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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 30, 2017 22:45:08 GMT -6
I just finished this comparison video of the Stam SA73 Neve 1073 clone and the UAD Unison 1073 plug-in. I notice that the link that plays directly here is much less clear than the video is when you go directly to youtube, hmm...
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Post by gouge on Dec 30, 2017 23:07:21 GMT -6
I guess uad just got beaten pretty badly
Except I preferred the uad on your vox martin
Your voice is simply sublime just quietly.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 30, 2017 23:10:42 GMT -6
Thanks gouge. I try to be fair on my videos. Me, I like the vocal and bass on the Stam. I think the electric guitar is nice on both the Stam and UAD though.
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Post by Vincent R. on Dec 30, 2017 23:30:21 GMT -6
Nice. Are these different takes, or did you split the signal of each take and route one through the Stam and the other through the Apollo?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 8:37:37 GMT -6
Had to do separate takes. I did them right after each other and picked the two most similar. Splitting wasn't in the cards. I would of course like to have the same take, but I think they''re close enough to make the differences clear regardless. I leave the more scientific comparisons to more qualified engineers. I like to show the cumulative effect of doing multiple tracks with both pieces, which gives a perspective most reviews don't.
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Post by Vincent R. on Dec 31, 2017 8:58:20 GMT -6
Ok. Was just curious. Having seen you do some vocal work I know how consistent your singing is. Was just curious.
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Post by drsax on Dec 31, 2017 10:08:08 GMT -6
I just finished this comparison video of the Stam SA73 Neve 1073 clone and the UAD Unison 1073 plug-in. I notice that the link that plays directly here is much less clear than the video is when you go directly to youtube, hmm... Good stuff Martin John Butler - you sound great as always. I’m a UA fan, love their plugs, but as always, I’m an even bigger hardware fan. Nothing like good sounding hardware. The STAM is the familiar Neve-ish sound and I definitely prefer it to the unison 1073. I use a variety of well respected Neve type pres here and they tend to be my favs most of the time.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 10:28:58 GMT -6
There are some new products from Heritage and Warm that make choosing a Neve style pre difficult, but that's a good problem. I haven't tried the Warm or Heritage yet, and I know they'll be good, but like I mentioned in the video, the Stam does something very right. It just felt a lot like the real Neve does. That visceral memory is important to me, and the SA73 has it. As good as the Great River I used a few times was, I didn't get that same vibe.
I like UAD's plugs too, but in a way, they're substitutes. Yes, they're valid in their own right, but until they give me the same feeling as hardware, I'll keep using hardware when I can. So far, using a nice analogue input chain, and then working in the box has been pretty good. I would like to get to the next level though. Still, for me, it all starts with a great mic and preamp. I think if the mic and pre are really good, they'll sound good through almost anything, but if they're mediocre, all the gear in the world can't fix it.
* I'm really looking forward to finishing the track I used for the demo. With a more complete production, and mastering, you can really hear what the SA73 and great mic do. This was all done through the SA73:
https%3A//soundcloud.com/martin-john-butler/a-champagne-christmas-1
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Post by swurveman on Dec 31, 2017 10:44:20 GMT -6
Still, for me, it all starts with a great mic and preamp. I think if the mic and pre are really good, they'll sound good through almost anything, but if they're mediocre, all the gear in the world can't fix it. What mics did you use for the acoustic guitar and the amp speaker cabinet Martin?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 11:01:00 GMT -6
Happy New Year guys!
Swurveman, in the SA73 demo, I used the Soyuz 0-19 FET on vocal and acoustic guitar, and the good ol' SM58 on the guitar amp. I actually like a bit more room on my electric guitar, so the 58 gives me a little more room than the 57. On "A Champagne Christmas", I used the Chandler REDD mic on vocal and acoustic guitars, the bass was direct though the SA73.
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Post by drew571 on Dec 31, 2017 12:58:57 GMT -6
i liked the stam better on everything. UAD just doesn't do it for me. the stam doesn't seem to have any annoying frequencies sticking out, just makes it blend. definitely looking forward to some stam, heritage, and warm audio shootouts when the other two become available.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 31, 2017 13:21:51 GMT -6
Josh said he's got a MKII version of his SA73 coming out in a few months.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 13:23:25 GMT -6
Me too drew, most definitely. The Stam has a certain kind of energy that Neve's have in the low end, but highs are not attenuated, they're just not brittle.
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Post by ragan on Dec 31, 2017 13:29:24 GMT -6
No question for me, the real pre is superior. Not close to my ears here and not surprising.
One tiny thing is when it switches from UAD to Stam on the full mix, the acoustic and electric guitars reverse sides. But that doesn't really matter. The difference is easy to spot.
Nice job, Martin.
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Post by ragan on Dec 31, 2017 13:30:39 GMT -6
For me, as with every hardware vs plugin comparison, it's just a difference in depth/reality. The plug just sounds flatter. There are frequency response differences of course too, but they're far outweighed (to me) by the difference in depth/reality.
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Post by Guitar on Dec 31, 2017 14:16:40 GMT -6
Wow, the UAD sounds broken next to the Stam. I was not expecting that much of a difference going in. Completely different...stam all day for me. Guess I need to rethink what I'm doing with my Apollos here. Your video points directly at some high-mid problems I've been having tracking with UAD preamps.
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Post by Guitar on Dec 31, 2017 14:20:02 GMT -6
By the way, is your Stam the Carnhill or Sowter version?
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 31, 2017 14:37:39 GMT -6
I have a friend who worked in a studio with an 80xx console, and he said my Stam73 with Sowters sounded every bit as good to his ears as those pres. I’ve been pretty happy with them.
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Post by Vincent R. on Dec 31, 2017 14:38:12 GMT -6
By the way, is your Stam the Carnhill or Sowter version? I think he has the Sowter. I enjoyed trying it the one time.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 15:17:52 GMT -6
Yep, I have the Sowter. I remember the Stam sounded good on your vocals Vincent.
Ragan, I noticed the switch in sides too late, and have absolutely no idea how I managed that trick, ha! I usually place acoustic on the left and electric on the right. That probably comes from my seeing so many shows with the lead guitarist on the right of the singer, there's no real rule about where guitars should go.
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Post by lcr on Dec 31, 2017 16:30:47 GMT -6
Josh said he's got a MKII version of his SA73 coming out in a few months. DETAILS please anybody.
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Post by joseph on Dec 31, 2017 16:35:38 GMT -6
For me, as with every hardware vs plugin comparison, it's just a difference in depth/reality. The plug just sounds flatter. There are frequency response differences of course too, but they're far outweighed (to me) by the difference in depth/reality. Yeah, but it's not hardware vs plugin, it's hardware vs inferior hardware plus DSP emulation. I don't see how one can emulate a preamp, that's like emulating the glass on a camera lens.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 31, 2017 17:32:09 GMT -6
I hear you Joseph. There are certainly many aspects of the sound quality of a preamp a plug-in can emulate, but they clearly haven't gotten all the way there yet. To some people, it doesn't matter, but to many of us here, it matters a lot. Some plug-in reverbs are getting pretty close now though.
Because of some health issues, I had to sell all but my bare bones essential outboard this year. I kept the SA73, that should tell you something ;-)
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 31, 2017 17:39:09 GMT -6
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Post by wiz on Dec 31, 2017 17:54:31 GMT -6
I just finished this comparison video of the Stam SA73 Neve 1073 clone and the UAD Unison 1073 plug-in. I notice that the link that plays directly here is much less clear than the video is when you go directly to youtube, hmm... I am gonna swim against the current some... I think they both sound really good. But Thats the source talking to me. (source, not sauce 8) ) I remember thinking similar, when I posted that video with the whole band doing Wicked Game, and they split the sources into Unison Preamps and 1073s and did a pretty well done shoot out. I think the STAM is a fantastic preamp, and killer value for money. Considering what you can buy the UA for though, shouldn't stop anyone getting great tracks. Nicely done Martin. The only suggestion I could make, is perhaps do an immediate switch between the sources at some point... cheers Wiz
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