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Post by schmalzy on Jan 9, 2022 23:07:21 GMT -6
I use Console 1 on most channels of every mix.
In my opinion it's great!
I'm not using any UAD with it and it's definitely made my life so much better. Not just my music. My entire life. I get through mixes faster and more consistently. More time with wife. More stoked artists. More high-fives. More tequila old fashioneds. If I had a collection of UAD stuff I'm sure life would be even better.
I use it with Reaper. I basically set up keyboard shortcuts for my commonly-used configurations of Console 1. For example: Ctl+1 give me the SSL4k with an EQ in front and a specific saturation plug afterwards. Ctl+3 gives me the API strip with SSL EQ and the smooth compressor. Ctl+A gives me the full API strip with punch compressor. Ctl+5 gives me the Neve with the SSL shape section. Ctl+6 gives me Neve with API Shape and SSL EQ. I tend to use the same strip on similar instruments per mix. I also dig going through an extra bus and adding a Console 1 strip to that bus to hit a different console emulation. For example: on the LP I'm mixing currently all electric guitars getting the API strip with punchy compressor but routing through an Elec Gtr bus with the Neve strip then to an All-Instrument bus with the Summit strip but API Smooth Compressor). That's not something I'd typically do without Console 1 but my mixes tend to be better when I do...so I do. I'd have typically left one of those buses off.
The drive saturation goes from clean to subtle to soft clip pretty well. I've settled on the SSL4k it ships with plus the API, Neve, and Summit. I think I got one of those for free and the other two on sale. Sign up to the Softube mailing list because they do sales constantly but some only run for 48 hours. If you want a Console 1 strip 50% off be prepared to wait 4 months and check your email.
I'm considering getting the Console 1 Fader but I'm not convinced about the cost/desk space/usefulness ratio. I'll probably come around to it but - so far - I've not jumped on. If someone had a used one...hmmmmm....
Good choice, Gno9! I think you'll love it!
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Jan 10, 2022 0:22:27 GMT -6
I use Console 1 on most channels of every mix. In my opinion it's great! I'm not using any UAD with it and it's definitely made my life so much better. Not just my music. My entire life. I get through mixes faster and more consistently. More time with wife. More stoked artists. More high-fives. More tequila old fashioneds. If I had a collection of UAD stuff I'm sure life would be even better. I use it with Reaper. I basically set up keyboard shortcuts for my commonly-used configurations of Console 1. For example: Ctl+1 give me the SSL4k with an EQ in front and a specific saturation plug afterwards. Ctl+3 gives me the API strip with SSL EQ and the smooth compressor. Ctl+A gives me the full API strip with punch compressor. Ctl+5 gives me the Neve with the SSL shape section. Ctl+6 gives me Neve with API Shape and SSL EQ. I tend to use the same strip on similar instruments per mix. I also dig going through an extra bus and adding a Console 1 strip to that bus to hit a different console emulation. For example: on the LP I'm mixing currently all electric guitars getting the API strip with punchy compressor but routing through an Elec Gtr bus with the Neve strip then to an All-Instrument bus with the Summit strip but API Smooth Compressor). That's not something I'd typically do without Console 1 but my mixes tend to be better when I do...so I do. I'd have typically left one of those buses off. The drive saturation goes from clean to subtle to soft clip pretty well. I've settled on the SSL4k it ships with plus the API, Neve, and Summit. I think I got one of those for free and the other two on sale. Sign up to the Softube mailing list because they do sales constantly but some only run for 48 hours. If you want a Console 1 strip 50% off be prepared to wait 4 months and check your email. I'm considering getting the Console 1 Fader but I'm not convinced about the cost/desk space/usefulness ratio. I'll probably come around to it but - so far - I've not jumped on. If someone had a used one...hmmmmm.... Good choice, Gno9! I think you'll love it! You had me at tequila old-fashioned. This is awesome. The unit I'm getting comes with the API and Neve strips so I'll have similar toolsets available. Plus a bunch of UAD stuff. Probably gonna keep it simple at first and just roll the SSL4k unless there's a specific reason not to on a given track.
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Post by schmalzy on Jan 10, 2022 16:48:36 GMT -6
You had me at tequila old-fashioned. This is awesome. The unit I'm getting comes with the API and Neve strips so I'll have similar toolsets available. Plus a bunch of UAD stuff. Probably gonna keep it simple at first and just roll the SSL4k unless there's a specific reason not to on a given track. So! I see you're a man of culture! That damn drink is just super tasty. Give me a decent tequila, bitters (any pairing of chocolate, orange, or aromatic if I'm choosy) and a little simple syrup and I'm going to be pleased. Garnish with a lime and I'll kiss you no matter who you are. If you have a bit of UAD stuff you'll be in good shape. Especially since there's nothing quite like a good 1176. La3a on guitars I've been told is fantastic on distorted guitars (I like to use the API punchy compressor with the "filters to compressor" engaged at the hpf set to 600hz - it feels like it gets me a little more pick attack out of distorted guitars that I tend to want to be aggressive). I end up using a fast compressor (Boz +10db) in front of my vocals and use the Summit TLA-100 if I need gentle compression or the Neve if I need more attitude. Working with only the SSL for a while is a good idea. I started out there and it was helpful to have less to get caught up in while I was re-learning mixing with my hands. You'll find a comfortable spot between mouse, C1, and keyboard. If your DAW is smart like Reaper you'll even be able to scroll on one fader with the mouse and use the volume fader control on the C1 controller to control both faders at the same time. I use that a lot when balancing multimic'd guitars. Keep us updated with how it's going and any questions you have!
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Jan 10, 2022 20:31:40 GMT -6
Will do!
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Post by Guitar on Jan 10, 2022 21:19:56 GMT -6
You guys are GASsing me with this thread... just what I need another reason to buy expensive plugins X-D
Do the UAD Channel strips work? I already own SSL and API with them. As well as UA 610, Neve 1073 and Helios.
Although I can see how maybe Softube would view this as competition for their own channel strips.
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Post by thehightenor on Jan 11, 2022 2:08:27 GMT -6
You guys are GASsing me with this thread... just what I need another reason to buy expensive plugins X-D Do the UAD Channel strips work? I already own SSL and API with them. As well as UA 610, Neve 1073 and Helios. Although I can see how maybe Softube would view this as competition for their own channel strips. They just added the UAD SSL to the Console 1 list of UAD controllable plug-ins which is great news. I’m hoping they’ll add the UAD 88RS which is my favourite of all the channel strips available in any format.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 11, 2022 5:06:54 GMT -6
I used to have C1 and honestly did one of my best cleanest and powerful mixes using its ssl. In terms of session set up, remember you can just create a default template with c1pre installed.
So, then you are just selecting plug ins as usual.
If you don’t have UA consoles and a fast host computer, I’d tend to go with softube channels strips, but buy in sale.
It definitely brings the tactile thing, vs your mouse and I found the muscle memory clicks in quickly.
Ultimately, I sold my c1 and fp16, only because I thought the efficiency abut illusionary as you still have to interact either with the daw directly or the external device to make any change, just depends which workflow you prefer.
But, when I listen to that one song, I am always struck by the sound quality of the ST SSl console mix and second guess selling:)
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Post by sirthought on Jan 11, 2022 6:58:04 GMT -6
So this wasn't working well with Logic, which made me avoid it. I know something was updated to help, but I don't know if it solved all issues. It's too expensive to not work as intended.
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Post by drastic on Jan 11, 2022 7:37:34 GMT -6
So this wasn't working well with Logic, which made me avoid it. I know something was updated to help, but I don't know if it solved all issues. It's too expensive to not work as intended. Same boat here but running Pro Tools. Really want to give it a try, just sounds like it doesn’t work well with that platform 👎
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 11, 2022 9:33:20 GMT -6
Never had any problems in logic, what are the problems supposed to be ?
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 11, 2022 9:36:02 GMT -6
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Jan 13, 2022 20:42:42 GMT -6
OK, here are some thoughts after two days.
- I don't think I would like this if I wasn't using Studio One or another integrated DAW. Even further, I'm not sure I would like it as much as I do if I didn't have the FP16. I quickly gave up using the little Console buttons and started switching channels on the FP16 instead. Very nice.
- I thought I would hate the Console 1 wrapper/GUI. Turns out I actually love it. I find myself even minimizing the DAW on occasion. I particularly love having it auto on/off.
- Some of the new updates that literally just came out... I can't imagine not having them. So good timing for me. I hated the accelerated knob behavior. I really like the bird's eye track view (a la SSL 360 but not quite as cool).
- This is how much it's pulling my eyes off the screen... my screensaver came on at one point. That means that without realizing it I went a solid 30 minutes just using FP16 and Console 1. Wow.
What about the sounds?
I fiddled with some drums and scratch parts I recorded a month or two ago that are awaiting the full overdub treatment. Did SSL4k on day one and then tried the same mini-mix with American Class A.
- At first I wasn't really impressed with the sound of the SSL. Maybe I was also getting used to how to use the Console 1? Not sure. But I've always used bx_9000J as my go-to SSL strip so it might be that I don't really like the sound of the 4k. It's not that I was unimpressed because it was a bad model or something, I just didn't really like it.
- I really really liked the sound of the API strip though. I'm also a sucker for stepped EQ and the limitations it brings. But the drive is really awesome. I've never used a drive knob on a strip before cuz they always sound terrible IMO. But this thing is awesome for tone shaping. You can almost use the character knob like a tilt. Very cool.
- After using the API (which doesn't have Q) I went back to my SSL mix. It wasn't as bad as I thought but I also realized that the default Q setting was the broadest setting (instead of the middle) so that might have been part of why I was struggling. Also, my mix wasn't that bad. So maybe the sound of the SSL was fine, I was just get comfortable (and maybe I just really need to reset the default Q setting).
Favorite surprise?
Load the LA2A onto the compressor and, thanks to the oft-maligned auto-gain, you've got an LA-2A re-imagined as a one knob compressor. With a real knob! Love it.
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Post by Mister Chase on Jan 18, 2022 17:26:22 GMT -6
I have one with the SSL strips (now with UAD SSL too!) and the Neve strip - if UAD/Softube add the UAD Neve 88RS then Console 1 will be perfect for me. It also works well with other UAD plugins. The only negative is the auto gain make up on the compressors - I wish they gave the option to turn it off. I use my C1 in conjunction with a Faderport 16 and a Crane Song Avocet and it makes for a nice little faux console. Though I'd love to have an actual analog console! I think they fixed this with the latest big update. The whole on screen display got an update in a big way and I noticed actual output control of the C1 vs the DAW volume(which was the same thing if using a supported DAW in vst3 I believe), so the(badly implemented) auto gain of the comps can be more easily addressed.
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Post by Mister Chase on Jan 18, 2022 17:39:46 GMT -6
OK, here are some thoughts after two days.- I don't think I would like this if I wasn't using Studio One or another integrated DAW. Even further, I'm not sure I would like it as much as I do if I didn't have the FP16. I quickly gave up using the little Console buttons and started switching channels on the FP16 instead. Very nice. - I thought I would hate the Console 1 wrapper/GUI. Turns out I actually love it. I find myself even minimizing the DAW on occasion. I particularly love having it auto on/off. - Some of the new updates that literally just came out... I can't imagine not having them. So good timing for me. I hated the accelerated knob behavior. I really like the bird's eye track view (a la SSL 360 but not quite as cool). - This is how much it's pulling my eyes off the screen... my screensaver came on at one point. That means that without realizing it I went a solid 30 minutes just using FP16 and Console 1. Wow. What about the sounds?I fiddled with some drums and scratch parts I recorded a month or two ago that are awaiting the full overdub treatment. Did SSL4k on day one and then tried the same mini-mix with American Class A. - At first I wasn't really impressed with the sound of the SSL. Maybe I was also getting used to how to use the Console 1? Not sure. But I've always used bx_9000J as my go-to SSL strip so it might be that I don't really like the sound of the 4k. It's not that I was unimpressed because it was a bad model or something, I just didn't really like it. - I really really liked the sound of the API strip though. I'm also a sucker for stepped EQ and the limitations it brings. But the drive is really awesome. I've never used a drive knob on a strip before cuz they always sound terrible IMO. But this thing is awesome for tone shaping. You can almost use the character knob like a tilt. Very cool. - After using the API (which doesn't have Q) I went back to my SSL mix. It wasn't as bad as I thought but I also realized that the default Q setting was the broadest setting (instead of the middle) so that might have been part of why I was struggling. Also, my mix wasn't that bad. So maybe the sound of the SSL was fine, I was just get comfortable (and maybe I just really need to reset the default Q setting). Favorite surprise?Load the LA2A onto the compressor and, thanks to the oft-maligned auto-gain, you've got an LA-2A re-imagined as a one knob compressor. With a real knob! Love it. That's so interesting - I love the API sound but really never warmed up to the C1 version - especially the drive. That just goes to show...
I really like the 4k honestly - and as dumb as this sounds, it's a little less about the sound to me with the C1. It's good to have the analog-y thing going on, but I just love having a controller. If I could make it work with Fabfilter pro-q3 I probably would haha. I really like the Neve strip sound and curves.
C1 is very cool and I need to get back into. I was a little turned off by some of what I thought was aliasing with the drive but I'm not sure if I really heard it right, as plugin doc seems to show foldback freq's to be like -150 db.... Though it was just a quick look see and I'm no expert.
and yea - I wouldn't bother in pro tools or any DAW that doesn't integrate completely. VST3 in Reaper and Studio 1 are both just about flawless with C1 and that is the only way to live with it. It's not my "every mix" set up, so I can be choosy when I am going to use it on a project and be deliberate with the DAW of choice, sample rate since there is no oversampling available etc...
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Post by deaconblues on Jan 19, 2022 10:46:52 GMT -6
OK, here are some thoughts after two days.- I don't think I would like this if I wasn't using Studio One or another integrated DAW. Even further, I'm not sure I would like it as much as I do if I didn't have the FP16. I quickly gave up using the little Console buttons and started switching channels on the FP16 instead. Very nice. - I thought I would hate the Console 1 wrapper/GUI. Turns out I actually love it. I find myself even minimizing the DAW on occasion. I particularly love having it auto on/off. - Some of the new updates that literally just came out... I can't imagine not having them. So good timing for me. I hated the accelerated knob behavior. I really like the bird's eye track view (a la SSL 360 but not quite as cool). - This is how much it's pulling my eyes off the screen... my screensaver came on at one point. That means that without realizing it I went a solid 30 minutes just using FP16 and Console 1. Wow. What about the sounds?I fiddled with some drums and scratch parts I recorded a month or two ago that are awaiting the full overdub treatment. Did SSL4k on day one and then tried the same mini-mix with American Class A. - At first I wasn't really impressed with the sound of the SSL. Maybe I was also getting used to how to use the Console 1? Not sure. But I've always used bx_9000J as my go-to SSL strip so it might be that I don't really like the sound of the 4k. It's not that I was unimpressed because it was a bad model or something, I just didn't really like it. - I really really liked the sound of the API strip though. I'm also a sucker for stepped EQ and the limitations it brings. But the drive is really awesome. I've never used a drive knob on a strip before cuz they always sound terrible IMO. But this thing is awesome for tone shaping. You can almost use the character knob like a tilt. Very cool. - After using the API (which doesn't have Q) I went back to my SSL mix. It wasn't as bad as I thought but I also realized that the default Q setting was the broadest setting (instead of the middle) so that might have been part of why I was struggling. Also, my mix wasn't that bad. So maybe the sound of the SSL was fine, I was just get comfortable (and maybe I just really need to reset the default Q setting). Favorite surprise?Load the LA2A onto the compressor and, thanks to the oft-maligned auto-gain, you've got an LA-2A re-imagined as a one knob compressor. With a real knob! Love it. That's so interesting - I love the API sound but really never warmed up to the C1 version - especially the drive. That just goes to show...
I really like the 4k honestly - and as dumb as this sounds, it's a little less about the sound to me with the C1. It's good to have the analog-y thing going on, but I just love having a controller. If I could make it work with Fabfilter pro-q3 I probably would haha. I really like the Neve strip sound and curves.
C1 is very cool and I need to get back into. I was a little turned off by some of what I thought was aliasing with the drive but I'm not sure if I really heard it right, as plugin doc seems to show foldback freq's to be like -150 db.... Though it was just a quick look see and I'm no expert.
and yea - I wouldn't bother in pro tools or any DAW that doesn't integrate completely. VST3 in Reaper and Studio 1 are both just about flawless with C1 and that is the only way to live with it. It's not my "every mix" set up, so I can be choosy when I am going to use it on a project and be deliberate with the DAW of choice, sample rate since there is no oversampling available etc...
I find the drive has a definite sweet spot on all of the strips I’ve tried. They definitely let the drive knob go high enough to ruin things — like most itb saturation it can start to sound synthetic, depending on the source. But on effects like this that pile up across tracks, I always turn them down just below where it sounds good. When you add more tracks and set them up similarly, it ends up accumulating to what you were after initially. It seems that small amounts across tracks sounds better / more harmonically complex than pushing it hard on busses, which can sometimes sound bigger but lose the important negative space between individual sounds. A lot of the mixes I hear these days are drunk on “glue.”
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Post by Mister Chase on Jan 19, 2022 10:58:56 GMT -6
That's so interesting - I love the API sound but really never warmed up to the C1 version - especially the drive. That just goes to show...
I really like the 4k honestly - and as dumb as this sounds, it's a little less about the sound to me with the C1. It's good to have the analog-y thing going on, but I just love having a controller. If I could make it work with Fabfilter pro-q3 I probably would haha. I really like the Neve strip sound and curves.
C1 is very cool and I need to get back into. I was a little turned off by some of what I thought was aliasing with the drive but I'm not sure if I really heard it right, as plugin doc seems to show foldback freq's to be like -150 db.... Though it was just a quick look see and I'm no expert.
and yea - I wouldn't bother in pro tools or any DAW that doesn't integrate completely. VST3 in Reaper and Studio 1 are both just about flawless with C1 and that is the only way to live with it. It's not my "every mix" set up, so I can be choosy when I am going to use it on a project and be deliberate with the DAW of choice, sample rate since there is no oversampling available etc...
I find the drive has a definite sweet spot on all of the strips I’ve tried. They definitely let the drive knob go high enough to ruin things — like most itb saturation it can start to sound synthetic, depending on the source. But on effects like this that pile up across tracks, I always turn them down just below where it sounds good. When you add more tracks and set them up similarly, it ends up accumulating to what you were after initially. It seems that small amounts across tracks sounds better / more harmonically complex than pushing it hard on busses, which can sometimes sound bigger but lose the important negative space between individual sounds. A lot of the mixes I hear these days are drunk on “glue.” So much glue it looks like a 3rd grade crafts project. "This mix is straight up Elmers, bro".
Yea, I think they said 5.0 was the sort of "unity/standard" amount of saturation that a nominally running console would have. Dunno if you mean you run it below that or not.
In a funny sort of way, analog is cleaner than digital(if comparing saturation of a piece and its emulation). Since really trying to learn about aliasing, I've discovered that most plugins pushed create even more dirt than an analog piece. Of course that's the crunch of aliasing...
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Jan 19, 2022 11:16:51 GMT -6
That's so interesting - I love the API sound but really never warmed up to the C1 version - especially the drive. That just goes to show...
I really like the 4k honestly - and as dumb as this sounds, it's a little less about the sound to me with the C1. It's good to have the analog-y thing going on, but I just love having a controller. If I could make it work with Fabfilter pro-q3 I probably would haha. I really like the Neve strip sound and curves.
C1 is very cool and I need to get back into. I was a little turned off by some of what I thought was aliasing with the drive but I'm not sure if I really heard it right, as plugin doc seems to show foldback freq's to be like -150 db.... Though it was just a quick look see and I'm no expert.
and yea - I wouldn't bother in pro tools or any DAW that doesn't integrate completely. VST3 in Reaper and Studio 1 are both just about flawless with C1 and that is the only way to live with it. It's not my "every mix" set up, so I can be choosy when I am going to use it on a project and be deliberate with the DAW of choice, sample rate since there is no oversampling available etc...
100% agree. The convenience of the workflow is the whole thing. And it's pretty remarkable. Honestly, even if the channel strips just sounded "ok" I would probably still use them. But I'm really happy with the API sound, haven't had a chance (or the need) to fiddle with the Neve sound yet. I'll probably start using the SSL more pretty soon just for the fully variable Q and more flexible EQ. I haven't done anything "final" with this yet, but for what I've been doing over the last week it's really awesome. I'm overdubbing various parts on top of rough mixes, and the ability to just grab a knob and be like "this bass drum is driving me insane, let me just get it under control so I can go back to focusing on my bass guitar punches" is really, really awesome.
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Post by theshea on Feb 26, 2022 4:00:34 GMT -6
... so any chances to predict if a used console 1 will work flawless with my older macbook pro high sierra and logic pro x 10.4.4? lately i am mixing with a ssl channelstrip across a lot of tracks so i guess getting a used console 1 could speed up my workflow. i read console 1 and logic don‘t always go together well, thats why i am hesitating.
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Post by kcatthedog on Feb 26, 2022 4:25:57 GMT -6
I don’t recall any serious problems.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2022 10:17:14 GMT -6
... so any chances to predict if a used console 1 will work flawless with my older macbook pro high sierra and logic pro x 10.4.4? lately i am mixing with a ssl channelstrip across a lot of tracks so i guess getting a used console 1 could speed up my workflow. i read console 1 and logic don‘t always go together well, thats why i am hesitating. If just using ssl, check out ssl’s own controllers for their native strip and bus comp. They match up better with what’s onscreen.
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Post by theshea on Feb 26, 2022 10:32:51 GMT -6
dan: do you mean ssl uc1? too expensive for me. and i read good things about softube consoles saturation and gate functions. so i am more interested in softubes offering.
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