The A/B comparison you introduced is revolutionary for mixing engineers to know what actually cooking up. Great work. I have the plugin and you can say it was modelled on different unit so it sounds different.
1st, THANK YOU! great comparison! I agree with you, the plugin does stand up...all things considered (price, instances, etc.). and I also agree that as long as you don't do the side by side comparison to the hardware, there's a good chance no one would know the difference... in some comparisons, the difference between plugin and hardware are much more glaring. I did not feel that here and as much as it would be lovely to own the hardware, I still feel confident in using the emulation for all of it many conveniences. that said and to MY ears, monitoring thru Beyerdynamic DT770 + Lynx Hilo combo, for the solo female vocal and the drum sample that followed specifically, the plugin felt just a pinch "smaller". almost as if the hardware was .5db louder or something. was relying on my ears AND my Hilo meters and it just seems they weren't hitting at the same level. NOW, that's not to say that they would sound identical otherwise, but I can't help but wonder if that PERCEIVED and VERY subtle difference in space/fullness/low end richness/color from the plugin could get a little closer if they were perfectly level matched.
I'm actually more of a fan of the plugin! I know it sounds sacrilegious but the plugin clearly has more punch and presence in the midrange and in the top. The hardware is more subdued in those areas making it the sound more smooth and the punch is kind of missing. I understand that's what some people might be going for but if you master aggressive music then the hardware version would probably not be the right thing for the job.
With heavy material the HW probably craps due to the side chain filters unless you’re really using the EXT. I agree with you, this is a smooth compressor and without the extra functions of the plugin (sidechain from PA) it kind of suffers on bass heavy material and clamps down significantly. The Air bass fixes things to a certain degree but then you don’t always want that 2db bump in the top end. Now on less bass heavy material, acoustics, vocals. Unbelievably IMPRESSIVE the hardware.
Great video ! And yes we can see difference in the ``AIR`` bottom bass... BUT like you said the plugins do almost 90 % of the job for maybe 99% less expensive 30$ VS 4000$-5000$... And the overall difference in the final mixte and mastering will be less perceptive... So for the actual music industrie business... juste let the expensive toys to the VERY professional ``NO`` budget limits producer. Good review by the way !!
Accidentally stumbled upon your channel & man !! Georgeus walkthru of comparisons... Indeed the hardware has its own mojo - but by no means to say that the plug-in is less capable... It REALLY boils down to the user's capacity of understanding "WHAT TO LISTEN FOR" .... Subbed right away...🤓.... Much Love & God bless...🤓🤓👍🏅
Great video and great comparison! Are both examples 5000$ away from each other? I dont think so. They just both sounds amazing! Without looking on A/B on screen i would not tell a massive difference ,so all i can say: plugin sounds GREAT! I own it, and i love it !
I'm waiting for PA to reset my demo for IRON, but I think if you oversample it @ 2 x OS (eg: in Reaper) you'll find it tightens up the bass and brings more clarity and detail. That's been my experience with other compressors when I use OS on them - even just 2 x. UPDATE: I demoed PA's IRON plugin last night in Reaper on my Mac Studio Max, and with no oversampling it uses .1% CPU, and with 8x OS it uses only .6% CPU! And the sound is most definitely improved and much closer to the hardware in all the ways you showed it wasn't, ie: tighter thicker low end, more definition and clarity, more 3D. Oh yah, the Air/Bass is improved as well. I'm buying it during this summer sale.
it's so interesting... I decided to turn off my studio monitors and listen instead through my creative labs casual listening speakers and I preferred the plugin on the full mix by far - it sounded more HiFi/clear which helped a lot with these speakers. Then I listened to the vocal and it wasn't even close. The hardware absolutely blew it away even on these speakers - it sounds so crisp, clear, and perfectly smoothly compressed. I would've never thought to use this on a vocal anyway. Thanks for shooting these 2 out!
Got the hardware in my basket about to sale the Manley Vari Mu standard version its for hip hop applications any thoughts out there what would u all do for mixing vocal recording mastering what would u do vs the plugin
Man, at this point this is the only piece of hardware I REALLY want someday. I have a ways to go before I can justify such a purchase, but WOW is the difference worth the extra oomph you get when compared to the plugin. I'm also bummed the plugin doesn't do oversampling (unless forced). Hopefully we'll get a native oversampling update eventually.
Plugin messes the stereo image. Im hearing some sort of phase shift to the right, especially on the snare. Hardware's grab sounds natural/musical, probably because it preserves stereo image better? May be someone can shed some light on here? * I listened on LCD-X (no corrective eq) *
Hardware has better lowend, more solid and punchy but the top end seems to be harsh and gritty. Maybe DA AD conversion brings that unpleasant top. BtW great video. Thanks. 👍
Just to be sure what I'm looking at versus what I hear...the plugin is not linked and the hardware is linked? So all adjustments on the hardware are those on the right only? Adjustments on the plugin are those of each side as they are shown?
To me the stand-out was that the sides felt a little wider and smoother on the hardware. I wonder if you'd be able to get closer by very slightly tweaking the mid / side on the plugin. Cool test anyway dude. Out of curiosity, what's the closest plugin you've found to its hardware counterpart? The Pulsar Vari MU seems to be pretty close judging by their audio demos.
The Elysia MusEQ was impressive. I remember buying the hardware because I really liked the sound of the plugin. First thing I did was test them against each other and I remember there being very little difference.
Agree, plugin sounds taller and narrow, hardware sounds flatter and wider. Sounds like M/S processing needs adjustment on the plugin to match more closely. A null test with the two would've been nice to hear what differences there are between both.
Interesting comparison. thanks! What i noticed somehow, esp. in the Drum examples, the hardware seems to be pitched down a few cets, why is that so - or am i the only one hearing it? I also hear it in the Vertigo EQ comparison examples too.
Excellent comparison, thank you very much. For me, the difference is from heaven to earth! It would be very helpful if you could compare the Dry & Wet parts so that one can make their own comparisons!!! On the other hand, this comparison explains to me why there are many songs that I find that sound bad, clearly many are mixing with plugins and thinking about the sound on the phone, in headphones, etc., but not in "Hi Fi" equipment, It's a shame. A hug,
The both sound great but they sounded vastly different. Then I realized that one of the knobs wasn't set the same on both. The side chain on the Hardware is set to ext., on the software its set to EQ4. I have the software version but I must admit that I don't know it well enough yet to know if that difference would account for the difference in sound. In general the hardware is tighter but the software sounds bigger especially in the upper mids. I like both and since I can't really afford the hardware the software will do me just fine.
I get that certain things will vary in a plugin vs hardware shootout, but just curious why they were set so diffrerently most of the time in terms of like Rectifier, Attack, Side Chain EQ etc?
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Oh shit, haha yes I did lol. Use to my MBP and the Master being on the left. I actually kinda figured you'd have them the same, but what threw me off was just how different it acted sometimes. Like one that comes to mind was that the hardware was reacting mainly to the Snare I think, and the software only mainly to the kick or vic versa I forget, but who knows, that could be because of a few reasons. I think that it could almost pay to tweak them a bit different just to account for the varying attack/release/headroom etc, and set them until they react more similarly, but I get it, sometimes you just want to get a general sense of how they sound with the same settings, doesnt always have to be super scientific lol.
Wow, they're very close 😳. It's easier to hear the difference than on the short video though. On the last percussive material and on the vocals the stereo spread and the depth of the hardware is obvious but damn, for 4000€ of difference... On the first two loops, I could hear less difference. Maybe I need to train my ears a bit but to me only the last clip was day and night. Makes me doubt I want to buy the hardware.
hi, thanks for making these + taking the amen as an example :) in comparison the difference between them was shocking..on the amen some snares sounded almost "detuned" did you record the plugin thru your DAAD ?
That could well be the case, from a professional standpoint though being able to instantly get the desired sound saves time and money. I would agree though, you could match the sound with with additional processing.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I really love equipment like this, but from the way most professionals work now, outboard gear like this does anything but save time and money. For me, the ability to recall everything is an absolute necessity in 2023. If I send out a mix and a client needs a quick tweak, I need to exactly bring that mix back up and change only the element that needs changing (sometimes quickly interrupting another project I'm working on). Fast offline bouncing of tracks and STEMs is also essential, and that can't be done with a piece of gear like this. The only way I could practically use the hardware version would be to have it in line when I print tracks into the session (forcing me to make decisions that can't be undone). Now that 100% instant recall of a mix is possible, a lot of customers expect it. Sure, you could keep a detailed log of settings, but that's something that takes more time and organization.
The hardware does sound better to me, but looking at the meters, it seems the plugin is compressing a bit more in every example except for the last one. This could partially explain why the plugin always comes across as flatter with less headroom in the bass, less depth in the midrange and more distortion in the highs. Hard to tell if it's the meters that are inacurate or the compressors are receiving slightly different levels, or what is going on. The hardware is also pulling the entire image slightly to the left on every example. Perhaps it needs to be recalibrated? Hard to tell without hearing the original signal. I imagine the plugin doesn't go through your ADDA loop, so perhaps some of the difference comes from conversion. I'm currently on the brink of purchasing the hardware, but it's a lot of money for seemingly little gain. I'm trying to convince myself that there is a bigger difference in reality away from UA-cam compression, and that the hands-on workflow is worth it alone, but perhaps one could simply create more depth in mids with some EQ and a transformer and save a bunch of money. 😅
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I noticed with my nvlope, the fusion and the six I can dial and sum the hz spectrum perfectly but with plugins its little tricky to get the same results. Plugins in general seem to do better on the kHz spectrum for some reason maybe I'm just imagining this? Even with the Moog the sub is so much better than a digital solution in the low end.
@@444Inlakesh 100% right. It's not your imagination. This is why I'm going through doing these comparisons. So people can see just how much better the hardware is compared to the plugin. And also make their own choice of it they like it more.
133.3333333333333…etc times cheaper lol… Hardware does always win, the difference is small yes, but that can be the difference in a hit or not quite a hit… and that amount you pay for the equipment if you are mixing and mastering for high end clientele reflects what you make from your work… but, it is good that the plug-ins are close… it helps speed up production as a whole, even if you had both the plugin and the hardware… It was nice to hear this unit because I’ve not heard a lot from other professionals about it, a lot about the EQ’s in that range but not the compressor… would love it to be part of the arsenal… have to see if I can get the work to warrant it lol. Always good to hear the differences though because it also let you know where the plugin will be suitable and what it’ll also not be adding so you can be a little more confident where you use it, if it’ll do what you want without lacking to much to warrant using it.
If you're doing it at home, the plugin is fine... if you're a professional you can afford the hardware price. btw, the plugin doesn't break or need repairs.. LOL Good videos btw, very cool.
No need to get uncomfortable just say it as it is. Hardware is better mabey 10-15% than plugin but cost 200x more! So it is not even double better than plugin to play it 200x more but anyone who made serious money from production should go for that 10% more.
What's the point of this comparison, if we have no idea how the unprocessed signal sounds? We need a point of reference to know what the compressor is doing in the first place.
No you don't, it is a comparison of plugin vs hardware. You are directly comparing how the close the plugin is to the hardware. Nobody needs to know how the original sound sounded like as that this not what is being compared. For that you want a SPL Iron compressor review here ua-cam.com/video/yTfhzf60Iec/v-deo.html
@@AudioAnimalsStudio For what it's worth you could have given us two identical signals with maybe a slightly different EQ setting, and bypassing the SPL altogether. How would we know? The Iron is supposed to do something to the audio signal, and in order to know how close they are in doing said "something", we should know what that "something" is.
@@Patbwoy that’s an unfair comparison. This is a comparison of how close is the plugin to the hardware. The input signals are the same and the settings are the same. There is no need to change EQ or hear what the original source Audio sounded like. This isn't part of the comparison and changes the outcome of comparison.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I disagree. A comparison is only valid if we know what the compressor does in the first place. The compressor is meant to impart a certain sound to the source audio, but if we don't know what that ist, how can we judge the differences between hard- and software? But hey, different opinions...
@@Patbwoy the comparison is directly comparing how the plugin compares to the hardware. The video you are looking for is the SPL iron video I link you before.
Oh no! I like the Plugin more here.It´s oc course nearer and less oben.. yes.. but its smoother. But in context i guess the hardware give better results. Not bad the plugin..not bad
One little question, but before I have to say I’m a SPL Iron unlover, since the 1st day I bought it I think it was a waste of money. But ok, what I wanna ask is why are you comparing them with different settings? You are playing a lot with the side chain EQ on the plugin while the hardware is always on external, the rectifiers are set different and attack and release are set different too. Please help me to understand what kind of comparison is this. Thanks so much in advance.
You are looking at the left side. The control on the hardware is all on the right side. The hardware is in stereo link. This means that whatever you do on the right side is copied to the left side. Watch again but look at the right channel only. You'll notice that settings are exactly the same as the plugin giving a fair comparison.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio ohhh so sorry you are fully right, My mistake, probably it’s because I always set the left channel when I got linked channels plugins. Thank you for this comparison, there are not much fair comparisons of this thing out there. 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
@@SaturnVoyager11 I totally agree with you and had me confused the first time. Because on every other unit I've used channel 1 on the left side is always the master and the right side follows that. Not sure why on the iron they made channel 2 the master when in stereo link.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Is there any instrument or type of signal where you can say that the SPL shines like no other compressor? I have sat several times for hours in the past months to play around with this compressor, trying to achieve different compression approaches, taking in mind that this is a tube compressor (or an emulation of it in the plugin case) but believe me I have not been able to find that magic everybody says it has. Of course all those tests have been with the "airbass" off, hoping not to affect my judgment by a "smiley" curve, maybe my problem is there? Any recommendations about this compressor? I own the plugin of course, can’t afford the hardware unit. Thank you so much again 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@SaturnVoyager11 I do enjoy using it over vocals. I find you can slam vocals without getting that nasty sucking effect. The airbass on the hardware is brilliant. Much more than a simple curve. The plugin however isn't as pleasing as the hardware in this department. It's a brilliant mastering compressor also. I think you'd fall in love with it if you had a day with the hardware. I wasn't overly wowed with the plugin when it first came out.
Hardware has stereo link. All controls on the right side are copied to the left side. This way you only need to match the right side for the left side to be exactly the same.
thanks a lot for important videos! SPL Iron is great! (plugins-shit-scam for suckers) / You are doing great work - bravo! some people don't understand a simple thing = plugins = digital bullshit - prophonation / and iron is a real physical sound that physically beats in the real world
You are forgetting that the compressor is in link mode. This means that the right channel controls the left channel. The thresholds are identical on all comparisons.
The A/B comparison you introduced is revolutionary for mixing engineers to know what actually cooking up. Great work. I have the plugin and you can say it was modelled on different unit so it sounds different.
1st, THANK YOU! great comparison! I agree with you, the plugin does stand up...all things considered (price, instances, etc.). and I also agree that as long as you don't do the side by side comparison to the hardware, there's a good chance no one would know the difference... in some comparisons, the difference between plugin and hardware are much more glaring. I did not feel that here and as much as it would be lovely to own the hardware, I still feel confident in using the emulation for all of it many conveniences.
that said and to MY ears, monitoring thru Beyerdynamic DT770 + Lynx Hilo combo, for the solo female vocal and the drum sample that followed specifically, the plugin felt just a pinch "smaller". almost as if the hardware was .5db louder or something. was relying on my ears AND my Hilo meters and it just seems they weren't hitting at the same level.
NOW, that's not to say that they would sound identical otherwise, but I can't help but wonder if that PERCEIVED and VERY subtle difference in space/fullness/low end richness/color from the plugin could get a little closer if they were perfectly level matched.
I enjoyed this video , really good to hear the real one next to the plugin - yes it sounds better but it does cost a lot more.
I'm actually more of a fan of the plugin! I know it sounds sacrilegious but the plugin clearly has more punch and presence in the midrange and in the top. The hardware is more subdued in those areas making it the sound more smooth and the punch is kind of missing. I understand that's what some people might be going for but if you master aggressive music then the hardware version would probably not be the right thing for the job.
With heavy material the HW probably craps due to the side chain filters unless you’re really using the EXT. I agree with you, this is a smooth compressor and without the extra functions of the plugin (sidechain from PA) it kind of suffers on bass heavy material and clamps down significantly. The Air bass fixes things to a certain degree but then you don’t always want that 2db bump in the top end. Now on less bass heavy material, acoustics, vocals. Unbelievably IMPRESSIVE the hardware.
Great video ! And yes we can see difference in the ``AIR`` bottom bass... BUT like you said the plugins do almost 90 % of the job for maybe 99% less expensive 30$ VS 4000$-5000$... And the overall difference in the final mixte and mastering will be less perceptive... So for the actual music industrie business... juste let the expensive toys to the VERY professional ``NO`` budget limits producer. Good review by the way !!
big difference .... great video by the way , thanks a lot
I love the SPL IRON plugin. It´s always on my master chain.
Would love an in-depth tutorial on the rectifier section of this compressor! I'm a big fan of the Iron and use it on nearly every mix
They are responsible for the atack and release curves.
Rect. 1 Ge 1 mF - think Teletronix LA-2A
Rect. 2 Ge 2mF & Rect. 3 Led 3.3 mF - think Manley VariMu
Rect. 4 Si 330 nF - think Fairchild 670
Rect. 5 Ge 220 nF & 6 Ge/Si 100nF - think UREI 1176
Pretty sure Joe Carrell has one on youtube
The plug-in sounds great but the hardware does have something special in the low end and with a certain thickness overall
Gosh, the hardware is so much more solid. Thanks for the comparison!
Accidentally stumbled upon your channel & man !! Georgeus walkthru of comparisons... Indeed the hardware has its own mojo - but by no means to say that the plug-in is less capable... It REALLY boils down to the user's capacity of understanding "WHAT TO LISTEN FOR" .... Subbed right away...🤓.... Much Love & God bless...🤓🤓👍🏅
Thank you appreciate the sub
Great video and great comparison! Are both examples 5000$ away from each other? I dont think so. They just both sounds amazing! Without looking on A/B on screen i would not tell a massive difference ,so all i can say: plugin sounds GREAT! I own it, and i love it !
My fav comp ! Hope i will have a Real one one day 😀
In many of the comparisons it appears like the needle on the plugin isn't moving at all while on the hardware it is. Is that a fair comparison??
I'm waiting for PA to reset my demo for IRON, but I think if you oversample it @ 2 x OS (eg: in Reaper) you'll find it tightens up the bass and brings more clarity and detail. That's been my experience with other compressors when I use OS on them - even just 2 x.
UPDATE: I demoed PA's IRON plugin last night in Reaper on my Mac Studio Max, and with no oversampling it uses .1% CPU, and with 8x OS it uses only .6% CPU! And the sound is most definitely improved and much closer to the hardware in all the ways you showed it wasn't, ie: tighter thicker low end, more definition and clarity, more 3D. Oh yah, the Air/Bass is improved as well.
I'm buying it during this summer sale.
I just tried it with reaper and it's oversampling mode. That's sound amazing. It's my new go to for my 2-bus compressor. Thank you for sharing
lol you smart i couldn't also oversample it above x16 because it would misbehave.
it's so interesting... I decided to turn off my studio monitors and listen instead through my creative labs casual listening speakers and I preferred the plugin on the full mix by far - it sounded more HiFi/clear which helped a lot with these speakers.
Then I listened to the vocal and it wasn't even close. The hardware absolutely blew it away even on these speakers - it sounds so crisp, clear, and perfectly smoothly compressed. I would've never thought to use this on a vocal anyway.
Thanks for shooting these 2 out!
Got the hardware in my basket about to sale the Manley Vari Mu standard version its for hip hop applications any thoughts out there what would u all do for mixing vocal recording mastering what would u do vs the plugin
Man, at this point this is the only piece of hardware I REALLY want someday. I have a ways to go before I can justify such a purchase, but WOW is the difference worth the extra oomph you get when compared to the plugin. I'm also bummed the plugin doesn't do oversampling (unless forced). Hopefully we'll get a native oversampling update eventually.
Plugin messes the stereo image. Im hearing some sort of phase shift to the right, especially on the snare. Hardware's grab sounds natural/musical, probably because it preserves stereo image better? May be someone can shed some light on here?
* I listened on LCD-X (no corrective eq) *
Hardware has better lowend, more solid and punchy but the top end seems to be harsh and gritty. Maybe DA AD conversion brings that unpleasant top. BtW great video. Thanks. 👍
Would be cool to see a plugin company (PSP?) make their plugin (Vintage Warmer) into a Hardware Unit.
I'd be happy to see that
@@AudioAnimalsStudio 💯
Just to be sure what I'm looking at versus what I hear...the plugin is not linked and the hardware is linked? So all adjustments on the hardware are those on the right only? Adjustments on the plugin are those of each side as they are shown?
Both are linked
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Thanks, confused by the labels on the plugin that are not on the hardware. Will have to RTM.
To me the stand-out was that the sides felt a little wider and smoother on the hardware. I wonder if you'd be able to get closer by very slightly tweaking the mid / side on the plugin. Cool test anyway dude. Out of curiosity, what's the closest plugin you've found to its hardware counterpart? The Pulsar Vari MU seems to be pretty close judging by their audio demos.
The Elysia MusEQ was impressive. I remember buying the hardware because I really liked the sound of the plugin. First thing I did was test them against each other and I remember there being very little difference.
Agree, plugin sounds taller and narrow, hardware sounds flatter and wider. Sounds like M/S processing needs adjustment on the plugin to match more closely. A null test with the two would've been nice to hear what differences there are between both.
Interesting comparison. thanks! What i noticed somehow, esp. in the Drum examples, the hardware seems to be pitched down a few cets, why is that so - or am i the only one hearing it? I also hear it in the Vertigo EQ comparison examples too.
I have such a hard time with the plugin level matching afterward. How do you get around this or do you just leave the gain it gives you?
I generally match the input to the out. +2 then -2. Then whatever the output is work from there.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio thank you for the insight, I’m going to mess with it some more today!
Excellent comparison, thank you very much. For me, the difference is from heaven to earth! It would be very helpful if you could compare the Dry & Wet parts so that one can make their own comparisons!!! On the other hand, this comparison explains to me why there are many songs that I find that sound bad, clearly many are mixing with plugins and thinking about the sound on the phone, in headphones, etc., but not in "Hi Fi" equipment, It's a shame. A hug,
For the dry to wet signal comparison check out the SPL iron review video on our page
ua-cam.com/video/yTfhzf60Iec/v-deo.html
thanks
Thanks for this, can you do a review of the Rupert Neve Designs MBP?. Best/Mathias
The MBP will be reviewed soon. I have the review of the fusion paired with neve MBP going out on Friday.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Great, thanks😀
The both sound great but they sounded vastly different. Then I realized that one of the knobs wasn't set the same on both. The side chain on the Hardware is set to ext., on the software its set to EQ4. I have the software version but I must admit that I don't know it well enough yet to know if that difference would account for the difference in sound. In general the hardware is tighter but the software sounds bigger especially in the upper mids. I like both and since I can't really afford the hardware the software will do me just fine.
I get that certain things will vary in a plugin vs hardware shootout, but just curious why they were set so diffrerently most of the time in terms of like Rectifier, Attack, Side Chain EQ etc?
Settings were the same on either side. You may be forgetting they are linked so the right side controls are controlling the left side.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Oh shit, haha yes I did lol. Use to my MBP and the Master being on the left. I actually kinda figured you'd have them the same, but what threw me off was just how different it acted sometimes. Like one that comes to mind was that the hardware was reacting mainly to the Snare I think, and the software only mainly to the kick or vic versa I forget, but who knows, that could be because of a few reasons. I think that it could almost pay to tweak them a bit different just to account for the varying attack/release/headroom etc, and set them until they react more similarly, but I get it, sometimes you just want to get a general sense of how they sound with the same settings, doesnt always have to be super scientific lol.
Wow, they're very close 😳. It's easier to hear the difference than on the short video though. On the last percussive material and on the vocals the stereo spread and the depth of the hardware is obvious but damn, for 4000€ of difference... On the first two loops, I could hear less difference. Maybe I need to train my ears a bit but to me only the last clip was day and night. Makes me doubt I want to buy the hardware.
hi, thanks for making these + taking the amen as an example :) in comparison the difference between them was shocking..on the amen some snares sounded almost "detuned" did you record the plugin thru your DAAD ?
The plugin is recorded in the box. So doesn't hit the converters.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio for this to be a fair test the plugin should be applied post the same converter / cabling
round trip as the analog?
Interesting comparison. For me, I think that whatever difference I hear could easily be tweaked with just a touch of EQ.
That could well be the case, from a professional standpoint though being able to instantly get the desired sound saves time and money. I would agree though, you could match the sound with with additional processing.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I really love equipment like this, but from the way most professionals work now, outboard gear like this does anything but save time and money. For me, the ability to recall everything is an absolute necessity in 2023. If I send out a mix and a client needs a quick tweak, I need to exactly bring that mix back up and change only the element that needs changing (sometimes quickly interrupting another project I'm working on). Fast offline bouncing of tracks and STEMs is also essential, and that can't be done with a piece of gear like this. The only way I could practically use the hardware version would be to have it in line when I print tracks into the session (forcing me to make decisions that can't be undone). Now that 100% instant recall of a mix is possible, a lot of customers expect it. Sure, you could keep a detailed log of settings, but that's something that takes more time and organization.
@LeeBlaske saves so much time. Time equals money. The end result is achieved far quicker compared to plugins. Which ultimately saves time and money.
Hardware wins hand down, snappier, works much better with transients, better separation of elements in the mix, mojo
You’re always going to pick the hardware, unless you’re not the best at hearing 😂
For mastering gear definitely. Noise is a problem probably at the lower end of the cost scale
The hardware does sound better to me, but looking at the meters, it seems the plugin is compressing a bit more in every example except for the last one. This could partially explain why the plugin always comes across as flatter with less headroom in the bass, less depth in the midrange and more distortion in the highs. Hard to tell if it's the meters that are inacurate or the compressors are receiving slightly different levels, or what is going on. The hardware is also pulling the entire image slightly to the left on every example. Perhaps it needs to be recalibrated? Hard to tell without hearing the original signal. I imagine the plugin doesn't go through your ADDA loop, so perhaps some of the difference comes from conversion. I'm currently on the brink of purchasing the hardware, but it's a lot of money for seemingly little gain. I'm trying to convince myself that there is a bigger difference in reality away from UA-cam compression, and that the hands-on workflow is worth it alone, but perhaps one could simply create more depth in mids with some EQ and a transformer and save a bunch of money. 😅
The real thing sounds richer in the low end, darker. plugin sounds lighter, its nice in the high end
I think it compares well but little things like sounding richer in the low end are what makes the hardware that little bit better.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I noticed with my nvlope, the fusion and the six I can dial and sum the hz spectrum perfectly but with plugins its little tricky to get the same results. Plugins in general seem to do better on the kHz spectrum for some reason maybe I'm just imagining this? Even with the Moog the sub is so much better than a digital solution in the low end.
@@444Inlakesh 100% right. It's not your imagination. This is why I'm going through doing these comparisons. So people can see just how much better the hardware is compared to the plugin. And also make their own choice of it they like it more.
The hardware sounds just a little better in all of these example. The plugin sounded brighter/thinner.
133.3333333333333…etc times cheaper lol…
Hardware does always win, the difference is small yes, but that can be the difference in a hit or not quite a hit… and that amount you pay for the equipment if you are mixing and mastering for high end clientele reflects what you make from your work… but, it is good that the plug-ins are close… it helps speed up production as a whole, even if you had both the plugin and the hardware…
It was nice to hear this unit because I’ve not heard a lot from other professionals about it, a lot about the EQ’s in that range but not the compressor… would love it to be part of the arsenal… have to see if I can get the work to warrant it lol.
Always good to hear the differences though because it also let you know where the plugin will be suitable and what it’ll also not be adding so you can be a little more confident where you use it, if it’ll do what you want without lacking to much to warrant using it.
Great comment 100% agree
Something weird is happening with the panning. That's the main difference I hear. I love this plugin.
The phase is getting flipped when going to analog. Could just be the until wiring / sometimes this happens when running out to analog
"you will hear a difference" - yes, but not a $3970 difference. I heard like a $10 difference
HYahahahahah i was thinking the same hahahahahahaha. Stil love the sound of the hardware
If you're doing it at home, the plugin is fine... if you're a professional you can afford the hardware price.
btw, the plugin doesn't break or need repairs.. LOL Good videos btw, very cool.
To be fair the hardware doesn't break or need repair. The plugin however need updating and software maintenance every OS update.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Oh really? that's cool, I didn't realize that. SPL is solid, heard good things about them. Now even more so.
No need to get uncomfortable just say it as it is. Hardware is better mabey 10-15% than plugin but cost 200x more! So it is not even double better than plugin to play it 200x more but anyone who made serious money from production should go for that 10% more.
thank you very much. Great video!
Much appreciated 🔥
these were not set at the same settings on the rectifier section
and attack as well
@Jordan Hansell you realise stereo link is on. Go research that and come back. Haha this comment is classic
What's the point of this comparison, if we have no idea how the unprocessed signal sounds? We need a point of reference to know what the compressor is doing in the first place.
No you don't, it is a comparison of plugin vs hardware. You are directly comparing how the close the plugin is to the hardware. Nobody needs to know how the original sound sounded like as that this not what is being compared. For that you want a SPL Iron compressor review here ua-cam.com/video/yTfhzf60Iec/v-deo.html
@@AudioAnimalsStudio For what it's worth you could have given us two identical signals with maybe a slightly different EQ setting, and bypassing the SPL altogether. How would we know? The Iron is supposed to do something to the audio signal, and in order to know how close they are in doing said "something", we should know what that "something" is.
@@Patbwoy that’s an unfair comparison. This is a comparison of how close is the plugin to the hardware. The input signals are the same and the settings are the same. There is no need to change EQ or hear what the original source Audio sounded like. This isn't part of the comparison and changes the outcome of comparison.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I disagree. A comparison is only valid if we know what the compressor does in the first place. The compressor is meant to impart a certain sound to the source audio, but if we don't know what that ist, how can we judge the differences between hard- and software? But hey, different opinions...
@@Patbwoy the comparison is directly comparing how the plugin compares to the hardware. The video you are looking for is the SPL iron video I link you before.
Oh no! I like the Plugin more here.It´s oc course nearer and less oben.. yes.. but its smoother. But in context i guess the hardware give better results. Not bad the plugin..not bad
The hardware will always sound a lot , the issue is value for your Buck, compare to the price of the plugins
One little question, but before I have to say I’m a SPL Iron unlover, since the 1st day I bought it I think it was a waste of money. But ok, what I wanna ask is why are you comparing them with different settings? You are playing a lot with the side chain EQ on the plugin while the hardware is always on external, the rectifiers are set different and attack and release are set different too. Please help me to understand what kind of comparison is this. Thanks so much in advance.
You are looking at the left side. The control on the hardware is all on the right side. The hardware is in stereo link. This means that whatever you do on the right side is copied to the left side. Watch again but look at the right channel only. You'll notice that settings are exactly the same as the plugin giving a fair comparison.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio ohhh so sorry you are fully right, My mistake, probably it’s because I always set the left channel when I got linked channels plugins. Thank you for this comparison, there are not much fair comparisons of this thing out there. 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
@@SaturnVoyager11 I totally agree with you and had me confused the first time. Because on every other unit I've used channel 1 on the left side is always the master and the right side follows that. Not sure why on the iron they made channel 2 the master when in stereo link.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Is there any instrument or type of signal where you can say that the SPL shines like no other compressor? I have sat several times for hours in the past months to play around with this compressor, trying to achieve different compression approaches, taking in mind that this is a tube compressor (or an emulation of it in the plugin case) but believe me I have not been able to find that magic everybody says it has. Of course all those tests have been with the "airbass" off, hoping not to affect my judgment by a "smiley" curve, maybe my problem is there? Any recommendations about this compressor? I own the plugin of course, can’t afford the hardware unit. Thank you so much again 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@SaturnVoyager11 I do enjoy using it over vocals. I find you can slam vocals without getting that nasty sucking effect. The airbass on the hardware is brilliant. Much more than a simple curve. The plugin however isn't as pleasing as the hardware in this department. It's a brilliant mastering compressor also. I think you'd fall in love with it if you had a day with the hardware. I wasn't overly wowed with the plugin when it first came out.
lol you will hate me for sure but.. the plugin sounds way better to my ears XD
Plugin and hardware settings were not matched? Am i dreaming?
Hardware has stereo link. All controls on the right side are copied to the left side. This way you only need to match the right side for the left side to be exactly the same.
thanks a lot for important videos! SPL Iron is great! (plugins-shit-scam for suckers) / You are doing great work - bravo! some people don't understand a simple thing = plugins = digital bullshit - prophonation / and iron is a real physical sound that physically beats in the real world
Too much difference for me, the warmthness you achieve is totally different, digital plug-ins almost always sound lifeless.
The real hardware sounded more open and better overall.
there is a difference, but no a 7000$ one hahaha (for my budget)
The plugin sounds better on the drum examples. It’s punchier.
No big difference
The test is unfair because the plugins threshold is different than the hardware
You are forgetting that the compressor is in link mode. This means that the right channel controls the left channel. The thresholds are identical on all comparisons.
lol. Tumbleweed.
Software sounds better to me. Damn we live in $poiled times.