Can YOU Hear The Difference?? HARDWARE vs PLUGIN CHALLENGE

Can you hear the difference between ANALOG HARDWARE and PLUGINS? Today Reid Stefan Realest Puppet In The Game is comparing the Neve 1073 to the UAD Neve 1073 plugin also the Tube-Tech CL1B against the new UAD Plugin.
Hardware Vocal Chain
Sony C800g, Neve 1073, Tube-Tech CL1B, Apollo X8
Plugin Vocal Chain
Slate ML-1, Virtual MixRack, UAD Neve 1073, UAD TubeTech CL1B MK2
Blind Test Results:
Option A: Hardware
Option B: Plugins
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#Mixing #Ableton10 #Tutorial

[@manila3832]

anybody else concerned that this might be a real living puppet running this channel?

[@derekrose3328]

Not only that, but I think it started as a way for someone in witness protection to still make a career on KZbin, yet then in the end the damn puppet got him AND took over! Of all things. 🙄... 🤣👏🏼

[@UpToLevel6]

@@derekrose3328 LOL!

[@InternationalBassStation]

Concened? No, relieved? Much so!

[@fernandoobregon3359]

Yah that girl puppet looked a little to young for him...

[@daleverse2012]

lol

[@juggernautlila]

I feel like there’s such a noticeable difference between hardware and software. The highend brightness of the actual hardware is incredible

[@jacobseal]

Somehow brighter and still warmer.

[@mcnitt]

In this case the HW is WAY too bright for me. Much preferred the plugin version to tame the 8K; even it was too much.

[@SuperFaceless1]

What's the difference between plugins and hardware? Couple thousand bucks and hand-wired circuitry? If you can afford a Neve or a Avalon 737 DO IT! But if you can't, don't ever feel like your music is any less than someone that owns it!!! It's not the machine! It's the operator!!!

[@EliteOnTheBeat]

VERY well said! The FACT of the matter is its the ear NOT the gear! And lets be completely honest the AVERAGE consumer CANNOT tell a difference between the two! 100%

[@jvonnjvonn4688]

I agree😶

[@fashionlife5348]

This is not true the difference is very evident and yes the listener can tell listen to underground music quality compared to comercial songs the quality gap is very evident

[@KeenApollo]

@@fashionlife5348 na I was with that bs too until I actually got good at mixing and mastering. I used nothing but analog emulations and I swear my stuff sounds better than some of the so called commercial records I hear people always ask where I record I tell them at the house and their like damn that's crazy. Granted my interface and mic and plugin Choices definitely aren't cheap but still I'm not using any outboard gear it really is how you mix and master if you know what you're doing and experiment with different plugins you really can create a great mixing and mastering chain I've done it

[@fashionlife5348]

@@KeenApollo how you record without outboard gear

[@mostaaa835]

*Me looking at the menu at the restaurant Me : so u got no lead vocal sauce? The Waiter : What? Me : What?

[@KennedyBetts]

hahaha that was hilarious, i'm pretty tired, but I straight LOL'd when I read this 🤣

[@ElmerFerrer]

Lol!

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I appreciate so much comments like this, that make me laugh out loud unexpectedly. xD

[@bigstrongguy91]

Hardware sounds so much better, wow. The plugins sound much less open and alive. The hardware brings the vocal performance to life the way it rides the transients & the way the top end smooths out. Sounds like a demo vocal vs a polished vocal to my ears. You can say “regular listeners won’t notice” but the way the vocal FEELS from the hardware - you can’t fool the ear into not picking up on the emotion it adds. Just my opinion though

[@BoltieBolt]

I noticed the same. The transient was not reduced by the plugin. It was not doing its job.

[@maxreaper25]

Couldn’t say it better myself

[@JapaneseNathan]

Was option B the hardware for the first test?

[@sethbroner6798]

Agreed

[@madsonit]

Of course it sounds better because he matched the settings, not the actual sound. You can totally see that the plugin was reducing even 20 db on some parts while the hardware version never went over 10dbs of reduction. Doesn't look like a fair test at all to me. The Softube CL1B is an amazing plugin for the price but like any digital effect, when you push it too much, it crumbles. You shouldn't compress more than 5-6 dbs anyway on a lead vocal no matter if you are in the analog or digital world and at that amount of GR, the Softube is really amazing. BTW, Serban Ghenea uses CLA76 as his main vocal compressor with GR between 3 and 6 dbs max. You guys knew that? Oh, one more thing - no hardware CL1B unit sounds the same as another and we don't know how the one the Softube team replicated sounds like.

[@ChrisWeinhardt]

Guys at 3:55 Reid is reaching for the Neve with his right hand but in the close-up you can clearly see a left hand turning the knob. Something weird is going and Reid acts like it's nothing. Who is the mysterious third puppet?

[@Robangledorf]

O shit conspiracy theory time

[@yembalaa]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@angelofaraday5280]

That puppets' name is B-Roll and he lives in cutaway footage lane.

[@rikkshow]

Not super clear but it looked like the plugin had about twice the gain reduction vs hw. So, yeah, vocals will pump then...

[@vescopetcov]

I've also noticed that. That would be true if the emulation is perfect and the meter is showing correct values. There are some plugin meters which don't work correctly. On the other side - If the metering is correct, the plugin had 15 dB of compression and the hardware only 7.

[@Teddynasrmusic]

Exactly, and the threshold in the Tube-Tech plugin was at approx. -19, while in the hardware it was somewhere between -20 and -30.

[@jamesclarke40]

Most of these plugins sound great in isolation, it's when you pit them up against their HW equivalents you hear the 3D'ness of the hardware. However, it's kindof the law of diminishing returns, you can get 90% the way with skilful mastery of plugins. Great video!

[@MFASonic]

3D. Depth. Plus working more intuitive and fast. That's all what is still exclusive to hardware. The rest can well be done with plugins, and those come with other great advantages like free routing and total recall.

[@zentatonic]

I can hear a difference. But it's not going to make me like or dislike a song, either way.

[@CLdwyer]

I don’t know. The muddy build on the low mids and the pumping on that tube tech would make me dismiss that song any day if that plugin chain was the final mix choice. Our ears still want to hear things well..

[@zentatonic]

@@CLdwyer there's plenty of well-produced music I can't listen to and would never buy.

[@CLdwyer]

Mountain Mirrors - heavy acoustic vibe I agree with you wholeheartedly. A good song is the origin. But a recording/mixing job is not to fuck it up and good tools that give fast and reliable results prevent those risks. A good song can be ruined. My only investment in analog is in recording. Hard to replace that. Mixing is entirely in the box for the same reason: speediness & reliability of results.

[@EliteOnTheBeat]

@@CLdwyer Yes are "ears still wan't to hear things well" however YOU are thinking from a producers perspective. I completely agree that us producers can hear that the hardware sound better but do YOU honestly think the average consumer can tell the difference? Because the truth of the matter is THEY CANT! I've NEVER heard one of my friends/family say oh yeah i don't like this song because the sound the plugin gave the vocal. LOL. Cmon lets be honest man.

[@CLdwyer]

E L I T E O N T H E B E A T so you’re telling me that people won’t feel the difference between a muddy vocal or one without clarity. That’s bogus. They do. You can accomplish something clear and powerful with plugins or hardware. The hardware is simply about the “time” you save getting there *in the recording phase*. If your levels, dynamics and eq is right straight into the DAW, you don’t really get much better than that. The time and CPU power you save, plus the “finished” sound from the start is worth the pennies spent on good stuff.

[@deadnameisdead]

When i think it doesnt get more like a muppet show with epic skills in Ableton than i see this Karra puppet. I should get more sleep Love this Channel

[@CLdwyer]

My observation. You get the results you like faster with the analog gear. The plugins actually require you to grind out more time for similar results. Dropping $10.000+ on a signal chain makes recording faster and more desirable **into the DAW** (no fussing around later). The time saved over 10 years with this gear is the difference between albums recorded simply on the basis of time saved. #worthit Saving for my SSL chain now but that Neve vibe got me very interested :) thanks Reid.

[@bassaroo]

Collins O'Dwyer Hmmm.. they used to say “track on a Neve, mix on an SSL." So I guess you'd better buy both!

[@sickbeatsproductions6664]

Exactly. I like to save time. Time is money.

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

I went for an SSLsix with a neve 1073lb u87ai works well together!!

[@madsonit]

Can you remake this test by actually matching the sound, not the settings? Your hardware unit was reducing a maximum of 10 dbs while the software was doing 20dbs in some parts.

[@RJ1J]

Exactly, this was a flawed test. If a compressor is pumping then that should be an easy fix by engaging the low end sidechain or lowering the input as you said. Hardware units often come out different and maybe it's this hardware that is different from the one Softube modelled for UAD. I've used the UAD TT MII and never got a pumping sound. I actually tried to make it pump but it was virtually impossible. UAD DBX however, try and stop that thing pump!

[@manak1n]

It could just be that the gainstaging was wrong on the software side, but I agree. Hardly a fair comparison when the sw side was being pushed way past the hw.

[@chrisyking]

You had the plugins set to reduce gain by much more. That's why it was pumping.

[@rrvsop2]

The plugins sound perfect and don't have any flaws. Those minute flaws in the hardware create character. The vocal with the compression from Analog, had a more realistic feel, while the digital was a little more plastic. Overall, just having one real item at the end of the bus, could be a complete game-changer for digital production.

[@whoisdark__]

I feel you, i think a hybrid analog/digital setup is ideal for modern music. Having a handful of carefully selected pieces of hardware and then plugins to make the rest will save your bank for sure haha.

[@philippgrunert8776]

Oh man, i think the Intro and the puppet are funny each and every time. Plus The content ist high quality. Win win

[@MarkVO]

The hardware's changes are so much more transparent. Very impressive. With the plugins you can essentially hear them.

[@BryantFC]

Hardware will always give you that rich warmness! If you can truly afford it, def go for it!

[@guidosc3470]

Partly true.. but as an INVESTMENT Plugins are not that good.. used Hardware can be a very stabile Investment tho

[@BryantFC]

@@guidosc3470 haha I just realized I used the wrong words. my bad! you're right!

[@Kemite_Gaming]

Guido Scharmer-Choi I’m confused with what you said.

[@guidosc3470]

@@Kemite_Gaming that's because the main comment changed.. x)

[@NikolajChristensen]

Surely the plugin can be dialed in to pump less than that while still being aggressive? Thank for the vid!

[@SuperSaiyanScandinavian]

it can. not wanting to criticize him cuz it's a good video and he makes great material, but the plugin is actually more flexible. i'd love to have the real thing, but the plugin can do stuff the original cannot. ie sidechain low end and a mix control for parallel compression. both are very handy to have.

[@NVtheEngineer]

I definitely liked the hardware chain better. The CL1B is goals for me when it comes to a hardware compressor. One day, one day.

[@spacecadet3879]

From what I've heard and what I've been told by others, the harder you drive the hardware, the larger the difference you'll hear between analog and software. Tubes and transistors made back in the day were handmade with attention to detail and some materials that aren't available for use anymore. Eventually the plugins might be able to model the saturation/warmth/fullness of high end analog gear, but for now they will have to be second place by a little bit. Then again, there are strengths to both sides

[@Allious131]

That is a lie and if you can't make it sound good with just plugins you suck and should quit plain and simple.

[@flakoka44]

You could do it the other way around, equalize and compress well in the plugin and then copy the configuration to the hardware 😉

[@BojanBojovic]

But then the results will be different. 😉👍

[@traviscumming3143]

the 1073 emulation sounded really really good to me even if it wasn't as bright and smooth, i think that tubetechs richness and and the way its able to deal with the peaks make it a step above the plugin, also i could hear a slightly different colour when the tube tech hardware was used, but all in all they are great plugins no doubt about it, I've been trying to incorporate the tube tech into my vocal chain, but I'm enjoying their LA 2A emulation rn

[@synthfreak291]

0:57 That headbanging tho'

[@Niowiad]

how about 10:20

[@tredfxman]

@@Niowiad Lets not get carried away 😄

[@videomusic1381]

7:30 the plugins really sound more muffled and boxed vs hardware open and help the vocal sit much better in the mix. The more plugins you add in your mix the flatter / boxed you get of course you can get good results in the end but the overall feel remains that Analog is more natural Another option => send it to analog mastering that will help a lot if you can;t get any hardware

[@dalvynoficial]

I can hear the difference but I think adding another comp could make it pretty close, also using auto with the vl fader to compress less. this show that mixing with plugings is harder than mixing with gears

[@chanepic]

I have a Neve Genesys with 1073s and I also use the UAD 1073 when I run out of analogue channels. SLIGHT differences, but different.

[@MrDoublebeats]

Why I would love to spend 6k+ on a preamp/eq and compressor (not to mention that you are using a 10k microphone) but the difference is not a big enough for an EVERYDAY listener (not producers and/or engineers) imo if you got 16k+ for a vocal chain go for it but the gap is not worth the price(16k vs 2.3k).

[@TheLes1039]

When you put it like that, it's true. To some extent owing the gear has become an ego thing almost.

[@joshuabrown6256]

Having the hardware allows you to burn in that sound. You’ll never have to spare computer resources on a plug-in, and the energy of audio signals going through real electrical circuits adds a level of character that’s hard to recreate accurately.

[@michellew.3691]

I have never heard a song called: Justin Bieber feat. Neve Preamp & Cl Compressor. Maybe its a GAS thing ... Bytheway: Taste comes from listening. Appetit comes from advertising.

[@TheLes1039]

@@joshuabrown6256 Yh I can really notice the difference when I'm stoned. However, it's stil a matter of preference.

[@TheLes1039]

However if u played this to causal listeners from start to the end. Without telling them, whilst switching the compressors they wouldn't notice. Let's be honest.

[@bookkeeper141]

nah my sun said, ''AYE" at 9:29🤣🤣🤣❤‍🔥❤‍🔥 dope song for sure, slaps sonically

[@MidxRange]

I have been told just to save up on hardware pre amps.

[@dzemoski45]

Let’s be honest with each other. Almost everyone here in the comments if they could easily afford all the hardware, they would buy the hardware.

[@jaywizz17]

obviously lmfao thats not the point. its for people who can’t afford it to see what the difference is. if you already have the gear you probably aren’t watching this video unless you’re curious or a fan of reid

[@QuabmasM]

If we're smart, we'd want both...I liked how the vst EQ sounded & the vst compressor's saturation sounded better too shocking but I noticed the real EQ had more tight mid range saturation & the real compressor clearly compressed more musically. For the difference in cost, the plugins win the war for me...I have plenty of compressor options that can make up for what the vst compressor cant do.

[@bighousemusic628]

Aciustica audio mimic the real gears

[@nelsonstarr5356]

I think this comparison was best left to fewer plugins or hardware instances and done under more average conditions. The more devices you add, the more things compound and make any (often small) differences that do exist become compounded and more and more obvious. I feel like the mic and EQ stacked up fairly well. The biggest failing here was the Softube, Tube-Tech plugin which was much more pump-y than the real compressor. If I was Softube, I'd be rather embarrassed. That said, I don't feel it's fair or ethical for the Slate modeler to be brought down by the whole down-chain as if it was somehow to blame. The other video using the Slate Sony mic model and the real Sony mic showed that the differences were very modest at best. I think that we're kinda getting sloppy pile-on by the end of this video, making a claim that the analog is so much better than the digital. I even feel that the "test" was biased to reveal, intentionally, the shortcomings of the plugins (cranked) versus the strengths of the hardware (cranked). Besides, who cranks the hell out of every plugin when building sounds--I might, but most probably would not. That seemed to be a critical element of "making sure" these units failed, and failed miserably, in comparison. If kept at more normal settings, the differences were more minute and, without the compressor, things would have likely ended up in a very comparable place with the hardware probably edging out the software in a more subtle way--as it probably should, since an emulation of a real thing is generally incapable of equalling the real thing it emulates...let alone surpassing it. That's only computationally inevitable, from a philosophical and mathematical perspective. Perhaps a more important test is to shoot out the best analog units at normal settings, against the best plugins and see how they compare as tools and ways to achieve X. For instance, many would agree that, when it comes to limiting, software is, low and behold, clearly superior. That's why mastering houses master using Weiss and L2 and Fabilter versus a hardware limiter. There are some complex, especially multiband, compressor maneuvers that digital can do better than analog these days, I would argue. So to each technology goes its particular strengths and weaknesses. But it's clear that an emulation compared to the real thing must fail, as a mathematical certainty. Therefore, in these types of shootouts, the analog will almost certainly win. It's more valuable to see "by how much" it wins but I feel this test video was not done in a fair way to really test that hypothesis by mixing so many various devices, we can never be sure which device compared relatively better or worse except to say that it seems much of the failure was due to the softube emulation. Not much science going on here. Which is not to say that I don't generally love this puppett! Some of the best tips per the genres covered here that you will find, period!

[@blakematthews6374]

I thought the video did a very good job of demonstrating how the chain started out very similar and got further and further apart. It started with just the mics and it was very similar, then added the pres at moderate and it was still very similar, then when they added the eq at moderate settings it got less similar but still really good, then adding more eq it got a little less similar, then the compressor got even less. It’s not like he went “oh here’s software cranked vs hardware cranked, look how different they are!”. He showed how things stack up as you add and push them further. I mean the software chain is basically what my tracking chain has been (but slate plugins) for awhile now. I appreciate the demonstration of how an all digital vs all analog vocal chain sounds.

[@TriWaZe]

For real though. After he tossed on that Softube the whole thing is warping back and forth terribly. Sounds awful. He may have shown what can happen under crazy circumstances but that's not even the point of this video. Anyone watchin it will now assume the plugins are junk. Which is not what you want to do.

[@thesacredhaven]

I didn't even care if it was gonna be a good comparison. The moment I saw the puppet I clicked the like button. Especially when the singing puppet showed up and he started shaking his head to the music 😂😂😂

[@Jacob.Pratim]

the difference is so noticeable! Full hardware !!!

[@Clarity-808]

Can you explain why there's twice as much compression happening on the software meter? Seems like it was setup to fail.

[@TriWaZe]

Is this song ever going to be released? Been waitin like a year.

[@rhawnb5457]

I can definitely hear the difference the hardware sounds more open and gives the vocal more definition. It also puts the vocal in a slightly better sonic space. You can still get away with using the plugin and getting a great sound.

[@whoisdark__]

this is the first shootout i've seen where i saw a difference that made me want to spend $4000 on the hardware over $150 for the plugin. typically i find most of the emulations do the job well enough but i'm actually kind of surprised by this one

[@PhilRichardson44]

Much less pumping on the hardware for me, the clarity and transparency seemed much better too with a more pleasing high end to my ear on the analogue gear! Great comparison, I like these direct comparisons, great vid

[@minusx31]

Wow... 3:04 a sleeve to make it look like the puppet is changing the knobs when its clearly your hand is super dedication to the puppet character...

[@Teamstack]

It looked like your plugin was doing way more gain reduction than your plugin? Having a compressor hit -20db is going to cause pumping. Plus in most instances people are only hitting the CL1B for a couple Dbs gain reduction if its right after the mic preamp, not sure if comparing how it handles -20db gain reduction is all that relevant.

[@marioCazares]

That headbanging at the end gave me life

[@joost3783]

hey reid - am i mistaken or did you have a GR of about -20 with the plugin, while having about -10dB of GR on the hardware? the plugin is pumping so hard it doesnt feel right - did you try backing up the threshold a bit?

[@lazyboia28]

Joost B that’s probably why the vocal was falling apart. That compression setting to me was unusable. The vocal was jumping in and out of the song. Was hard to tell the difference because the comp was killing the vocal. Either way good video!

[@drillgirl718]

the best way to match the software to the hardware is to oversample before going into plugins if possible and also set input volumes real low so the plugin doesnt add nasty noise and output it high if u got alot of headroom from recording

[@EMERICNORTH]

How do you oversample before going my into plugins?

[@jermainesmith6315]

I have the CL 1B plugin and was very disappointed on how it responds. I working on getting all hardware for my recording vocal chain. My questions is do run slate microphone directly into Apollo or do you use the slate pre amp than add a plugin pre? Thanks

[@bunjumun]

anyone else notice a high pitched noise coming through on this demo? I hear it on all of my different monitoring options/soundcards. if true, may be worth taking care of re uploading considering it is a critical listening video.

[@jaydekaytv]

Let's see what the plugins *can do*. It would be great to see a video where you first try to make the plugin chain sound great, then after that make the hardware chain match. Not paying attention to settings as much as the sound. What do ya say!? 🤷‍♂️ Great vid, thanks for sharing.

[@simonbezek6382]

I've tried that many times. Hardware wins.

[@peachhead1928]

I come here just for the puppeteer work....fantastic ....The recording knowledge is icing on the cake..thanks Reid great Channel

[@grusticmyron7201]

Incredible difference. Im wondering if you brought the vocal to more of a baseline with some basic compression/limiting, would you be able to render similar results with the plug ins? It seems it was just responding to the transients and peak volume levels? Thoughts? Anyone?

[@therealrussellsmyth]

The difference is pretty huge. Plug vocal channel sounds quite harsh artificial and tethered , compared with the smooth and natural quality obtained with hardware. Wondering what a plugin like Soothe2 might do to help ameliorate those digital artefacts from the plugins. 🤔

[@kaul_music]

The pumping effect on the plugins really turned me off haha. I'm still impressed with what plugins can do but ever since I started getting into hardware, I haven't looked back. Still plugins are very useful though. This was a very informative video, thanks!

[@christophpetersart3803]

the plugin is pumping because is reducing 20 db .... the hardware version is reducing only 7 / 10 db. the plugin version is way more sensitive . You can get a decent sound from the pluging actually , but of course if you crank the threshold knob it will sound pumping

[@MichaelW.1980]

The glitching of the plug-in made this a non-contest.

[@jules7168]

Difference is phenomenal with good headphones. Insane

[@Jasonweckard]

I lost it when i saw Reid jamming from behind the UAD plugin, i love this channel.

[@Welcome_To_Life]

Dude the headbanging makes me happy

[@danielneverfails]

I appreciate this. But honestly, I find the Slate mic with any emulation to be sort of plasticy, dull and harsh in the high end. Of course Demi Lovato can still sing into a Slate and make a hit...... just think if one of the mic, pre or comp in the example are a weak link, they bring down the rest of the signal chain Theoretically, you may be able to get 99.5% there with a 1073 emulation, but then if a software compressor can't emulate the transients and it kills the whole test. I'd love to a test with all variables to rate find the weakest link in the chain I.E: Sony C800 -> UAD 1073 -> Tube Tech Sony C800 -> UAD 1073 -> Softube Sony C800 -> Neve 1073 -> Softube etc etc....with the Slate too

[@laserfloyd]

Hard to spot at first but by the end ... wow. Anyone got a few grand I can borrow? It's for a friend...

[@dulla8469]

there is a difference and its easy to notice when its solo'd on 3:15 that switch, its like option had more high to high/mid frequencies, and i dont what im hearing, but it felt like Option A had some Stereo spreader on it cause i felt the vocals pop out more from the side like a background tracker with a stereo spread on it

[@neonyves]

crazy! i enjoyed the plugin more in the blind test wow

[@rayzupmuzik8611]

The compressors definitely sounded different, but you were getting a lot more gain reduction with the plugin. They would probably sound closer if you would have matched the gain reduction instead of the threshold knob. Good video though. No need for thousands of dollars worth of gear, all you need is talent, a room that is acoustically treated and an inexpensive recording setup.

[@Nullllus]

The plugin chain pumping and low end inconsistency is really noticable.

[@michaellopez12]

Hey Reid, are those your 1073s? I’ve seen in your most current set up you have the vintech?

[@thegoodgeneral]

Are there birds in the background? Or is something funky happening with your VO recordings that's triggering some high frequency distortions? (edit: specifically it's R channel only. Can't be birds in the background.)

[@virtuoskommunizieren]

Software still sounds so much flatter than the hardware. In the past months it was mentioned so often where it was said, that Plugins are nowadays so close to their hardware Counterparts. To my ears? Nope! Plugins sound much better than 10 years ago, but they are still far away from making you throw your hardware out if the window. And referring to the CL1B: yes, I experience the same. The Plugin is so difficult to adjust. Pumping very soon

[@fernandoherrerabastidas]

wish you’d have compressed less with the plugin. It seems gain reduction was always more there than the hardware.

[@msvc23]

I actually preffer the NEVE plugin haha I was surprised when I looked at the description

[@chrism5931]

I've learned a lot from your videos. A LOT. I'm running the WA47/WA73EQ/WA2A for my primary chain. I tried to match it with the Slate Digital ML-1 to get a good stereo signal from an acoustic guitar. The ML-1 just pales in comparison. I really wanted this to work. I'm a big fan of the Warm Audio. Do you think it would be worth my time to add the EQP-WA to my rig? Are you a fan of that EQ? Thanks for the vids.

[@Zizotron]

You literally have everything i wanted to know about music

[@llrhinc]

When you came back out of your DAW, did you go into your 1073 mic pre at line level, then into the tube tech and then back into an aux in your DAW?

[@riktascale4]

That puppet's neck is gotta be super strong to be bobbing like this guys. Hahahahahaha!! The hardware chain in the end had more clarity and was more alive vs the plugins at those settings. The song is sweet man.

[@tikkorome5752]

Thank you for this. I was specifically trying to figure out what to do as far as a CL1B for my hardware 1073 and C800G chain. I'd already concluded that the Softube emulation wouldn't give me the smooth thickness I want from this chain and was looking to see if it was worth shelling out $300 for the UAD2 CL1B plugin while I work a new Tube-Tech into the budget. I still might get the plugin (for use in post) but I'm definitely getting the hardware for tracking. Just needed to hear it side by side one more time. Haven't used a real CL1B in a few years. Your videos also helped me feel more comfortable with my decision after I ordered my Sony C800G too so thanks for that as well.

[@jamescastillo2365]

Was the pre amp comparison in the beginning of the video Option A and Option B shown with the same mic ? Towards the end you compared plug in and hardware but using different mics

[@Polentaccio]

I've never seen your vids before but love the way you commit with puppet hand matching puppet talking/actions lol. Great stuff, fun way to find your niche. Oh, hardware sounded better. It pushes and distorts better and sounds more 3D. Might not matter in a mix but it def. is audible.

[@RenoG4]

definitely night and day, but the neve 1073 plugin seems like it held its ground the tube tech plugin fell apart on the dynamics and everything sounded darker on the plugin chain which I guess you would expect. would love to see a video where you attempt to make them sound exactly the same using any tricks in the book. Cheers Reid!

[@Mill-on-da-track]

I think we equate different with better. I think both sound great and you wouldn't be loosing is you know how to mix well with plugins. I mean if i had unlimited funds i definitely would reach for the hardware first but im cool if all i have is plug-ins

[@amanmalik1683]

Thankyou Reid for clearing the debate of the lifetime :) TBH if it wasn't for Karra I wouldn't have taken the video seriously and might have skipped it! but you really got it . cheers mate !!!! i could really get the difference and really had a similar thought in the blind test before you even spoke Note for beginners : You don't have to use one plugin for multiple use like for instance cutting of low end in pre amp plugin, use another eq for that and let each plugin work at their potential . i know software replica might not bring out like hardware but you can do it with multiple plugins you just need to know your basics . that's it .

[@dleej13]

Funny thing is that you can see when the analogue is on. Since the appollo is getting an external input when the hardware is on :D

[@mpstudiobergen6451]

I understand it is difficult to level match always properly on the fly, but I felt the analog was at most times louder than the plugin preview which is giving it an unfair advantage in the previews.

[@EMesi]

This video was great and answered alot of questions for me!! One thing I wish was it showed the unison tech through UAD console with the ML-1 going through the plugins vs the C800 going through the hardware. I think I would get the software to have as a first step and something to practice on because both together are only 600 (plugins) vs about 5K for a Neve Preamp with EQ and a CL-1B. Buying the plugins IMO is a great first step in an investment towards the hardware

[@morganpottruff5973]

I think where I run into problems is when clients of mine have used the UAD apollo to record their own vocals but driven the chip-based pre really HARD and it's much less forgiving than hardware on that front. Some CARE when using the UAD and you can get great results!

[@twuan]

can you do a video on how to set up external compressors, preamps, eq's and switch back and forth on ableton with an external audio effect rack? do you use a patchbay or is everything going into the apollo?

[@christianllaguno2691]

If you are using Slate Mic with the apollo, is better to Record everthing clean or is possible to use the Unison option in apollo and then use Slate Mic emulations?

[@FrankNobelMusic]

fantastic and very interesting! Maybe keep the UAD interface out of the picture next time tough (for the blind A/B)

[@Pxrish]

When you add the tube tech plugin with the neve plugins its pumping so hard and it's really noticeable

[@KennyGuyte]

This is a very compelling and corroborating experiment. The hardware is favored in my opinion.

[@peterpavlonis227]

Great video, When it comes to instruments plugins are fine, but having hardware for a frontend for vocals and acoustic guitar is still well worth it. This video confirms it. Also for me, Vocals are the main focus of my music, if your doing electronica or instrumental music maybe it doesn't matter as much.

[@keysbythenumbers]

Thanks for the education tip. My biggest takeaway is to understand what the hardware does and then dial in the correct settings for the plugins, which are good. Just not hardware!

[@michaelcandido2824]

yea major difference which is why im mostly hybrid and otb these days. For plugins i use the mixanalog and analog obsession plugin to control hardware gear and then i use my own gear and my two small format consoles (RCA and Biamp). I use about 5-6 plugins for tasks that i dont have in hardware land like spataliziers and other weird stuff.

[@adsertheblade]

I mean the soft compressor was doing 20db of GR compared to the 7db the hardware was doing. I would expect to hear some difference. I really noticed the first time we changed from hardware to software with the whole chain. I wasn't really looking at the screen, but it felt like something just got lost in the character. I don't think it's really a question of is hardware better than software, it's more a question of: can you do the job with software, bearing in mind that, for example, you can use every single Plugin Alliance gem for $14.99 a month, and they have pretty much everything you need, or can you afford to fill your studio with the equivalent hardware? Let's be honest: ALL of us want to have the hardware, but can we? $14.99 a month for everything (they also had a sale this week offering a one off cost of $400 for everything and you keep it all forever) vs $3k+ for just one compressor...

[@jacobseal]

Just stumbled upon this channel and had to check that I didn't do any drugs this morning. Anyway great, creative content. In More and more videos I am watching the hardware is winning by a significant margin. It's when you push it hard that you can really tell. The nice hardware grins happily where then plugins tend to fall apart. I did a vocals test using the CLA 1176(bluey) vs the 1176 hardware clone from mixanalog. I definitely preferred the hardware. It sounds less tubby, more focused, and it grabbed much harder and in a more pleasing way than the plugin did. I am convinced that I need to get 1 good hardware comp and 1 good hardware EQ.

[@pcbenutzer6651]

The difference is quite noticeable but I really don’t think that in this age of music the difference matters at all. Because most people didn’t even notice the way the hear music know a days only a person how does music production them self or are really passionate about music will care and not even there will even care if they don’t know the 2 different mixes. All what’s matters today is that the mix is good not the best. Mixing with analog is just nice to have and I would definitely use it over digital if you have the choice. But definitely not worth the price tag if you compare it overall with digital

[@pHiLKizer]

If you were limited to these few plugins and these particular settings, yes hardware wins. But most of us have other plugins to make shape the vocals exactly how we want them in the finest of detail. ie Fabfilter, iZotope, Waves, Slate, Voxengo, Valhalla, Analog Obsession, kiloheats, oeksound, etc

[@RonitGAMES]

can u help me to get good vocals with Vst

[@dalydose221]

Did you change out your tubes in the cl1b for different ones? Or are these stock tubes.

[@rcoze_rj]

I actually preferred the backing vocals in option B, and then found out it's the plugin version...

[@traviscumming3143]

so keen to hear the comparison between the analog and software Tube Tech,

[@bunkeanglong123]

Thank you so much for teaching a beginner like me in music production 🎼 .

[@jamescastillo2365]

Can you show us how you connect the C800g to the neve , pre amp , and interface ? Like the setup ?

[@alexzmixing]

The hardware is just so much better. No contest. Thanks Reid for the test.

[@artbremer4076]

Definitely, the difference is there. Hardware undoubtedly sounds more alive, rounded and convincing, while software lacks body and is harsh in the high mid and high frequency range. However, it must be admitted that plugins do sound close. But so far, plugins still sound as a really good and sometimes fantastic emulation of the hardware. Having said that, there is a reason why most of the industry recording and production stages are done with hardware - it is essential to give this natural, balanced 3D sound. However, in the mixing phase, plugins - due to technological breakthroughs - are sufficient enough to stay completely "in the box". This is just my humble conviction.

[@patrickwilliams1886]

I thoroughly enjoy your content. I only have software and all high end plug ins. I hear the difference in the sound with the hardware but have no clue how to integrate analog gear with my apollo twin in Studio One 4. Can you help?

[@rinexxl]

This particular intro got me shitting 😂 Reid Wont Kill Me