It was nice to see your video pop up on my feed this morning. I started using the 542 during Covid and never looked back. I can't remember why I bought a pair but I am glad I did. I produced a series of Happy Hour live music broadcasts on YT for several weeks during the time everyone was staying at home and the 542s were used on acoustic grand piano. I eventually used them across the stereo buss output that was feed into the broadcast mixer. What this unit does do an acoustic source is quite something. I am glad to see you are getting the word out there. The versatility is such that you can dial in fine details and for an instrument with strings, it does something ver, very special. I had a pair of stereo ribbon mics (fatheads) on the grand piano with the 542s on that bus and that piano just sounds great. On guitars, electric or acoustic, is sounds stellar. Heck, with a pair, you can use two in tandem on a mono source and that way dial in more or less saturation on the blue silk or red of each. Its great having these things at my finger tips and the results are achieved fast and ear candy, to me at least. I learned many years ago from guys who tore down Neve vintage gear that 90% of the sound of the circuits was in the transformers they use and that's because of the materials used in the core of the transformer. I am going on too long here but to round out my comment, let me say, the more quality transformers touching your signal, the more beautiful your sound gets. Nobody specs out a transformer better than Rupert Neve did and Rupert Neve Designs does now. Maybe these 542s are a poor man's RND MBT. Ssssshhhhhhhhhh! You didn't get that idea from me! But I would be really interested to hear how the 542s stack up against the Mast Buss Transformer by RND, without using the compressor and extra stuff, of course. I enjoy your delivery. Subscribed, good day!
i have a pair. They live on my drum bus. These units are a cheat code. Subtle and magic. Also overlooked is that you have a blend control on the saturation and the Silk, so you can be subtle or really push the saturation/tape sound. Great channel. Thanks for the insight and info. - Eddie Leonard
Thanks. Yes, the Blend control is absolutely genius! We are used to seeing "Blend" on compressors only. The engineering mind behind this concept on the 542 is pure genius
That was so awesome and interesting. SERIOUSLY! I don't have a clue when it comes to mixing and mastering, HOWEVER, I just learned something my dear...So wonderful to see you pursuing your love of music again....UP, UP and AWAY! 🙌🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽
Its a great box. I use it on snare, bass and Kick, where you can bring it in at any timepoint in your work. When I use two on my 2bus - thats the point where I really think you MUST mix into them from the beginng due to the low end bump. anayway - its an "analogizer" way mor better than my fusion. thanks for your video
there is only one thing in my setup that i like a tiny bit more: the tube circuit of my 610b UAD Pre-Amp. it souns so nice dark an dcreamy i am totally in love with it. would it have the silk setting - I would probably divorce and marry it instead of my wife :D
U again for your Great content, especially the journey you've taken. I have the neve 500 series API lunchbox, not sure how to route through my interface and or mixing console. Could you do a video on how yours is routed? Id like to use mine as an aux send on the console and as a direct line in thru my MPCx to the interface and into Ableton for printing. Thanks in advance
Great content and very informative! Question I bought two of these but idk how to use them as a pair for stereo how can I make that happen? For example I have it going on inserts 3/4 and the other 5/6 but I can only use one at a time
Would you recommend this unit for mix bus processing and master saturation? I’m more into mix bus processing and pre-master treatment out the box. I am planning on doing more individual group processing in the future but atm I mix entirely in the box but then deliver my premasters through analog saturation, EQ, compression etc out the box before bringing back in for multiband compression, clipping, limiting etc. You have given great recommendations for this thing on individual instrument & voice tracking/treatment. Would you recommend for mix bus work or can you imagine uses for it based on your own experience with it? I’ve recently sold my Culture Vulture as having a mono tracking saturation unit wasn’t very useful for my chain of processing. Anything mono or loose matching two channel goes to waste in my rack! I’ve used the money to buy my first 500 series rack unit and a pair of 542 are going to be my first 500 series modules! I found out about them completely by accident when looking for better stereo saturation alternatives. I have an SSL Fusion, API 2500, TC The Swift EQ, OTO Boums and eventually planning on getting a Black Box but there is a lot of saving to do after this 500 series purchase and the 542’s (hopefully) in order to get the HG-2 😅 I use a few variants of tape emulations for saturation and subtle compression in my pre-master/mix bus chains. They can add some nice weight and really bring out sections of the frequency content throughout tracks. I personally feel like these would be a great addition to my master mix bus chains offering potential to be used in solo tracking/processing also but I’m interested to hear the opinion of someone who actually owns them and has a few hours under their belt with them! Thanks
Hi, and great question. Remember, this unit can be heavy on the saturation side. You already have the SSL Fusion, so if you're happy with that on the mix bus, you might want to stick with that as it already offers the vintage drive. The 542 can be VERY heavy on the saturation, while the Fusion is subtle. I prefer to use the 542 on individual tracks as opposed to my mix bus, where I want to add some dirt or top end shine. For me, it's a bit too much for the mix bus, but that's just my opinion.
Another idea. If your mostly ITB, you might want to do some research on the Neve Orbit which is just a couple hundred bucks more than the 542. It's an analog summing box. Dosent really offer pure saturation, but the Silk Red and Blue work great, and you get that added analog warmth to your tracks. Just an idea. Tons of videos on TH-cam
@@gsharpjamz the level of saturation is controlled by gain in like usual though right? Are you saying this unit heavily saturates even at low gain? There is also a dry & wet parameter - is just for just the texture or the unit in general? Tape plug-ins on master channels, and recording onto tape after all is such a commonality. It would be really disappointing if it didn’t work well on master! Thank you though for your responses 🙏🏻
@ourmindzdj There is a saturation knob on the unit. By default it does not heavily saturate. But when using the saturation knob you want to use it carefully. It easily saturates heavily once you go beyond the first yellow indicator on the level light. So no. It does not saturate at low gain levels, but once you turn that knob, you will easily hear a difference, especially above that first yellow light. Hope I'm making sense.
@@gsharpjamz if you didnt have the fusion and went lighthanded with the 542 would you be ok? Interested in using it as the swiss army knife and being able to use it subtly in situations when needed also.
It was nice to see your video pop up on my feed this morning. I started using the 542 during Covid and never looked back. I can't remember why I bought a pair but I am glad I did. I produced a series of Happy Hour live music broadcasts on YT for several weeks during the time everyone was staying at home and the 542s were used on acoustic grand piano. I eventually used them across the stereo buss output that was feed into the broadcast mixer. What this unit does do an acoustic source is quite something. I am glad to see you are getting the word out there. The versatility is such that you can dial in fine details and for an instrument with strings, it does something ver, very special. I had a pair of stereo ribbon mics (fatheads) on the grand piano with the 542s on that bus and that piano just sounds great. On guitars, electric or acoustic, is sounds stellar. Heck, with a pair, you can use two in tandem on a mono source and that way dial in more or less saturation on the blue silk or red of each. Its great having these things at my finger tips and the results are achieved fast and ear candy, to me at least. I learned many years ago from guys who tore down Neve vintage gear that 90% of the sound of the circuits was in the transformers they use and that's because of the materials used in the core of the transformer. I am going on too long here but to round out my comment, let me say, the more quality transformers touching your signal, the more beautiful your sound gets. Nobody specs out a transformer better than Rupert Neve did and Rupert Neve Designs does now. Maybe these 542s are a poor man's RND MBT. Ssssshhhhhhhhhh! You didn't get that idea from me! But I would be really interested to hear how the 542s stack up against the Mast Buss Transformer by RND, without using the compressor and extra stuff, of course. I enjoy your delivery. Subscribed, good day!
Thanks for watching. And yes, RND gear is ALL about the transformers sound
i have a pair. They live on my drum bus. These units are a cheat code. Subtle and magic. Also overlooked is that you have a blend control on the saturation and the Silk, so you can be subtle or really push the saturation/tape sound. Great channel. Thanks for the insight and info. - Eddie Leonard
Thanks.
Yes, the Blend control is absolutely genius! We are used to seeing "Blend" on compressors only. The engineering mind behind this concept on the 542 is pure genius
This was great..peace from Ireland dude!
Thank you. Greatly appreciated
That was so awesome and interesting. SERIOUSLY! I don't have a clue when it comes to mixing and mastering, HOWEVER, I just learned something my dear...So wonderful to see you pursuing your love of music again....UP, UP and AWAY! 🙌🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽
Great video
Neve needs to make a small hanging odorizer with the smell of 2” Ampex 499, for the full experience.
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Nice approach in this video!
Thanks. I try to do things a bit differently. There's too much redundancy on TH-cam
You’re dope for getting into detail 👌🏽
One of my favorite tools for studio or live sound
Superb. Thank you
I’m getting two this summer to add to my two 511s.
Nice. Great idea. You're going to enjoy them!
Great info. Thank you 🙌🏼 subbed!
Thanks. Appreciate it!
More to come.
Dope talk. I got my pair this week !
Great talk!
Appreciate that!
Got em on deck, but will work more with them soon. Using the 551 EQs now though and man!
Enjoy!!!!
Hey there. I like the 542 too. Do you still like it one year on?
Yes. It almost never isn't used. Love it on drums, vocals, and just a hint on the mix bus.
Its a great box. I use it on snare, bass and Kick, where you can bring it in at any timepoint in your work. When I use two on my 2bus - thats the point where I really think you MUST mix into them from the beginng due to the low end bump. anayway - its an "analogizer" way mor better than my fusion. thanks for your video
Agreed. The Fusion is a great piece of gear, but for adding color and texture, it can't stand up to the 542
there is only one thing in my setup that i like a tiny bit more: the tube circuit of my 610b UAD Pre-Amp. it souns so nice dark an dcreamy i am totally in love with it. would it have the silk setting - I would probably divorce and marry it instead of my wife :D
The 610 UAD is no slouch. Not an expensive way to get some deliciousness of the tube type into your signal. The price isn't bad, too.
@@thePunkRockMix
I have a pair on the master buss of my console and they are always on.
I just got a real tape
U again for your Great content, especially the journey you've taken. I have the neve 500 series API lunchbox, not sure how to route through my interface and or mixing console. Could you do a video on how yours is routed? Id like to use mine as an aux send on the console and as a direct line in thru my MPCx to the interface and into Ableton for printing. Thanks in advance
Give me some time. I'll either create a video or send you a detailed, step by step message.
Thank for watching.
Be sure to subscribe.
G Sharp
Got 8 of them and put them on my 8 stems out.
Wow!!!
My wife would kill me.
Lol
That’s fiya
Great content and very informative! Question I bought two of these but idk how to use them as a pair for stereo how can I make that happen? For example I have it going on inserts 3/4 and the other 5/6 but I can only use one at a time
Which DAW are you using?
Would you recommend this unit for mix bus processing and master saturation? I’m more into mix bus processing and pre-master treatment out the box. I am planning on doing more individual group processing in the future but atm I mix entirely in the box but then deliver my premasters through analog saturation, EQ, compression etc out the box before bringing back in for multiband compression, clipping, limiting etc. You have given great recommendations for this thing on individual instrument & voice tracking/treatment. Would you recommend for mix bus work or can you imagine uses for it based on your own experience with it?
I’ve recently sold my Culture Vulture as having a mono tracking saturation unit wasn’t very useful for my chain of processing. Anything mono or loose matching two channel goes to waste in my rack! I’ve used the money to buy my first 500 series rack unit and a pair of 542 are going to be my first 500 series modules! I found out about them completely by accident when looking for better stereo saturation alternatives. I have an SSL Fusion, API 2500, TC The Swift EQ, OTO Boums and eventually planning on getting a Black Box but there is a lot of saving to do after this 500 series purchase and the 542’s (hopefully) in order to get the HG-2 😅 I use a few variants of tape emulations for saturation and subtle compression in my pre-master/mix bus chains. They can add some nice weight and really bring out sections of the frequency content throughout tracks. I personally feel like these would be a great addition to my master mix bus chains offering potential to be used in solo tracking/processing also but I’m interested to hear the opinion of someone who actually owns them and has a few hours under their belt with them! Thanks
Hi, and great question.
Remember, this unit can be heavy on the saturation side. You already have the SSL Fusion, so if you're happy with that on the mix bus, you might want to stick with that as it already offers the vintage drive. The 542 can be VERY heavy on the saturation, while the Fusion is subtle.
I prefer to use the 542 on individual tracks as opposed to my mix bus, where I want to add some dirt or top end shine. For me, it's a bit too much for the mix bus, but that's just my opinion.
Another idea. If your mostly ITB, you might want to do some research on the Neve Orbit which is just a couple hundred bucks more than the 542. It's an analog summing box. Dosent really offer pure saturation, but the Silk Red and Blue work great, and you get that added analog warmth to your tracks. Just an idea. Tons of videos on TH-cam
@@gsharpjamz the level of saturation is controlled by gain in like usual though right? Are you saying this unit heavily saturates even at low gain?
There is also a dry & wet parameter - is just for just the texture or the unit in general?
Tape plug-ins on master channels, and recording onto tape after all is such a commonality. It would be really disappointing if it didn’t work well on master! Thank you though for your responses 🙏🏻
@ourmindzdj There is a saturation knob on the unit. By default it does not heavily saturate. But when using the saturation knob you want to use it carefully. It easily saturates heavily once you go beyond the first yellow indicator on the level light. So no. It does not saturate at low gain levels, but once you turn that knob, you will easily hear a difference, especially above that first yellow light.
Hope I'm making sense.
@@gsharpjamz if you didnt have the fusion and went lighthanded with the 542 would you be ok? Interested in using it as the swiss army knife and being able to use it subtly in situations when needed also.
Can anyone go to namm or do you need a llc
Anyone can go. But there a fee. If I remember correctly it was around $200
Great video
Thanks.
More to come!