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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2019 13:24:15 GMT -6
I'm exploring the idea of getting the SSL Six. I have a couple of lovely preamps, the Dizengoff D4 and the Stam SA73. I'm not rushing, but I could sell the preamps and mostly fund the Six that way. I would lose the pres, but gain the SSL EQ's and compressor for tracking and then mixing down with the SSL bus compressor and EQ's..
One problem is since I use the UAD Apollo X6, the truth is, I could do fairly well without any preamp or board. The Helios Unison plug-in on the Apollo X6 sounds surprisingly good. I'm mostly doing my own songs, one track at a time, mixing, mastering and releasing them, so it does need to be pro.
Whenever I hear tracks sent by friends who use an analogue board, they have a certain kind of muscle that pure digital seems to lack, IMO.
So, should I leave things as is or make a sideways move and get the SSL Six?
Any thoughts on this are appreciated.
* (my style would fit the Tom Petty/Ryan Adams//Chris Isaak/Lucinda/ Emmylou, almost Americana style description for those who don't know my work).
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Post by sirthought on Dec 21, 2019 15:22:50 GMT -6
I'd keep your gear and learn to use what you have better.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2019 16:12:39 GMT -6
No offense, Martin has year’s/decades of recording experience and has run a personal studio. I think what he is looking for on a tight budget is more mojo and vibe!
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Post by stormymondays on Dec 21, 2019 16:28:39 GMT -6
Silver Bullet and done.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2019 16:37:20 GMT -6
A bit pricey if money’s tight ?
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Post by stormymondays on Dec 21, 2019 16:53:28 GMT -6
A bit pricey if money’s tight ? The SSL is pricey. The Silver Bullet is a bargain at $500 more. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Dec 21, 2019 17:21:36 GMT -6
I don’t think you’re going to get the analogue mojo “console” sound from the ssl. It’s going to be on the clean side.
Try using your Neve Pres as a hardware insert on the 2bus...it just might do it for ya. Or try a saturation piece like the SSL Fusion or SilverBullet, etc
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2019 17:26:24 GMT -6
Personally, I think them both a little highly priced, but for the sake of argument if you have interface, mikes, pres , plugs, and monitors, how best for a home based singer songwriter engineer producer to spend say $2-3000?
the ssl and Sb are two very viable choices but what else is out there for lack of a better expression for analog vibe and mojo ?
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2019 17:33:04 GMT -6
If Martin had something like the wa273eq, stam or Heritage and a good ssl comp,: Audioscape ssl or the new stam 4000 mkii, for mixdown in his 2 bus and for tracking and mix down 2 nice 76 clones, I think he would be pleased ?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Dec 21, 2019 17:51:48 GMT -6
I think some attractive, movable gobos would be a better place to spend.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2019 19:32:01 GMT -6
sirthought, I'm quite adept at using what I have already. Just try any streaming service and search martin john butler and you'll hear my recent album, done here in my NYC apartment with my simple gear. It speaks for itself. I was hoping for some insights regarding the SSL Six ergonomically and the sound quality, not a snarky comment. I had my own private studio for 11 years when I wrote and produced music for radio and television and won a few awards. Before that I was signed to Mercury Records, and a few other labels later on. I'm not a true audio engineer by any means, but I can get by.
It's quite possible that the Silver Bullet could be just what I need, but in order to afford the SSL Six, I would have to sell my preamps to afford it at the moment. The extra money for a Silver Bullet would just be too expensive. With selling my preamps I would only have to add maybe $200 or a little more. Therefore, I'd have to use the Six's preamps for a while until I could buy another preamp. I would buy the RTZ 9762A later on down the road.
This is the kind of sound I'm looking for:
* and the general instrumentation I would like on my next album.
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Post by geoff738 on Dec 21, 2019 20:25:45 GMT -6
What about the dog ears box?
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2019 20:29:08 GMT -6
Not familiar with that geoff.
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Post by geoff738 on Dec 21, 2019 20:34:11 GMT -6
More info here Martin
Another option. I only know what I’ve read. No personal experience. And a different approach perhaps to add some analog vibe. Cheers, Geoff
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Post by ericn on Dec 21, 2019 21:17:00 GMT -6
For the $$ your not going to beat Dogears Box, otherwise the Silverbullet. I don’t think SSL’s version of a Mackie 1202 is going to get you where you want to be unless you just want to say “ yeah I have an SSL.”
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2019 22:17:46 GMT -6
It's sound quality I'm interested in, not the brand. Sure, I wouldn't mind having an SSL product, I like their boards, but if it isn't right for me, well I won't bother. I wish knew someone who's used it, just to see what a hands on experience might be like.
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Post by geoff738 on Dec 21, 2019 22:21:47 GMT -6
Can you borrow or rent one?
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2019 23:21:12 GMT -6
I doubt it, but I'll check with my friends at Alto Music, in case there's one I can try there.
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Post by johneppstein on Dec 21, 2019 23:28:10 GMT -6
I'm exploring the idea of getting the SSL Six. I have a couple of lovely preamps, the Dizengoff D4 and the Stam SA73. I'm not rushing, but I could sell the preamps and mostly fund the Six that way. I would lose the pres, but gain the SSL EQ's and compressor for tracking and then mixing down with the SSL bus compressor and EQ's.. One problem is since I use the UAD Apollo X6, the truth is, I could do fairly well without any preamp or board. The Helios Unison plug-in on the Apollo X6 sounds surprisingly good. I'm mostly doing my own songs, one track at a time, mixing, mastering and releasing them, so it does need to be pro. Whenever I hear tracks sent by friends who use an analogue board, they have a certain kind of muscle that pure digital seems to lack, IMO. So, should I leave things as is or make a sideways move and get the SSL Six? Any thoughts on this are appreciated.
* (my style would fit the Tom Petty/Ryan Adams//Chris Isaak/Lucinda/ Emmylou, almost Americana style description for those who don't know my work).Read the specs a bit more carefully. Many of the features on this unit are intentionally crippled. For example those who think that they're getting compression remotely similar to the popular standalone SSL units are probably in for a shock, as the comps in the Six have seriously stripped down feature sets.
Anothe problem with the Six is that it doesn't have enough channels to do a real analog mixdown, you'd need to "pre-mix" most stuff into stems that could then be mixed on the Six. That ain't an analog mix to me.
I strongly support the idea of getting an analog board. However this ain't it, nohow, no way.
You might talk to Jim Williams about his Delta mods.
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Post by Blackdawg on Dec 22, 2019 0:44:53 GMT -6
What a console sound? Get a console. As in mini console.
Aka active summing mixer and more outboard.
Get Matt's or a CAPI mixer and a silver bullet. That'll take it up a notch a lot.
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Post by sirthought on Dec 22, 2019 1:24:58 GMT -6
Yes, I was offering no hint of snark at all. And I've heard your last album and thought it sounded great, and said as much when you announced it here. Please take my suggestion sincerely.
You offered up the SSL Six as a thread discussion a few months ago and the responses were similar. They really try to make that unit do a lot of things, but getting around it and trying to achieve each one of those things is somewhat cumbersome. I've spent some time researching it myself. Yeah, it'll work for a lot of people, but how well for what it's entry price is? It's really overpriced for what it's going to add.
And I'm serious about the learning part with your own gear, because you obviously are searching for something new, but there are tons of engineers doing professional work just ITB. Debate or not that approach, the results can be achieved to have something sounding more like a console. And The two pres you have could offer a lot if you try things like inserting it on the mix bus, or even running a passive summing box through them to get that analog tube warmth. You don't have to spend extra money, necessarily.
If you did want to sell them, as I believe the UA unison pres do a damn good job, I would look at the Silver Bullet or the Dangerous AD+ or maybe something like the Drawmer 1976 saturation and 1960 comp/limiter. I'm just not sold on the SSL Six giving you anything more on the way in, nor in the mix stage, and think these other options would do more. But, again, I also think you can do great things with what you have.
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Post by lando on Dec 22, 2019 2:05:40 GMT -6
What about Louder than liftoff Chroma+ ? store.louderthanliftoff.com/products/chromaplusCheaper than an Silver bullet and with more interesting preamps and sound options than the SSL six (in my opinion, but haven’t used any of them myself). Same price as the SSL. Obviously no bus comp but maybe you want to add a real bus comp later anyway and the Chroma+ has comp as option. Downside is the inflexible EQ compared to the SB. Giving advice is dodgy when I haven’t used the stuff myself but just wanted to flag the option, I’m very tempted by it myself! |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Dec 22, 2019 7:06:32 GMT -6
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Post by drsax on Dec 22, 2019 9:43:04 GMT -6
Silver bullet. The Pres are stellar, you get multiple ways to color your sound or keep things cleaner, and a great sounding simple EQ. Sounds a lot like mixing through a console. And you won’t “need” a comp on the 2buss. I used to mix with a buss comp on every mix. Now I rarely do because the SB gives me glue and mojo without closing up my mix.
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Post by mrholmes on Dec 22, 2019 9:46:43 GMT -6
A bit pricey if money’s tight ? The SSL is pricey. The Silver Bullet is a bargain at $500 more. +1 Great mic pres and great mixbus in a single unit. I am sure tracking and mixing with the SB ads enough real mojo for doing the rest ITB. I repeat myself but who cares... I sold my SSL bus comp when I wasn't able to tell the difference in blind AB to Cytomic the Glue. PS. SOS Quote. "In theory, investing in a Silver Bullet or two (or even more) to record, subgroup and mix through could remove any need for an analogue console, an analogue summing mixer or multiple instances of emulation plug-ins. And while we don’t all have the means to lavish huge sums on this sort of processing, the Silver Bullet actually comes at a rather attractive price, considering the quality and character that’s on offer. And for all those reasons I heartily recommend that you audition a Silver Bullet." |
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