Do You Need a Recording Console?!

[@alexdawson7851]

Excellent video, please keep them coming, would love to see how you use the XL desk for mixing.

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Thanks! Will definitely be doing videos about mixing on the XL desk asap. 😀

[@nick11927]

I don't really have any idea about recording but I enjoy watch your videos anyway since I subscribed a couple years ago!

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Thanks for your support!

[@AlecDeeProducer]

I’m currently exploring gear and workflows for electronic music production and aiming to achieve a high-quality recording as the foundation for mastering. I’m planning to integrate a Virus TI2 and an MPC Studio (or possibly the MPC X) into my setup. My idea is to work primarily "in the box" using UAD, but I’m also interested in recording the outputs of my hardware gear. I’m considering routing the outputs of the Virus and MPC into an SSL Big Six, then feeding that into a UAD interface for further processing and eventual mastering. My goal is to capture a big, punchy sound with standout quality that retains the warmth and character of the analog chain. Do you think the SSL Big Six would be effective for this purpose? Would its analog summing, EQ, and preamps provide a significant improvement in the sound quality for mastering compared to going directly into the UAD? I’d appreciate any tips on optimizing this workflow or alternative suggestions for achieving this goal. Thanks in advance for your advice!

[@DaveElke]

I love our XL desk. Makes recording workflow smooth, sounds amazing and is super fun to mix on. I can get close in the box but it just doesn’t compare to the analog mixes on the board.

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Agreed!

[@elruso7524]

Loved the idea of comparing ssl bus compresors. Thanks!

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Great, I’ll have a think about what to run through them!

[@nicefish10]

For my commercial studio the answer is ABSOLUTELY! Having the Wow factor when people come in for the first time is a big sales point. Plus the majority of patch points, CR monitoring, head phone mixing and inserts all happen on the desk and that’s waaay more fun. I edit and automate in the DAW….

[@davespeakmanmusic]

I agree 100%

[@1loveMusic2003]

Would love to see a video about your conversion and such.

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Sure, what topics do you need covering?

[@michaelle6783]

I would like to know how what type of sound quality that the ssl six gives you after you mixed everything with the outboard gears through it? I have almost all of the expensive gears that out there and I am afraid it will diminish the sound quality of my outboard gears. I would like to know if the ssl six will give you a pristine, clean and open sound?

[@davespeakmanmusic]

The SSL SiX is really clean. Summing through it sounds great - if I get time I’ll do a video on summing and the reasons it improves the sound.

[@mixroomonestudioengineerin2176]

Yes! And Yes!

[@bassinblue]

I'm really tempted to invest in this console, but my priority is time! I know a console can really speed things up and essentially have its own character, but biggest worry is if it truly will be redundant in 5+ years time. These days things are changing so fast and I'm seeing many studios and my colleagues in the business ditch their consoles, but keeping hold of their analogue processing gear. What do you think?

[@davespeakmanmusic]

I use the console a lot when recording. Mixing I just set all the faders at “0” and use it for summing and mix bus. Speeds up recording massively.

[@MrNEWDY]

Consoles are definitely not necessary but part of me gets a tad confused seeing some setups where someone has spent more than the cost of a good console just to have various products that together basically mirror a console. Monitor controller, lots of the same preamps and eqs, summing mixer with faders, it ended up being more expensive than an audient asp4816he! That being said, I still find i work significantly quicker on a mix in the analog domain but I've also managed to acquire gear in disrepair amd fixed myself so i have a lower investment. These days a few ssl controllers and you're like 90% of the way to console workflow and sound.

[@davespeakmanmusic]

Maybe?! If you want one, get one. If not, not. It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of life.

[@MrNEWDY]

@@davespeakmanmusic oh definitely. Nice setup btw, yours looks very methodically put together and covers a lot of ground.

[@davespeakmanmusic]

@MrNEWDY thank you

[@mauricioconde4723]