Great video and demonstration. As you mention, those 5%- 10% is what makes the difference in the final results. Looking forward to see a video with the VS from Shadows Hills, Elysia and VSM-3 all together against the plugins. Will be fun! Cheers
This video gave me greater insight as to what the plugin is capable of; because of real the time tweaking of the hardware. The plugin is set by default to give very nasty distorted sound. Seeing this video combined with setting the GUI size to max has made what was confusing now clear. I now know how to get a great sound from the plugin, thanks. On a different note, the video wasn't very useful as far as comparison since you only tweaked the hardware on video. It would've been a nice touch had you demonstrated what the plugin could do by tweaking it the same way you did the hardware. Cool video nonetheless!
This video is all about how the plugin compares to the hardware in a matching situation. There are hundreds of videos on the plugin on UA-cam showing you what the plugin can do. Very few focus on what the hardware can do as there are only 110 made. The hardware and the plugin function in a similar way so if you listen and watch the hardware being controlled ýou can get the exact same information and apply that to the plugin.
Thanx for the presentation. Why dial the same setting for hardware and plugin. We know, every hardware unit sounds different. We don`t know which unit VSM-3 emulates. Hardware also sounded a couple of dB`s louder. Namely the low end 80-120 Hz.
The reason is to compare how close the emulation is. By doing this your take away is that the plugin lacks a couple of dB of depth in the low end. This is why it is interesting to do these comparisons.
if you want to make a right comparison you should not use the hardware live but to print it...then try to make the closer RESULT (NOT USING THE SAME SETTINGS) you can with the plugin. if you achieve the same sound there you are, if not hardware wins..
I’ve got plug-in version, it’s great obviously I’d love to own the “real deal” 😊 only one thing I’d be careful with plug-in as you said you could use it on everything from busses to individual sounds but! You could easily overdone it, so I’d recommend just to have it on the master bus, it kind of helps to “glue” all tracks more together and adds harmonics and saturation to the whole mix .
New subscriber here, really enjoying the videos! I absolutely loved this first audio example with the strings. Super happy vibes. May I ask, what did you do with it? Is it released or used else where?
There is a big difference,…. For the same reason, I wanted to ask you a question. Unfortunately, I am one of those who listen to music on computers (not in headphones, car or laptop). I have a Cambridge Audio CXA60 Amp and Monitor Audio Silver 300 speakers, I would like to improve their sound; In general, it sounds very good, but it is very “sensitive” to the quality of the mixes/masters, so there are things that I really don't like listening to anymore. Currently, I have been trying to pass the audio through the DAW and process it before sending it to the Amplifier, basically I am using the AA versions of Manley and Maselec, and lately I am also trying the Tone Project (Unisum and Kelvin), they are the closest I've found Hardware, I can't stand the other plugins, and I think -in the wrong hands- they are "killing" the music",... Now, precisely, I was looking into Saturators and Limiters, I wanted to ask you for your opinion, I think , sooner rather than later, I will have to add a Hardware, for me the difference in sound between the Museq HW and SF is notorious! What would you recommend? At the moment, I think I have more or less covered equalizers and compressors, so I thought that a Limiter like Bettermaker or a Saturator like Black Box could help me (provide) much more (I loved the VSM2, but it's too much !), I hope you can suggest me something, thank you very much. Obviously, you can tell me buy “X” equalizer and/or “X” compressor and that's it, or I'm crazy! The idea is to find in HW that more can help me. Thank you very much again. A hug,
I'd say very different. Both MBT and HE2 have a much clearer sound to them. The VSM is different animal. Can go subtle or can go hard. It also has more ability to shape the sound compared to both together.
excellent video. The hardware vs nothing is a world of difference. The hardware vs. the plugin is pretty close as you say however to my ears the hardware is still significantly better particularly on the track immediately prior to you putting it on the female acappella vocal.
@audioanimalsstudio I just had the opportunity to try the hardware at a friend's studio and my god this is such a magnificent box. I was absolutely blown away, I have to get one. The plugin is no match to the hardware to my ears. However, Vertigo now makes their own version in software and it is better than the UAD/PA versions. There's just something about the hardware and using it as a hardware unit that the plugin will never do.
One thing I'm yet to find is a plugin that truly comes close to analogue saturation. I've tested them all. The closest plugin I've found that feels like hardware is the Kalifornia Dynamic Alkane.
Different circuitry and therefore a different kind of harmonics generation. Not even all tubes sound the same, but it requires more maintenance work with tube gear if you are unlucky
I have used the CV and over Overstayer in the past. Own the HG2. One big difference is that the vsm has so much functionality you can do everything you want from it in one box. The others are limited in functionality. You can get a similar desired sound from all 3 but the vsm let's you go further with that sound. That's the main difference.
For post production, yes, there is a significant difference that is worth the price. This is a really disingenuous conclusion when you know the use cases are significantly different.
too expensive considering the parts and the engineering in those circuitries. fet and zener distortion can be done for far less money... for exemple karakter from elysia is fet distortion and is only 800$ for 500 series.... thanks for the video.
It is very expensive. Although I've used all the above and none compare to what can be achieved on the VSM. It's more the way you can use fet and zener distortion in the VSM.
Its not just about the distortion with this unit, its also about the possibility to have two inserts more, one device more that can be put into an MS matrix which makes a high end EQ even more "expensive" and then another parallel Insert which can be really interesting for parallel compression or distortion
Hi, I don't understand the meaning of the video, how can you compare $29 to $7000, I guess there essentials reasons that cost $7000, should you maybe turn the output notch to get +27dBv or around +24dBu... Instead of compare distortion ? Is this the point of owning hardware version ? just compare incomparables things, 10./15 % better is only about 1 hardware versus 1 plugin, meanin check out compressors, eq etc. simulations against analogue hardware, why all these powerful studios don't do all with vst plugins as well ? if its only 10 / 15 % less performances... PLEASE, i'm new in it, started music and sound ingeneering since 2013... I learnt everything by myself, I use to listen a lot of old school hip hop, what ever, when I'm workin with plugins, cannot get that " universal studios " loudness meanin a real importance to me, to sound great quality and loud as fuck, even a 1991 eirc b & rakim is cleaner than mine, it sounds ever 100 times better than my sound in 2021, I use every shitty plugins u can tell me, even izotope ozone 7, impossible for me to hit -0.2dDfs with punch sound or what ever, so i'mma go buy some analogue gear, and I watch this type of video I really wonder why you still have SSL rack and shit, just stick to your plugins and don't say to people that analogue gear is useless... that's a lie dude
emulations, because of the price this is cool enough ? But when you have loudness issues I doubt plugins will do anything... how a hardware could hit +28dBv without clips into A/D ? I have a Merging Anubis SPS DSD I guess it won't clip, and if it does that converter is bomb so it could handle lil clips... now digital clips aren't the same... by this way you can't go higher than 0dBfs... this is what I dont understand, today people saying that plugins could do the job as analogue gear, I need to see that, and I need to be sure that those people won't use 0 analogue gear, 100% plugins even the synths and shit, because its a little world in there nobody share reality about how they work, they will just flex with gear but never explain the how...
bro sorry for my shitty english, and my paragraphers but, you have such $50,000 come to say that plugin is better than $7000 machine, I can't trust that anyway. no matter the software I work with, which is pyramix, for me the best, please don't say pro tools, which is shit for me, and ableton live which isn't professionnal at all... what ever, seems like analogue gear cost a lot, and it makes sense that every big studios own analogue gear and use it, and that brings fuckin loudness into the sound that you cannot get wit plugins, so please start to be true wit us...
@@BxzeEntertainment If you know hardware is better for you why watch plugin movies if they are not for you, and don't use f-words because you are frustrated with your volume problem. Maybe the problem is that for professional studios Pro tools is the basis and for you it is s ... Check the Air studios plugin list and you will never know what they used in their production, but maybe even Air Stdios is too weak for you?
Great video and demonstration. As you mention, those 5%- 10% is what makes the difference in the final results.
Looking forward to see a video with the VS from Shadows Hills, Elysia and VSM-3 all together against the plugins. Will be fun!
Cheers
When you turn on the hardware is like someone released music out of prison.
Don't know why but the audio examples used in this vid sound like ass to me. All your later comparisons sounds completely fine !
This video gave me greater insight as to what the plugin is capable of; because of real the time tweaking of the hardware. The plugin is set by default to give very nasty distorted sound. Seeing this video combined with setting the GUI size to max has made what was confusing now clear. I now know how to get a great sound from the plugin, thanks. On a different note, the video wasn't very useful as far as comparison since you only tweaked the hardware on video. It would've been a nice touch had you demonstrated what the plugin could do by tweaking it the same way you did the hardware. Cool video nonetheless!
This video is all about how the plugin compares to the hardware in a matching situation. There are hundreds of videos on the plugin on UA-cam showing you what the plugin can do. Very few focus on what the hardware can do as there are only 110 made. The hardware and the plugin function in a similar way so if you listen and watch the hardware being controlled ýou can get the exact same information and apply that to the plugin.
Thanx for the presentation. Why dial the same setting for hardware and plugin. We know, every hardware unit sounds different. We don`t know which unit VSM-3 emulates. Hardware also sounded a couple of dB`s louder. Namely the low end 80-120 Hz.
The reason is to compare how close the emulation is. By doing this your take away is that the plugin lacks a couple of dB of depth in the low end. This is why it is interesting to do these comparisons.
if you want to make a right comparison you should not use the hardware live but to print it...then try to make the closer RESULT (NOT USING THE SAME SETTINGS) you can with the plugin. if you achieve the same sound there you are, if not hardware wins..
Holy crap this thing is amazing
That's CLOSE !!!!
The Hardware will ALWAYS sound sparkly and OPEN!
Not even close, haha
Why do all the examples sound *that extremely* bad? Was that a recording over the cam mics?
It's probably your playback device or monitoring. The audio was recorded directly from the unit.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio no, same here. Like recorded phone quality.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio how silly😂 do you expect me to believe tbid?
@@AudioAnimalsStudio yeah no the same for me sounds like recorded from a monitor, something went wrong
I’ve got plug-in version, it’s great obviously I’d love to own the “real deal” 😊 only one thing I’d be careful with plug-in as you said you could use it on everything from busses to individual sounds but! You could easily overdone it, so I’d recommend just to have it on the master bus, it kind of helps to “glue” all tracks more together and adds harmonics and saturation to the whole mix .
When you drive it further it starts aliasing a lot even tho it has oversampling so i sometime oversample it more just to crank it.
What a difference between app and hardware. Got recently the app and I like it. But the hardware... Love it. I work mostly out of the box.
New subscriber here, really enjoying the videos! I absolutely loved this first audio example with the strings. Super happy vibes. May I ask, what did you do with it? Is it released or used else where?
Would be a royalty free song so I am unsure what the song title is
@@AudioAnimalsStudiogot you. thanks!
There are some examples where they are near identical. Then when you get to the one that starts around 10:50, the differences are pretty glaring.
the material sounds tinny to begin with
There is a big difference,…. For the same reason, I wanted to ask you a question. Unfortunately, I am one of those who listen to music on computers (not in headphones, car or laptop). I have a Cambridge Audio CXA60 Amp and Monitor Audio Silver 300 speakers, I would like to improve their sound; In general, it sounds very good, but it is very “sensitive” to the quality of the mixes/masters, so there are things that I really don't like listening to anymore. Currently, I have been trying to pass the audio through the DAW and process it before sending it to the Amplifier, basically I am using the AA versions of Manley and Maselec, and lately I am also trying the Tone Project (Unisum and Kelvin), they are the closest I've found Hardware, I can't stand the other plugins, and I think -in the wrong hands- they are "killing" the music",... Now, precisely, I was looking into Saturators and Limiters, I wanted to ask you for your opinion, I think , sooner rather than later, I will have to add a Hardware, for me the difference in sound between the Museq HW and SF is notorious! What would you recommend? At the moment, I think I have more or less covered equalizers and compressors, so I thought that a Limiter like Bettermaker or a Saturator like Black Box could help me (provide) much more (I loved the VSM2, but it's too much !), I hope you can suggest me something, thank you very much. Obviously, you can tell me buy “X” equalizer and/or “X” compressor and that's it, or I'm crazy! The idea is to find in HW that more can help me. Thank you very much again. A hug,
Paul how would you compare the VSM saturation to the MBT Red/Blue silk or Carnaby HE2?
I'd say very different. Both MBT and HE2 have a much clearer sound to them. The VSM is different animal. Can go subtle or can go hard. It also has more ability to shape the sound compared to both together.
excellent video. The hardware vs nothing is a world of difference. The hardware vs. the plugin is pretty close as you say however to my ears the hardware is still significantly better particularly on the track immediately prior to you putting it on the female acappella vocal.
Do you recognise the song? It was produced by your son.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio absolutely.....I recognised it instantly :-)
@audioanimalsstudio I just had the opportunity to try the hardware at a friend's studio and my god this is such a magnificent box. I was absolutely blown away, I have to get one. The plugin is no match to the hardware to my ears. However, Vertigo now makes their own version in software and it is better than the UAD/PA versions. There's just something about the hardware and using it as a hardware unit that the plugin will never do.
One thing I'm yet to find is a plugin that truly comes close to analogue saturation. I've tested them all. The closest plugin I've found that feels like hardware is the Kalifornia Dynamic Alkane.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I agree and also hardware compression is vastly superior as well. Thank you for the recommendation on the Alkane I'll try it.
@tridentllc3048 it's really expensive for a plugin. $299, which is the top end of the plugin pricing. I did a review on it last month.
amazing studio. 👍
whats the difference between fet saturation like the vsm3 vs tube saturation like the blackbox?
Different circuitry and therefore a different kind of harmonics generation. Not even all tubes sound the same, but it requires more maintenance work with tube gear if you are unlucky
What does this bring over the CV Ultra, HG2, Overstayer MAS/mod channel etc (if you already have all of the aforementioned).
I have used the CV and over Overstayer in the past. Own the HG2. One big difference is that the vsm has so much functionality you can do everything you want from it in one box. The others are limited in functionality. You can get a similar desired sound from all 3 but the vsm let's you go further with that sound. That's the main difference.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio thanks for the feedback.
@@infojunkie4989 planning to do an updated review on this one
The gold standard for gear/plugin shootouts.
Not sure how slow your hand are but it doesn’t take me long to get the right sound on this plug. It has like 5 knobs….
those are great choices for hardware that plugins still don't touch the quality!
wrong! 2022 technology beats some old crusty boxes...would be stupid to assume otherwise. Are you still on a dial up phone?
@@levondarratt787 your comparing a dial up phone to cell phones? When this is comparing hardware with software that trys to be that hardware. lol
I would love to try to plugin for 30 dollars...it's up to 150 now though.
Wait for seasonal times, valentines day is coming. You will always find a discount.
Plug in sounds more acid about 8khz. Always is better the hardware but the plugin works good.
Sounds clean and selective, but too expensive
For post production, yes, there is a significant difference that is worth the price. This is a really disingenuous conclusion when you know the use cases are significantly different.
Nice
Hardware has depth, width and density and richer tonality.
100% agree
A bit more gain staging between in/out would be nice.
Would have liked to hear a bypassed signal as well.
too expensive considering the parts and the engineering in those circuitries. fet and zener distortion can be done for far less money... for exemple karakter from elysia is fet distortion and is only 800$ for 500 series.... thanks for the video.
It is very expensive. Although I've used all the above and none compare to what can be achieved on the VSM. It's more the way you can use fet and zener distortion in the VSM.
Its not just about the distortion with this unit, its also about the possibility to have two inserts more, one device more that can be put into an MS matrix which makes a high end EQ even more "expensive" and then another parallel Insert which can be really interesting for parallel compression or distortion
Wayyy too expensive
Hi, I don't understand the meaning of the video, how can you compare $29 to $7000, I guess there essentials reasons that cost $7000, should you maybe turn the output notch to get +27dBv or around +24dBu... Instead of compare distortion ? Is this the point of owning hardware version ? just compare incomparables things, 10./15 % better is only about 1 hardware versus 1 plugin,
meanin check out compressors, eq etc. simulations against analogue hardware, why all these powerful studios don't do all with vst plugins as well ? if its only 10 / 15 % less performances...
PLEASE, i'm new in it, started music and sound ingeneering since 2013... I learnt everything by myself, I use to listen a lot of old school hip hop, what ever, when I'm workin with plugins, cannot get that " universal studios " loudness meanin a real importance to me, to sound great quality and loud as fuck, even a 1991 eirc b & rakim is cleaner than mine, it sounds ever 100 times better than my sound in 2021, I use every shitty plugins u can tell me, even izotope ozone 7, impossible for me to hit -0.2dDfs with punch sound or what ever, so i'mma go buy some analogue gear, and I watch this type of video I really wonder why you still have SSL rack and shit, just stick to your plugins and don't say to people that analogue gear is useless... that's a lie dude
emulations, because of the price this is cool enough ? But when you have loudness issues I doubt plugins will do anything... how a hardware could hit +28dBv without clips into A/D ?
I have a Merging Anubis SPS DSD I guess it won't clip, and if it does that converter is bomb so it could handle lil clips... now digital clips aren't the same... by this way you can't go higher than 0dBfs... this is what I dont understand, today people saying that plugins could do the job as analogue gear, I need to see that, and I need to be sure that those people won't use 0 analogue gear, 100% plugins even the synths and shit, because its a little world in there nobody share reality about how they work, they will just flex with gear but never explain the how...
bro sorry for my shitty english, and my paragraphers but, you have such $50,000 come to say that plugin is better than $7000 machine, I can't trust that anyway.
no matter the software I work with, which is pyramix, for me the best, please don't say pro tools, which is shit for me, and ableton live which isn't professionnal at all...
what ever, seems like analogue gear cost a lot, and it makes sense that every big studios own analogue gear and use it, and that brings fuckin loudness into the sound that you cannot get wit plugins, so please start to be true wit us...
Listen to the conclusion at the end. All is explained regarding this.
Thats the whole point
@@BxzeEntertainment If you know hardware is better for you why watch plugin movies if they are not for you, and don't use f-words because you are frustrated with your volume problem. Maybe the problem is that for professional studios Pro tools is the basis and for you it is s ... Check the Air studios plugin list and you will never know what they used in their production, but maybe even Air Stdios is too weak for you?
Acustica Audio Crimson maybe is closer to the Hardware. But i want the hardware one day..