SPL BiG 500 Series Stereo Expander | Demo

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

If you mix "all in the box", check out my online training which includes a FREE 90 min mixing course. www.homerecordingmadeeasy.com

[@DJNuimani]

I thought the analog would've had a better decription and turns out it was equally as bad as the plugin description Range Control Adjusts the filter frequency for precise control over the processed range. Stage Control Manipulates the slope and bandwidth. Make key elements of your mix feel more present or push them back to shift focus and create a greater sense of depth. Bigness Control Bring the “Bigness”. This unique blend knob mixes processed and original audio with SPL's proprietary combining method, delivering dynamic control over stereo expansion and balance. I did not understand either one, laugh out loud

[@ColtCapperrune]

Really appreciate the shout out! Love what y’all do!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks Colt

[@hockeytalk6084]

I also bought this because I saw you using it 😂

[@danymalsound]

Stuff like this is why I don't get how people say atmos makes you feel like you're IN the mix... I feel that just with stereo material like this. It's insane and sounds awesome! No need for 13 speakers : ) Nice job, man!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks Danny!!

[@christopherJSmokeandMirrors]

Hey man, without atmos, how can Apple put a stranglehold on the music industry and resell you all the music you already own?

[@gregrodrigueziii8075]

@@christopherJSmokeandMirrors Atmos have existed way before this hulabaloo in the music industry. been a decade since we had atmos. Its not even a "new thing". apple didnt made a move for a decade, so it has no connection. Better ask dolby why they are targeting the music industry suddenly. Its them who approached all this organisations.

[@gregrodrigueziii8075]

Honestly the real benefit of surround is a real center. Phantom center and real center is just way too different. And 9/10 a real center is above and beyond better than phantom center. But thats it. I dont understand the real reason why the sudden push for a decade old format by dolby to the music industry. I mean you dont really need atmos to have that center, a normal 5.1 would have worked, even a quadro with LCR and mono surround. Movies havent been stereo for decades already for a reason. It has real use, the obvious sudden push to atmos is just weird though.

[@bluematrix5001]

@@christopherJSmokeandMirrors people struggle to mix right a stereo mix and barely translate in millions of different stereo systems, go figure how shitty is the world of atmos translation...maybe only in good cinemas

[@drwmedia]

Just picked one up today, excited for it to be my first 500 series module on my mix buss.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Cool, enjoy

[@sourcefor]

Picked one up as well as the 542’s!

[@Te-BiL]

This channel is the best .

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you!!

[@hockeytalk6084]

I pretty much always have some type of widening effect on the master of my beats and samples, so I ordered this thing as soon as I heard of it 😂. Really awesome piece of gear. It greatly enhances the stereo image but there’s some other fine little sonic things it does that I can’t quite put my finger on and that’s the magic. I could really see this being a sort of secret sauce for mastering in many home studios, and I have seen it used by esteemed professionals as well. Really exciting stuff from SPL. Amazingly fair and accessible price for something like this as well. I would heavily recommend this unit to anybody looking for a little bit of width and “sauce” on your master or really on any stereo tracks. Great job SPL!!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@Mr1Schoolmaster]

See? Now that's a demo !Thank you so much. (good live feed) and i can actually hear the A-B I'm subscribing.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@richiebraniac6924]

I like the fact that you show which settings that you use on the SPL Big for your mix and also how you play around with the unit so that we can get a feel for how this unit responds when used. I am seriously thinking about picking up this unit and using it for my mixes!!! Great video!!!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks very much! I appreciate the kind words

[@DMV-SaxTv]

Thanks Dave! Finally getting my 1st 500 rack together and don't want to waste good slots, so SPL Big made the cut to accompany the SSL UV 500. Since you sold your "Fusion" and many say that the Vintage Drive is too noisy for some ... I went in another direction. Plus, you dropped Colt's creds, so that was added comfort.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Glad it helped!

[@JackNance22]

Great demo, really adds a nice final touch. I was avoiding a 500 series rack, but this might make me get on board.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

The 500 series stuff is really great and more affordable than standard rack gear. I have three 500 rack now...LOL

[@hockeytalk6084]

It’s worth it dude!! I mulled over it for a long time and really did not want to have to buy an expensive chassis and a new interface just to get the ball rolling…but once I did….BEST decision ever lol. Can’t beat some thing like this at home for 500 bucks

[@JeremyVarao]

I actually just nabbed one of these for my Mix/Master Bus yesterday and am pretty excited for it. Nice vid!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Congrats!! c

[@ftlaud911]

Thank you for demo. Huge difference!! It takes the front primary image and brings up the sides to make them more equal. When overcooked (still sounds good) you lose that intimacy of the vocalist image being front and center. When not overdone you can get the best of both worlds. Sounds great!! Definitely added some additional clarity which sounded like it added some gain to the signal. Very nice addition to the signal chain imho.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@agency1000x]

any better than what plugins can do?

[@Gang-25j]

@@agency1000xall hardware is better than plugins, and plugins are better than hardware for other reasons, in the end they both work

[@DERAILENTERTAINMENT1]

I do hear the Stage pushing the Midst back and forward in the mix.. I LIKEY... Sounds good! Keep jammin Bro💯

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you very much!

[@memeswillneverdie]

I believe it's something that only really shows it'self in headphones rather than speakers. In headphones I hear the effect really well with the stage knob but in speakers it's less defined.

[@JerMarMusicGroup]

Yep!

[@MrBlessup247]

Very nice 👍🏽 adds a lot of definition to mix and opens up the mix nicely and a loverly brightness on the top end too ❤ it 👌🏽💯 on my lists now 😊 good shout uncle Dave

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks very much!!

[@santiagocalleja3926]

I also love this box. Before buying it, I watched Colt's review and ordered it straight away all the way from Germany to Argentina. Gotta take the risk lol (spoiler alert, everything went well and I have my unit). Had I watched the review from you, I would have done the same. Great content, as always Dave!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks so very much!!

[@echothenatives]

Thank you for this video! I just got one in my studio, its the best!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I love it!!

[@Djartcore]

:We'd like to see a presentation of the 542 please :)

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Maybe at one point but not anytime soon, sorry

[@davefennellprivate]

Hey, great video. You said you can't hear what the "stage" does, but to my ear it was clearly moving the piano forward and back in the mix - presumably because of the frequency you've got selected on the range - when you turned down the stage the piano went very quiet in the mix and when you cranked it up it brought the piano right to the front. It almost feels like there should be two "range" nobs though, one for the widening frequency and one for the "stage" effect ... I feel it's unlikely they would be the same.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Good points. I need to re-listen to those controls

[@JerMarMusicGroup]

Wish list!!! 💪🏾💯

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@pedroparussolo9723]

it really sounds amazing, good price, it have everything someone would need. thanks for the great video!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

You're very welcome! thank you

[@badmacbassandbass8118]

sounds great!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you

[@syncopatemusic2323]

WOOOOOA INCREDIBLE SOUND

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@kristianmarschewski1590]

i have a theory of how this thing works: It kinda sounds like Mid/Side processing. Bigness simply boosts the side in volume, therefor you dont have any phase related problems. Range makes it multiband. and the Stage sounds like saturation in the sides

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

You know, that sounds correct to me. I found that you need ot be pretty subtle with this or things start sound a bit weird.

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

Yeah, sold!!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I love this thing and use it on every mix!

[@capjoneslives]

Subbed. Thanks for your work and reviews.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you very much!

[@StephanRitch]

Great video! Thank you!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@Protocol_17]

On a phone, it has limited effect. On monitors, I noticed the mids coming forward, especially on keys. I think it would work well on a backing vocals bus.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

You can se this anywhere but I use it on the master bus

[@jamescave7102]

I wanted to ask Uncle Dave, would you say getting the “Imager” from Izotope could be as good? Or does it make a bigger difference?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I use both and the BIG is better IMHO

[@jamescave7102]

@@MixingMusicAnalogThank you for your response. I will watch the video again carefully this time to choose.

[@mikaelsehlin]

Amazing!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thank you

[@wilsantanaproductor]

I was one of those that wasn’t subscribe man 😅 great content!

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Hey, that's great! Thank you my friend!

[@eduardojimenezlostaunau5832]

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

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Sure you can!

[@kshep39]

Hey Dave, thanks for making these videos. Would you mind sharing what kind of camera you use to show the module in the rack?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

All of my cameras are the Sony a6600 with a Sigma 16mm art lens. They are great in low light and its super easy to get a great image

[@braxal6983]

Very nice demo Dave. I like that device. Just curious if you owned a Neve Protico II would you need to have those Neve tape emulators?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Not sure.. I dont have that particular piece

[@JimboJones99]

Where abouts is the SPL Big in the chain for your mixbus outboard gear? ... EQ - SSL G COMP - SPL BIG? ... or is thr Spl big before the mix bus compressor.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

SPL is right before the console compressor

[@maestrodmc]

Just based on your video, it seems to me that the STAGE control seems to push the stereo field backwards or forwards. Kind of like if the singer were right in front of you and the band were on a U shaped platform on wheels behind the singer. The more you turn the knob it changes how far behind her the platform rolls. Does that make sense?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

hummm, yea, I kid of see what you are saying and it sort of sounds like that

[@phuturemusic]

Would you recommend some rack- mounted?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I dont understand your question.

[@thee_jpp]

Would this have any use on the initial recording chain, or is this really only beneficial when used on the full mix?

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Not in my opinion

[@sunahura]

It's time for you to make an analog box, we need Dave's flavor in a box.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

LOL.....yes! I need a company to make an "Uncle Dave" color box

[@gumminenivijaybabu-ig6fp]

Hi bro Spl it makes only sides and I think bass stuff will be remain same? My Opinion is like bass content must be in centre

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks!

[@onekingmusic7018]

When you mentioned your masterbus chain you didn't talk about compression.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

compression is done on the console

[@onekingmusic7018]

@@MixingMusicAnalog thank for your response .. all I have right now is a fusion and wanted to add the empress and a bus comp .. I would love to get a pair of tape emulators on there too

[@byus6928]

Not gonna lie those tiggies caught my eye 😂😂😂

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@asymmetrymedia9838]

I sent this one back instantly. Personally i found it to be too extreme too quick. I could achieve the exact same widening in the box with more control. In fact, turning up the side channels in a mid/side plugin pretty much achieves the same thing. That's my experience at least.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Interesting. You are the first person I have heard say this about the BIG. Hey, if it does not work for you then you should send it back. Its all about workflow.

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

Great sounding mix! This unit sounds awesome. Seems starting around "10", it gets to be too much as the vocal disburses a little too much (at least for this mix). Something to go on my wish list for later as I just upgraded to an SSL Big Six. Regarding the SSL Fusion - I'm pretty sure its widener is only for the bass. I wonder how this stacks up to the RND MBP? Probably just for cost, it wins out.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

You're probably right! Thanks for watching!

[@djgalawak]

nice for price ;) cheers

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@marcinmima4779]

Master

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

like Sony Megabass + stereo widener

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

I never used the Sony Mega Bass

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

@@MixingMusicAnalog Cheapest brands used just a bass boost eq and eventually destroyed the earbuds, Sony Megabass uses dynamics processing, so the tiny earbuds would rarely be broken but bass sounded deeper and tightened up . I would suggest trying a late model discman or minidisc. Cheers !

[@soundeducation5554]

I own this unit. Nothing special, might be the unit that I use least. Forget the hype.

[@MixingMusicAnalog]

That's your opinion and that's totally fine. however, you are the first person I have heard someone say something negative about this box so I think you are in the minority.