We Switched from SSL to Console 1 MK3... Here's Why! ​⁠

[@DistantSunStudios]

More Videos on LUNA www.distantsunstudios.uk ✅Short on time? - quick links for today's video: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Which control Surface? 00:43 The Softube Console 1 MK 3 (making decisions without a screen) 01:37 Wytse's aim for a screen-less studio 03:43 SSL UF8 / UC1 / UF1 vs Softube Console 1 MK3 05:20 SSL UC1 360 Link software 08:45 The origins of Snake Oil 10:47 SSL UC1 - using a memory map for certain controls 12:40 It's going to get even better.... 15:56 Final thoughts & thanks for watching! Featured Video: 🎥 🔥The New Softube Console 1 MK3 🔥 My Top 5 Features! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6WYhpespqajjrs Visit: White Sea Studios www.youtube.com/@@Whiteseastudio Thanks so much for watching! Matt​

[@KrisGorski]

Thanks for the chat. Always good to hear the experience of others :). I have switched from UF8 to Fader 1 MKIII and the one big feature I'm missing in the Softube controller is the lack of automation mode buttons that I used a lot on the UF8.

[@DistantSunStudios]

@@KrisGorski thanks so much fro watching - great to hear form you! That's a really interesting point, as I loved some of the shortcuts that I had on my UF8. I'm just waiting for the fader unit to arrive, but will then be making a video around the mixing system. I may well try using my stream deck for the shortcuts and transport,,, will be interesting to see how it compares. Have a great week and thanks again! Matt

[@KrisGorski]

@@DistantSunStudios - that is my thought too. I like Fader 1 MKIII enough to keep it and get around its shortcomings with either Stream deck or the Metagrid IOS app for ipad. I also have Console 1 MKIII and the combo is great.

[@DistantSunStudios]

@@KrisGorski my fader are here and I’m just starting to use it today, alongside the stream deck…. Really looking forward to this! 👍

[@DamonZenDrummer]

Two of my favorite You Tubers having a conversation about my favorite DAW controller!

[@DistantSunStudios]

Thanks so much, you’re very kind! I hope you enjoy the video and thanks again so much for your support and watching. 👍 have a great week. Matt.

[@neuronist]

i never really had analog mixing gear and i got both the softube controllers now and I am now getting what you guys talk about. its incredibly awesome to turn the screen off. it saved me from buying an external huge mixer, which is perfect

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying the Console 1 controllers! It really is awesome, isn’t it? It’s actually better than I remember mixing on a large desk. The Softube consoles are in the sweet spot in the centre of the desk, and with practice you get so fast at adding any type of plug-in to the channel. Then just use your ears - magical. I know you’ll have so much fun! Have a great weekend and all the best 👍 Matt

[@stupidusername38]

An under utilised lesser known but very effective workflow is to run the SSL 360 app on a dedicated large touch screen monitor. The 360 app gives you the faux channel strip of a console view that you'll remember from working on a desk. Combine the 360 app and the SSL Link for mapping your plugins to and you can do away with the hardware control surfaces

[@arlandajim]

Great video guys. Thank you

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching, you’re very welcome. I’m pleased you enjoyed the video! Have a great Sunday, all the best 👍 Matt

[@jrhager84]

I just really REALLY wish there was a transport section. I don't know if they plan on adding a module, but it feels like an oversight IMO.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hey - thanks so much for watching and leaving me a comment - I really appreciate it! Yes - that was my initial reaction as well, especially as the SSL units have the ability to assign shortcuts & transport. However, I already use a Stream Deck for my DAW - so I put the transport on there. I've been mixing this week and it's working really well. If you're interested - here'e a little video I made on my current setup 👍Thanks again and have a great week! Matt kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3XMl6tsr8eNbNUsi=0fZtsJThjOjjH_Tc

[@jrhager84]

@ I totally get it. I guess it's weird to me that for nearly 2k all in you don't get transport. Also - how do you record arm and enable monitoring on the channel? Shift and solo / mute?

[@DistantSunStudios]

I've been using them with Cubase (just because it has greater integration at the moment). When I select a track (or touch a fader), the track is already armed in Cubase. So I just press the record shortcut - and it works great. I'm still to assign an input monitor button to the Stream Deck, but the solo and mute's on the fader work really well. If you haven't tried a Stream Deck - I really can't recommend them highly enough. They're relatively inexpensive, and you can assign any commands or short cuts that you like. I use mine on pretty much everything - even to open up KZbin or Netflix in my browser! They're very addictive!

[@surreal_youtube]

Great discussion 👍

[@DistantSunStudios]

Thanks so much, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it! There’s a lot more to come from the interview soon. Have a great evening and all the best, Matt

[@kadiummusic]

So if SSL comes out with a control surface that improves on the Softube he will revert to SSL? Also nobody mentions the 360 software that comes with SSL or how the SSL channel strips which obviously sync beautifully with UC1 compare with other 3rd party SSL channel strips. Surely if you want a screenless studio you had it with your hardware studio? Why is everybody so anti screen all of a sudden? Surely a balance of screen, mouse and control surface is what most of us seek? 🤔

[@MrDeevo]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment I really appreciate it! Yes I can totally understand where you’re coming from and with plug-ins and software being so good now I think a combination of hardware control is and in the box workflow will certainly be the best workflow. We did discuss the SSL UC one and 360 link software a couple of times. This was a little later in interview. From memory, I think I have put a chapter marker for the UC one roundabout five minutes in if that helps. Thanks again for watching and have a great weekend ! 👍 Matt

[@Reggi_Sample]

Softube HW screens and wrapper screen vs the overcrowded 360 screen is night and day for me.

[@DistantSunStudios]

@@Reggi_Sample hi Reggie thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it! Yes, I think the Softube screens are fantastic and additionally the different views that can be created to suit individual workflows is extremely well thought out. Thanks again and have a great week, Matt.

[@deiwar2994]

You guys need to do another one with the Softube Channel faders. We need to see a direct comparison with SSL UC1, UF8 and UF1 versus Console 1 MK3 package!

[@johnroberts4000]

Agree

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and leaving comment I really appreciate it! That’s a great idea and once I have the Softube faders,, I will be making a video around the system. I have all three SSO controllers before, however I’ve now sold them so that I can buy the console one units! I will certainly try to remember to make a balanced comparison in the video though! Thanks again for watching and have a great week! Matt

[@bighornaudioproductions6104]

One question does the core mixing channel strip have any latency?

[@LaurentBurgbacher]

4 samples

[@jrhager84]

@@LaurentBurgbacher Holy shit

[@dannykirsch]

I currently own a UF1, a UC1 and 2 UF8s. I never ever look at the monitor screen while mixing as the only plug-in I mix either is the SSL4KB and I work only in ssl 360 plug-in mode. It truly feels like I’m working on an old analogue desk and the workflow is super fast. All that being said I’m tempted to try out the new softube controllers and also the Nektar CS-12 as I’m a Logic Pro user but I suspect neither would give the feel of working on a real analogue desk made by SSL or give me the sheer speed and even the quality as I think the ssl 4KB sounds incredible. Also is is ten channels enough on the fader or so you constantly find yourself banking? The only downside of having 2 UF8s with a UF1 and UC1 between them is I sometimes find myself getting lost looking for certain channels. I tend not to use the 360 link plug-in as again I’d probably forget where I’ve mapped certain controls on the UC1 as it’s really set out to control channel strips and not plugins such as the pro q 3 for example.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi Danny, thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it! Wow, that’s quite a set up that you’ve got. I’m sure you must really enjoy working on it! The SSL 4000 B channel strip sounds incredible, so if you’re an SSL man, then I really don’t think you can go wrong with what you’ve already got. 👍 Having said that, to answer your question about the faders, I have just ordered two fader units to go with my console 1 channel mk3. Like yourself, I don’t like to be constantly banking to find the tracks. The console one channel has got 20 track buttons across the top - so I will position this in the centre of my desk and then have the 20 faders immediately below. From what I’ve seen I think the integrated of the units should be fantastic, I do like the flexibility of being able to apply different characters / colours with different compressors etc. I’ll be making a review on the mixing system once I’m up and running - so hopefully that may be of some help. But I must say again, what you’ve already got sounds incredible 😊👍 Thanks again so much for watching and all the best! Matt

[@dannykirsch]

@@DistantSunStudios thanks for your detailed reply Matt. Yes I do love my current ssl set up however I really look forward to watching your KZbin video once you have your complete softube setup up and running. I do really like the idea of having 20 faders in front of me right next to one another (although I would miss having transport similar to the uf1). Great interview by the way.

[@pb3662]

Nice video. Love the concept. Cant use it till we get 3rd party plugin support. Yes there are options but without repurchasing everything in my workflow (and even then getting changes) it cant happen. Nothing against their plugins, but dont want to hav to start everything over from scratch.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the video! Yes, I can totally understand why you wouldn’t want to leave your current workflow or the plug-ins that you’ve grown to love. It may be that they introduce third-party integration for you to be able to map any plug-in in the future? We’ll have to wait and see. All the best, Matt.

[@jrhager84]

@@DistantSunStudios Given the HUGE response from the lineup, I think it's fair to say that a lot of the big players would want to get in on that ecosystem. I use a ton of UAD, Softube, and FabFilter stuff already, so it really is right up my alley. I'm just waiting for seamless integration with my weirder stuff. haha

[@DanBires]

If you listen to him and I am not trying to be negative but when you say you have all these controllers that you have tried and reviewed and not sure what one is the best and so on. Please tell me where you find time to actually mix a song down. Plus we will always need monitors for heavy editing and so on. Or zooming in on a problematic audio file. I have no idea 🤷 what the heck he means by never using a monitor screen.

[@seancampbell98]

I'll have a crack at answering the last question.....Believe it or not, there was a time when studios didn't have monitor screens. I will make a guess and say that he would like to be in a space where sound is 100% heard and not "seen" which in my opinion is kind of cool....

[@TheMixClub]

The New Console one is so sweet. I debating if im gonna get the new fader. When im working i just pop up the small strip on the bottom to keep track of my tracks. When im mixing and not doing a video i dont open the GUI. But with My SSL im always getting lost. Everyone has a workflow. But for the first time im getting lost in the mix in a good way.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi Rhett, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave me a comment - I really appreciate it! Sorry it’s taken me a while to reply- Igot there eventually! Yes, just like you, I this is the first control surface that I’ve had that really lets you get lost in Mix, move fast and post importantly, not have to think how to use the controller. I’ve just seen your latest video come up on the Fader MK3, mine arrived on Friday and I’m just installing them in my desk. Absolutely fantastic. Keep up the great work on the channel and have a wonderful week! All the best Matt

[@TheMixClub]

@@DistantSunStudios I picked up fader.. Man its sweet.. i could not help myself... lol thanks for gettiing back

[@ZndBornMixedIt]

🔥🔥🔥

[@DistantSunStudios]

Thanks Man! 🔥

[@stanwood8641]

It's a Leonard Cohen song that Buckley covered.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it! Yes, of course it’s Leonard Cohen - I would normally always name the original artist, but I guess as it was just in passing I forgot on this occasion 🤦 I’m only too happy to stand corrected! It’s a fantastic song. All the best, Matt

[@kingocowata]

Great interview but I knew he oversells the accent in his vids 😂😂

[@DistantSunStudios]

Haha! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave me a message I really appreciate it! Thanks again have a great weekend. 👍 Matt

[@jthunderbass1]

You will never be able to go scree less because people are submitting sessions that are one track per note per thing. If the song has 4000 notes on the guitar, they submit 4000 guitar tracks. Instead of just playing the song and you just write automation.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and sending me a comment. I really appreciate it! Even though I’m a guitar player I’m not too keen on the idea of mixing 4000 guitar tracks! Thanks again for watching and have a great evening 👍 Matt

[@StanleyKubick1]

what does it matter how many tracks there are as long as they play through the same output?

[@jthunderbass1]

@@StanleyKubick1that isn’t the point. In the analog days, one of the biggest analog desks was something around 70 or more inputs. Now with unlimited track count, you can absolutely do one track per note per song. The point is that, in order to manage that many tracks, you are forced to use screens to manage it. So my point is, with people submitting very very large track counts you will have to use screens forever. That’s the point I was making. Keep mixing and never stop developing your art.

[@TigroGumi]

This will help you make more money by being able to mix quicker... the softube new controller make it easy enough to be stress free to set it up... which is why most people get a controller and barely use it... because it take so much setting up and other things each time that it becomes easier just to use the mouse... what they have done is the bare minimum all controllers should do by default

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi thanks so much for watching, I couldn’t agree with you more, you’re 100% right! It wasn’t in the video, but I have tried avid, presonus, slate digital and SSL controllers. They were all great, but none of them got me back to the simplicity of using an analog desk. The way softube have created this mixing ecosystem is incredible. I’m really looking forward to just importing a mixing template onto a track, and then pretty much letting the console one do the rest! Have a great weekend and thanks again!👍 Matt

[@TigroGumi]

@@DistantSunStudios thank you! And yourself!!! The 3rd party integration is a possibility prospect for this covering all bases eventually and I do know they are working on letting you be able to add plugins yourself into the ecosystem system but do not want to release something they later have to take back. For now my third controller will be the Icon P1- Nano and the D4 screen to go with it… this fulfilled my main transport controller perfectly and then easily map the plugins and controls the softube can’t… yet lol. But for mixing efficiently you don’t want a mountain of plugins and you’ll get 90% done using only this and then the 10% is spent of special effects plugins or outboard if you have a only a few pieces. The more you don’t have to think about it the more a controller becomes useful. I’m hoping to get the fader also soon and vesa mounting will let me have then raised above just back from my keyboard with a touch monitor on it and the P1-Nano and nothing will be in the way of each other. A touch screen keyboard is a very helpful tool… only after the other things… doesn’t streamline enough on it’s own but makes certain things a lot easier.

[@kadiummusic]

You mean after all the hype Console 3 doesn't integrate perfectly with 3rd party plugins? 🤔

[@TigroGumi]

@@kadiummusic There are 3 companies they have third party integration with... UAD being one... fabfilter another... forgot the other... and there are more to come plus a way to map others but they are designing it so you load the full plugin and map it so it's auto maps when you open it and not have to map it in any new project... most professional mix engineers will not be using much more that softube, UAD and especially fabfilter... I use a lot of others but can easily but can easily down size to only these for the main part of mixing and only have my Icon deal with the freaky things

[@TigroGumi]

@@kadiummusic the hype is about how well it works without issues and how it does it simply… plus, this information has been in ever video about it… you’ve had to see a comment to know this???

[@bluematrix5001]

THE ONLY THING I WISH C1 HAS IS ON AND OF PER EQ BAND AND SOME 6 BUTTONS FOR MACROS

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate it! They’re both great ideas. I wonder if that’s something that may be introduced in the future? Thanks again and all the best, Matt

[@huberttorzewski]

but it has on and off per eq band - just turn the gain to 0 and it's off (it's greyed out, but you can have it at 0 turned on also)

[@huiswaarts2020]

Andy Wallace.... ;-)

[@DistantSunStudios]

That's the fella - you really deserve a prize for that! Thanks so much for watching and have a fantastic week! Matt

[@aeiplanner]

So plugins are "snake oil" but I'm gonna go ahead and buy Softube Console 1 to control plugins anyway. Mmmmkay.

[@tonytramonti5828]

Same console Dennis Pennis uses😂

[@bioglassmusic]

matt looks like someone I know

[@DistantSunStudios]

Haha! What a nice guy Wytse is - was great fun recording this! Have a great weekend! Matt

[@ErikBiskopst]

I switched from C1 mk1 to SSL, and I like SSL so much more. The tactile feel is so much better. The SSL UC1 knobs are so much better. 😊

[@DistantSunStudios]

Thanks so much for watching and leaving me a comment I really appreciate it! Yes the SSLUC one build quality is fantastic. I too had the mark 1 version of the console 1 before using the SSL units. The console one MK3 is another level in terms of its build quality which is reflected in its price compared to the mark one and mark two versions. You really can’t go wrong with the SSL controllers though., it’s whatever works best for you! 👍 Thanks again for watching, all the best Matt

[@athonygraham8353]

I'm willing to accept that this may just be me, but why would anyone pay the kind of silly money Softube ask for for these "controllers"? (their plugins are way overpriced too). I just don't think that for nearly $2000 for the Console Mk3 and the Fader Mk3 actually does anything worth that kind of money. It's a replacement for a mouse, that is all. I'd rather get a microphone or a bit of outboard gear or a guitar or keyboard or set of drums, tuition, room treatment, anything that actually does something and is worth it, but that kind of money for something that to some extent replaces your mouse? Nuts. The cost of making these is very small compared to the retail price, in this day and age, paying that amount for a bit of hardware that has no effect on the sound or does anything. If they were $300, I'd think about it and still not buy it. It's just the emperors new clothes and it's playing on people's GAS, someone must find it useful, but other than a few KZbinrs and retail staff, I really don't know anyone who'd encourage anyone to buy this. That goes for the SSL stuff as well. Except the SSL plugins are mediocre at best and just have the SSL brand on them. Maybe I'm getting old, cynical and crotchety, but this stuff is just absolute pish. Money for old rope. Especially when you consider the amount of people who actually make a living out of mixing or producing music.

[@DistantSunStudios]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it and it’s a really interesting reply. Yes, the Softube control surfaces are definitely at the premium end of the market along with SSL and Avid. I’m in a very fortunate possession to produce content and music for a living,and have always enjoyed the tactile feeling of a desk when mixing. There’s no question that you can get the job done with a keyboard and mouse or trackpad on a laptop. Personally, I just really enjoy mixing this way, I can find the balance and emotion in a mix so much quicker. I’ve just sold my UF8 and I’m waiting for the Softube fader to arrive. I’ve really missed the faders this last week- so I guess you never really know how much you like something until it’s gone! Having said all that, I also enjoy playing through my vintage 1966 fender deluxe, when I know I could get the same sound with a tone X pedal and capture for £3800 less! It could well be me! Thanks again so much and have a great weekend! 👍 Matt

[@athonygraham8353]

@@DistantSunStudios that's great, I suppose if you can afford it that's OK and you've got great sounding room with all the required treatment. Out of interest, is Distant Sun Studios a commercial studio and is there a website with the usual gear list, price list, previous projects and gallery?

[@DistantSunStudios]

@@athonygraham8353 the studio that you can see here is my own home studio - I mainly produce the KZbin content in and do some remote mixing. I do take on some clients, but having said that - the channel is keeping me very busy at the moment. There is a website showcasing the channel which is: distantsunstudios.uk. Thanks again for watching, and have a great weekend! Matt

[@Yannleon_video]

Of course it is pricey, but you have to consider this: it took many engineers, brains, developers, testers, marketing people, musicians, to make this product happened. Those employees were paid from the R&D phase up to the final release. That's at least 10 people worth of salary during a couple of years. The whole project might had cost up to millions. Then, before it hits the shelf, there are the distribution cost, transportation cost and the reseller cost. The Softube Console 1 Mk3 and Fader are really as good as a hardware piece. Same for SSL. You might not love their plugins, but for my ears, and I have "real" SSL hardware in my studio, they sound really good. Nowadays, I use my outboard gear for a "first pass" the I finish to mix almost exclusively with the Channel Strip combine with its UC1. I don't need much. The UC1 Hardware counter part really boosted by 200% my productivity. I hope I would have love the Softube eco system, but I choose SSL in the end. Finally, using a mouse is quite slow compared to multiple knobs right at your finger tips. But, you do you! To each its own.

[@vitaliivostrykov5173]

I 100% agree. Moreover, in 15 years from now it will worth nothing and becomes a "brick". Because after numerous OS updates this kind of gear becomes eventually a useless trash of metal and plastic. And you need to find a proper "vintage" PC to use it. But at the same time this doesn't apply to guitars, microphones, synthesizers and such other gear

[@gavmurray7398]

need nektar to port the cs12 accross the other daws its best implementation of a control serfacee for plug ins but its only for logic users right now. i think cubase drivers are due to come out soon. it uses the daw api so its a lot of work to add more daws it will take some time but its a millions times better than ssl and soft tube its direct control not mapping

[@NikolausBrocke]

Do you know that Nektar will support Cubase soon?

[@gavmurray7398]

@@NikolausBrocke not sure what the latest time line is but when the logic drivers were released they said Cubase would be next. Some daws the implementation is more complicated than others apparently

[@NikolausBrocke]

@@gavmurray7398 I can't wait.

[@Mixjaker]

Что то я не понял) почему мне ютуб показывает на русском 😅

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Misleading thumbnail, inappropriate intro

[@DistantSunStudios]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate it. I’m so sorry that you found the sun now misleading , it’s never easy as a small channel to know how to pitch the thumbnail and title as if they aren’t engaging the video just won’t get pushed out by KZbin. having said that the start of the video is just a section taken from the interview towards the end, but I’m guessing that you may have clicked away before this came up. Thanks again for watching. I do really appreciate any comments.. Have a great day and take care, Matt