Hi First Post, Finally joined in rather than just following.
 
Anyone compared the new console emulations with NLS or VCC?
 
I am curious as to how they stack up?

I was let down by the emu's as they behave more like digital saturators than consoles.

I have a session of tracks I use for comparisons between different companies (NLS, VCC, Nebula,etc) with very tight tolerances for each individual track (levels, pans the same every time) and I render copies of the tracks as full sessions into stereo mixes and level match them at RMS. These Cakewalk ones can be useful but, they are a disappointment as console emu.

If you compare these, and truly compare such as rendering a full mix of raw tracks like I was describing above, then you get to hear how the X2 emu's are not really reacting like consoles: the high end is exaggerated in a "spitty" way through either one of the 3 consoles. That mid range "consolidation" and subtle beefiness (sorry for these descriptors lol) is just not there on the X2 emu's. Take the SSL one for example. You would expect that high mid lift and simultaneous subtle sparkle to be added but the X2 S-Type doesn't quite cut it. And that slight wave of dynamism most importantly is lacking. NLS, VCC, and Nebula are fantastic in comparison, different ball of wax altogether.

Hi Trancending, Really appreciate the response!
 
I tried NLS when it first came out but waited to see what X2 would look like.
 
Out of curiosity which is your favourite and why?
 
 

I did a quick comparison last night on the buss consoles.

I wish I had visuals to post, but in sum; they all seem to apply a broad band mid-EQ cut, with the S type being the most severe, and the N type being the most mellow. I will test more soon.

Crowned One


Hi Trancending, Really appreciate the response!
 
I tried NLS when it first came out but waited to see what X2 would look like.
 
Out of curiosity which is your favourite and why?
 
 

No problem Crowned One...


I have a personal bias towards Nebula for obvious reasons lol no, but really, Nebula sonically takes the cake. My short experience with analog consoles and the memory imprint of their sound helps decipher that aspect but more importantly those comparisons and shootouts to real consoles allowed me to sort what sounds and behaves like a real console and what doesn't. The 3 kings in these regards were Nebula, VCC, and NLS. Their realism in how they create high frequency damping, frequency 'circuit soaking', dynamism, and shaping without sounding flat out "EQ'ed". Ultimately you can't go wrong with either one of those so find the best deal you can from those 3 and you'll be golden. X2 emu's just falls short unfortunately as true console emulation. 

I'd be interested in seeing a comparison with an actual console.

I don't think very many consoles added nearly as much THD as the emulations seem to be entertaining folks with.

It'd be easy to figure out just how little THD they add... but that might spoil the fun.


best regards,
mike

Thanks again Trancending,

I have been using satson and stripbus for a few months getting used to them.
Have you ever tried them?

I have never tried Nebula but have been looking at waves for $100 at the moment.
The Ilok is the main thing that puts me off VCC but it also looks good.

mike_mccue


I'd be interested in seeing a comparison with an actual console.

I don't think very many consoles added nearly as much THD as the emulations seem to be entertaining folks with.

It'd be easy to figure out just how little THD they add... but that might spoil the fun.


best regards,
mike

Hi Mike,
I currently run all my mixes through a 16 channel SSL x-rack where they get summed and passed to a bus comp and stereo eq before going back into the box. I don't have anything I can readily post for you to A/B just now, but to my ears my hardware SSL doesn't add anywhere near as much sonic change as any of the console emulators I've tried out do. The SSL itself is pretty subtle and the console emulators, again to my ears, really aren't. For that matter, I don't know that I've really heard any of the consoles I've used change the sound as much as the emulators do.


If you're interested I'll see if I can round up something to post in a day or two so you can A/B.


Dean

mike_mccue


I'd be interested in seeing a comparison with an actual console.

I don't think very many consoles added nearly as much THD as the emulations seem to be entertaining folks with.

It'd be easy to figure out just how little THD they add... but that might spoil the fun.


best regards,
mike

Mike that is a pertinent point and true. THD is not the end all be all when it comes to emulating analog circuitry. The phase distortion, response, frequency interplay and response are very important. The non-linear dynamic nature of THD is vital as well not necessarily it's amount.  

Crowned One


Thanks again Trancending,

I have been using satson and stripbus for a few months getting used to them.
Have you ever tried them?

I have never tried Nebula but have been looking at waves for $100 at the moment.
The Ilok is the main thing that puts me off VCC but it also looks good.

Oh yes, those are very good as well. I was just mentioning my top 3. In my opinion do my top 3 have the slight edge from my comparisons? Yea I would say yes. But please remember, it's a matter of making or breaking your mix! You can't go wrong with these 5 mentioned and I personally pick any of my first 3 as my top picks. 

Razorwit

mike_mccue


I'd be interested in seeing a comparison with an actual console.

I don't think very many consoles added nearly as much THD as the emulations seem to be entertaining folks with.

It'd be easy to figure out just how little THD they add... but that might spoil the fun.


best regards,
mike

Hi Mike,
I currently run all my mixes through a 16 channel SSL x-rack where they get summed and passed to a bus comp and stereo eq before going back into the box. I don't have anything I can readily post for you to A/B just now, but to my ears my hardware SSL doesn't add anywhere near as much sonic change as any of the console emulators I've tried out do. The SSL itself is pretty subtle and the console emulators, again to my ears, really aren't. For that matter, I don't know that I've really heard any of the consoles I've used change the sound as much as the emulators do.


If you're interested I'll see if I can round up something to post in a day or two so you can A/B.


Dean

Hey Dean, while it's true the sound shouldn't drastically change, there are however differences running through a console. It's a question of digital saturator type difference or subtle "analog-like" difference. The problem with summing units is that they are not really in the ballpark as large format consoles when it comes to how they sum and more importantly character. Of course you can try to compare if you want by all means, I'm just saying you probably won't get much out of a comparison with a summing set up.

Hi Dean and Transcending Audio,

I'll be on the road for a couple days but I'd very much enjoy seeing any info you guys come up with.

Thanks for the detailed and informative replies.

best regards,
mike