lovely. - Cheers

Def the hardware sounds wider, deeper and the highs are more defined and the bottom not so muddy overall the hardware sounds bigger and more open.

The stereo image is so wide on the hardware. The plugin just sounds like you put a mp3 filter on and you loose clarity and width. This was the exact thing I heard in your previous Maselec test. It's almost hard to believe that in 2023 plugins still don't get closer than this. For a lot of people I guess, this would be close enough, with what they are listening this on. For me, it's everything that I dislike and struggle working with ITB. OTB for the win!

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Ones £29 on plugin alliance the hardwares £2000. I think most people who are, let's say hobbiests or producers, wouldn't see a £1971 difference to warrant it. It's close enough for most. From a business perspective, it's worth it as a professional engineer. Because that's what sets you apart from other engineers working in the box.

@olliketola3482

7 ай бұрын

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Most people won't hear the difference with the speakers or headphones they are listening this with, I think that is a big reason why they would go for the plugin, but that means they don't hear what I'm hearing, it's like listening to a CD compared to an mp3 for me. For "hobbiests", I would not pay a single penny on a plugin EQ, I would just reach for the DAWs standard EQ. But for any other kind of professional or semiprofessional mixer/producer, I would recommend putting a good sounding (not all HW is great) EQ and a compressor on the 2-buss. In Tidal, it will sound great. And Spotify, well, let's say, if your master sounds like an mp3 and you add another mp3 compression on your mix, that's what it will sound like in the end. And it's not great. I think, there will be a time, when all the pro's will again realize this, and they will go back to analog, at least for their 2-buss.

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

@olliketola3482 what I always say on this subject is that the consumer may not know they are hearing something that is analogue or digital and they probably won't care either way. But what they will do is subconsciously know. The difference is that digital mastering will sound 2d and harsh. Analogue Mastering sound 3d and pleasing to the ear. This is the difference between listening once and listening on repeat.

@olliketola3482

7 ай бұрын

​@@AudioAnimalsStudio​ I think the consumer does care, and they do hear it because it's more pleasing to the ear. And like you said, when listening to analog mixes, your ear does not get fatigued to the sound as easily because of pleasing harmonics. Our job as audio guys is making sure we deliver the best sounding material possible to the artist/customer.

Near identical, plug-in sounds amazing. HW slight edge, handles lows better

This is my favorite plugin EQ on every channel, though not on the entire mix. This retains the spatial information. EQ settign don't seem matched exactly in this (Mids)

While the top end sounds different, in practice, the mixing engineer will be listening, and compensating for this, to arrive at a similar result.. So the only thing that this comparison achieves is to demonstrate that using the same settings, the plugin is NOT identical to the hardware device. But we also have to take in the variability of each hardware device, which will NOT be 100% identical, to each other, cos analog components have a tolerance. So the plugin may be identical to the specific unit that was measured and cloned, but not identical to the one owned by Audio Animals Studio. Would be interesting to compare with the lkjb Luftikus free plugin clone!

The plug sounds more forward and less wide. The analog is wider and deeper.

do a null compare, the plugin is missing stereo width

Now precisely match the curves of the EQ with an analog phase EQ like Crave DSP (or Pro-Q3 natural phase mode, I use Crave for this tho'). Level match, and listen to the difference. It gets veeeeeery subtle. Older emulations are a bit behind, but "newer" analog phase EQ (that don't emulate any pieces of gear) are actually extremely close most hardware. I could only tell them apart on a full mix (it was very hard and sometimes preferred Crave on solo elements). I compared with a Maag EQ2, AMS Neve 1073, Mother Audio VIVID and Great River EQ2NV (it actually convince me to sell my Great River.... to take an API 2500 instead haha... Damn). Cheeeers!

@AudioAnimalsStudio

4 ай бұрын

I find a nice clean EQ is one thing that can be emulated in the box. EQs that have character aren't quite there yet.

@WheelieMix

4 ай бұрын

@nimalsStudio You'd be surprised at how minimal the "character" of an EQ can be. To be real, when I compared my NEVE 1073 to Crave matching the curves, it wasn't as different as you'd think. And the Neve 1073 is everything but a "clean" EQ imho. I see too much engineers saying "this EQ gives me that character". But it's actually, most of the times, just the curves. Which made a lot of sens in the analog days to collect them all for that reason alone. But nowadays, when you match the curve, you realize the character is often quite insignificant. Especially when not going beyond 6db increments (which is very often the case in mastering or mixbus processing). Although in all fairness, the difference (however extra subtle it can be), is more noticeable on complex materials like a stereo mix for example, in my very humble opinion.

The plug-in sounds flatter than the hardware. It is pretty noticeable. What can one do with the plug-in to give it depth?

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Add some subtle saturation could arguably give you a better sound than the hardware.

@musicproductionbrauns2594

5 ай бұрын

its because the hardware has two dedicated paths for the left and right. They are not perfectly the same and so it is creating more depth. You can achieve that bei using an eq that allows you to change the left and right channel independently, so you can create very small difference between left and right.

@braxal6983

5 ай бұрын

@@musicproductionbrauns2594 ok. Sounds like a excellent suggestion and makes sense. Anything else?

@musicproductionbrauns2594

5 ай бұрын

@@braxal6983 as audio animals already said saturation (can also be done on left and right channel with small differences) but honestly digital saturation just doesn't sound as good as analog (but still can be good of course)

@EpilepsyGod

2 ай бұрын

@@musicproductionbrauns2594 My god, finally I saw this perfect comment advice, and yeah, you're right, independent left/right eq + saturation and this will be really close battle)

It's like comparing a 3D video game to a 2D video game. Listening on my AKG K872 with a Phonitor 2.

Wow. I noticed the difference on my phone. 😂. I was just about to switch yo my proper player and speakers.

I wonder how much actual difference there is while listening (not measuring) between the 500 series Maag and the EQ4m. Also wondering which gonna stay in your chain between the Maag, Clarifonic MS and the 1951?

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

The reason I shot these demos is because the 1951 has replaced the maags and Kushs. So wanted to shoot these videos before they left the studio. The 1951 is exceptional. Does everything these units do and more.

@Aquiiin

7 ай бұрын

@AudioAnimalsStudio awesome 👌🏻 I really wonder which of your Hardware are the essentiell 3-6 pieces that you would choose to work with as your main tools if you would have to. Which are to ones that stand out the most for you and especially for music like pop, rnb neosoul, electronica + clubmusic and as well as indie folk and jazz. Since you have a lot of pieces - and all of them make perfect sense - what would be the essential most quality pieces that go well together and would be your pick? Arw there game changers in your chain or on your wishlist that you'd choose to master with if you would have to transform the sound to the highest level, to achieve the best authentic Master for the specific music as possible? Would be great to see a video about that. The eclectic stuff .. Thank you a lot for what you do! Love your channel! Tom

@user-xr3cu8wl5t

7 ай бұрын

@@AudioAnimalsStudio can you pls tell me the full name and model of the 1951 ! I have no clue which brand eq this is?

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

@Aquiiin that's a great question which I can answer in full in an upcoming video. In the master chain I would choose the following as essential for me. Buzz REQ 2.2 EQ SPL iron compressor Hum Audio LAAL Limiter Audiotales Designs 1951 Blackbox HG2

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

@@user-xr3cu8wl5t audiotales Designs 1951 and 1954

I had to turn my monitor off and just listened to the audio with a pair of Ex Machina Pulsars and audeze headphones... I couldn't tell a difference. I think the majority of people are having a visual placebo effect.

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Yes 100%, I think some people just don't want to admit it. I think what I need to do is in the new year start posting some blind tests.

@OscarSL80

Ай бұрын

My friend I did it with my eyes close and shity airpods and the hardware destroys de pliguin, maybe you need a bit more mixing practide

Are you using DAC & ADC from BURL?

@AudioAnimalsStudio

5 ай бұрын

Yes

Not that close for me. The plug in sound really thin in the center of the mix. The low end is totally different. You could defo tell the difference in a blind test .

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Think we need a blind test on this one. I think it'll result in a 50/50 split.

@Rhuggins

7 ай бұрын

⁠@@AudioAnimalsStudio something philosophical to ponder: does that mean essentially the difference is imperceptible, for all intents and purposes? I think there is a distinction to be made here regarding perceptibility of changes in audio between, the average layperson (or even an artist) and the engineer. Most laypeople arguably cant hear compression, and presumably - the difference between a plugin and hardware (though some can in my experience). When we decide things are insignificant, meaning too small of a difference to matter - what is often ommited is the sampled group of listeners. Imperceptible to a layperson, or an engineer? The latter is more significant, as non-professionals don’t have ears trained well enough to detect many of the singular moves we make with regard to processing at all. I do see some blind tests on YT which conclude with a roughly 50/50 result, but to me personally- the difference can be significant. Its all about the frame of reference. For those with experience, our ears are our most valuable asset, as well as our own judgement call on what matters and what simply doesn’t

My hearing is now totally feked but even i could tell the difference, and i agree with all the comments about width, 3D and flatness/dullness of the plugin compared to analog, but ! Did you try a null test because more often than not a value (eg4) on the plugin doesn`t equal the same value on the hardware. On a second listen the biggest difference I hear is the plugin has a lack of `body`.

Hardware have wide gained & clarity ...(hardware 10 out of 10) (Plugin 10 out of 6 may b 8) Anyway great plugin :)

Hardware def better I have the plug-in I love it for high end I’ll use it over pultec fresh air everything

Plugin sounds more harsh and brittle in the top, hardware's top end sounds smooth and pleasing. The low of the plugin sounds flat and lifeless while the hardware sounds punchy, tight with more low end and definition. Hardware sounds like it's price tag while the plugin also sounds like its price tag of $29.

Do you think someone should introduce a new plugin standard like VST4 and make it so it pairs up with a box (connected via thunderbolt) that is loaded with transformers and circuitry so the plugins use this hardware to emulate real hardware? …. Similar to what DSP is used for cpu power with UAD-2 … but instead of cpu power, it’s transformers and circuitry

@AudioAnimalsStudio

2 ай бұрын

What you are talking about is what McDSP have been doing for a number of years. I think more companies will follow in their footsteps. As well I think more and more companies will start adding plugin control of hardware with recall like bettermaker, wes audio, freqport and now Elysia. I have the new Wes Audio Tube EQ arriving Wednesday which is a 4 band tube EQ with digital recall and plugin control. It's the closest thing we have to an analogue version of Fabfilter pro q3.

@JimboJones99

2 ай бұрын

@@AudioAnimalsStudio not really. I’m talking about a universal standard for the next generation of plugins.

@AudioAnimalsStudio

2 ай бұрын

@JimboJones99 it's entirely possible this is the way things will. It'll certainly bridge the cap between analogue and digital.

@JimboJones99

2 ай бұрын

@@AudioAnimalsStudio you should get started on it.

So, just use eq4, some saturation and not similar left and right side eq - boom, you will achieve this hardware 3D and color effect really close

@shevyjohn9308

9 сағат бұрын

Still wont be close because plugin saturation still sounds flat and while saturation on hardware has that Lush 3D its all because of voltage voltage is real energy plugins arw zeros and ones emulating hardware thats why they are different they both sound good but just different

@EpilepsyGod

9 сағат бұрын

@@shevyjohn9308 Yeah, probably

85-90% there, but not quite. Excellent for the money though.

night and day

@nagchumpalot

7 ай бұрын

More like day and late afternoon early evening I would say..

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Day and afternoon tea

It's a good emulation, but the transients are too smeared in comparison to the real thing, the A/B feels like taking off a veil out of the tracks when it switches to the hardware.

For a more than $3000 difference, I'm ok with the plugin's quality lmao

плагин суховато звучит

The software is not close to the hardware, that's for sure, but how many normal listeners would understand the difference? Your ears were trained for decades.

@AudioAnimalsStudio

7 ай бұрын

Subconsciously, the average listener may hear the difference just not know it. A more pleasing sound to the ear but they don't know why. Plugin = harsh on the ear. Analogue = pleasing to the ear. Even if you don't know why, that's the difference between listening again.