API Hardware vs UAD Software Shootout Part 2

[@guynamedowl1313]

Hardware is satisfying to listen to, the Plugs would make me want to dial in more of everything.

[@haatock]

J'ai appris beaucoup

[@compucorder64]

Interesting. From the first video, I had a less positive impression of the software chain. But, after this one, the software is a little better than I thought after the first video. Because, it seems like acoustic guitar was the achilles heel for the UAD software; where I didn't like it. What's quite nice is that overall drums is where it made the least difference. That's great, because it's tracking drums with 8, 10 or 12 expensive preamps that hits the highest costs. It matches with my own experience too, where I'll stick Neve/CAPI pairs on kick and snare and run run overheads through Camden EC1s. But for the rest, I'm happy to just run spot tom mics, and room mics into my affordable Audient ASP800 and it doesn't feel like I'm missing that much. Whereas, for acoustic guitar and vocals, I'll always take the time to set it up with the Neves. The bass had more depth on the API, but then those differences could wash away in a mic/D.I. mix, with compression. Similar with electric guitar, mic placement, EQ and compression could ameliorate the fact that the CAPI did sound a little smoother / less grainy. A little of that difference in body and treble grain that was apparent on acoustic could be heard on electric, and even less again on piano. (the UAD API tone had some of that treble grain texture you hear on Soyuz MK-012 SDCs)

[@melissabell585]

Great test, and another great video! Having done a few similar A/B tests with the UAD stuff, there's a difference, but it's fairly small on any given track. If you know what to listen for you can usually pick it out pretty consistently. Honestly though, the thing I love about the UAD stuff is that it's consistently in the same tonal family as the hardware it models, much moreso than most other models out there. While I prefer my hardware API stuff (and I'm sure you do too), I love that I can always happily extend my preamps with the UAD stuff when I need more of something than I currently own and feel fairly confident they'll blend well enough, which is pretty high praise IMO!

[@MillSounds]

Agreed!

[@preciseaudioblog]

Btw, it would be nice to see that beautiful place where the Mill is 👍

[@MillSounds]

That's right outside the studio here! I'll probably do a video on it at some point.

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@MillSounds Looks amazing!

[@eds4754]

EXCELLENT test. UAD seems a little more resonant in the upper mids to me, HW is smoother and nicer there. Its very subtle and doesn't always stick out. Acoustic seems to reveal it most where the HW sounds nicer. Thanks so much for all the time and effort you've put into doing these tests so well.

[@Homanjer]

You should do a blind test. Make a video where you do an A/B comparison and don't tell anyone which is which. Then have people comment which one they like more and which one the real deal is. Problem is, alot of people would not like the truth hitting them that hard...

[@silveramateur571]

True 😂 Sadly people just want to make excuses of why they are not achieving good results and for them the fault is the tools they don’t have.

[@nowyoure.....6047]

There's no one who can create shootout videos like you. Thank you so much for uploading. When I use ma Apollo stock mic pre and plugins, the sound feels like narrowed-frequency and it has mid resonance or a little bit distorted and dark high-end. Hardware is more smooth and full-ranged even though apollo has a good OP amps.

[@siriusfun]

Sorry to hear - you look and sound good now, though, so glad to see you got through it okay. The demos on your own are solid, brother. No band necessary! Thanks for doing these. Cheers.

[@steveg219]

Cool Shoot out! From listening to the video it’s clear they sound extremely close. A consistent difference I heard was a certain upper midrange in the UAD that was more prominent and I heard more harmonics in that range. The API was more set back in this area which made it feel more relaxed to me. I suspect that the UAD is slighter flatter in this way but the API hardware does have a bit of vibe to it

[@MillSounds]

Make sure you download the session files and listen back in forth to the song in context, that will probably be even more telling! So far, I'm feeling like the UAD tracks are little warmer but the Analog tracks are punchier and more defined.

[@mentalprogram5256]

Wow u sing with great soul bro

[@marcomalavasi7465]

Congratulations on this very useful video and thank you for investing your time in this gift. My impression is that on the single track UAD comes very close to the hardware, although I hear differences in transients and "liveliness" in general. I downloaded the files and imported the session ... as I imagined, the difference is felt on the sum of all the tracks, where API is softer and more musical. However, UAD is at a very high level. P.S .: I evaluated without any useless stance on analog and digital.

[@k.ollektiv]

Great video, thanks a lot!!

[@stevebelgrave]

Great to hear you're ok and thank s again for another great video

[@preciseaudioblog]

Nice! I’m surprise you put the pre very hot on the line bass. Cheers!

[@MillSounds]

I love pushing bass signals hard for this kind of music. Unfortunately, KZbin seems to have added some distortion to the bass on the video. I tried to upload it again and fix it, but it happened a second time. I'm not sure why it's distorting... Download the session files and take a listen if you're curious, there's no distortion in those!

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@MillSounds Oh sure, I understand. I was just learning about gain stage and I was wondering how you manage that, when pushing a signal hard, as you did with the bass. Cheers!

[@joost3783]

Wow - honestly this is easily in the top 5 most sophisticated shootouts I've ever seen great job. Now my 2 cents on the difference (and I am not at all an out of the box mixer so I am generally biased more towards liking the software) - I really feel like the uad doesn't do a good job at all. With almost all examples (on the piano it wasn't that evident but still audible) the transients sound really soft on the plugin, while you can really hear that small pop at the start with the acoustic guitar or on the ride cymbal. Also the mids sound totally different on the hardware which you can hear very well on the electric guitar. To me the plugin sounds more like a Focusrite console than an API, very soft and kind of neutral. Also on the vocal (great job btw I think you're a good singer) the hardware sounded way more open and the top just sounded much better. Honestly I'm kind of shocked that I dislike the UAD so much compared to the hardware. I was kind of on the fence if I should the plugin but now I'm definitely not gonna do that thanks again

[@jordank.986]

Holy kick drum that’s huge

[@christopher-miles]

dude! you gotta start uploading again! this is a great channel.

[@elpmettsol]

It didn’t take me five minutes! Hardware had the plug in beat! It’s really as simple as that.

[@MonkeyDLuffy-cq2lo]

I think the peak is too high. What is your consideration?

[@tonstudiometzingen]

LOVE the drum sounds! so much smooth vibes.

[@haatock]

Merci pour ce cadeau 🎁

[@fredinthemix]

Hardware got more punch?

[@ttyylleerr]

Thanks for putting these together!

[@3m63r3]

as always, the UA sound is close, but the hardware has a bit more 'edge' or presence. Thanks for the session files, will check them out in more detail - great work!

[@leonprofes8544]

And as always people like you (no disrespect intended) wouldn't be able to tell apart the two consistently at all unless it's written on the screen. Not even single takes, let alone busy mixes. And it's not like I am software or hardware elitist or something like that. It's just kinda funny at this point. Historically whenever someone does a proper blind test shoutout, you cn see ZERO people which are able to pick up hardware over software consistently. None! I am reading all audio forums for years and there hasn't been a single person able to pinpoint hardware over software or vice versa. Yet by some miracle when results are published or when it's written on the screen what they are actually listening to - "difference is obvious" or "hardware has a bit more edge or warmth" opinions popping like fungus. I love this video and if I engage my brain cells all it does is tell me that technology has achieved a point where I can safely work with one or another technology aspect of it without worrying if I sound good.

[@3m63r3]

@@leonprofes8544 'no disrespect intended' - proceeds to be disrespectful. You know nothing about me or my experience in audio, so why make it personal? I did say the sound was 'close'. FYI, I have both hardware and software, but mainly work ITB for convenience - and get good results either way. Also, I'm a massive fan of ABX testing too, so don't generalize just because you found GS

[@siriusfun]

@@leonprofes8544 To people like me, the difference is clear. Enjoy your time reading forums; I'll be in the studio, working.

[@richiefamus8778]

@@3m63r3 People always speak for other people about what they can or can’t hear. I have the Luna system with the x16, twin X & X6. Sounds great. No, sounds AMAZING. But I can tell the difference EVERY, SINGLE, TIME between leaving it there or sending it through my Hardware which consists of some very nice analog gear+summing mixer. Songs just sound more “alive.” But hey, run the UAD versions through some API 500 series pre’s/eq’s and it probably gains that little bit that it’s lacking, still at a fraction of the price.

[@paulbrymer]

hey y’all, carful​. as it states in his name @@leonprofes8544 is a Professional and knows way more than u so ur opinions don’t really matter compared to this level of intelligence

[@lightafluident.9950]

Hardware gives a much "warmer" feel and brings more depth than any plugin.

[@silveramateur571]

@@SkyAvila983Agree with you and that is what Mill is trying to tell us