SSL2 Preamps vs Great River ME1-NV

This installment of Road Dog Reviews gives you a quick comparison of the built in preamps of the SSL2 compared to The Great River Electronics ME1-NV on acoustic guitar and vocals.
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[@OllertonMD]

GUITAR- Finger Style 0:38 SSL2 finger 1:12 SSL + 4k finger 2:59 great river finger GUITAR- Strumming 1:43 SSL2 strum 2:20 SSL2 + 4K strum 3:35 great river strum VOICE AND GUITAR 6:05 SSL2 with vocals and guitar 6:41 SSL2 + 4k with vocals and guitar 4:50 great river with vocals and guitar

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thank you for that!

Not all heroes wear capes

[@danielgaudet6114]

Really loved this comparison. Thanks for taking the time to produce this video. I liked the ME1-NV the most, especially when you were singing. Awesome voice BTW... From Quispamsis, NB, Canada.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

That is so kind of you to say. I also prefer the ME1-NV. I am still surprised at how "usb" powered preamps have come along. Simply no substitute for a great standalone.

[@davidfabien7220]

Very good demo thanks

[@maunstermusic]

Thanks for this. I've been wanting to hear the Great River in action on something recorded recently, Also your voice caught me totally off guard. Crazy great singing voice!

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I LOVE the GR pre! Thank you for t the encouragement.

[@NickPavlica]

The 4k function really adds that extra something special. Good demo!

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thanks hope it was helpful

[@jimlingmusicchannel]

I own the GR as well and been using it for almost everything, it has its special sound quality that I really love! By the way, you’re a really great musician, both your guitar playing and singing are great!

[@OllertonMD]

Thank you so much for this excellent shootout. First Impressions: the bottom end of the great river was so rich and lovel omg. The SSL's 4k feature made the guitars sound too thin but really enhanced your voice and made it sound very intimate, like you were whispering in my ear. I think the SSL could start approximating the quality of the great river in a rough sense if a darker microphone was used and then 4k was engaged. I can tell that cheap chinese mics (not talking about your Lauten btw) with a k67 capsule and a scheps cirtuit/without corrective EQ would likely sound shrill in the SSL, especially with 4k on. Also, I cannot discern anything special about the 4k besides it boosting 7-10 khz by a few dBs.

[@bm-ld8uq]

Man your voice is amazing along with this video!

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thanks Jose

[@msdeltabrisket1]

Killer voice! SSL2 with 4k

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thanks

[@rockyludden8709]

Wow, both sound great but the ME1-NV definitely adds something special.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I agree

[@leonardtristan6873]

I guess smoothness is expensive, great video

[@RynoComesAlive]

I've ordered ssl 2 because of this amazing demo.. by the way beautiful guitar huge bass and great voice😁

[@JayFlemingMusic]

So sorry I missed this comment. Thank you very much.

[@prophilla6175]

First off, AMAZING voice and some great playing dude! Secondly, I have the SSL2 and while I love it, this just confirmed my wallets deepest fear.. an external preamp is just leagues ahead and I need one sooner or later. Even thru YT compression, I can hear just how 3D, layered and deep the great river is in comparison. Although the SSL still definitely punches way above its weight and price tag.. Thanks for sharing!

[@allIhaveISMusic1]

dead right there. ssl 2, no preamp to release vocals on...no way

[@JayFlemingMusic]

The Great Rive is phenomenal

[@toefes]

I prefer the 4k in all examples, that's amazing!

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

Both really great and work great together as expected The GR is 3 times the price and as a dedicated pre, has it's own great compounded flavour as well.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

True!

[@Dailyscriptures2]

Amazing voice, and i will go for ME1-NV.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thank you so much! I am a HUGE fan of The Great River

[@ahjacee]

i like ME-1NV and your voice

[@JayFlemingMusic]

TY

[@ivyriley2916]

Your singing sound's amazing. I got the SSL2 interface and I bought a Art mic pre about 4 days ago..It is a slight difference in sound when I run my bass or guitar threw it, I have notice that I really dont need the pre amp, because I have eq plugins anyway when mixing, I was going to send it back to the store, but I guess I will keep it for when Im on my balcony or outside or something, I can just record my bass and guitar threw the art mic pre into my MPC ONE , because the mic pre gives me some nice volume, but as far as when I record vocals in my DAW, I really dont need it.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words. How do you like the ART compared to the SSL?

[@ivyriley2916]

@@JayFlemingMusic I like the Art, But when I push down the 4k on the SSL, there is really not much of a difference. Im going to go ahead and send the ART back, because the SSL is fine all by itself, I was doing Comparison's today & I came to the conclusion that I can use the SSL by itself, and push the 4k, because when I compared my Bass,, all I had to do is put a eq on the bass track and add just a little gain on the low end and it wasnt no difference. So if its that close, then I dont need it. I compared it also with VoCs and guitar. So im sending it back, I can use that money on studio foam or something that I can use

[@jeffhirata]

Great river sounds great!

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I absolutely love it.

[@mrddcass6540]

Great river 👌

[@JPDC624]

No contest, Great River wins it, and it SHOULD. Great review, this is how it needs to be done.

[@Hexspa]

You should keep that great River on hand at all times. Take it with you to the bathroom and when you get the mail. Don’t let it out of your sight!

[@JayFlemingMusic]

It's a keeper for certain

[@mikolajsluzewski6121]

Great River seems more delicate and detailed to my ears, while the SSL has some more defined "character" if I can call it like that. They both sound very good, though, pretty much pro studio grade quality I think.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

The Great River is phenomenal! The SSL is great also. The KZbin compression takes away a lot of the nuances.

[@ramamorovati8627]

You sound amazing! But how can you tell the difference, when you can't bypass the internal mic pre of the SSL2 while the sound from 1NV is getting colored by internal mic pres of the SSL2?

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thank you! While there's no true bypass. There is definitely a noticeable difference in dimension and frequency response. Even with the influence, I hear a marked difference. I have used the Great River through many different converters/preamps and am familiar enough with it's characteristics to distinguish what color is being added by them. I will say, compared to other built in pres in this sort of format. The SSL is one that seems to have the least effect in my opinion.

[@anton-vlasenko]

Thanks for the video! Is there any noise level difference between SSL 2 preamps and ME1 preamps? I have a SSL 2 and I'm not sure if I need to buy an external preamp. Thanks.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

There is no comparison between the two honestly. The ssl is on par or better than most desktop units. The Great River is a whole other animal.

[@anton-vlasenko]

​@@JayFlemingMusic ​​ Thanks for the answer. I appreciate it. I agree that SSL 2 preamps are good. > The Great River is a whole other animal. I agree with that as well. But noise is an objective parameter, and it can be compared and measured. So these units can be compared. :) I'd be very interested in your opinion on this matter.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

@@anton-vlasenko These units can indeed be compared. However, what I meant by "There is no comparison" is that the Greatriver is an entirely different architecture therefore it is like a comparison between and apple and a pear. The buss powered unit is stellar when compared to other buss powered units. When comparing to The Great River the noise and gain characteristics are simply not on the same level. The Great River has less self noise at higher gain levels.

[@anton-vlasenko]

@@JayFlemingMusic Thanks a lot! >The Great River has less self noise at higher gain levels. Nice! This is what I was hoping to hear. :)

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Both units will review the flaws in microphone circuits! The GR is more complimentary to various microphone designs.

[@anthroparion]

I like the - SSL with 4k button

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Me too

[@adamwoczyk772]

I think a lot of your work has been killed by the KZbin compressor. SSL has very good preamps, however, great river wins for me.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I believe you are correct on the YT squash.... I am pleasantly surprised at the stock SSL preamps, but the GR is my go to for good reason.

[@davidmac42]

Great River every time.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

That's my preference also

[@mariojohnson218]

Can you please share your settings on the great river

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Certainly. I generally run the output at slightly under full up. "95-100%" Input varies with the mic. But often between 25-35. No buttons other than 48v for condenser mics. Also if I want a bit more grit I may lower the output a tad and hit the front-end harder.

[@mariojohnson218]

@@JayFlemingMusic thanks a lot if I leave the output half way will I get a different sound vs all the way up? I usually leave my gain around 30

[@JayFlemingMusic]

@@mariojohnson218 Yes indeed you will get a different tonal quality. I played with different settings prior and still had great results. The "full up" on the output came from a friend. I tried it and it kinda stuck. Works pretty much all the time for me. I also notice a lower noise floor when running conservative on the front end and pushing the output. I does depend a TON on the mic!

[@WRPierre2]

Rich vocals

[@bighousemusic628]

No.matter how high end a interface may be a standalone pre will always be king converters are now just as powerful as standalone converters

[@AtmLifted]

Soooo can I bypass the preamps on ssl2 so I can use my golden age pro 73

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I don't believe it is a "true" bypass. I do use my outboard pre all the time. I do not detect any coloration from the SSL pre.

[@AtmLifted]

@@JayFlemingMusic ok cool cause I have been using my id14 to run my pre and 1176 and la 2a through and it's been great it's just I don't have a second headphone inout.. are you getting any bass distortion when turning your monitors up... I'll basically be using the ssl like a mackie big know

[@JayFlemingMusic]

@@AtmLifted I don't! I actually started using it as a monitor controller. To my ears, it is much better than any "reasonably" priced stand alone monitor controller I have ever used.

[@AtmLifted]

@@JayFlemingMusic good to hear that's exactly what I use my id14 for ok cool. May I ask what's your most users plugin mix chain.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

@@AtmLifted I prefer my outboard gear most of the time. When I am staying in the box, I like the Fabfilter 3 for eq and usually a Pultec eq, with any one of the 1176 or LA 2a comps. I have a ton of plug-ins and I generally use whatever hits me that day. But that is usually my basic chain in whatever order seems to work. For reverb I really like the Verb Suite from slate or my Eventide. Mix bus almost always has a stereo Pultec into a Fairchild into Ozone9

[@rjb7569]

Got to be honest...tough to tell the difference. Perhaps GR finger-picked sounded best for me.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

YT doesn't do either justice. There is definitely more dimension with the GR.

[@united100]

GR..... wins .. big-time

[@JayFlemingMusic]

It is my go to for a reason

[@ribaldibazzani]

Great River and Ssl are in two different galaxies. Great River fullest, more detailed, it is the professional sound I would expect. Considering the difference in price, the Ssl performed acceptably well. Great voice and guitar playing: the Great River just gets it right.

[@JayFlemingMusic]

For sure. I am in LOVE with the Great River!

[@allIhaveISMusic1]

I think SSL are in great need of money ..as usual..I have Tannoy studio monitors and Genelecs, almost no difference at all! with 4k or without it, as for using this to record vocals...? Forget it! Low quality preamps, powered by ..usb?? Seriously...

[@JayFlemingMusic]

I have also found that the 4k is more noticeable on certain types of microphones. I do like the ssl pre compared to a LOT of other "budget friendly" units out there. They are dead quiet though!

[@ruchy75]

Great guitar playing...wonderful voice..Sure you sound incredible in every preamp on earth..keep playing .

[@JayFlemingMusic]

Thank you so much Roger.