HARDWARE VS PLUGIN | Audioscape 76A vs Waves CLA76

[@StevenSlate]

Kudos guys for doing this test properly by calibrating the gain reduction and doing your best to calibrate the timing. Very refreshing to see that. So many “tests” posted over the years simply match knob settings and totally disregard the often drastic gain reduction and timing discrepancies which makes such a test useless. Well done Gents!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you Steven! I am a big fan of your plugins and have been using them since the original RC Tube! We do many reviews of your plugins on my other channel, Home Recording Made Easy!

[@bbmusic4983]

Watching this as I sip coffee out of my Audioscape mug ;) Great vid!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Love that!

[@PereRevert]

Thanks so much guys for sharing this... really nice. The only thing I din't see is a test with vocals, and that's the one of the most revered uses for the bluey. Keep up the good work dudes!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@DavidLee0227]

Good job here. I have the Audioscape LA2A. Will definitely be picking up more of their gear. You’re comparison did a great job of really highlighting the differences between hardware and software. 👍🏼

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Awesome, thank you!

[@markgabbidon5859]

nice comparison. Good job gentlemen. This is one of the best plugin vs hardware video i have watched on youtube.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Hey, thank you

[@Hahejo]

I use the CLA every time I want something aggressive, it doesn't matter if it's true to the hardware or not. It has its own niche for me. I don't reach for it when I need a 1176 but I'm glad it exists in a way.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Great, thanks for watching!

[@Taffafilms]

Totally agree, the drums lows on the hardware and the all round 3D thing is amazing

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@frbrty12]

How did you align the attack/release settings? They sound way different to me, the plugins are clamping down tight, and the release sounds too slow on the plugins.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

We did it by ear because you cant match the settings between the units physically because then the two react completely different. We talked about this in the video

[@jroz8111]

Guys killer Video and Program you guys have going on I love it. As an analogue lover and Horder lol My only suggestion would be boost some Eq into the compresson and listen to the left to right image and the space back to front. I find on the outer limits of things with Eq or Pushing into Compression the THD Dist Factor and Almost Desseing affect you get Is just so much better on analogue. At minimal Levels plugins are doing an amazing job When pushed spanked cranked that's when analog edges by a few in my humble 2 cents opinion. Great video guys love the channel thanks boys!!!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Good suggestion. Thanks for watching!

[@derrinruschell8538]

The Bluey’s attack knob is wired backwards because that’s how it is on CLA’s hardware unit. So, 1 is fastest and 7 is slowest. It is apparently not documented anywhere, but several people have noticed this and confirmed it with BLA’s tech support. That might explain why it seemed so different.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I know the attack knob is backwards but that was not the reason it sounded so different, thanks for the info

[@meshica7]

There is a clear difference between software and hardware..I mean it is immediately obvious. To me the Audioscape has a "robustness" (?) to it that benefits from being pushed harder. It most definitely breathes and responds in such a way that it would seem that using it would become almost intuitive. It just has a quality that is organic especially with instruments with clearer transients like drums and hard strummed/picked acoustics. Would probably sound pretty sweet on a mandolin or congas and I bet it would be amazing on a slap bass with a nice scooped mid favoring the bridge pickup. They make these units here in Florida, about 2 hours north of me. So tempted to get one for a master bus comp. I would be interested in seeing a review of their Train Wrecked Series Bus Compressor.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

The train wrecked are the same as the non-train wreck from a sound prespective

[@FILM1969]

When comparing sounds, it is essential to always display a loudness meter.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Not on this channel its not

[@wyndigohtx]

I checked yall out at namm and the blue stripe sounded so good even with the noisy environment on vocals 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

They make wonderful gear!

[@wyndigohtx]

@@MixingMusicAnalog really want this unit!

[@colddarknight666]

Hey Guys !! You did a lot of comparaison so far , compressor plugin vs compressor hardware and your overall conclusion is that the hardware is always more "desirable" than the plugin version. My question: have you ever did the same type of comparaison but with Eq plugin vs Eq hardware ?? Like SSL black eq hardware vs the Waves version. My guess is that the difference would be smaller than the compressor comparaison but is there a benefit in sound to go the hardware route for the Eq ?? Thanks for your work !!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Maybe at one point we will do some EQ videos

[@ReginatorNet]

Nice comparison, I can really hear the difference. Maybe for your next comparisons you could bypass the hardware & plugins so we can hear the dry source material before processing. Cheers!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Good idea!

[@diyrecordingstudio]

What do you guys think causes the loss of room sound on the plugins? I wonder is it’s like a bit depth/resolution thing? Definitely a loss of detail versus the hardware. Masterclaes did a bunch of shootouts like this too, and I heard the same things I do here which is what you both have described. It is so noticeable a difference I could hear it on basic, cheap earbuds. It’s almost like the plugins have a noise reduction or gate on them. So much room detail is lost.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I have no idea what causes that but it somehitng I hear almost every-time I compare hardware to plugins

[@chris_share]

Great video! The hardware's Release envelope sounds very different to the plug-ins.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@livetorock1844]

Spot on. The attack and release of this particular hardware unit seems very different from the plugins. To test this idea, I recorded the audio into my DAW and added a transient shaper to the UA plugin version -- reducing the attack and increasing the release. The difference between the two then became much less noticeable. Also, increasing the release on the plugin version gave it a greater sense of "3D" space, much like the hardware version. At least to my ears. To make a true comparison between hardware and plugins, it seems you would need to use a plugin that is attempting to model a particular unit -- not just any old 1176 or clone (for this reason, I think the SSL Fusion hardware and plugin shootout made a better comparison).

[@monovladd4392]

Audioscape 76A vs Bluey bACk lion, PLEEEASE!!! (in vocals) I know that one is more aggressive than the other, but no one makes that comparison until now. I think it would be very interesting content to listen to them side by side. Consider it ✌🏼

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Maybe at one point.

[@PAULPINBALL]

Excellent, thank you!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

You are welcome!

[@colyndaniell2938]

Dull, the plugins sound so dull next to the Audio-Scape and on bass the hardware still has more air about it. I was blind listening and it just felt like the top end was shut off on the switch. I heard from one of my friends that you can increase the head room on some UA plugins and it helps them a lot. I thought of something after the fact. I was once told that the one instrument that truly loves digital is the bass. Everything else works but bass took to digital and never looked back.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Intresting!

[@colyndaniell2938]

@@MixingMusicAnalog I think the top little screw between the input and output knobs is the setting for head room. I don't know if it's actually more or less you want but after using the Manley Variable Mu at Paramount he figured out that setting to try and make the UA plugin sound like the Paramount hardware that someone at some point had adjusted. Note I don't use UA for anything right now so I'm all hearsay.

[@BLAZEBLAZEN-tq4iy]

Hey, just for kicks, you might wanna change the bandwidth on the interface settings from 48K to a greater range of say maybe 70K, 88K, 96K, or maybe 🤔 even the 192K, that is assuming that you may be in the 44K, or 48K spectrum since 48K is the studio standard most engineering professionals work within being that 44.1K is relative to CD quality and 48.1K is optionally a grade better than that by sound quality for clarity's sakes. It may just open up a lil more headroom when working with those plug-ins. That may just change a little of what you'll find in the comparison of the plug-in's comparisons to the actual unit, maybe 🤔

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I may try that thanks!

[@csmgmobile]

I actually prefer the waves over the hardware due to the tighter cleaner sound. It's all about preference!!!! It's like comparing different shades of colors!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Great! thanks for watching!

[@AndyKingCo]

Hardware it’s louder also you could eq the drums with a good plugin eq to obtain a much closer sound

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@viday228]

It seems that the 1176 plugin works like a Transient Shaper. It does not pull out the room, as the hardware one does.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Yes, you are right!

[@diyrecordingstudio]

I would agree with you on this, however ALL compressors are transient shapers. They all manipulate the envelope of a sound.

[@dylanhughes4548]

Great work. Audioscape Pultec clone next please! Many thanks.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Great suggestion!

[@bobpaker430]

could reduce the attack on the wave and UAD, , of course we can't set the same setting cos they are different, but the hardware cut more transient and the attack is the slowest on waves so normal you can go to close sound. just play on input and ouput don't change this. after there is always a difference

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I have yet to hear a compressor plugin that was better than the hardware counterpart.

[@Rhuggins]

76A vs Bluey video would be amazing

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Noted! Thnaks

[@tomdouglas6053]

the hardware model of the audio scape 76a has alot more low end and mid frequenices. One thing ive noticed in the plugins is that it lacks low end alot which is where all the weight and girth of the sound that analog gear produces. The technology is getting better but its not 100 percent like the real gear.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Agreed!

[@NickSoundAuthentic]

Hardware seems to have a lot more saturation on it. Adding something like Saturn to the UAD might be interesting and pretty dang close.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

It still wont have that "3-D" thing

[@csmgmobile]

Right because you can get the same sound adding saturation in the plugin chain.

[@csmgmobile]

@@MixingMusicAnalog approximately 85% of people which happen to be non- musical wouldn't be able to hear the difference! A lot of you old school guys get stuck in a rut.

[@seekingtruthonly.4299]

​@@csmgmobileA lot of you new school guys make excuses for plugins.😂

[@1loveMusic2003]

I agree the kick has a bigger room tail on hardware.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@joeydego2]

Comparing the BLA Bluey to the AS 1176A you can definitely hear more noise in the BLA, the AS sounds somewhat more uniform and predictable.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

The BLA sounds nothing like any other blue stipe I have ever heard!

[@theaquariansavage]

@@MixingMusicAnalog So how does it sound (compared to the audioscape) ? unfortunately you never made a video about it

[@rickblackers88]

The difference is clear but we could take advantage of the plugin response.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Not sure what you mean?

[@agesonjohanesburg2915]

Wow. Just when I thought I could mix 100% in the box how am I going to justify to my wife that I need to buy more gear?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Good luck with that! LOL

[@Polentaccio]

I mentioned this one in a reply above but check out Access Analog! Hardware in the cloud. It is a no brainer to get your fix while you save for hardware.

[@viday228]

It would be interesting to compare with Tim Petherick's library

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Never heard of it

[@heythere6983]

Interesting I just saw another channel compare the same plugin from UA vs audioscape and the difference didn’t seem that stark in tens of dimension and room sound w the drums I think the channel is called spotlight studios . Maybe your 1176 has got more mojo . Your other video the rev A was a lot different from the D and F , seemed really saturated on vocals , on that other channel I was not impressed with the vocal comparison of the audioscape and plugin .

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Interesting. I cant speak on other channels videos, but all I try to do is give an honest assessment of what I am hearing in the room at the time we are testing. Sometimes the audio on KZbin is the best way to really hear what is happening, especially with compression. You really need to hear it in person and if you dont like it you can always return it

[@heythere6983]

It was more noticeable in this video I could hear it for sure . The other persons gear didn’t seem to be so dramatically different than their plugin. You’re seems to have more character . Idk I’d resort to getting used items, Iv been willing to buy from them for like 3 years now and I never managed to time it right. I’m on the fence

[@thedeadearth]

hardware have more fast attack?? snare and kick on plugin sound more Transients...

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

It may, I am sure the attack specs are not the same between the two

[@vontreherumaiBH]

Damn yall never do vocals

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Check out other videos on this channel. I do vocals all the time

[@kikemarquez659]

Bluey vs audioscape vs cla76 vs 1176 ua PLEASE!!!!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Why? What would be the point? LOL...As we said, the Bluey is so radically different you cant compare them. We will do a separate video on the Bluey at one point.

[@derrinruschell8538]

@@MixingMusicAnalogapparently the attack knob on Bluey is wired backwards because that’s how it is on CLA’s hardware unit. That might explain why it’s so different.

[@Polentaccio]

I know it is a luxury to own hardware but everytime I compare the plugins i pick up to the hardware comps i own, they just can't hang with them. Now that there are great services like Acces Analog and Mix:Analog, plugins are going to start losing ground given the difference you hear when you run through hardware. It is far simpler to find a sound and go with it in the analog realm. That's a just a fact.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you for watching!

[@kaisersoze9488]

The hardware was night and day completely different it was like watching a cartoon on TV and being inside a theater

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Yes!

[@kristianalexanderpedersen7382]

night and day

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching

[@danymalsound]

I'm really not understanding what's so desirable about the hardware sound here... it sounds like a mushy room mic and the plugs are nice and smacky. Interesting shootout.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

That's cool. If you like the plugins better then there is nothing wrong with that! Thanks for watching

[@DMKahn]

To my ears, the itb compressors make the sound smaller, and the hardware compressor makes it sound bigger. The hardware adds life, the plug-in is flat as a pancake. Also there’s a pretty audible saturation characteristic the hardware has.

[@zonarecordingstudio]

Hardware sounds better to my ears

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Mine as well

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

same here

[@preciseaudioblog]

Hardware all the way...

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks!