Prochannel "S-type" (SSL) vs. SSL VST's

schwa
Bonus question:  What happened to the Prochannel S-type bus compressor?  (and the softube offerings). 

What do you mean? They still exist.

Got it, I didn't realize that the SSL bus comp was an included component.

Sanderxpander
It only shows up buses. Realistic but annoying.

No, you can load it in any track. It is the default for buses.

Ah sorry for that misinformation then, so if I wanted it on a track it would show up if I deleted the 76 first? Or used replace?

Thanks, you learn something new every day!

schwa
 
Bonus question:  and the softube offerings. 

There is the Softube Saturation knob. but the other modules..
Those are a 3 party add on that (I believe) can still be purchased through the cakewalk store.
 
The Waves SSL bus compressor Is one of my favorite plug ins. Its hard to compare The Pro channel module to that plug in. I do love the PC channel compressors but the SSL BC is one of a kind.

I like the PC versions a lot.

I struggled a little with the channel compressor at first, finding the right use for it and dialing in the right settings. Now that I am more used to it I find it perfect in certain situations.

The expander/gate gets used a lot here, more often than not un expander mode, as it can be much more transparent.

The Bus Compressor is fantastic. Danny D turned me on to using it on snare drums. I also use it on every project as a "glue".

The Console Emulator is great, too, though I tend to use the Neve and API emulation more.

I would use the PC stuff over other vst versions, personally, both for their sound and ease of use.

Kamikaze
Man I love the Soft Tube GUIs. I'm kind of glad they have iLok, because I can't justify the 300 dollars for them at the mo, other things have to come first. The read some postive comments about the focusing equailzer, that made it appealto me in particular, the TSAR has been praised as well

I picked it up on sale, so it's worth looking out for.

You can tell which projects I did around the time I purchased it, as they are littered with the Softube stuff. 😊 I find I use them less frequently now.

They tend to come into play when I am struggling to get the right sound with my "go to" plugs. The FET compressor can often work well if I am not getting what I want from the PC76, which isn't often . Of the three EQs, it is usually the Focussing EQ that gets used. Occasionally I use the reverb, but not often.

You are right about the GUIs, it's like a flashback to my stereo separates in the seventies, in a good way.

All in all, I don't use them frequently, but am glad they are there when I do.

bitflipper

schwa
My question is:  If you like to use S-type tools in your channels, do you prefer Waves, Prochannel, or something else?  If so, why?

My question is: can anyone really tell the difference in a blind listening test?
 
I can't distinguish, for example, between the ProChannel compressor and Cytomic The Glue without peeking. While official SSL emulations and The Glue each have features the other lacks, they both cover the same basic territory. But for some reason, popular opinion generally prefers The Glue in polls.
 

I still get caught out occasionally when altering the controls on a compressor. I hear the sound change until I have it just right, and then notice that the module is bypassed..

Ho him. Not so much golden ears as cloth eared..

bitflipper

schwa
My question is:  If you like to use S-type tools in your channels, do you prefer Waves, Prochannel, or something else?  If so, why?

My question is: can anyone really tell the difference in a blind listening test?
 
I can't distinguish, for example, between the ProChannel compressor and Cytomic The Glue without peeking. While official SSL emulations and The Glue each have features the other lacks, they both cover the same basic territory. But for some reason, popular opinion generally prefers The Glue in polls.
 

Its a great question really because when you think about it, It all about the code. I believe we are coming to a rock bottom in world of Digital recording and there's not much room to expand (sonically speaking).
Sure there will always be new features added but until a new fidelity is invented the only thing really becoming more creative are GUI's.
 
EDIT: I wanted to add a bit more to my previous comment-
 
I really wanted to disagree with you on this Bitflipper. because when I listen closely to the Waves SSL bus compressor, I honestly do feel like I hear a difference from the others. But I have to be honest with myself, im not sure there is a great big difference and if I were to blind test them I can not say I would be able to tell (except for the Analog feature on the Waves SSL, I better be able to hear that or everything I've been believing about Analog is a lie )
 
We have all been around the block and lived through the hardware age where each different piece of gear had its own unique characteristics. Wheather that be tubes or the Diodes. With the computer age, there is only mere cloning or mimicking if you will of that classic gear (which they do a mighty fine job if I say so myself).
 
But when it comes right down to it, we are all playing on the same table now with the exception of Audio interfaces and outboard gear. So to wrap up this very long reply to your question... No I don't think I would be able to tell the difference between good quality plug ins. But that's not to say some plug ins are not more creative than others in their own way.

I use grouping a lot to do A-B testing, with one track soloed and the other not. Then I close my eyes and click one of the buttons so many times I have no idea whether it's the soloed one or not. That way I can be objective about any differences.