SSL Sigma Hybrid Mixing
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- Опубліковано 24 жов 2018
- Chris Andrews of Monument Sound in Monument, Colorado shows his elaborate Solid State Logic SIGMA mix setup for hybrid mixing. Chris uses the SSL Sigma, analog gear and plugins to create huge mixes for clients all over the world.
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Amazing set up. The stuff dreams are made of (for me). Thanks for posting!
This is a gold mine of information for the sigma Chris, thank you and keep em coming.
Congratulations for your stuning rig!!!. I'm sure you are creating beautiful things with this stuff!!!!
Simply amazing Chris!! Its gear I would dream to have. Your set up is Ideal for out of the world mixes and mastering. Loving the A designs!! Thank you so much again!
thanks for taking your time out to make this video and explaining your hybrid setup
thanks for checking it out Lee
Beautiful studio. Thanks for sharing.
Very creative setup! I like how you have the 500 series modules setup and essentially how everything is right exactly where you need it so it’s easily repeatable.
Hey man, pretty neat and thought-through setup!
Always inspiring to see how other people lay out their studio :)
thanks Nick for watching
Awesome set up! 😍 Great Video very detailed and passions about your work 🎛🎚🙌🏻
Incredible amount of information thank you for taking us through your setup!
Old gear setup but thanks for watching and subscribing
fantastic setup!
Beautiful setup!
Thanks for this, Chris. I'm just up the road in Denver and have a little studio in my basement. Your setup is amazing!
Hey David, thanks for watching. If you are ever down this way hit me up. The setup has changed a bit since this video. Might be time for a new one. Thanks for watching and the comment
Great Setup man! Good stuff
Very impressive setup you got. Every tool has its function and purpose. Cool that you actually have the standing up version of NS-10s. They got to be old and awesome
I bought from a guy who worked with them at Motown
@@andrewsintel Fantastic to have the real and original NS-10s and not the copies Yamaha made later
I would love to see you do a video on cable management, and heat control. With your setup, it would be extremely insightful. A shout out from the other side of the state. Kit Carson County.
beautiful rig!
sick setup
Exactly the video I was looking for. Thank you
you are welcome - let me know if you have questions. This is an older video so I should probably revamp it some here soon. Thanks for watching
@@andrewsintel can I use the mix busses as auxes? I want to be able to add efx to any of the channels, just like I would with sends/returns
Very nice setup
I love your studio and your approach to mixing, thanks for sharing.......very similar to what I do but I use a Burl B32where you have the sigma.
Subscribed!!!!!
thanks Brian
This is DOPE! I was thinking of something like this in a 10Ux12U Gator case with the Xdesk as the “main brain” up top & Kush Audio “Fatso” w/ some other outboard gear!!
Man you gave me the idea to run my bass and 808's thru my neve 5211 on channel 1 🔥. I had to watch this vid a few times and made me consider using my API, SSL and NEVE present for processing also. I'm using a Dangerous 2Buslt plus a DBOX which gives me a 24 channel setup. I got 4 lunchboxes almost full but never thought to use m present for post processing out the Box. thanks again this video was very helpful. Just subbed👍🏾
glad to help man - There are a lot of options and setups. Thanks for watching
Also remember that the SIGMA uses Pre Fader when you send gear to it, vs the Dangerous and other units. I can set my gain reductions and push my SIGMA Delta faders all the way up and it will not get anymore reduction. IF I need more, I will push it up in Pro Tools. This is the great ability of the SIGMA
@@andrewsintelRight that is a crazy nice feature, being able to volume ride post in- the-box processing so your compression stays the same. That is an advantage for sure. Plus those 2 mix bus outputs on the Sigma is pure kick ass. It reminds me of how the SSL mixers have multiple mix busses. Man the summing gives the audio so much room to breath 😎. I might look into the Sigma. I hope it has seamless functioning with Logic pro x
Great setup buddy 👍🏾👍🏾
Thanks - it is a long time work in progress ;)
thank you for sharing
love it !
Love your setup, your approach and your gear choices. My setup is very similar but I went with the Burl B32 summing mixer and I’m printing my stereo mix to the B2 Bomber.
Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment Brian. I looked at the burl but decided after having a dangerous and an API that the SSL was my best choice for my use. Thanks again for watching
Chris Andrews you definitely have your setup dialed. I also have the Warm Pultec EQ’s and the 1176 clones and I am happy with both and I heard you mention getting the Warm 1073’s as a sidecar for drum mixing have you heard those units in person yet? I wanted at least a stereo pair immediately after seeing them but the reviews are all over the place so I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Ideally I would go with BAE but 3k per channel vs $1,500 for a stereo warm 1073 is really hard to beat especially when they have the same X-Formers. I am assuming you thought the Warm units held their own?
@@brianmclendon1647 I have six channels plus the bae 1023. To my ear, it's cutting hairs honestly. Highly recommend them.
@@brianmclendon1647
facebook.com/MonumentSound/photos/a.10153573478643112/10157482303818112
Sweet action.
Thanks Sage.
thumbs up for hybrid system, i have hybrid vacum at home!
That moment you realize he doesn't even mention the TWO Distressors in his rack where as you saved money for a long time to buy ONE of those used on eBay XD. .. Just to have ONE nice compressor for vocals
Nonetheless I love my new-old distressor 😍
Lol ya man have had them for years. Probably 15. They live on my kick and snare stems and sometimes a parallel drum stem if I need that distressor mojo. Thanks for watching
This may sound strange, Chris, but the way you set that gear up looks beautiful to the eye. Now where can I hear what it sounds like?
There are plenty of sample out on the web I am sure. I have my page with songs on it. The top two I know are using the Sigma but I do not remember about the others.
www.reverbnation.com/monumentsound
Just up the road Chris,
Setting up a personal hybrid 24 8 2 topaz still have questions on workflow routing,I like yours
Thanks
Lemme know. Have gone through three hybrid setups since 2007
Looks like a Radio Shack SPL Meter with your setup. I use a phone app. Got to mix at an acceptable level. Got the x-desk before I believe Sigma came out. Have it paired with an x-panda. I like how you split your SSl Comp. I just have a Smart C1LA on my mix bus in a 500 rack. Maybe I should try to use it to mix a vocal stem and place it back in the whole mix. Well thought out layout with great hardware. I see you put a little compression on A Gits. I just used about 2 db of reduction on a stereo xy mic'ed Acoustic Guitar with Waves SSL G Comp. Thanks for the explanation. oh , love your Kemper there. In between an axe fx3 and kemper now. I am primarily piano and keys guy but looking for a variety of pretty good guitar tones.
BakerSynth - thanks for watching. Good eye! ;)
I noticed you have an extra knob on the center top side of the Warm EQP-WA. Did you have someone mod your EQ's and if so what is the addition? Was this done by Warm or a tech in Colorado? Thanks for the video. Cool studio.
I did. It was the attenuation knob so I could balance the pair. ZenPro did it for me. It’s an option now I believe.
Hey Chris! Great Vid.... Quick Question... on the Rear Bus, you said you send all the music except drums. Do you send the vocals to the rear bus as well or not since they are already being parallel compressed?
Scott I send the vocals usually as well but it depends on the song. It adds a weight to everything so if anything I will turn the send down on the vocals - everything else is 100% and then I blend that stem up to taste on specific parts.
Hi Chris ! Great work mixing ! What are your current rates ? Tx
Superbe ! Je suis jaloux
Thanks for taking the time to watch
Hi !Chris Andrews I see that you are a person of taste. have you ever listened to ssl fusion? I would like to improve my buss mix. with my BEA 10dc in insert. do you think it makes sense? Merci Andrews !
@@DanielGuillaud since that video a year ago I actually have the SSL fusion and I highly recommend it. Go watch my other videos that I've put up I think I have some stuff on there with it
Chris Andrews thank for your answer ! I go watch that . Merci et prenez soin de vous !
Great video!
Sorry for the rookie mistake, but I don’t understand how you route all these.
Lets say I have a mixer with 16 channels that I record through them, And I want to use outboard gear. I don’t understand how to route it. What outputs and what inputs do I use for the fx?
Rad video Chris! I have a quick question for you. Have you mixed any sessions ITB, and just stemmed out to the Sigma/mix buss chain (without any additional hardware processing). If you have, can you share your opinions of the Sigma in that scenario. Thanks bud!
Alex,
Sorry for the late reply.... Thanks for the watch and thanks for hte question. So I do have a template that is mixing only with plugins but stemming out to the SIGMA still. I am actually refining the template and way that I send things out. I have never been a fan of a stereo drum buss but am re-testing it now with the SIGMA. Honestly if I am the one tracking the material and mixing it, I will usually only use the center section in the mix and NOT use hardware much. Just because I am tracking with all of it to begin with, I find no reason to reshoot things through it. Right now I am mixing a band that I produced and doing the exact thing. The SSL plugins (from SSL,) the Plugin Alliance ones and the Waves one all sound great. I really have a specific setup that seems to be working that combines the SSL and Plugin Alliance bundles that sounds great. If I can I will post a video on that and explain.
I do love what the Sigma does to the workflow and stemming out to channels and having that come up the same way each mix is great! Hope this helps?
@@slawaschwed I do have the flavors covered, but do have a set way that I tend to track.
Usually drums get that Neve vibe
Guitars are API vibe
Bass Neve but depends
Vocals definitely a Neve/Chandler vibe with a Retro parallel vibe.
When I track drums Toms will get either API or SSL and if I top and bottom mic things it is both. Guitars are usually Kemper these days but if I am mic'n it is always API to 57/421 combo and usually printed to a single track
Thanks man
Great set up.. what do you use for your insert patcher. I just got the dangerous liaison. Lot of xlr lol
Cartofgiant, the SIGMA is the patcher really. Every channel output from the Lynx goes to gear and then to the stems of the SIGMA. That puts it 100% analog. Then the SIGMA has 2 Mix buss inserts that house my 2 buss. Hope that makes sense
Is there a sonic benefit to having the individual tracks recorded through the outboard versus recorded dry then mixed through the same outboard?
Nice setup(I'm a hardware geek), This may be the old man in me speaking can you see the Pro Tools OK on what I assume is a 42-47 inch monitor? Or is my perspective assuming the desk is further from the wall then it is?
Pete thanks for watching. That monitor was a 47 inch, but has since been upgraded to a 65" 4K. It is great and I am a old guy as well (44). No strain at all. Thanks for watching - a new video is in the works for a little different workflow - just need more time in the day to get it finished. Better photos of the studio here: facebook.com/MonumentSound
It is an amazing array and I love it BUT and you know me as an engineer since 1978 I have to mention your vocal track on this video has an incredible amount of sibilance. Why? Love the gear review, Best Tod
ha!! agreed. Sorry this was a last minute one when I made it and I literally used my phone I think when I filmed it. At the time it was more about getting the thing out there as some pals were asking. I am trying to get a new video up as I have since changed quite a bit of my setup to a better workflow. Thanks for watching though.
hello thx for your demo but can you explain to me how you connect the sygma to your audio interface ( db25 in and out )
and how you manage in your daw the sigma mix have a good day
This is fantastic, do you have another video that shows how you route everything. Is this done with your patchbay, or inside the sigma?
Also how are you monitoring? Where do you monitor in this chain?
Jeffrey, Thanks for the comment. I basically come OUT of the Converters into my gear and then into the respected SIGMA channels. 32 channels are dedicated OUT so I am converting only to the analog gear a total of one time per channel and then a stereo stem is printed.
The way the SIGMA works is all pre-fader from pro tools so it really works like a console. I calibrate things to specific reductions on my compressors. I can hit it hard on the SIGMA and if I need more compression I will push it more in Pro Tools.
So.... Pro Tools - OUT of converter - gear - SIGMA - That sums and gets routed back to Pro Tools for printing.
Monitoring wise, I have a Dangerous Monitor ST. I have a pre and post conversion channel so I can hear what my pre and post processing is doing.
Hope that makes sense?
@@andrewsintel Ahh yes that helps a ton. Thank you for the detailed explanation!
@@jeffreyanthony6628 thanks for watching and glad it helped. Thanks for all the cool things you have done as well - checked out your channel ;-)
Hey Chris, quick question for you. What else do you run out of the ssl stereo pair back into the box I.e final mix bus ? Heard the ssl fusion is sounding good ?
Neal,
These days I have the Fusion. On the Fusion I will usually strap my API 2500 as the final glue going back in to Pro Tools - still very subtle. That seems to make things really sit well. Sadly I am sending it out for a minor repair. Once I hit Pro Tools I always have the Plugin Alliance APEX EQ, The VSM-3, Cranesong Pheonix 2 and then a limiter (usually the Fab L-2) for volume if I am sending a loud Ref mix. Hope this helps - thanks for watching
thought I was the only one who doesn't leave any space in the rack for the heat to escape...lol
the Sterling Modular desk has all open sides, front and back (essentially speaker mesh) really open and vents incredibly well. Plus it's in my home and AC is on in the Summer - thanks for watching :)
i can shorten this studio tour: "i have one of everything, in many cases two. it all gets wired into the sigma."
:-) Maybe the next one will be that simple. Thanks for watching though. Just trying to have some detailed content on how the SIGMA works. Not a lot out there - best
Shut up!🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So if you set a channel to Mono and sacrifice the right side how is it 32 channel ? also how does the Sigma sound compared to the Dangerous 2 Bus ? and what is the advantage of using the sigma faders compared to setting the sigma at unity and using the DAW faders to mix. ? im thinking of getting either 2x 2bus LT or the Sigma, but need 32 channels without compromise
Do you use the standard SSL Sigma or the SSL Sigma delta version ?
We need an updated tour/mixing workflow.
Haaaa. Will do. I'm actually in the middle of a move. The old studio is no more and I have a temporary mix room until the new space is designed and built. Bought a place that has a 35*35*20 out building. Gonna build a killer mix room and a small overdub space. Not really tracking a ton right now. Mainly mix and master these days
Thanks for watching
What an awesome set up! Great video dude! thanks for the explanation. now i just gotta go rob a bank and ill replicate it 😂
lol - 20+ years of collecting - thanks for watching though.
@@andrewsintel wow! Awesome! No worries man, definitely a new subscriber can't wait to see/hear all this wonderful gear in action!
@@donkeyfacekilla1 trying to get more content out. Been swamped. I have a new template layout I want to talk about. Trying to get it setup to make it worth while.
How would you compare sonically the API DSM with the SSL Sigma? Do you miss the API DSM or not really now that you have the SSL Sigma?
The DSM was great - pretty sure it is "The BOX" now with a few new bells and whistles. I switched it to a Dangerous Audio 2 Buss and then the Sigma. The SIGMA for my workflow takes it hands down. The ability to use my gear like a console, ride their internal fader plugin and not have it affect my compression settings is worth it alone
Did you ever figure out how to bring up the sigma delta plugin with one button? Don't give up on your dreams!
Chris - you said you switched from the API & Dangerous 2-Bus to the Sigma? Happy with that decision? What were the advantages of that switch?
Love the SIGMA. For my use and hybrid mix, this was a no brainer choice. The gear I have was chosen for specific uses so I do not change much of the setup usually. The SIGMA just gives me a great amount of headroom and sound that I am after. The ability to convert once going out and get into the analog domain is a nice feature. I used to hardware insert pieces on channels using a lot of conversion. This makes it 32 OUT to the SIGMA with 2 going back. If I want to print stems through hardware, my template makes that simple as well. - enjoy
@@andrewsintel Thanks very much - I'm trying to use the SSL Matrix in the same way; I was particularly interested in understanding what the SIGMA gives you that the 2-Bus didn't, since the 2-Bus is as an analog summer as well (albeit the Sigma has digital mix control, while the 2-Bus is straight through summer)
hi chris, greetings from germany. this is a dream setup. very tastefull. you have a lot of high end stuff like e.g. chandler, shadow hills or just ssl. hand on heart: is the warm audio really good or is it just because you don't want to spend that much money. I'm just torn a bit. i absolutely need good preamps. on the one hand the warm audio 1073 clones are quite appealing, on the other hand it is always nice to have "the real deal". real neve parts. you can just tell the customer that it is really high end. is the warm audio just very good for the money, or is there really not much difference in direct blind comparison? I will of course try it myself. but an opinion from someone like you would be helpful. thank you chris. cheers.
Ron, thanks for watching. The Warm stuff to me is fantastic. I have 6 of their WA73-EQ pres and love them on drums. I bought them specifically for that (mix as well as tracking) and love how easy it is to dial in tones. I like to commit when I track and these do it. I also own a BAE 1023 and love it. TO my ear (and this is merely my opinion) but they are cutting hairs to the BAE. Would I spend more on a BAE (probably not again) Not to down play the BAE as it is built like a tank. The idea of spending that amount on one channel when I can get close to identical results (again to my ear) is a no brainer. I use the BAE for vocals primarily and the WARM stuff lives on my drum stems for my mix setup. Tracking wise they are amazing and deliver the right amount that I want. I actually want to get 2 more to finish off my sidecar.
@@andrewsintel Ah ok. very interesting. Thank you for your really quick answer. yes, it doesn't convince me that you bought a whole lot of the warm stuff. nowadays you are exposed to a multitude of possibilities. i always need a little longer :) so many manufacturers offer a lot of quality for relatively little money. it may not always be the expensive original. 20 years ago, the possibilities were much less. thanks to such companies as warm audio, stam audio, heritage or golden age, apparently you get quite good devices for a fraction of the original.
I'll be happy to write to you again when I've tested it. as front and back end. all the best to you.
@@Rondozza I recommend trying them. I have the VCA comp now holding down my main drum buss duty. The Pultecs I have not moved off my mix buss A since I bought them. I will say that I swapped the tubes out with some matched Mullard tubes and liked the result better. Definitely worth the trial for sure if you can.
@@andrewsintel very cool. read about it and hear a lot of good. also excites me very much. I use a vca from the Polish company IGS. is called s-type in 500 format. I can also highly recommend it. I will buy and test the warm audio wa73-eq. preferably twice. first my customers have to pay :)))
Please stay in touch. Would love to send stems and mixes to you for mastering!
What does a Mix and mastering cost from you?
How to contact you for mixing services??
What’s your Ad/Da convertors?
Rafael, I use three lynx Aurora's for the main sigma conversion. Two run in 16 channel mode and the third runs in dual mode so, 16 analog and 16 AES. That covers my analog and digital fx gear. The main two channel conversion back into pro tools is done by a benchmark adc-1. I will be replacing it eventually with the new Neve unit but I'm waiting on more feedback. The benchmark has been bombproof for me though and clean
@@andrewsintel Chris, thanks for your response , now days people just upload videos and take no responsibility of
The importance of reviewing and answering comments.. Wishing you the best best !!
How much you charge per song for mixing?
email me on the main studio site for that information if you are interested in having me mix please. Rock-N-Roll
oh my head hurts
:-) Sorry - pretty easy really once it all plugged in. Thanks for watching
You put final glue on API 2500? All genres?
Nope. Just ones that work. Can get too aggressive fast
@@andrewsintel True, also have 2500, only works on hard rocks, or even just the drums. So after final glue you print to ADC?
@@SyaelendraStudioTube yes I print back into pro tools via benchmark ADC 1 and then do a few more things on that aux. Cranesong Pheonix plug and some other things usually
@@andrewsintel Cool, one more question, stereo width on plugins or you have hardware for it?
@@SyaelendraStudioTube sorry just saw this. I use them from time to time but feel I get enough with the mid side setup that the tk audio eq offers me. I also like what mastering does to width better than what I do in a mix with it. If anything it would be applied to a specific track or stem vs the mix. At least for me.
Like I mentioned, I have all music on mix Buss A and it hits the tk in mid side , then the sale comp channel 1/2 then the pultecs. Works well
NO 1176???
Used to have two. Sold em and rely on my retro double-wides for the job. Same vibe and then some. Will be getting a bluey in a bit but no need right now.
@@andrewsintel Yeah definitely go with Black Lion as they use much higher grade quality electronic components like the more expensive oringal outboard gear that aren't clones. I bought the BLA Seventeen and was very impressed with it. They said it's not an exact clone of the 1176 as they added their own touch to it with additional features not found on an 1176. I expect it to last a lot longer than the Warm Audio stuff for sure. I do plan on getting the Bluey as well once they are back in stock. I was very hesitant to buy anything from Warm Audio after hearing about alot of failing units and poor quality control plus being a fairly new company.
@@eman0828 I have 2 of their pultecs and 6 of their WA73eqs and they have been super solid. Not sure on the comps but the stuff I have is solid
Nice gear..But, this setup looks very confusing..
It's actually very straight forward. I have specific pieces that I have in chain from the converter to the Sigma. example: Guitars are sent out to a stereo out to the SIGMA - that going out of the converter, to the EQ, compression, and then to the SIGMA. The Sigma works like a console so the gear is PRE-Fader so I can push the Sigma mixer harder and not have it ride INTO the compression like it would on a normal summing unit. I set my mix in Pro Tools (usually at unity) and then mix with the SIGMA 16 channel stem mixer (32 channels total)
You need SSL FUSION next to add to your amazing gear. But NOT a fan of 500 series period. 19” rack are the holy grail because of more powerful power supply.
Still on the fence with it. I do a lot of things coming back in that emulate what it is doing so not sure I "need" it ;)
Been on 500s for a long time and have not had any issues. The new 500 Neve racks are HUGE power. More than what the 500s require even.
@@andrewsintel exactly
Derek Irons, I have a Fusion now and have integrated it into the system. It's pretty slick - been on it a few months now
You need 2 daiseychained
Honestly it doesn’t really matter since I just sold almost every single piece of hardware that I own lol.
@@andrewsintel Ohhhh you gonna regret that 😂
@@sideast nahhh.
I still have the sigma but I just not dealing with gear anymore. Plus I’m moving to atmos and I can’t use the sigma with atmos. Honestly I’ve been mixing without gear for the last two years pretty much and it’s been working out great. Much easier and sounds just as good
@@andrewsintel Its most definitely quicker no doubt - its a shame that the SSL Sigma Software is a bit antiquated now - but there is no argument that analog sounds better than plugins .
My SSL SIGMA is SSL FUSION VINTAGE DRIVE plugin )))))))))))))!!!!!
Being a part of the SSL beta team for their plugins I can tell you it's very close
@@andrewsintel !!!!!!!!! )))))) I joke ( scuse me for my i eng im italian), BUT .... I have FUSION plugins and native ..STEREO IMMAGE ... VINTAGE DRIVE .... are impressive ... spectacular sound ... I buy SSL 2 + plugins bundle .. i have SSL legendary sound !!!!!!!!! IS REAL !!! .... GOOD PLUGINS ... I Want SSL DUALITY Delta or sigma for next christmas ...ahaha
How about we hear some music 🤔
Tony this video was done over a year ago. I have a few other newer ones that have some stuff along with the workflow. Building content now for even more. Just trying to do it, make it worthwhile and get it out. Here's some studio stuff if interested. Thanks for watching
www.monumentsound.com/index.php/studio-samples/audio-samples
Three jealous losers who can only afford wanna be plugins gives thumbs down 😂
There are always ones who are not happy or disagree. It is what it is I guess
I know right, what is it that needs disliking in this clip. They probably searched for ”studioapartment” forgot the ”apartment” bit, ended up here and got offended, lol
They would probably thumb down a video of there own child being born lol...
It's fucked up, they have no respect for all this. I could NEVER afford that gear but I marvel at it, I understand what plugins are emulated after. That's why I use plugins, but this is so awesome, I learn a lot from this stuff.
@@Btvstudio thanks for watching - more to come soon.
You have a lot of great gear there and some of it fairly expensive… Why cheese out with the Warm Audio stuff? You really brought down the value of what you’re showing because of those two pieces of crap. I bought two of them and the noise floor was so bad I had to send them back and get a refund. The rest of your set up is all quality stuff except for those pile of crap and maybe the Joe Meek compressor…
Never had an issue with mine. Sorry you must have had a bad batch. Thanks for watching