I love these series of videos you’ve created around the fusion. I feel like you’re the most detailed and blunt person on mixing and plugins and hardware. You’re awesome man! Love your videos! They’ve helped me tremendously.!!

Love these type of videos. Thanks david ❤

Thanks David for the honest assessment Looking forward to the next video in the series

Kudos for being upfront on (almost) not being able to tell the difference David, shows your integrity 👍🏻

I just seen you and your lady. I don’t know what the hell I said to you guys cuz I was more in shock that I noticed you than anything, but I would have liked to say Thank you for your videos and your straight forward no bullshit content. KZread is definitely full of creators that gears people into creating bad habits. Your guidance has definitely helped me and the community. Thank you and enjoy the film

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

All good man 👍 you're welcome!

Great comparison video. TBVH the difference is so small now with many hardware and plugins such that if you don’t stack too many plugins, you can achieve very similar results. The issue is usually when you stack too many plugins in a mix, then the slight brittleness and harshness/white noise starts to add up and you can tell the mix is noticeably different from a hardware mix. My approach is minimal use of plugins and top down mixing.

David this is your best series and work, I love this video and how you explain everything. This HARDWARE vs Plugin war is dumb these tools are equally efficient to mix

This type of video's realy helps alot!!!

That snap/click on the toms really stood out once you pointed it out, even after coming through the KZread bottleneck. That said, it's pretty impressive how close they are overall. I'm a bit surprised. Really interesting, informative comparisons in this series.

helpful, thanks!

Thanks!

Was in complete agreement with David all the way through the video. What i'm happy about though, is that not only did the software eq get close enough, but it didn't mess with the imaging or definition like plugins typically do. This just confirms my belief that the last frontier for plugins is to get right is compression and distortion. We can get away safely with well designed plugin eq, reverb, delay, and various fx, also transparent compression and other dynamics (if they dont smear) - but there is still too much to compute for hardware compression and distortion.

When testing EQs response curves it's good to use the freeze setting (or what ever setting still draws, but doesn't decay) on the analyzer and run a fixed volume thin notch filter sweep on it, that way it plots the EQ's effect much more accurately at least when comparing EQs, it might not be accurate comparing an EQ to an un-treated sound as the filter might add colour, but it'll add the same colour to each EQ, so the differences when measuring an EQ vs another EQ will be correct, even if the filter sweep isn't 100% flat. It makes it a static line rather than moving noise what might be easier for viewer to see, IK you can already pick out the subtle differances, but not everyone has your experiance. ;)

Thank you for this video. I would like to raise the argument that converters have a sound. And the difference that you are feeling and proving could be related both to your power conditioning and converter sound, both for the frequency and transient response in question. All the best

@mixbustv

Жыл бұрын

Conversion has a "sound" MY converter doesn't. And power conditioning? No. Just no. But watch all the others modules tested, let me know if it the power conditioning 😄

Very very close bro the plugin on this test I'd say they did a good job specially with extra feature of the fat button....in the vintage drive it was day and night and noticeable even while playing it on the phone I had to use my headphones 🎧 in order to judge this test great video.

I would always be entertained with plugin vs hardware shootout. But for me hardware just sounds way better eveytime, it just FEELS right and SOUNDS natural.

I feel the hardware gives the elements of the track better dynamic separation. The plugin sounds squashed together vs hardware sounding natural and open

Great video! Hardware wins, but not by much. I think for anyone who wants the best of the best, getting the hardware versions of any of these modules is the best way to go, but if the plugins are all that can be afforded, you will be able to come extremely close. It's a win win either way. But Hardware has the slight slight edge in my opinion.

That Psytrance track goes hard! :D

Awesome David. Tbh i can't describe the difference in a full mix even tho it's there. But on drums the hardware make the drums punchier than the plugins. On vocals the high end boost the plugins seems to react slow or idk if it's a harmonic or noise that keeps adding up like at the end which is annoying.

@BlackDiamondYoutub

Жыл бұрын

Looks to me like the plugin is completely clean and nonlinear, whereas the hardware introduces some saturation and that explains most of the improvement in perceived quality/clarity

I have the 500 series SSL G buss compressor and Violet EQ parked on my mix buss. I have owned and used so many SSL clone compressors, hardware and plugins, but this one is slightly better to me, other than when I rented the original gray rack one from Blackbird. Sounds like the plugins would work fine. I love the Brainworx SSL console plugins. They are superb! Plugin Alliance monthly mixing/mastering bundle for $15 could be the best deal of all time, in my opinion, especially since you get a credit after one year for the money to buy something.

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

PA? Ugh.. 🤮 anyways, next week I'll release a video explaining some science behind why analog well, sounds better (comps even more and more obvious than eqs) As said in the video, the violet EQ (hardware) is nothing special, so it's fairly easy to get close with a plug-in.

@CharLessMajor7Music

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv hahaha! Felt the same way about PA.

@YiggaP

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv I was just curious. Do you hate PA for their ("we're the best" ) marketing, for their (tricky and pushy) sales strategy, overall brand. Or the quality of the plugins themselves? Or a bit of everything?

@DanielGlenTimms

2 жыл бұрын

@@YiggaP Plugin Alliance had many different plugins from different companies. The mastering/mixing bundle has several excellent plugins. My favorite being the Brainworx SSL plugins.

@DanielGlenTimms

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv You would be preaching to the choir. I prefer hardware all day long, which is why I own about $20k worth of it. My studio is hybrid though and I like, many others, love certain plugins and they are excellent tools. However, I like fine instruments even more than hardware, as they make the most difference and I inspire writing music, which is what I do. I found that working on other people's music is a burden when you are an artist. I feel that artists should save all of their creative energy for their art.

Great video David i can easily hear the difference between the hardware and the plugin How about the hardware vs the Acustica Audio version?

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried that

Great Comparison man" I would agree....Hardware is faster but also smoother... Momentary iam usin only UAD Pluggz and they all come damn clos to to Hardware. 👌✌👍

What would you go first for ssl fusion or bus+ cant Decide!

Hi again David, thanks for the video! Have you tried the Dangerous Bax EQ plugin from PA? Which one would you choose regardless the cost? Tks in advance!

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

I'm not a fan of the hardware to begin with, go figure the plugin. Check my top 10 equalizer video (plug-ins)

@gerardomerino6418

Жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv Thank you!!

Very close this time. Thank you Mike! :)

@francescopasquale5651

2 жыл бұрын

David* 😄

@althewicked

2 жыл бұрын

@@francescopasquale5651 Who the f...is David?

@althewicked

2 жыл бұрын

Just kidding. Stupid joke from the last conversation 😉

@bontempo1271

2 жыл бұрын

@@althewicked lol, i remembered someone called him Mike from the last vid and i have been confused since, had to think twice about what his name is 😂

@althewicked

2 жыл бұрын

@@bontempo1271 Mea Culpa 😆

I felt that the techno track at around 9:30 was sounding slightly more beefy/subtly sweetly amped and alive with the hardware, which guess i like a bit more. BUT i fear that when this beatifull piece of hardware is engaged i might trick my brain into thinking it's sounding better. It would be pretty interesting to A/B without knowing which is which and letting people guess for like 1 day or 2 days in the comments section. It also might be more pointless as well because we ear it in 160kbps and we are trying to spot sublte things. It's pretty stupid when you think about what could be done if KZread cared a bit for audiophiles and alike

Can definitely hear the fizzy, glassy character you mention on the plugin. Is it subtle analog saturation taming that on the hardware?

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

No, the violet isn't really a colored eq, is more the limitations of the software (world). I'll release a video next week going into the science of as to why we like analog more and why software is an approximation of what happens in the analog world

@WisdomHouseCreative

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv Sounds like a great vid!

@bontempo1271

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv oh that is going to be interesting, and probably controversial lol. Looking forward to it ;)

Is this worth 34 bucks, currently on sale, as is the entire Fusion line. However I have a feeling they are going to bundle it in the Slate sub as they have merged with the same parent company?

Very nice and helpful series of videos, especially for some of us that will never come across such a hardware module. Software plugins have come a long way during the last years and software engineers have really done a great job on emulating hardware modules. But still to my ears hardware sounds fuller, warmer and smoother. Is there a way to compensate for that? I don't really know. Anyway, keep up the good work!

@leirumanuel

Жыл бұрын

Yes. There are a lot of things you can do to compensate tis difference in the digital domain: Customized harmonic saturation, dynamic multiband eq, multiple paralel processing and so on. I think the mistake here is people trying to hear an exact replica of an electronic device into software. Big mistake. ALLWAYS is gonna be different. And in the end the mixers who have invested thousands in hardware they want you to think their stuff is better than youurs so you must hire them. I am fed up to see it every month. They are constantly promoting this disscusion. Lots of mixers in different KZread channels with the same message. Analog is better: hire me. BULLSHIT. With a computer you can mix as the best analog hardware if you know how.

@slapopimp

Жыл бұрын

@@leirumanuel Agreed! The electronic circuitry of hardware that's also traveling threw wires and being patched into a system will almost always make a difference in itself. No one has modeled that aspect into plugins. We know the impedance of wire changes with length, and then there's the quality, gauge and type of wire to consider. These things make a relevance difference when connecting amplifiers to speakers for example. The other thing to consider is that 2 hardware units compared may not sound the same either. How does that type of test look? Well... unit A sounds a bitter warmer and punchier than unit B! Electronic Components also degrade over time and can impart a different sound. There's a difference between analog tape recording vs digital, but which is better is subjective. They're not implemented exactly the same in technical terms, so there will be a notable difference. Physical tape traveling across a tape head , then being electronically converted into a signal vs a zeros and ones digital recording being converted produces a different outcome. Comparing an analog signal chain to a purely digital signal isn't practical in my book. It would be interesting to see a plugin be patched into an analog pre-amp or tube device to give it an actual analog signal, then patch that in the same as an actual analog processor is patched then compare. Maybe using a separate laptop for the plugin. I still dig these comparisons nonetheless!

I feel like there's more space n depth when u engage the the hardware.

be nice to see Phaze scope to compare also

I like the plugin. It sounds more modern.

Can someone explain to process on how he did this with the pro-q3? Was that just white noise? I have a few hardware units I want to compare with plugins this way.

@CrzyWzrd4L

Жыл бұрын

Just load up a sine wave generator and set it to white noise, then throw Pro-Q 3 on the track.

Wow the violet eq sounds really close to the hardware.. How about ssl g bus plugin vs 500 series and rack mount gbus

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

As I mentioned, the violet eq is nothing particularly special, it's a 2 knobs eq with not much going on, and it's much easier to "emulate" than other units. Compressors are way way more difficult to emulate in the plugin world, hw will always win

Are you going to test the other ssl modules/plugins and compare?

@zweiklangmusic

2 жыл бұрын

David will test all Fusion plugins and compare with the hardware

plugin high boost makes top end harsh & kinda masks the vocal

How about the Acoustica Audio version of the Fusion compared to the real thing?

@jfloyd2919

2 жыл бұрын

Acustica Audios version is thier own take on it ...not a direct capture of the hardware fusion,so it won't sound like it . great plugin tho 👍 been using AA since 2010

@H12379

2 жыл бұрын

Great plug-in. But I prefer the SSL ones. I prefer the hardware even more.

@jfloyd2919

2 жыл бұрын

It's all subjective. To each his/her own

Man, thanks for this.. ., your channel rocks. This just confirms that those plugins are a straight ripoff. SSL should just do a one plugin emu and it would be cool. It's better to invest a bit more and buy the actual Fusion. I used Access Analog to play around with Fusion and I was able to match the sound with Celestial from Acustica Audio... which I snatched for free when it came out! it's the closest thing in the plugin world.

It may sound different in your lab but coming through my system very minimal difference. The question is David will the average listener be able to distinguish the difference? Definitely not as noticeable as the vintage fusion plugin. Now the violet on the drums and bass I hear no difference that’s just my opinion. Then again you’re the expert.i only been doing this for 11 years compared to your experience I’m probably considered a newbie. Again thanks for all you do for the recording community awesome channel.

@mixbustv

Жыл бұрын

Can you tell all the ingredients in your gourmet dish at a fancy restorant? I'm gonna say no, but you know if you like it better than burger king right? So, there you have it, same thing here with the listeners. Mixing music is details, if you're not detail oriented and you think the audience is stupid because they can't tell, I don't think you have the right mindset for it.

According Dan Worrall analysis the plugin is gimmick. Nothing but very limited linear eq with useless extra gain knob.

@aboliguu1168

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, this plugin is a text book example of snake oil

Good Video. Kinda hard to mess up a high pass/low pass filter, sounds pretty similar. Do you actually use these filters in your mastering? You stated you don't like it and some nuances, so I'm guessing not. Still having a hard time deciding why anyone would use this unit for mastering. I'd be more interested in seeing you do a video how you use this mastering an actual song for a client. Half the features aren't even usable imo for mastering or up to mastering standards. Imo the compressor falls short also especially compared to other mastering compressors. People I think like the stereo image feature the most. Still having a difficult time justifying owning this unit especially for mastering. These videos are solidifying my decision even more.

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

No I feel you, the compressor definitely falls short compared to other mastering compressors, because the Fusion *doesn't have a compressor at all in it*. Same for the low pass filter, there's no low pass filter. You sure you know what this thing is? Anyways, there are probably 150 videos of my using this and my other units in projects, for actual clients this is one: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6xl1Md6qrqoobQ.html most of them are for members only. I realize many people really thing this whole analog thing so very wrong. You think I use every piece of gear in every project? Or only this one? If you do this for a living, you have a variety of machines because you never know what comes on your desk, because you combine units and other 1934834 different things. People seem to want one unit that does it all, that's ok for every single song and ideally never even change settings. Guess what, no unit ever do that.

@sourcecompilestudios3554

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv Ah the Fusion doesn't have the direct HPF like the Violet EQ module, my bad..the HF Compressor is a fixed compressor though, but I get what you're saying and that probably does go pretty well with the shelving capabilities of the EQ section. The EQ Section kinda reminds me of the Elysia NVelope in EQ mode a bit, which can be pretty useful and a little different compared to using a BAX going back to using different tools that make sense for the job. The HF Compressor does make sense, a lot of time we're just looking to smooth out the top end That actually makes more sense to me why people like this unit. I just watched your video on the Weiss DS1-MK3 the other day which was really nice. Wouldn't mind getting your opinion on the HF Comp on the Fusion more, in relation to Selective band vs Multiband Compression, but will wait for that video. I'm mostly interested and maybe you can demonstrate with the plugin comparison also how the X-Over affects frequencies before the X-Over. Cheers

Hardware all day

Now you can sale your SSL analog stuff. Because it makes totaly no difference if you use the plugin version. And btw Dan Worral figured out with the plugin doctor that the violet EQ does exactly the same as every other fab EQ fab or other for free. SSL = Solid Sales Logic.

@mixbustv

Жыл бұрын

Maybe you wanna watch the other modules tested lol then tell me it makes no difference 😂😂

@rogercabo5545

Жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv yeah.. I must admit, I brought my girl friend some diamonds. Completely useless but a must have. I own some useless analog top equipment as well. Same here, good to have. 😊

Once again the hardware takes it . I’m about $1,000 away from reaching my goal to grab this bad boy .

Sounds to me plugin price + multiple instances + presets/recalls beat hands down the little "plus'" the hardware might have.

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

In this case, probably, because the violet eq isn't anything special, it a 2 knobs eq. But this is ONE module out of 4+ of the fusion and we've seen the drive alone is nowhere near it

hello guys !

The HW wins. Im not in the belief that it’s a huge lead for the HW. I think the good benefit of the plug in is how many instances you can put. HW still takes the W. I would like to see 2 HW fusion vs each other. I wonder if there are differences within the build.

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

With modern gear, mass produced you only have components tolerance as a difference, which is insignificant, unless the manufacturer has really bad QC

There are comments here saying that the sound of the hardware is deeper, wider, and similar colorful epithets. Maybe the hardware was better in this particular audio sample, but that doesn't mean that the plugin sounds bad or that it won't work better in another audio sample. Besides, the difference is so insignificant, so if it were a blind test with matching volume, surely many of those who write about the superiority of the hardware will be poking at things with sticks.

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

Did you see the previous video? Was that an insignificant difference? Did you hear me saying that the violet EQ isn't anything special? It's a 2 knobs eq, barely any color and average at best. The fusion has 4 modules, actually 5 and then there would be the in and out gain. Even if the other 3 modules would have the same difference than this (and spoiler, they don't) it would still be a massive difference because, guess what, the drive then goes into the eq, into the hf, into the imager. I have a long playlist of hw vs plugin.

@Igor999007

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv I was talking about this particular case, not the previous video, not the other modules. People write about this particular equalizer.

HW sounds fuller in the lower mids/upper bass, no surprise there. Overall the whole Fusion plugin range sounds kind of meh...

To me the hardware instantly sounds more REAL. Everything becomes more lively and sounds human for lack of a better word. Plug-ins do sound computer generated imo, it’s kinda like a fake Rolex, it’s a fake sound. In 25 years time we’re gonna realise how primitive our modelling is. Put on headphones for this one.

@ComposerMichaelDow

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah fake rolex gives fake time :P

So hard to describe but analog just does 'something' better

@krispybowgod9656

2 жыл бұрын

I still think the diminishing returns is too much for hardware to overcome. Yes it might sound slightly nicer in a lot of cases but is the difference in price worth it? To most people probably not id argue because the average listener won’t even notice the difference

Great video, thanks for taking time and showing us. I have a good recommendation as for a plugin dev who is pretty unknown. Maybe check out Matthew Lane, I would be surprised if you didn't like it, great stuff for mastering

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

You must be new one the channel 😂😂 I literally am the official demo videos for all his software products and hardware too lol Pretty unknown? It think my vids in drms and Spacecraft alone are probably 100K+ 😆

@jeromejamies3641

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv haha sorry I didn't know.

Well..28k vs what 249.00 lol. Yea there better be a damn difference! Lol. Great video as usual tho!

I ran a few tests on the violet. Its a mathmatically perfect eq with no distortion. So in my opinion its terrible. All the EQs that sound 'good' are mathematically not perfect, and they usually accept a certain amount of distortion in exchange for phase linearity, or transient response. I like their X EQ mkII much better.

API 2500?? You mean 5500?

The incompetence of these plugins manufacturers is embarrassing. Its like they make it sound bad so you have to get the hardware.

@lordberly

2 жыл бұрын

lmao, possibly

@mixbustv

2 жыл бұрын

Another company would do it and not care about the hardware manufacturer sales.

@ractorstudios

2 жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv SSL gonna see this video and be all like "ahh Sh$%"

Well Dan Worrell proved the plugin is no different than a stock EQ.

@mixbustv

Жыл бұрын

Well the violet eq (hw) is just two shelves and not much - if any - color to begin with

@ktreier

Жыл бұрын

@@mixbustv Exactly what Dan found. Zero non-linearity.

@Dougie-

Жыл бұрын

Like any stock eq, but with a$200 price tag 🙄

The ssl plugin is just a boring old digital eq

Sorry the violet eq is the weakest part of the sold state fusion with all due respect it’s boring on the hardware! So the plugin is gonna be weaker too! pass

@mixbustv

Жыл бұрын

So you're repeating what I said in the video. Got it