Demo all of Plugin Alliance's products for 30 days. Start a free MEGA Plan trial here: www.plugin-alliance.com/mega?+organic_organic_spl+machine+head+walkthrough
Quick tip for those watching: TH-cam's web browser version now has a 'Stable Volume' feature that can affect what you hear. Make sure to turn it off so the auto-gain doesn’t interfere with the video’s true sound. Shoutout to Ian Shepherd @ProductionAdvice for highlighting this!
That "1:1 recreation of the hardware processing" was a real killshot to the secondhand market... I can't imagine the converters in it are so desireable that it would be worth $1000's more. Damn. I'd feel bad if I'd bought one... But I didn't. So 🥳🥳🥳 Thanks PA, starting the year strong as always!!
@OwensDrumming aaah that's cool man. I'll be honest, this was my first time hearing about this unit. Somehow passed me by, but I assumed it would have been similar to the vitalizer... Good to know, cheers!
Nice addition, but you should please make an improved version of the Installation Manager. It's really outdated according to what we are used nowadays on Installation Managers from competitors and other plugin developers. Your Installation Manager is 3 years old now, no updates since 2022. It's a pain to deal with... no way to know which plugins are already installed on your machine, no way to check if there are updates to specific plugins, no way to know new released plugins not installed... Please, update it asap!
We get this comment often and it's at the top of our development roadmap. Unfortunately, updating Installation Manager isn't as straightforward as it seems. It's tied into our website and plugin development framework, which are both due for an update. As a result, our entire backend system needs to be overhauled. This is something we're actively working on, but it will take some time.
@@PluginAllianceTV Appreciate the reply and happy to read you're actively working on it... but with all due respect, no update since 3 years it's too much actually. A very small and humble developers such as Nembrini Audio for instance, have this perfectly done. No fancy stuff as many others, but working as it should to help users to optimize our time on these boring and improductive tasks. Other developers are a bit of a mess too. By the way, know several friend producers that are cancelling and keeping away from your subscription for this reason. And I'm also thinking about it, being a loyalty user since the very beginning. Producers/musicians want to spent more time on creative tasks, not on installing and updating plugins. Thank you for your understanding.
it's *not* "a 1 to 1 match of the original hardware" because the hardware was 24 bit fixed point processing and in/out (on AES and S-PDIF). Which is why input and output levels and avoiding clipping was critical. It is however apparently a 1:1 match of the original (floating point) code that was later modified *for* the hardware. Oversampling would likely make it even better.
Already have Mixland's MB Mixhead...it's not great. In fact, I haven't ever used it on a mix, I just find the plethora of Tape Emus far far superior and more pleasing on the ear...Having said that...this is apparently a 1 -1 port that SPL signed off on so...Plugin Alliance hasn't let me down thus far. The SPL Big for example is just sublime.
@@declanwhite Correction, Make Believe Studios...Mixland's P.A. plugins are actually rather good though, particularly the VacAttack for bass. And where Mixhead fails to excite, MBSI delivers. I highly recommend that to anyone looking for an analog channel with real vibe. The compressor section is insanely good.
Isnt this very similar to the Gold and Alchemy function in Schwabe Digitals Gold Clip? From what I understand Machine Head and the Gold function emulate tape compression by adjusting the sustain information of your signal without altering the transients while the HF adjust and the Alchemy function respectively alter high frequency content? I know that Gold Clip is obviously a clipper and that Machine Head is a tape saturator but I figured that it sounds and works in very similar ways. Does anybody have an answer for me?
@@AH20XX yep, but lets see if rteally sounds the same ..I have Eventide H9000 and the Plugions do not sound as good as the HW...so the test is comparing both... SPL and MB ...I will check that
Isn't it just the "Magneto" plugin algorithm from the late 90s? That DirectX plugin (usually used in Wavelab) cost $40 back in the day. They ported the algo to the Machine Head hardware DSP, and now it goes for 20k! SPL says they ported it from the hardware using an old Windows 2000 PC. Ha! They ported it from MAGNETO!
Please elaborate further, VERY interested. I'm seeing others mention the MBS MH, which has me curious how many of these pieces are possibly identical siblings.
@@lussyl1642 It should be the same as the hardware. The algo started as a plugin, then ported to hardware, and back to plugin, but I see no reason it should sound different unless they screwed it up. Some mods were likely made along the way, but I'm sure they were careful to make sure the hardware matches this plugin.
@@AG-mz7vm Search "SPL Machine Head Magneto" and make sure "Magneto" is in the results. There is a gearspace thread called "Make Believe Studios announces MixHead Digital Tape Saturation Processor" and if you use the "thread search" function you can search for "magneto"
@@AH20XX yeah and Make Believe Studios already did exactly this, but why not have a billion copies of the same plug... I'm sure someone out there is still coding more 1176's lol
Liking the plugin, and great that the original manufacturer got the original team together to code the original thing in convenient plugin form (should also put a stop to the totally absurd scavenging prices of the used hardware). 👍🏻👍🏻 BUT - wouldn't it have made more sense for this audio demo to use some less annoying music with actual real high frequency content, not these silly already heavily band limited trap hihats, and some clean undistorted vocals, and perhaps even some acoustic instruments & sounds?? 🤷🏼♂️
It can be frustrating when software developers design rotary knobs without integrated indicators, requiring users to reference a separate display to determine the current values. Unlike physical hardware knobs, which provide tactile feedback, software controls lack this sensory input, making it difficult to gauge adjustments precisely. Incorporating real-time value displays directly within or alongside the rotary controls would significantly enhance the user experience. Leveraging the expertise of User Experience Consultants or Product Developers could help implement this feature effectively. Adapting hardware design principles to software interfaces should be straightforward and greatly improve usability. Please make an updated version with a small floating window that included the values when you turn the knobs.
Interesting that you have the bot in comment sections that tells everyone you have ported code 1 to 1 with the original. Not a good marketing. MB's version is very good.
Ah, the senselessness of promoting a plugin that u can't even buy. Stop punishing your biggest supporters that have bought all your stuff since day 1. We're not subscribing at this point if we already own everything
Lmao. Just give them a chance to upload it to their site and post it. Why are you so impatient? Hahaha! By the way, I just checked for you and it's posted on their site now. You can purchase it.
Due to a technical issue, there was no "Add to Cart" button available when the product page went live this morning; this was not intentional. We've corrected the error and Machine Head is available to purchase, just like our other plugins: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/spl_machine_head.html
Demo all of Plugin Alliance's products for 30 days. Start a free MEGA Plan trial here:
www.plugin-alliance.com/mega?+organic_organic_spl+machine+head+walkthrough
Kudos to PA - finally plugin review with gainmatch before after!
PA makes the most amazing saturation plugins there are. This one sounds like it'll be a great tool for sound design too!
Quick tip for those watching: TH-cam's web browser version now has a 'Stable Volume' feature that can affect what you hear. Make sure to turn it off so the auto-gain doesn’t interfere with the video’s true sound. Shoutout to Ian Shepherd @ProductionAdvice for highlighting this!
Yep!
Nice tip!
From what i heard - this (the hardware version) is what Serban Ghenea uses on the 2Bus when he mixes all those Weeknd songs
3:22 Your example here sounds better/louder while actually peaking over 2dB lower. Awesome.
That "1:1 recreation of the hardware processing" was a real killshot to the secondhand market... I can't imagine the converters in it are so desireable that it would be worth $1000's more. Damn. I'd feel bad if I'd bought one...
But I didn't. So 🥳🥳🥳 Thanks PA, starting the year strong as always!!
There are no converters in the hardware unit. It was a digital-only unit. The I/O was on AES
@OwensDrumming aaah that's cool man. I'll be honest, this was my first time hearing about this unit. Somehow passed me by, but I assumed it would have been similar to the vitalizer... Good to know, cheers!
Instant purchase! Great work!
Please make the Loudness Maximizer and Spectralizer too!
Thank you Charles. I never had $18k of saturation before. Am definitely interested to discover what it does.
Nice addition, but you should please make an improved version of the Installation Manager. It's really outdated according to what we are used nowadays on Installation Managers from competitors and other plugin developers. Your Installation Manager is 3 years old now, no updates since 2022. It's a pain to deal with... no way to know which plugins are already installed on your machine, no way to check if there are updates to specific plugins, no way to know new released plugins not installed... Please, update it asap!
We get this comment often and it's at the top of our development roadmap. Unfortunately, updating Installation Manager isn't as straightforward as it seems. It's tied into our website and plugin development framework, which are both due for an update. As a result, our entire backend system needs to be overhauled. This is something we're actively working on, but it will take some time.
@@PluginAllianceTV Thanks for the info!
@@PluginAllianceTV Appreciate the reply and happy to read you're actively working on it... but with all due respect, no update since 3 years it's too much actually. A very small and humble developers such as Nembrini Audio for instance, have this perfectly done. No fancy stuff as many others, but working as it should to help users to optimize our time on these boring and improductive tasks. Other developers are a bit of a mess too. By the way, know several friend producers that are cancelling and keeping away from your subscription for this reason. And I'm also thinking about it, being a loyalty user since the very beginning. Producers/musicians want to spent more time on creative tasks, not on installing and updating plugins. Thank you for your understanding.
couldn't agree more! It's so annoying I cant see whats been added and new, which ones need updating. I just sit and install them all each time
@@PluginAllianceTV Thanks for that info, I'm always worried my plugins need to be updated.
plugin doctor reveals this to just be a soft clipper with a top end air boost that lowers everything beneath it a little.
All the music samples are already distorted to death from the get go, so you don't really hear what the plug does for better or for worse
it's *not* "a 1 to 1 match of the original hardware" because the hardware was 24 bit fixed point processing and in/out (on AES and S-PDIF). Which is why input and output levels and avoiding clipping was critical. It is however apparently a 1:1 match of the original (floating point) code that was later modified *for* the hardware. Oversampling would likely make it even better.
Congratulations on new release @PluginAllianceTV , it sounds very promising
Already have Mixland's MB Mixhead...it's not great. In fact, I haven't ever used it on a mix, I just find the plethora of Tape Emus far far superior and more pleasing on the ear...Having said that...this is apparently a 1 -1 port that SPL signed off on so...Plugin Alliance hasn't let me down thus far. The SPL Big for example is just sublime.
mixland didnt make that lol
@@declanwhite Correction, Make Believe Studios...Mixland's P.A. plugins are actually rather good though, particularly the VacAttack for bass. And where Mixhead fails to excite, MBSI delivers. I highly recommend that to anyone looking for an analog channel with real vibe. The compressor section is insanely good.
Isnt this very similar to the Gold and Alchemy function in Schwabe Digitals Gold Clip? From what I understand Machine Head and the Gold function emulate tape compression by adjusting the sustain information of your signal without altering the transients while the HF adjust and the Alchemy function respectively alter high frequency content?
I know that Gold Clip is obviously a clipper and that Machine Head is a tape saturator but I figured that it sounds and works in very similar ways. Does anybody have an answer for me?
Would love to try it, I guess it would be available later on today?
Might talk about it on my channel.
Yes! You can demo/purchase Machine Head here: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/spl_machine_head.html
I’d like to see a shootout video against the metric halo version 🤔
Maybe next time you should choose a source that's not super distorted in the first place 😄
wonder if it sounds better that the MBS
SPL actually made the hardware unit. This has the exact same code 1for1
@@AH20XX yep, but lets see if rteally sounds the same ..I have Eventide H9000 and the Plugions do not sound as good as the HW...so the test is comparing both... SPL and MB ...I will check that
@bluematrix5001 I always think it'll always be impossible to sound exactly the same. It's hard to account for converter differences
@@AH20XXsince this was ADAT, there was no conversion in the signal chain with the hardware unit so this should be 1:1
@Seanrayamusic true indeed!!!
Hi SPL please can you release a hardware version for $200 like TC Electronic has done.with its old range of reverbs.
Gut!
We need SPL Mixdream
Isn't it just the "Magneto" plugin algorithm from the late 90s? That DirectX plugin (usually used in Wavelab) cost $40 back in the day. They ported the algo to the Machine Head hardware DSP, and now it goes for 20k! SPL says they ported it from the hardware using an old Windows 2000 PC. Ha! They ported it from MAGNETO!
Is this true?
Please elaborate further, VERY interested. I'm seeing others mention the MBS MH, which has me curious how many of these pieces are possibly identical siblings.
does this mean this plugins isnt the same as the hardware?
@@lussyl1642 It should be the same as the hardware. The algo started as a plugin, then ported to hardware, and back to plugin, but I see no reason it should sound different unless they screwed it up. Some mods were likely made along the way, but I'm sure they were careful to make sure the hardware matches this plugin.
@@AG-mz7vm Search "SPL Machine Head Magneto" and make sure "Magneto" is in the results. There is a gearspace thread called "Make Believe Studios announces MixHead Digital Tape Saturation Processor" and if you use the "thread search" function you can search for "magneto"
Intresting... The hf adjust not/not just an eq...
Wow! Let me compare it with the MBSI😂
🤣🤣
How is this different from the Make Believe version?
One is not make believe.
@@MagicCvstle LOL
It's exactly the same code as in the hardware and it has the "Ultimate" option with additional "low Freq adjust".
SPL actually made the hardware unit!!! This is 1for1 the exact same code!
@@AH20XX yeah and Make Believe Studios already did exactly this, but why not have a billion copies of the same plug... I'm sure someone out there is still coding more 1176's lol
TH-cam's audio algorithm really ruins these videos. I can't really hear the difference. That aside, the SPL Machine Head is a legendary unit.
Lets Trial...
will it be available for purchase please ?
Yes, it's available in our web shop: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/spl_machine_head.html
Liking the plugin, and great that the original manufacturer got the original team together to code the original thing in convenient plugin form (should also put a stop to the totally absurd scavenging prices of the used hardware).
👍🏻👍🏻
BUT - wouldn't it have made more sense for this audio demo to use some less annoying music with actual real high frequency content, not these silly already heavily band limited trap hihats, and some clean undistorted vocals, and perhaps even some acoustic instruments & sounds??
🤷🏼♂️
It can be frustrating when software developers design rotary knobs without integrated indicators, requiring users to reference a separate display to determine the current values. Unlike physical hardware knobs, which provide tactile feedback, software controls lack this sensory input, making it difficult to gauge adjustments precisely. Incorporating real-time value displays directly within or alongside the rotary controls would significantly enhance the user experience. Leveraging the expertise of User Experience Consultants or Product Developers could help implement this feature effectively. Adapting hardware design principles to software interfaces should be straightforward and greatly improve usability.
Please make an updated version with a small floating window that included the values when you turn the knobs.
The music used to demo this is the worst sh I’ve ever heard
$20.000. Makes you wonder. Like if someone at SPL has been sleeping for the last 16 years. With that said; it does seem to sound good.
Interesting that you have the bot in comment sections that tells everyone you have ported code 1 to 1 with the original. Not a good marketing. MB's version is very good.
I genuinely thought it was the hardware. I mean still digital so there’s that…
Why wouldn't they just re-release it
The hardware?
20k investments just lost values
No
@@mirkomarkovic3438 yes
@@mirkomarkovic3438 yes
@@mirkomarkovic3438 yes
yes
Ah, the senselessness of promoting a plugin that u can't even buy. Stop punishing your biggest supporters that have bought all your stuff since day 1. We're not subscribing at this point if we already own everything
69USD
Suspect this was their way of testing the waters on subscription only plugins. Glad people spoke up and gave them the clarity they were after
Lmao. Just give them a chance to upload it to their site and post it. Why are you so impatient? Hahaha!
By the way, I just checked for you and it's posted on their site now. You can purchase it.
Lol maybe you should ahh not speak so fast the next time. Also educate yourself about this company.
Due to a technical issue, there was no "Add to Cart" button available when the product page went live this morning; this was not intentional. We've corrected the error and Machine Head is available to purchase, just like our other plugins: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/spl_machine_head.html
Metric Halo be giggling right now 😂 Hope you don't end up driving indirect sales to MBS. Let's compare 😊
SPL actually made the hardware so.....
ok I'm sticking with MBS then
You should not, they have too high prices, pretty mercenary company
Have fun
Sticking with a dud
Sorrym but nothing beats the UAD ampex 102.
Why are you sorry, this just is your opinion.
@@AG-mz7vm Arturia J37....Hold my beer
But. It's... NOT an Ampex 102 emulation 🤔
@AH20XX no more tape stuff for me buddy, to "saturated" market
Cupreels AX 102.