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Slate vsx
Nov 27, 2022 14:58:53 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by kcatthedog on Nov 27, 2022 14:58:53 GMT -6
The title’s a bit misleading as almost half prefer their monitors, still interesting to get their insights though: only one using an expensive pair!  |
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Post by Johnkenn on May 24, 2023 13:59:52 GMT -6
Yes, it’s gimmicky. It’s also the best purchase I’ve made in recent memory. I have spent a small fortune on monitors and room treatment. I’m at the point where I think my only options to upgrade would be Trinnov or speakers that calibrate themselves to the room like Dutch Audio or Kii, or of course hiring an acoustic consultant. I was very skeptical too, but a very high profile recording engineer that I used to assist for told me they were the real deal, so I tried them. Glad I did. I’ve tried the Waves stuff and thought it was a letdown in comparison to my monitors with the Trinnov. I’m getting sucked in by the latest marketing campaign though. Any new thoughts from anyone? |
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Post by Darren Boling on May 24, 2023 15:55:21 GMT -6
I've become a big fan of it, tuned the Zuma ATC 110's to my buddy's Trinnov'd mastering studio that also has ATC 110's. I ended up giving my D&D's the same house curve. Not quite the same as working on the 8c's but there's no surprises when going back and forth. Amazing tech.
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Post by mitchkricun on May 26, 2023 4:45:16 GMT -6
Yes, it’s gimmicky. It’s also the best purchase I’ve made in recent memory. I have spent a small fortune on monitors and room treatment. I’m at the point where I think my only options to upgrade would be Trinnov or speakers that calibrate themselves to the room like Dutch Audio or Kii, or of course hiring an acoustic consultant. I was very skeptical too, but a very high profile recording engineer that I used to assist for told me they were the real deal, so I tried them. Glad I did. I’ve tried the Waves stuff and thought it was a letdown in comparison to my monitors with the Trinnov. I’m getting sucked in by the latest marketing campaign though. Any new thoughts from anyone? Hi John, some things to consider… While there’s no doubt you are getting the truth from your current setup, not all speakers excel at all things. In VSX, I use different speakers to reveal different things. For instance, I’ve always used NS10’s for LV Level and transient recognition. The Mike Dean NS10’s do a better job at that task than my real ones. There are different speakers and rooms in VSX that I now lean on for different things. If there is anything in your current setup that you feel could be better, VSX probably has something for you. That said, if my mixes sounded like yours, I’d be spending my money on other things than gear. Hope this helps. |
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Post by donr on May 26, 2023 9:33:45 GMT -6
VSX is a great tool for hearing the bottom end, on big soffit mounted studio monitors, and for balancing on familiar NS10's and a Auratone. When your mix sounds good in a variety of VSX's environs, you can have confidence it'll translate. My AUDI B&O car system has more high end rise than any of my studio monitors and VSX choices, so it's not perfect.
I don't understand Slate's effort to emulate different brands of headphones. Why bother, it's speakers in rooms that's the virtue.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 26, 2023 15:44:34 GMT -6
Anyone try the new update? Interested to see if there are improvements.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jun 26, 2023 16:06:25 GMT -6
The golly gee wilikers superlatives never stop on Fb ! |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Jun 26, 2023 16:22:31 GMT -6
VSX is a great tool for hearing the bottom end, on big soffit mounted studio monitors, and for balancing on familiar NS10's and a Auratone. When your mix sounds good in a variety of VSX's environs, you can have confidence it'll translate. My AUDI B&O car system has more high end rise than any of my studio monitors and VSX choices, so it's not perfect. I don't understand Slate's effort to emulate different brands of headphones. Why bother, it's speakers in rooms that's the virtue. Hey Don, the problem with emulating a lot of the speakers people want to emulate are pretty simple, first if I emulate ATC big PMC or Quested I can’t take away the original driver distortion. Second as I’m sitting hear tweaking the EAWs with Radian 15s as subs, well if I could make the Sonys Sennheisers or Presonus phones no less a friends JBL 308s go this low (-3dB at a real 35) or this dynamic I am running 6000 watts here, well there would be some very fried drivers. |
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Post by Darren Boling on Jun 26, 2023 16:28:04 GMT -6
Anyone try the new update? Interested to see if there are improvements. I've been using it, each upgrade makes it more and more useful and trustworthy. I dropped the EQ curve I was using on Zuma far's in V3, the V4 sounds more natural and open. |
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Post by donr on Jun 26, 2023 16:30:03 GMT -6
I upgraded to V.4 of the VSX software. I waited to see if any other VSX owners spoke up first. It's amazing.
I now don't want to listen to regular headphones at all. For MacOS users (PC coming) you can instantiate the VSX software system wide, so any/all audio goes through it.
Slate has the binaural imaging thing really nailed now. Even the Auratone sounds good. With so many comparable references, it's easy to spot weaknesses in frequency balances. If you're like me, you'll find a couple/three favorite speakers/studios you feel at home working on.
I think Steven is missing a move not marketing this to hi-fi enthusiasts. I would love to be able to hear my chosen music in a sweet sounding room on a pair of AR3a's or KLH 6's or Quad ESL-57's, Splendor's, B&W's, Advents, JBL L100's, etc. Even Lafayette Criterions.
The VSX experience is just, well, pleasing. I'd recommend buying it and returning it if you don't like it as much as I do. But you should hear it!
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 26, 2023 16:47:50 GMT -6
The golly gee wilikers superlatives never stop on Fb ! Man...it is a HYPE MACHINE |
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Post by maldenfilms on Jun 26, 2023 19:17:46 GMT -6
I was part of the beta team for this latest 4.0 update and just want to speak to my experience of how much work went into getting things to where they are now.
I had originally bought the headphones when they first came out and have always been a bit frustrated, like I had to "squint my ears" to really hear what was going on. At one point I thought about ditching them completely because I wasn't getting the results I hoped for. I joined the beta and already things were sounding much better. It originally was supposed to be VSX 3.5. But along the way, Steven made several discoveries with the binaural perception modeling and tightened up the low end / subs to where it's now night-and-day from where things used to be. Us users suggested he call it 4.0 since it's such a big update.
I realize there's a lot of hype on Facebook and the other forum, but I really think it's warranted. It now feels to me like I'm sitting in front of really incredible speakers in a well-tuned room. For the price of the headphones, it's a steal what you get in return. Slate support is incredible and I think it's worth noting that Steven worked his ass off, through nights, weekends, and while he was on vacation. All for a totally free update.
Anyways, I had a Trinnov Nova on pre-order but cancelled it because it just doesn't make sense anymore for me. I highly recommend trying VSX out to make up your own mind... I think they offer a 30 day money back guarantee.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jun 26, 2023 19:23:56 GMT -6
I am really just poking fun. Back up to the last release and they were all having eargasms over how unfuckingbelievably great that was and now it starts all over again: have to laugh at the endless superlatives |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 26, 2023 19:33:35 GMT -6
Enough people who know what they’re talking about are saying it’s really good. Might have to try it. What packages are there and what should you get?
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Slate vsx
Jun 26, 2023 19:42:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by ericn on Jun 26, 2023 19:42:08 GMT -6
I am really just poking fun. Back up to the last release and they were all having eargasms over how unfuckingbelievably great that was and now it starts all over again: have to laugh at the endless superlatives Didn’t you hear the new dictionary definition of Slate is Hype! |
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Slate vsx
Jun 26, 2023 19:44:22 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by kcatthedog on Jun 26, 2023 19:44:22 GMT -6
There’s really only two: light and complete: for the marginal increase get the full package: then figure out what works for you !
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Post by maldenfilms on Jun 26, 2023 20:49:14 GMT -6
Yeah I can totally understand that. Which is why I was a bit confused at all the hype for the earlier versions myself. I felt like there must be something really wrong with my ears.
But for whatever my opinion is worth, I genuinely think this new version is the real deal. The cars actually sound like sitting in a car to me. And the club, which was absolutely useless to me before, feels like you're in a real club, albeit an empty one (I think they're gonna capture a venue with real people in it to diffuse the sound a bit, but the original samples were done during Covid, so that would've been tough).
And John, I would recommend going for the Platinum since it includes all of the rooms/speakers plus future additions. Right now they don't have a way to demo the additional rooms if you only buy Essential, but Steven said they're working on that.
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 29, 2023 10:02:07 GMT -6
Think I'm about to pull the trigger. If these give me a different "view"/perspective - I would think it could be a really great buy. I'm just still a little dubious on the fake room stuff. I'll report back.
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Post by Darren Boling on Sept 29, 2023 11:10:13 GMT -6
Think I'm about to pull the trigger. If these give me a different "view"/perspective - I would think it could be a really great buy. I'm just still a little dubious on the fake room stuff. I'll report back. Give the Zuma room fars (ATC 110's) a demo when you get it. On another note, when tuning to my buddy's mastering studio the depth (crosstalk) helped it feel more real than I expected or dialed in when just listening on my own, I'm around 1:00). |
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 29, 2023 16:05:22 GMT -6
Got them and have been checking a mix with them. Pretty cool. It will be nice to have something to double check on when I'm through mixing. I can see how this could be helpful working with the bottom end on some of the mains. And the SUV...
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,098
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Slate vsx
Sept 29, 2023 18:07:50 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by ericn on Sept 29, 2023 18:07:50 GMT -6
I’ve tried the Waves stuff and thought it was a letdown in comparison to my monitors with the Trinnov. I’m getting sucked in by the latest marketing campaign though. Any new thoughts from anyone? Hi John, some things to consider… While there’s no doubt you are getting the truth from your current setup, not all speakers excel at all things. In VSX, I use different speakers to reveal different things. For instance, I’ve always used NS10’s for LV Level and transient recognition. The Mike Dean NS10’s do a better job at that task than my real ones. There are different speakers and rooms in VSX that I now lean on for different things. If there is anything in your current setup that you feel could be better, VSX probably has something for you. That said, if my mixes sounded like yours, I’d be spending my money on other things than gear. Hope this helps. Mitch you forget the one problem with any of these emulation systems, you can’t take out the distortion and brea up character of the drivers. You can play with phase EQ and add some distortion but you can’t make the natural character of any transducer I can EQ and maybe duplicate the phase of a pair of ATC’s with software and NS10’s but the distortion character is still going to be that of NS10’s. Even the reverse won’t quite work because while ATC’s are very low distortion speakers, compared to say a mic pre amp, it’s still high as hell. |
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Post by RealNoob on Sept 29, 2023 20:31:02 GMT -6
... I can EQ and maybe duplicate the phase of a pair of ATC’s with software ... When can i book you for my project room. I'll take some Faux ATCs  |
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Post by notneeson on Sept 29, 2023 22:06:33 GMT -6
I am using the Waves Abbey Road Studio 3 thing as an occasional reference point. I like that I can use my HD650s on it. And it was like $29, so why not? The sound is interesting, it's maybe a tad on the flattering side, but still useful.
A friend of mine is really liking the Slate thing, it seemed a little drier sounding than Waves but in a similar ball park when I tried it at his studio. Of course, I wasn't equipped to A/B so big grains of salt.
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Post by mitchkricun on Oct 3, 2023 19:53:48 GMT -6
Hi John, some things to consider… While there’s no doubt you are getting the truth from your current setup, not all speakers excel at all things. In VSX, I use different speakers to reveal different things. For instance, I’ve always used NS10’s for LV Level and transient recognition. The Mike Dean NS10’s do a better job at that task than my real ones. There are different speakers and rooms in VSX that I now lean on for different things. If there is anything in your current setup that you feel could be better, VSX probably has something for you. That said, if my mixes sounded like yours, I’d be spending my money on other things than gear. Hope this helps. Mitch you forget the one problem with any of these emulation systems, you can’t take out the distortion and brea up character of the drivers. You can play with phase EQ and add some distortion but you can’t make the natural character of any transducer I can EQ and maybe duplicate the phase of a pair of ATC’s with software and NS10’s but the distortion character is still going to be that of NS10’s. Even the reverse won’t quite work because while ATC’s are very low distortion speakers, compared to say a mic pre amp, it’s still high as hell. I hear you, but I don’t think anything in my post suggested they perfectly replace $200k worth of speakers for $450. Only that I find them useful. I also heavily rely on Adam S3a’s, but unfortunately for me, my room doesn’t translate low end all that well, despite a lot of money and trial and error spent on room treatment. In the end, all I care about is real world translation, and VSX helps me get closer to achieving that. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 11, 2023 21:48:45 GMT -6
Well, two weeks later…
I’m really not sure I’m gonna use these a lot. I guess I kind of answered the “will this be redundant with the Trinnov” question…yes.
The One 15s and PMC nearfields sound pretty similar to my real One 18s, so it’s not that the headphones/software doesn’t work or whatever - I’m just realizing for what I do, I’m never going to actually mix WITH them. I actually think I could get pretty close if I started off with them - like - my mixes sound like I intended when listening through vsx…but it’s easier to mix in n the real speakers. Well, I can’t say that for sure because I haven’t done it phones first…I guess I’m saying, this confirms to me that my room and the trinnov work really well (already knew this.)
I thought this might give me other perspectives that would lead to mix moves…but not really. These would be really valuable without the trinnov though. Or any room correction.
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