Tubetech CL1B vs UA PLUGIN | Plugin vs Hardware

[@THEKITPLUG]

The flexibility that the plugin gives you is worth the extremely small difference from the hardware version. You can easily make up for it with some slight eq as well.

[@littleblackboy]

would you eq into the plugin or after?

[@djboriginal]

Good comparison. While I hear some small differences, it's probably the same amount of difference you'd hear between hardware units. There's no way in the world an end listener is going to care either way when they are enjoying a great mix and a great song. Save the money IMO. Get the plugin and keep working to improve our mixing skill set.

[@elduccitv4304]

You said it best!

[@nicefish10]

I agree to a point. But as somebody that owns a ton of high-end hardware, there is no substitute for grabbing a physical knob and connecting with the music with a tactile connection vs a mouse…and that extra 10% of usability vs the plug-in is worth it (at least to me) as is drawing clients to my studio because I own a piece of nice hardware. If you’re a hobbyist, get the plug-in. If you’re a pro get the hardware. If you want to be seen as a pro get the hardware. Nobody has ever come to my studio because I have a specific plug-in..

[@djboriginal]

@nicefish10 I'm definitely a pro, and like many other pros, I'm 100% in the box. There hasn't been any artist I've produced records for or mixed/mastered for that cared if I used hardware or not. And yes, I'm talking about well-known industry artists. Like the old saying goes, it's not the gear, it's the ears (and skill set).

[@markallengalik4037]

​@@djboriginalholy SHIT, you worked with KRS??? I thought you were blowing smoke like everybody else on mixing videos, but god damn. I highly appreciate your opinion - I get worried sometimes that I don't have enough hardware to "look legit," but hearing this from someone who's worked with the greats, it really eases my mind. Thanks for this comment and for the amazing music!

[@djboriginal]

@markallengalik4037 word up. I've definitely worked with KRS and many others. At the end of the day, it's all about your ears, and plugins are amazing these days. Use whatever you are comfortable with. For me, I'm in the box all the way. ✌🏾

[@juansebastianrodriguez9682]

the low end on the hardware is impressive its so lovely on the plug in its gone to my ears there is a big difference or its also the converters and other factors that seems to add more information on the hardware

[@philmartin7474]

They are probably doing similar compression, but the hardware sounds brighter and sharper. The plugin sounds a little dull/muffled ( good for de’essing though😄)

[@MariJu1ce]

The Hadware is so sick, the biggest difference I hear is that bloom in the low end of the vocal seems to be really euphonic and 3d, and it seems to add some relaxed air. The plugin cant really do intense compression settings whenever I use it, it sounds really pumpy

[@palodine1]

I certainly hear a significant difference. The plugin captures a bit of the essence of the sound but the hardware is very natural sounding.

[@Miltersen]

I was actually a beta tester for the MK1 version. I was supplied with a Hardware unit, and the plugin. And I had John from Lydkraft come to my studio for my feedback. It's soooo long ago, and I can't even remember what the characters were, but it didn't sould quite alike, but had some of the "compression curves of the CL1B". I hear the same in MK II. And any software plugin for that matter. There seems to be no "air" around the plugins. So I kept the hardware box. Unfortunatly I sold it in a dark moment. But I found a way to compensate in the box.

[@gdansk12349]

I agree, the mojo is completely lost in the plugin. How do you compensate in the box? 🤓

[@CalvinTheII]

would love to know how you compensate in the box as well 🤔

[@MrDudoMusic]

please tell me how you compensate for the air

[@simmermusic3894]

@@gdansk12349 He's probably using the Maag EQ4 to add air

[@campar1043]

I use a pultec or sometimes the waves aural exciter to add air, it helps but it’s not the same unfortunately

[@Radi-Musique]

Thanks Thomas, as always you do an awesome job comparing anolog to digital. I hope you will continue!!

[@thomasvopstal]

Thanks so much! I will definitely keep going! New video soon!

[@Vocalisto]

The Hardware CL1B is probably one of the most desireable pieces of Gear for me that I like to own. But especially on the Vocal Parts, I can't hear a lot of a difference to justify spending 3-4 thousand bucks! I've listened here over Genelec 8361a and Audeze LCD XC' s. The biggest Difference is on the Bass and 808's. The Harware is cleaner and handles Compression better but sometimes you just want that distortion on a 808 or a Bass. So you don't need an extra saturation plugin. By the Way this is the best Comparsion Videos from a CL1B vs Plugin that I've watched here on youtube! So keep goin on with that line!

[@isaiahhudson5470]

808’s?? That sound like the secret sauce. Your on to something…!

[@johnisrael5183]

Thanks for letting us hear how an Analog Tubetech sounds...really impressive peace of hardware....I honestly think its the best sounding analog tube comp......sounds better than manley, fairchild and la2a to me

[@brentbrownmusic]

Excellent comparison, thank you! Exactly the information I needed right now. I liked/subbed 👌

[@brentbrownmusic]

If u have a chance. I’de love to know what your favorite pre-amp to pair with this might be?

[@JohnMarshall-NI]

Listening in a treated room with calibrated speakers. The hardware sounded noticeably brighter and more open on the vocal examples. Probably nothing that couldn't be added in with some subtle EQ. The deal breaker for me was the distortion/saturation in the plugin. It wasn't like it was adding subtle tube harmonics to the sound, it sounded separate from the source, and not pleasing. Cheers for the effort you put into your videos. Appreciated!

[@lortakeover2129]

What compressor plugin would you recommend for clean vocal

[@JohnMarshall-NI]

@@lortakeover2129 if you want clean compression, your DAW probably has one that will do it. Analog emulations usually have their own colour and character.

[@livingmoneypolitics]

At the end of the day it all amounts to how much the artist is putting into the song. In a mix down with a truly compelling vocal no one will hear the slight difference.

[@JamesStMichael]

I never was big on the UAD/ soft tube version but was very surprised how well it did with proper gain staging at lower compression settings.

[@vincenthabay5109]

nice video ... the HW is as we can expect more alive but to me the difference sounds more obvious on the manual setting , on the fixed setting the plug sounds strangely close

[@hato.dj]

I like this series

[@thomasvopstal]

Need your reaction tho!😅

[@INeedsMoneys]

Facts!

[@CharlesK441]

Great comparison, LOVE THE OUTRO MUSIC

[@MarkVO]

The hardware squashes the vocals in a MUCH more natural way and doesn't even sound very compressed. It also doesn't introduce this harshness in the mids (3-6k range? not sure) that the plugin does. The difference is less noticeable in the female vocals but really shows in the louder section. The hardware handles it extremely well. The plugin sounds overcompressed, even if it's the same gain reduction.

[@danielkisel5661]

The native version not the UAD version has a headroom slider and phase rotation I think it's possible to dial in better sound from plugin when I use those knobs you can get the right amount of saturation quickly and then just use mixknob. But yeah hardware sounds kinda nice there bit smoother which I think again adding bit of high shelf roll of before CL1B plugin could get them closer.

[@Peter-gs7fd]

The plugin just does the job. The hardware is adding color.

[@Don_nell]

Hardware sounds more warmer and more tubey because it's actually going through real tubes. The software sounds less warm and doesn't sound like it's going through a tube because it isn't. But it does still great as a software compressor. I would definitely buy both the software and the hardware for both home and software for abroad recordings because I mainly like the compression on this unit and I think the software does an excellent job emulating the Tube-Tech compression pretty well which is why I bought the software for remote location recording.

[@RaunoPaananenAudio]

Hi, Excellent comparison. I heard a little more 3D depth at high frequencies and a slightly softer compression character in the female vocals in hardware, but both sound very nice. Thanks for the video!

[@CLdwyer]

This was a great demo/comparison. I get a strong impression that the hardware is giving more THD/saturation. Makes me wonder what a measurement meter would show. If that is correct, it’s possible that is adding a lot more clarity back to the signal compared with the plug-in. The plug-in however sounds cleaner (less saturation on the signal). There were moments on the female vocal when I preferred the plug-in. It’s kinda like using the legacy version of UAD pultec vs the tube version. Scheps mentioned in a vid years ago that he prefers the legacy version because it’s cleaner and impacts the low end of a signal in a more desirable way. I’d still love to have that hardware tho! Thanks for the best demo of this comparison on the internet.

[@thomasvopstal]

Thanks so much! Yes, they’re all just tools and colors for the canvas. One might work better than the other on one thing and vice versa.

[@KambanMusic]

I feel like the hardware is really going to let the vocal shine more where as the plugin may leave room for the vox to get lost in the mix which you'll have to add a little EQ (a musical one) to get it shining again. I feel like the hardware makes the vocal float a little more. But the plugin is a lot less money obviously lol

[@ianbalasabas789]

You are paid by HW company to make this comment sir

[@KambanMusic]

@Ian Balasabas Absolutely not 🤣 I wish I got paid to give my honest opinion though..

[@tonygunz21]

Hardware lets a little bit more of the transients in the upper registers pass through. Both sound great, and in the context, the difference would be negligent.

[@wilsantanaproductor]

Great video! Very helpful. I have been considering getting this comp 🤟🏼

[@drillgirl718]

tube tech hardware uses ecc83 and 82 tubes which add that saturation to the signal which makes it sound thicker and fuller through second order harmonics and shitz, so if u want to get closer through the plugin i would add a saturator before the tube tech plugin version

[@thomasvopstal]

But it’s modeled after the real tubetech, isn’t it? Would defeat the purpose of modeling after an actual hardware piece if they forgot to emulate the tube saturation

[@drillgirl718]

Thomas van Opstal yeah i would think so and they probably did but it still needs more than, ima try stacking 10 tube techs without using any compression lol maybe that will help wit thickness

[@Jjf109nine]

No, tubes are warm, they add sizzle, no warmth. Transformers add bottom. I have the Cl1b hardware and all it does is raise the room and add sizzle.

[@chichanlemarechal]

If you can hear the deference , u Gotta go with The hardware , with that said , adding saturation after the plugin version could help getting closer to the hardware sound .

[@TransistorLSD]

Actually, opposite. Hardware is CLEANER.

[@chichanlemarechal]

@@TransistorLSD i do agree, the hardware in smoother on the top end , but I feel lake of presence with the plugin version in my opinion.

[@TransistorLSD]

@@chichanlemarechal And this lack of presence comes from saturation :) because plugin saturates the low-end more, way more than mids, thus harmonics mainly appear in the "muddy zone" 200-500hz. Presence in the hardware CL1B comes from the LACK of those harmonics, i'm 100% sure.

[@chichanlemarechal]

@@TransistorLSD ok ,than to get the plugin version closer to the hardware you can add upper harmonics , so I'm not wrong.

[@TransistorLSD]

@@chichanlemarechal Well... But then it'll be too dirty overall compared to the hardware. Not entirely sure it'll be actually closer. In my opinion it would be smarter to just cut a little bit of low mids with an EQ after CL1B plugin. But you never know... Maybe your method would also work.

[@JayDay285]

I wish you would have level matched these. I can clearly hear the hardware unit is louder

[@PeterAltajerarquia]

Good comparison, except that I keep looking at the hardware gain button, which I see is higher than that of the plugins, which makes the comparison a little unfair.

[@thomasvopstal]

Don’t i explain that in this video?

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

The plugin pump that was my main problem with it that's why i never took it seriously i told softube did a bad job on this, i don't know if opto compressors are hard to emulate but they didn't nail this one at all.

[@flipnap2112]

love these comparisons. I think for most prosumers the emulations are worth the money saved. I just dont hear justification to spend thousands more for hardware in most cases. obviously if you have hard hitting clients you can spring for the gear and nothing replaces having knobs to grab. I do however wish these A/B comparative tests would go back and forth much quicker, and not at the end of a bar or during a pause. Seems it would be much more apparent switching every other second in some instances. not just you but all these tests.

[@thomasvopstal]

Thanksn🙏 yeah there’s definitely room for both to live together! About the quick comparison, i’m actually working on an AB blind test for Discord members, so make sure to join my server to be updated when that’s released!

[@RealHomeRecording]

Well the good thing is now you can log into Access Analog and they have a CL 1B available to use!

[@seekingtruthonly.4299]

I record the takes to Protools and put them on separate tracks to A/B and then use other plugs to see if I can match the HW.

[@QuabmasM]

I hope you do more videos comparing analog gear to each other because I want to get a feel for what their saturation & coloring abilities sound like. I didnt know the real cl1b sounded like this compared to the plugin I have(by a different brand than the one in this video...it sounds great but warm & fat in the low end more so than how these 2 sounded).

[@thomasvopstal]

Oh for sure! It’s a series. I’m currently on 4 videos but there are many more to come!

[@NoQualmsTheArtist]

Fixed, sounds great 🤔

[@G.Faustini]

Deus abençoe os criadores de biblioteca para o Nebula, por enquanto é o que mais se aproxima. Obrigado pela comparação.

[@cjgoeson]

8:53 plug-in 9:03 hw 8:59 plug-in 9:09 hw

[@lucchaumont7510]

nice video!!! I would love to see the same comparison of the manley vari mu !!! please

[@jayclas4023]

I don't hear enough difference to justify buying the hardware and the workflow that comes with it. some examples, the hardware was thicker and fuller but that's something we listen for while mixing(fullness). I think the plugin is fine given we know how to truly mix ITB.

[@gdansk12349]

I love the hardware. Impossible not to hear the difference in the plugin and the hardware. The HW is open and wide and has that smooth tube sound, the plugin chokes the source and has unsatisfying results, sometimes pumping and can't handle the same material as the HW does. I'm gonna demo the Titanium from Acustica to see if it's better. Thank you so much for this test!

[@thomasvopstal]

Anytime! Thanks for sharing your thought! Do let me know how you like the titanium! Might dive into some acustica stuff myself as well!

[@gdansk12349]

@@thomasvopstal Just demoed the Titanium. It sounds awesome to my ears. Much more open and forgiving, reacts better to the low end. Smoother!

[@ianbalasabas789]

HW sounds like a cartoom compared to HW

[@danmillward7358]

The difference is massive to me....i just like the sound of tubes its an amazing sound instantly musical and pleasant....digital is digital harsher thinner just is what it is. until we have the same amount bits as we do atoms analogue is just going to win....

[@Desi1080ptv]

So my question is can I just hook my cl1b up to my Apollo Quad 8 with out buying a preamp and just use the unison preamp and if so how do I bring that in do I bring that in as a mic input or line in Or do you think it would be better to just buy a analog pre amp and if so for rap vocals which pre do you think would be better for rap vocals 1. Neve 1073 Spx 2. Avalon 737 3. Neve 1073 mpf Bae with Eq

[@TLaySM]

You did an amazing job comparing the hw and sw. Have you tested the native softube version, the mk I, mk II, or any other company's version? I'm curious which cl 1b plugin emulation sounds best and would be worth buying.

[@thomasvopstal]

thanks so much! i haven't tried the softube version, but it should be exactly the same plugin. I'll see if Softube would be kind enough to let me try it to see if there are any differences tho!

[@SoundScienceMediaWorks]

It’s exactly the same plug-in . The MkII preserves the dynamics better at extreme settings. The softube plug-in makes the gain staging easier with its extended features

[@user-2Hteyasizyc]

Hardware is thicker for sure. And i dont own hardware i can just hear the difference night and day in the low mids of the vocal.

[@poltergeist_16]

What you think about Arturia Tube Sta? Please to do comparison with Softube Tube Tech cl 1 b

[@thomasvopstal]

This is actually the softube plugin, UAD is just licensing it. Haven’t tried the arturia sta

[@HeartDrumMachine]

Thx for video! What model tc electronic you use in studio? I see one on your rack.

[@thomasvopstal]

We’ve got an M3000 and an M-one

[@HeartDrumMachine]

@@thomasvopstal thx for the answer! Is m 3000 good for reverb?

[@thomasvopstal]

@@HeartDrumMachine it’s allright, but it’s kinda redundant and doesnt really get any use as i do everything in the box or on the lexicon 480L

[@HeartDrumMachine]

@@thomasvopstal thank you! I realized.

[@rayx5002]

How can you get such a clean vocal recording… can you please make a Video about that?

[@thomasvopstal]

Its on its way! Itll be available for members of ‘the virtual internship’ you can get there by clicking the ‘JOIN’ button below

[@WheelieMix]

I felt that the plugin wasn't reacting very well to transients material. I did a comparison on my channel too (with a CL1A tho). And I use a specific setting on snare to get a lot of snap (in parallel) with the CL1A. The plugin was completely unable to replicate it (to my despair).

[@django3108]

What song is this? Vocal sounds amazing

[@FUFUWO]

One of the reasons your soundsources could also be distorting is because (in the digital world) your supposed to have your sound source peaking at -18 dB in order for a plugin to be able to function and react properly. That is because it is emulating analog gear. -18dB in the digital world is equal to 0 dB in analog. You can use a VU meter from waves for example to get your levels in check. (you don't really need this , just make your soundsource peak at -18dB or -12dB MAX. Have your VU meter peak at 0 dB, then run it throught the plugin.

[@thomasvopstal]

You’re right in that 0VU is equal to -18dbfs, but 0 on a vu meter is not absolute 0. A vu meter actually only shows a small range within your signal as it only goes from -20 to +3 dbvu, and you’d always aim to have the needle dance around the 0vu point. so your signal should be around -18dbfs. Peaking at -18dbfs would result in too low level.

[@Rhuggins]

The software doesnt even model the THD or the units frequency response. Theres (for some reason) only one plugin modelling the CL1B in a thorough way (and its technically not modeled). Its from Tim Petheric and its for Nebula. Sounds perfect to me, that convolution technology is incredible

[@LaGuilTV]

Hardware sounds less pushy. I find the plugin sounds really pushy and pumpy. It looses its consistency when it gets hit hard. The hardware seems to be a little bit more transparent but at high ratios the plugin seems to do allot better at emulating the hardware. The real difference is that you are hearing 1s and 0s vs electrical current being manipulated. I don't think that a computer will ever be able to emulate hardware perfectly unless there is a hybrid unit.

[@ianbalasabas789]

PLACEBO

[@LaGuilTV]

@@ianbalasabas789 Absolutely not. Digital 1's and 0's will never replicate the way electricity is warped and bent through circuitry to obtain the colored sound we are all after. UAD comes close because they over sample but it will never have the same weight the analog gear has. Using vintage gear is like time traveling your audio. Transformers and circuits will always be better then 1's and 0's.

[@copetill7896]

The hardware versions of the CL1B, 1176 into LA2A, etc. combined w/a good cue mix will yield a better performance from a singer.

[@thomasvopstal]

Yes, but a good cue mix comes first! By far! No compressor is going to save a shitty cue mix😅

[@copetill7896]

@@thomasvopstal Indeed. A cue mix for a vocalist is not too hard to manage. Bands can be entertaining so I give 'em their own box. Cheers

[@JayDay285]

What about for rap vocalist?

[@copetill7896]

@@JayDay285 It'd be the same. I worked at Westlake Studios '95-00 and was lucky to assist/engineer for Wyclef, Death Row and a lot more. The UA unison 1073, 1176 and LA2A would get you there. If creating is your focus, I wouldn't go down the gear rabbit hole but if you do just get a AML 1073(500 Series), DBX160A and interface w/good converters. They'd cost less than 1k & won't drop in value either.

[@BigL3Z]

Can you tell me where your chair is from??

[@thomasvopstal]

They are Vitra Eames Lobby chair ES104

[@revelationsoundstudio]

The hardware allows articulations to be heard while the software softness it. I prefer the hardware character. Another person said there is no air in the plugin and i agree. That is another way of saying the same thing. I will comment it looks like the hardware make up gain is up while the plug in is not.

[@sagarchawla8145]

Hardware put so much difference between the transients and the trails. It's like the voice is hugging me

[@antonweisheit126]

Hello. I would like to see a comparison of hardware 1176 blue and black version with vst overloud gem 76. Well, or make a comparison of hardware 1176 with different emulations of vst 76 where to include overloud gem 76

[@thomasvopstal]

Cool! I’m gonna see if i can get my hands on a blue stripe😅

[@gerdmilano8137]

without the uad doing the last 10% ... makes the sad a gimmick. Might as well just use any other stock plug

[@directed6924]

Great video. Dynamic eq, saturation and transient shaper after the compressor plug-in will match the hardware, but it's extra steps.

[@chopshop523]

Hardware sounds like it has a little more air, but you can make bangers with either. Plus is it worth thousands more than the plugin? Depends on your budget, but most listeners aren't going to love your music because you picked one over the other.

[@thehightenor2596]

Oops, I did a blind ABX by hiding the video and just listening to the audio and I preferred the plugin! It sounded warmer!!

[@johnisrael5183]

Digital is 1's and 0s and Analog is 1s and 1s so analog can cover more space sonically so its always going to sound fuller

[@GrebSt4g0]

what mic did u use please ?

[@chrispanetta9885]

the movement in the top frequencies, the liveliness in the air is lacking, sounds a bit smudged in the plug in. The words dance on the hardware, while they sit on a chair and look in the box. That is a big difference. One sounds alive and exciting the other by compairison is lacking. That is what mixing is for, to add to the feeling of a song. Taking away from it when you dont have to should be avoided

[@LogicKeyz]

Hardware has more heft, dimension, headroom. You can hear the limitations of the plugin. The plug in sound decent until you push it, then the hardware just pulls away justifying the price tag.

[@stupendousmusic4190]

Nice comparison, but I would have like to have heard this with the ratio at 10:1.

[@damdremusic]

night and day difference. the hardware unit grabs transience more and has more of a lively bite to it. The plug in sounds flat. Most VST vs hardware compairsion yield similar results

[@LPW23]

must you own a UAD hardware device to use the tube tech cl1b plugin?

[@thomasvopstal]

At the moment, yes. However they’re rolling out Spark, which runs on your internal cpu. But they haven’t added the cl1b yet.

[@EHall-zj9zy]

I have heard alot of people saying the UAD CL1B crashes console and is buggy. Are you having any issues?

[@thomasvopstal]

Oh no i’ve never had an issue with it actually

[@gainoftones]

Great! But the reason for the distortion is not gain staging problem... it's a too fast release setting on the low frequency content... :)

[@thomasvopstal]

You’re right, but that is a big difference between the hardware and plugin as the hardware can handle that but the plugin starts to distort

[@JuanJacinto]

Could you compare UAD Avalon Vt 737 with the hardware unit?

[@thomasvopstal]

Let me get my hands on one! Should i do unison or just as a hardware insert?

[@JuanJacinto]

@@thomasvopstal Just like you did on this video would be perfect!

[@JordanMetro]

It's the knee characteristic that makes the plugin so wOnKeY in terms of transient response. Im confused as to why Softube made the mkII plugin have such a hard knee when the hardware has always seemed to be much smoother AND the original CL-1B plugin had the normal smooth knee. If they just fixed that it would probably so much closer to the real thing.

[@chrisrios802]

aww snap i didnt know this, make a video homie

[@johnisrael5183]

If you use Nebula and Acustica Audio against your Gear...I can garuntee you, you will get about 90% match and 100% if you still run that nebula or acustica audio stem at least through your console

[@klogg1987]

What DA/AD are you using?

[@thomasvopstal]

RME ADI-2 PRO FS

[@Dreza_official]

LA2A OR CL1B for recording hiphop for male?

[@thomasvopstal]

Cl1b 1000000000% for me

[@Dreza_official]

@@thomasvopstal thanks bro, and what’s the closest to the cl1b? Between the warm audio uad or like distressor? Can’t find the thing and I used to have it. Sold it back in 2018 and now getting back to music again smh

[@ErnestBuckleyMusic]

Its hard to justify paying hardware prices when software gets you 85-90% there. Yeah, I hear a difference, the hardware sounds a bit more present and has a bit more distortion going on but is it worth $3800 more? Not to me. I would just stick the Culture Vulture & Pultec EQ (UAD versions for both) in after the CL1B plug. Its not as fun but it gets you pretty damn close. I love hardware but I just cannot justify spending $4Gs on a 1 channel compressor. Granted, if I had $4Gs sitting around, I would get the HW for sure because its just more fun to twist knobs and its eye-candy.

[@thomasvopstal]

for recording vocals, it's a must to me. and i do feel the hardware really gives me something different that i can't get in the box, also not with culture vultures and pultec plugins added. but maybe that's just me. hope you soon reach a point where you've got 4Gs sitting around so you can twist those knobs haha

[@johnisrael5183]

My Nebula....Blue Mu is 90% there....I think Im using Tim Ps Blue Mu Comp on all my vocals, for now

[@John-wc9gp]

I feel like the analog one makes the vocal sound like it’s not even compressed, even though it is compressed

[@keesvdvelden7344]

🔥

[@thomasvopstal]

🦾🦾

[@manvince]

The plugins are identical and null out as they are both softube. UA just struck a deal with softube to have it run on their platform.

[@hasheesh00htc]

Nice 👍🏻

[@johnisrael5183]

But you've made me want to go analog tube tech for my Vocals instead of an LA2A

[@TheSermonOnTheMount]

Why use the same settings? And why not disk in the piggin in first and match the hardware to that setting? You would be surprised. Everywhere I see these comparison videos, the hardware is set first and the plugin is matched to those setting

[@thomasvopstal]

The hardware cl1b is famous for how it sounds, so i want to get the best sound out of that and then copy that to the plugin to see how that compares

[@trevormixedit]

These comparisons would make more sense if they compared the actual hardware that was emulated, not all CL1 B’s sound the same!

[@PedroLeao-pv6wb]

Hardware is better... It seems that the release cuts the compression, like a pumping... in the hardware the compression is linear and smooth.

[@nujazzelectro]

Nice review, for me not much of a difference , the plugin is a great emulation of it, gotta get it

[@littup7322]

the hardware had higher settings on the threshold, gain & ratio on both male & female vocals.. i guarantee i can easily make the plugin sound better by adjusting the knobs.. bottom line, both are great.. only difference is the plugin has no resale value & the hardware does, that should be the only factor when deciding which one to buy

[@thomasvopstal]

I believe if you watch the entire video you’ll hear me explain that gainstaging is different between the analog and digital domains, which is why the threshold and make up gain are set at different values. I went for equal gain reduction, not exact same threshold and gain

[@littup7322]

@@thomasvopstal correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't your gain staging done in your DAW ?.. & if so, then wouldn't the settings need to match to give an accurate comparison?.. everyone in the comments believes the hardware sounds better, but if the fader on the vocal is the same for both compressors, them obviously the compressor with the higher settings will sound better.. idk, please explain

[@trentjohnson11]

The plug in has a faster attack time if you were to slow it down it wouldn't be soo aggressive and squeezing the vocals

[@Skrenja]

Even through my phone's speakers I can hear a huge difference. Hardware sounds way better, no comparison.

[@kingech_B15]

The CL1B is like having a big girl give you a hug.

[@inspyremusicnl5826]

Bro ben je nl . Heerlijke studio man

[@thomasvopstal]

Thanks! Atlantisstudio in Amsterdam! Www.atlantisstudio.nl

[@benkeibagarmossen4835]

Put anybody human ear blindfolded nobody could point out half of what they're claiming to hear

[@ianbalasabas789]

That's true 100% agree

[@AJUNKWN]

Swear to god

[@papiraland]

hardware just sounds musical plugin sounds realy hybrid glassy uhg!

[@thomasvopstal]

😬😬

[@eytibozy]

Please the Neve and Avalon

[@Fwuzeem]

It would be great to do a quick test with the Mki version and maybe Acustica Titanium to see whether they're slightly closer

[@thomasvopstal]

I can already tell you that the mk1 is def not closer. Will reach out to acustica to see if i can try their stuff

[@StarskiYall]

I’ve used the hardware since 2010. I’ve tried every single emulation. Hoping to find something similar in the box. Nothing sounds like it. The best tracking compressor period. The action of the compression in the box is far more pumpy than the hardware. Softube makes great products but this one is a no go for me..

[@luisfastbeats3650]

Dope Content ! Sub +

[@xXxAmadeuzxXx]

The cl1b plugin wasn't 2.1 ratio

[@rilloroshe]

i think the magic button made them sound more similar

[@skimmy1421]

sheesh the hardware is so much warmer and butterier which goes without saying. I can hear the compression with the software immediately. Not sure its worth it even if its on sale lol

[@NuroFTB]

You will hear the difference, especially when u stack up your vocal chain.

[@seekingtruthonly.4299]

I think the challenge is to buy just enough hardware. A CL1B, 1176, pair of distressors, and maybe 8 API 550 channels. I'd love it if you made the uncompressed audio available. Anyone who says the difference can be made up with plugs should take the challenge of adding plugins to the ITB signal to match the hardware. I some times get there with parallel processing