PURE BLACK MAGIC - SPL BiG 🤯

[@timm3376]

This would be a great addition to my workflow, now that I have heard what is happening. To me this sounded as if you were moving the placement of the instruments forward and back. I really didn't seem to hear any degradation of the instruments. This sounds fantastic. Thanks Colt.

[@hockeytalk6084]

I have this piece of gear and quite frankly my summary of it is that it does something NO plugin I have does. It doesn’t just push things to the side…It does something intense and bizarre to the stereo image that is almost jarring. It’s easy to go too far with this thing, but whatever it does, it sounds absolutely crazy. The only thing I don’t like about it is it seems to take the highs and make them too wide and crispy if you smash it too hard. It’s also loud as hell. But If you have a 500 series rack with a couple open slots I wouldn’t think twice, there is definitely some secret sauce inside this thing that absolutely no widening plug-in I have ever used comes close to.

[@hockeytalk6084]

I read this over and it sounds kind of pessimistic lol…just to be clear, This is one of the coolest pieces of hardware I own. It has the most “3D” sounding stereo image of pretty much any other piece of gear I have. There’s nothing like it I’ve used. It is so epic and mysterious. Just saying sometimes you might have to wrestle with it a little bit and make sure you’re not pulling certain things too far to the sides when you use it on a full mix. The effect of this device is so audibly apparent. I can hear it on our mixes very very, very clearly on a cell phone. If you weren’t sure if this thing was worth the money it’s worth every cent.

[@iamchillytoy]

Amazing 🤯the front to back knob sounds to me like a subtle M/S tilter that's also boosting the midrange.. One of the most natural sounding stereo wideners I've ever heard for sure!

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

It's not M/S-based; it's actually time-based, similar to Atmos.

[@ALLGOOD_MUSIC]

This is absolutely mind bending how good that thing sounds! It makes the mix sound so clean and polished and powerful wow. Thanks for this video. Amazing.

[@launchpadmcquack98]

I remember seeing a meme involving an artist asking for a demo to sound bigger, and the engineer turning up the "Bigness" knob. And now it's real...

[@dylanhughes4548]

Often under-looked but the hand movements on this A/B are excellent, so many people flick switches and turn knobs and block the picture or your not sure what's happening as they jump around from knob to knob, this is super clear along with no speaking between A and B and on a loop so its consistent. Super duper.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Really appreciate that! This is exactly how I would demo a piece of gear to wrap my head around it as fast as possible, I’m glad it translated to the video!

[@jonathanparismusic]

Hey Colt just revisitng this video coz I'm thinking of getting a "Bigger Makes". Have you heard of the plugin "FireMaster" by United Plugins. It has a depth knob that I suspect does something similar. I would love youre quick take on the plugin vs the hardware.

[@thesebarehandsmusic]

Great review. I'd have loved to hear it on individual instruments. But yeah, I'm getting one. Thanks Colt.

[@billesposito2112]

The track is pure magic to begin with . That steel guitar is so classy. That black box is incredible tho . Holy Shit . Opened up a whole new world of sound. Love it how much is it?

[@o5pfilms951]

Watched this video a million times over the last year. Recently decided to grab a Cranborne 500adat and the SPL big to kick off my 500 series journey. Question. A. Where is the best place in the chain to use this? I assume it shoulld be used on the master bus. But, what about when you're mastering in the box? Should you apply other master bus processing before sending the mix to the big and then bring it back to the clipper/limiter in the box? B. Should you avoid stereo imaging effects during the mixing stage like widener / imager plugins and mid/side eq when bussing out to the Big? Sure would appreciate any advice you can offer as to how I can make the most out of this thing! Eventually, my 500 rack will be a mastering chain and I won't have to worry about it. Until then, the Big is my only mod! lol

[@JasonBuffin]

This is very cool. Would be interesting to put this next to the stereo image section on the SSL Fusion. I suspect there is a bit of sub harmonics that make the bass knob work.

[@lowkeyflossin]

Great video 🔥 I was so focused on listening and watching the knobs I kept missing codewords

[@Ryan_Poff]

I wonder if the stage focuses the midrange frequencies and brings them back in a little bit to the center, keeping the unaffected frequencies spread wide. Giving the illusion that the frequencies we are more sensitive to are upfront. This is just a guess. I don't know any of the science behind creating analog audio gear.

[@audiokemestry]

Great review. Seems like it might be a bit too aggressive for mastering. Hopefully they'll make a 19inch rack version with a mix knob. Curious where you use this in your mastering chain and what the headroom is on this box.

[@steddsx]

sold

[@chadfayrobinson7537]

Another helpful video thank you. I just wanted to add The SPL Big is only $499.00 at Vintage King I'm currently waiting to see if SweatWater can price match From $649.00

[@chadfayrobinson7537]

Update SweetWater price matched my purchase and later I noticed on there website they lowered price to $499.00 Thanks SweetWater always above and beyond!

[@digo8167]

Crazy

[@louiseisobelevans]

What is the STAGE knob doing?

[@JayfkProductions876]

I see alotta reviews of various things What I'm waiting to see is a musician using the INSTA360 LINK webcam.. Getting music right is seemingly easier than Video + Music idk what u think?

[@billesposito2112]

Colt am I going back and forth with you at the moment on telegram?

[@WayneEnterprisesBeatsChannel]

Magic 🔥🔥🔥

[@majorthump]

ill be damned its better in mono also

[@namelesstherebel]

The lack of phase issues with this makes this literally the best widening tool on the market. It sounds so good I'm having a hard time believing what I'm hearing.

[@WilliamBeergerMusic]

Yeah. The fact that i couldnt tell if it was bypassed or not while monitoring the video in mono is pretty impressive. EDIT: oh, he did that test in the video.

[@TH-gu4wj]

agreed, it's pretty incredible.

[@MELOPSMUSIC]

but I heard demos with vocals in addition and i feel it makes the vocals diluted , less power, of course because it put things on the sides only. Thatn s the only pb i see. Perhaps mixing the instrumental part with it, and the vocals and elements that have to be in center separately ??

[@hockeytalk6084]

That’s true sometimes it takes certain material and pushes it too far to the sides and makes it kind of crispy sounding up the highs especially. But I only experienced that problem when I push it hard on a full mix. This thing really shines when it’s used to subtly

[@themotownboy1]

There is some phase shifting going on when it is engaged. It is heard in the mids when it is dialed in at the higher values. I believe that this box is able to sense a mono input and ignore processing when it does. That is not very hard with today’s technology. For me to test the mono compatibility, I would have to test it with music that I know very well. That said, the stereo widening result does sound very pleasing.

[@joesalyers]

It's an M/S processor using allpass filters. Which is very cool because there are very few allpass filters in the hardware world. This would be great for a mastering desk that uses an all analog workflow. Rupert Neve built a mastering desk called the Masterpiece for a company called Legendary Audio that had a very similar tool using allpass filtering. Sadly that it is no longer in production and fetches upwards of $12,000 when they come up on the used market. But congrats to SPL for making a great tool like the SPL BiG!! Now I have to buy one COLT Thanks for demoing it.

[@fekiee]

Would love to see an updated version of how you are using this at the moment

[@ColtCapperrune]

Honestly, there’s not much to update. I’m using it exactly as I described in this video since the moment it came out. It lives on my mix bus, post EQ and compression.

[@united100]

nothing special, any stereo enhancer plugin will do the same or a looooot , a LOOOOT better....

[@artofabstract8234]

10:15 I think its not phaseshifting, it may work with saturation. I Know this kind of characteristics from the vertigo vsm saturation plugin. It goes from even to uneven harmonics ( with back and open it changes the character) and the bass ''umpf'' is like a hit of even harmonics with low character on the low end.. And the big knob controles the amount of all of that. So no phase problems and a richer imige. Actually super nice idea to pack this in such a small and simple device with limited controles. b'cause you can mess your master up if you do it wrong.. :P Love it!

[@joesalyers]

It's an allpass filter similar to the mastering consoles Rupert Neve designed for legendary audio back in like 2005 which had an ambiance control. It is a relatively good idea since there aren't a ton of products like this on the market under 10 grand, but some mastering consoles do have this functionality just implemented I a different way. SPL make a mastering console with this type of processing but it's $12,000 and it doesn't have the detail and control this does. We need more gear using allpass or vari-phase filtering because it sound really good. Cheers

[@MusicByDarcy]

Fantastic product and video about it! From what I heard here are some things I took away. 1. The Bass switch felt like Little Labs VOG, I wonder if it's analyzing root frequency and boosting based on that, so it boosts dynamically per the track 2. The front/back option, I really could hear it, felt like the sides become less pronounced through a form of gain reduction and maybe additional EQ boosting to compensate so it doesn't become quiet, but falls back into the mix in a musical way 3. You could achieve similar results with Ozone Imager, but likely not with the same quality These are just some takeaways I got from watching this! Great job once again.

[@LeChapeauMusic]

tbh Ozone Imager sounds way worse

[@MusicByDarcy]

@@LeChapeauMusic for sure, literally the only thing that I could think of that could come close. I wonder if they will drop a plug-in version (if that’s even possible).

[@rafaeltiburcio5165]

Question , on a master chain , where is the best order to place the Big? Thanks

[@jeremybrownlee4401]

How does this compare to the width section on the RND MBT?

[@ColtCapperrune]

The MBT is my second favorite widening tool. But I still prefer this.

[@587583922]

Okay, so....taking a guess. The big knob just adds side (as in mid/side). It would be cooler if it balanced between them rather than just adding sides. The range knob sounds like it could be a tilt eq, also just on the sides. Stage did work for me, and I think it's probably something like an all-pass filter trick that subtly delays either mid or side so that the wider spatial sound arrives at the listener a little early/late compared to the original. You won't hear it correctly unless your speakers/room/etc setup are damn near perfect and you're pretty close to the sweet spot. Or on good headphones/IEMs with a good HRTF crossfeed. All of those effects completely disappear in mono. The bass switch is the one that confuses me. And the YT app won't let me go back to the video while I'm writing a comment. There also wasn't a huge amount of low bass in that track to begin with and a lot of it was low end from panned instruments. So...wilder guess...it could just be a fixed elliptical filter. Maybe it depends slightly on the range knob. If I'm even half right, you can do all of that with plugins, just not really a single plugin. IDK. Maybe pro-q3 does all-pass filters too. It does almost everything else. I'm not aware of an elliptical filter plugin that sounds like that. Basslane Pro actually does that particular job even better though...again, if I'm right about it.

[@bachbeats2217]

I downloaded this vid, put in my daw, extracted the audio to a track, level matched, and added spl vitalizer mk2 plugin, the crisp stereo acoustic guitar preset, turned the drive,bass, stereo expander knobs up and what I got sounded better than the spl big effected audio. So much so that now when I switch it off, the spl big audio from your vid now sounds dull flat and lifeless in comparison.

[@marshallfairbrother7602]

If it were a plugin I'd certainly enter to win. I'm a bedroom guy other than when I do drums at the minute which means unless I desperately need something like some pencil mics or what ever I can't go adding things as much as I'd like.

[@014Marines]

Finally an actual review on this unit, I’ve been waiting for someone to give this an extensive rundown. Thanks

[@georgewoolf6300]

Team this with an HG-2 and you can move everything Left Right and Forward Backwards.... wickid voodoo hardware!

[@labarbadeoro]

Hey Colt… I was listening to this in the car and I could feel the Stage difference better… it might be cause of the extra speakers. What I kinda feel it does is give enphasis to the Mids or Sides… Anyways GREAT piece of gear. Thanks for your vids man. You give us great value with your knowledge. Blessings

[@morsymusic]

OMG, I was praying you'd tell us the Plug-in you use for stereo widening! I'm sick of Phasing issues, Izotope 10 image widener seems to be working the best when used correctly. Some people are talking about SPL Vitalizer Mk2?

[@XChristianNoirX]

I want to SWEAR... A LOT! Like a drunken sailor who just found panacea and other things that shall not be named.. HOLY....

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

but what was the plugin that you've been using forever is the question

[@delmixedit]

I may be imagining things, but I vaguely remember seeing a post that PA was working on a plugin version.

[@ColtCapperrune]

That would be wild, as this thing just started shipping like a month ago. But I’m never mad at plug-in versions of hardware!

[@Digiphex]

Sounds like the sides get louder.

[@bassface84]

it's most definitely black magic... witchery.... wizardry...

[@mixedbyclaudio]

sounds great, im thinking to put this on a Mix Bus but in Parallel so i can blend it in.

[@burns46824]

I bought two based largely off this video...however, it sounds like your mix was in mono before you used the SPL Big...there's no way your mix sounded that narrow to begin with lol

[@asymmetrymedia9838]

Ended up buying it and must say i'm not impressed at all. It is way too pronounced, hard to use it as a subtle effect on the mixbus. It makes things very very harsh very very quickly, and actually, the effect is quite easy to copy with plugins by using a high baxandall shelf on the sides and boosting the sides in volume (you can also add some subtle saturation). I wanted to love this unit, but it's way too brash, pronounced, harsh. Absolutely not for me. The low end boost is neat though.

[@effyiew7318]

The big knob is way too aggressive. You can hear that as soon as you pass "3" the results start to feel uncomfortable. I wish they had given the big knob much better resolution. The front to back knob is definitely rolling off highs to achieve it - You can hear it. Also, when in mono, you can hear the artifacts easily - listen to the acoustic guitar - it's the easiest to hear it on. It takes away clarity, detail, and brightness from the acoustic guitar every time you put it in. Then when you put it in bypass, the detail in the acoustic guitar comes right back. If you listen to this on professional monitors you can hear it very easy. So while it's not messing with the phase, it's definitely doing something undesirable to the signal as you widen it so I would definitely not consider this unit mono compatible. The big switch did sound good so I'll give it that. Thanks for the rundown, I've been wondering about this unit but as expected you get what you pay for. Not something professional enough for master bus work but then again I'd never consider any $500 module something I'd put on a master bus. Messes with the signal too much in mono for me to use it as a serious stereo widener. It looks like it's best used as a fun character toy for individual tracks. Pass for now. Thanks for giving this a fair test, showing us the warts and all.

[@CamariMusic]

The plugin that can do this is from Acustica Audio Space Control developed with Luca Pretolesi and Hardwell It also has multiband phase limiters www.acustica-audio.com/store/products/spacecontrol

[@ractorstudios]

Nice !

[@thekeksthesheamusic]

if one has the vitalizer mk3 with its stereo widener, is the big spl superflous?

[@Ryan_Poff]

It's crazy how the big knob "seems" to add so much gain to the stereo signal, but in mono you can see it's not adding any. It sounds really good. Amazing technology at work.

[@jameswilliams8551]

Btw. Thanks for making this video! Probably the demo I’ve ever seen! I pretty much mix in-the-box currently. I once had a Sony MXP3000 console that I was able to track and sum through. I really miss that desk! I’m planning my attack on getting an SPL-Bigger Maker. I’m just curious … do you think the “Big” stereo technology is the same as what is in the “Vitalizer” and the “Iron” plugins? Both of these seem to “mono” pretty well too. Again thanks for all you do!!

[@DaftFader]

It's hard to tell what it's actually doing because of the HUGE volume boost it gives.

[@bylina77]

It is not affecting phase when collapsing to mono because it doesn't process mid signal at all, only side. Exactly what widening plugins does so. That is why I think they perform exactly the same when clicking mono button. I believe it does stuff like saturation side channel, eq, applying delays + allpass filter in relation to mid signal. Correct me if I am wrong.

[@nicefish10]

This is basically the SPL Vitalizer 2 in a 500 series format.

[@abzee733]

How does it compare to the Stereo Imager of the SSL Fusion? Anyone that compared both of them?

[@MegaSoteris]

Hello my friend. After a time past, do you still use this? Thanks.

[@lucchaumont7510]

love the video!! could your please share with us a loop of the track with the spl bíg and without so i can compare it with my favorite widener plugin?

[@eduardojimenezlostaunau5832]

Could you do mastering with this, for the stereo field enhancement ?

[@LarryLobo]

It’s THAT sound! Wow! I bet this little magic box will change how the world perceives stereo sound. Thanks Colt! I can’t wait to watch my clients jumping around!

[@xXxAmadeuzxXx]

Everyone that is reviewing this unit are only doing instrumentals. Wtf

[@leftofcenter4]

So this is a two channel unit obviously for a stereo source.?

[@mhavock]

Its a great addition to a one speaker system .... just kidding LOL. I guess they are going to make the one knob version next. 🤣🤣🤣

[@Annetekstra180]

Wow dont need a vitalizer anymore right??

[@SXTWLVE]

better than the stereo feature on the MBP?

[@murraywebster1228]

USA and Canada only? That’s a bit discriminatory

[@MELOPSMUSIC]

Why there is a big drop of level when the device is turned off ?

[@pjlira]

I am very puzzled by this! I know what I heard, but I can't explain it. Incredible!!! Which plugin can even get closer to this??

[@michaelgrosso7438]

Just got this piece. It reminds me of the Base (Bedini) unit . . . but better (in some ways). The resolution between 0 and the onset of effect is VERY sensitive. Once dialed-in, it’s almost impossible to shut it off! Can’t see it used very often for mastering , as it REALLY affects reverbs and delays (I’d say, put it on the master buss at the start of a session, set very conservatively, and mix into it). I’m wondering about the possibility of using it with an Aux buss (in parallel). We’ll see. In any case, it definitely adds a 3D thing that is quite appealing. Thnx

[@MELOPSMUSIC]

Nugen stereoizer plugin do the same, and you can test in mono , it s great too

[@OriginalRaveParty]

If you took a mono source, sent it into a stereo bus for a duplicated left and right channel, then tried to widen it, it should give a super clear picture of what it's doing 🤔

[@thedukewestern]

I expected it to at least.... change a little.... in mono?

[@supergman312]

How well this translates over KZbin to an iPhone boggles my Mind lol

[@this_is_jmdub]

you can see how much you use this unit by the bumps on the lunch box

[@TheSakuraGumiLTD]

Check out the OnTheMoon SpaceCraft. This SPL unit is what I’ll be getting due to price for now but they are both useful. I love the Bass boost as well… it’s a great thing in the SPL Iron and it’s in this which is infinitely cheaper lol. I’ll, in time will be creating my own mixer with a MCM 20.4, two of these for the stereo buses would be perfect before the spacecraft on the master. What is great about this is it actually improves mono compatibility as well.

[@merisakila6805]

I bought one after I saw this,.. But it destroy vocal specially on Lead vocal..Vocals Gone away and the reverb gain more too, it harsh too, sorry to say that. I think SSL Fusion is better, that's why no video with vocals on it, only instrumentals

[@ColtCapperrune]

I’m sorry you’ve had that experience… I have not noticed any negative impacts on vocals and have probably used mine on almost 50 songs by now

[@jaspers5625]

Hello, how many U is this ? Thanks

[@officialryanprice]

Just watched this again with a different set of headphones and this thing is WILD!

[@paulweyer4339]

I've found it frustrating that we have so many methods of EQ'ing based on measurable frequency but our stereo width and placement is much more arbitrary and often treated as "more/less wide." I'd love a vst that assigns values to placement in the stereo spectrum so I could, for example: cut X frequency at Y placement of the left monitor so the other instrument layers come through in that bubble of space

[@tdbowenmusic]

I've been interested in this unit for a while, and this demo excellently displays what it's capable of! I restore/master quite a bit of vintage tape recordings, and often reach for stereo imaging tools. This would absolutely make it into my daily work flow. Thanks Colt and SPL! Edit: I'd like to add, the mono compatability of this unit is a game changer!

[@merisakila6805]

I bought one, MEH hahha, ruin my mix specially on vocal, high freq and reverb, so harsh, and the vocal gone away so so far

[@savanaviolenta]

@@merisakila6805 really?

[@merisakila6805]

@@savanaviolenta Just buy and try..risk on u , I had that for 24 hours only, can't stand for it

[@maxbattista9791]

Seems like they have hit the nail on the head.. Price isn't horrendous either!

[@TonyThomas10000]

Sounds like it is M/S processing....would love to see analyzer screens to see what is going on.

[@skoggiehoggins1445]

Great Song btw! :D

[@ingver13]

My SPL Big just arrived and I was a little bit nervous regarding phase issues the might come to the fore as we know that stereo imaging plugins normally create problems. This is a truly awesome module - it doesn't introduce any correlation problems in the mixes (I measured it with the voxengo plugin - no negative correlations at all). It sounds great and I am very happy that I got it!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Congrats on picking one up! That was my conclusion as well, and I truly don’t understand how they do it!

[@ingver13]

@@ColtCapperrune haha, yes, it's a stunning device. Just compared it to the good ol' waves stereo imager and there are worlds apart. I also love the bass switch (apparently a design from the SPL Iron), which also does its job without the widening engaged. It really works wonders on the bass spectrum. Love it!! :-)

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Holy $h!+ that sounds fantastic.

[@ColtCapperrune]

It’s something else!

[@watchtheskies]

Through headphones that was a genuinely impressive demonstration, I thought this thing was going to be super expensive, but it really isn't

[@DommoDommo]

Even on my laptop I could hear a difference. The mix REALLY opened the hell up.

[@_patrikjay_]

So luv SPL... Crazy how even on Max it's still musical... Great piece of gear.. Great demo C.C.

[@louiseisobelevans]

Finally a good video on this unit

[@MonkeyMarc]

Have you seen Mathew Lanes Space Control. It’s similar but has a few more controls I think. It’s hardware too

[@ThePhiCode]

honestly it's the best widener I've ever heard

[@ColtCapperrune]

Same!

[@elliotkillianmusic4619]

Just bought through your link, this is a very cool piece of gear!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Appreciate it!! Hope you love it as much as I do!

[@KansasPrepper]

It's voodoo. lol. Awesome! Thanks Colt.

[@davidwolfe9391]

wow! I need one 👍👍

[@OriginalRaveParty]

Bloody hell. That's voodoo.

[@djdrewpyroproduction]

Did I miss something how do I join the contest?

[@ColtCapperrune]

Instructions are in the description of the video!

[@djdrewpyroproduction]

Yea had rewatch it again lol got it and entered

[@peevonb7070]

you're pushing great vids man. thanks!

[@kikuomiku3]

Thoughts on this vs the SPL Tube Vitalizer mkII? I have the hardware (there’s also a plug-in version) and I’m wondering if you think it would be worth upgrading to the SPL BiG unit, or getting it in addition.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Unfortunately I’ve never used the tube revitalize her, so I can’t make any recommendations there. This box is incredible though. Sorry that’s not much help!

[@mixedbydense]

Make a video on Spacecraft By On the moon ! That what’s inside their box ! It’s expensive and they are not telling anything on their website but in KZbin tutorials it’s doing very much ! We are curious about how that thing works

[@LeoSundayMusic]

Wow … SPL has made another great piece of gear … thinking I’d like to try this on my analog drum bus chain … thanks for sharing!

[@ColtCapperrune]

It would sound great there! Thanks for watching!

[@mx_3110]

Wow!