Tone wise they’re very close but there’s a weight/fullness the hardware adds that’s not there on the plugin. I agree with the distortion being more apparent.
When I first heard this I had to do a double take. I thought this was Tim Pierce. He kind of looks like Tim too. Thanks 4 the comparison. I heard the UAD ver on a dry lifeless vocal. If the UAD version can do this then imagine what the hardware sounds like. Im about to break the pink piggy bank.
I have a hardware distressor and have use the plugin plenty of times. No comparison. I tell people this. If you can invest in one compressor, get a hardware Distressor.
I'm using the UAD Native Distressor with the SSL SubGen and Studio One. The plug-ins are in their own bus channel. I'm running Distressor in Opto 10:1, attack and release set to opto 10/0, distort 3 active. I don't have the hardware to compare, but what I get with this combo was what I wanted. SubGen to enhance the low end of this mix, Distressor adding some distortion and compression. I didn't want to just add a low EQ shelf boost. However with SSL X-DynEQ, I do use a single low pass to filter off everything over about 100 hZ.
If you are getting the sound you are looking for be happy you have the equipment to achieve that sound. We are lucky to live in a time with all this incredible technology at our disposal. Cheers. Rusty
The hardware has more bottom end/punchier and more crisp/more open high frequencies/more preserved instrument artifacts like the strings to my ears. Also more distortion with the hardware. Feels like a bit of the register gets lost through the software.
not if you didnt have to deal with youtubes horrible audio quality. hardware would destroy sowftware. i used plugs for 25 years and switched to hardware a year ago. cause its better
In hardware vs software comparisons the software always sounds less warm, so i wonder why software companies don't warm up their software to equally match hardware to make their software sound identical?
Hardware is not better or worse.Hardware is the hardware !The differences starts going away as the Distortions kicks in.This particular hardware unit is a bit louder (although well adjusted) that's why you get a bit fuller sound.Great job overall
Listening on AirPods (as millions of the end users do). I hear a boost in the lows, and a tad more distortion on the hardware. Worth the price difference? Nah. A few subtle moves gets you closer than Joe Blow can hear. Good job.
Would it help to bring the two units performance closer together by adjusting the headroom setting on the plug-in, as it’s onset of distortion is not as soon as your hardware unit?
Leaning towards hardware on this one, but man -that bass tone sounds so good! Who knew a simple signal chain would make a huge difference! I bet most people would find it hard to discern what’s hardware and what’s not in a final mix. Btw, what strings do you use on your bass?
Most of the time D'Addario 105 However I also like Fender Brites. I don't recall what was on the P Bass when I made the video as it was a while back. Thanks for watching the channel and adding your comment. Cheers, Rusty.
Good video! However, when you say ‘same amount of gain reduction’, you must be talking about meters, as opposed to the actual audible amount of gain reduction. The hardware is being hit harder in the a/b right before that comment, compressing more and distorting more. That isn’t to say the plug-in will ever be quite the same as the hw, (it won’t) but it can get closer when matched by ear, since (like most plugins) it’s calibration isn’t 1:1 with the hardware. Plus, as you say, each hardware unit varies, especially with age.
I was trying to get the meters to look the same and then listen to the sonic difference. I really never could get the meters to react identically. I use the hardware Distressors on the front end while recording and never as an insert. Maybe I should have tried the comparison that way. Thanks for watching.
Tone wise they’re very close but there’s a weight/fullness the hardware adds that’s not there on the plugin. I agree with the distortion being more apparent.
The amount of low and low mid information present in the hardware version is the extra 5% that really make me respond. It’s not subtle either.
You probably have much better ears than me! I love the distressors I have. Bought them over 15 years ago and they have so much variability. Cheers.
yes, the hardware sounds much better when listening closely.
just use an eq bro
Can that get EQ in??
Thanks for the video sir. Hardware is better but for the price and connivence as stated it’ll work! Have a great summer!
Agreed!
When I first heard this I had to do a double take. I thought this was Tim Pierce. He kind of looks like Tim too.
Thanks 4 the comparison.
I heard the UAD ver on a dry lifeless vocal. If the UAD version can do this then imagine what the hardware sounds like. Im about to break the pink piggy bank.
Wish I had Tim's audience! Thanks for the comparison! Please share and subscribe, I really need the support. Thanks for the comment! Rusty
The hardware has more depth and clarity but they sound very close and with some tweaking you could get it closer.
I have a hardware distressor and have use the plugin plenty of times. No comparison.
I tell people this. If you can invest in one compressor, get a hardware Distressor.
Yea it is you just suck I bet I could make you think I really used a real one because I'm good at what I do you just suck really bad
I'm using the UAD Native Distressor with the SSL SubGen and Studio One. The plug-ins are in their own bus channel. I'm running Distressor in Opto 10:1, attack and release set to opto 10/0, distort 3 active.
I don't have the hardware to compare, but what I get with this combo was what I wanted. SubGen to enhance the low end of this mix, Distressor adding some distortion and compression.
I didn't want to just add a low EQ shelf boost. However with SSL X-DynEQ, I do use a single low pass to filter off everything over about 100 hZ.
If you are getting the sound you are looking for be happy you have the equipment to achieve that sound. We are lucky to live in a time with all this incredible technology at our disposal. Cheers. Rusty
Great video thanks for posting!
The hardware has more bottom end/punchier and more crisp/more open high frequencies/more preserved instrument artifacts like the strings to my ears. Also more distortion with the hardware. Feels like a bit of the register gets lost through the software.
Make a blind test. Most of the users saying "hardware is better" would get close to 50%/50% vote results
not if you didnt have to deal with youtubes horrible audio quality. hardware would destroy sowftware. i used plugs for 25 years and switched to hardware a year ago. cause its better
hardware sounds way better in the lows. more chunky and solid. more "wild" and organic. the plugin seems tame and under control
I agree.
In hardware vs software comparisons the software always sounds less warm, so i wonder why software companies don't warm up their software to equally match hardware to make their software sound identical?
Gee, i wonder why? 🙄🤦♂️
@@sub-jec-tiv
Why You wonder so hard?!?
This is just like Fenders and Squares!?
😉
I think its also to do its winter
There's another plug-in in the catalogue that can add warmth back to it.
Hardware is not better or worse.Hardware is the hardware !The differences starts going away as the Distortions kicks in.This particular hardware unit is a bit louder (although well adjusted) that's why you get a bit fuller sound.Great job overall
Good comment there! Even two pieces of hardware same model will sound different. I love it!
@@recordmixrepeat4327 Exactly ;)
Listening on AirPods (as millions of the end users do). I hear a boost in the lows, and a tad more distortion on the hardware. Worth the price difference? Nah. A few subtle moves gets you closer than Joe Blow can hear. Good job.
They are really really close.....UAD did a good Job
There’s a reason empirical labs let them use the name
Would it help to bring the two units performance closer together by adjusting the headroom setting on the plug-in, as it’s onset of distortion is not as soon as your hardware unit?
That is an excellent point. I had not considered that on the day of the shoot. It could have made a difference. Thanks.
Leaning towards hardware on this one, but man -that bass tone sounds so good! Who knew a simple signal chain would make a huge difference! I bet most people would find it hard to discern what’s hardware and what’s not in a final mix. Btw, what strings do you use on your bass?
Most of the time D'Addario 105 However I also like Fender Brites. I don't recall what was on the P Bass when I made the video as it was a while back. Thanks for watching the channel and adding your comment. Cheers, Rusty.
It almost sounds like the software is compressing sooner than the hardware. It doesn’t have the same ‘pop’ on the transient.
You have good ears!
cool - thanks for this comparison!
would love to see it on vacals as well, but thanks :)
Here is a link to a video I did using the Distressor hardware on a vocal with a Peluso 2247 and Neve 1073. th-cam.com/video/2YZkQYu_Dk4/w-d-xo.html
@@recordmixrepeat4327 thank you
I dont know but hardware has some frequency's humming. I think specially in the lower mid frequencies.
Hmm. If you can record what you are hearing please do and post it on a vid so I can listen. Don't hear it on my end.
The low end on the hardware is amazing, big difference. The plugin sounds flat and boring.
Good video! However, when you say ‘same amount of gain reduction’, you must be talking about meters, as opposed to the actual audible amount of gain reduction. The hardware is being hit harder in the a/b right before that comment, compressing more and distorting more.
That isn’t to say the plug-in will ever be quite the same as the hw, (it won’t) but it can get closer when matched by ear, since (like most plugins) it’s calibration isn’t 1:1 with the hardware. Plus, as you say, each hardware unit varies, especially with age.
I was trying to get the meters to look the same and then listen to the sonic difference. I really never could get the meters to react identically. I use the hardware Distressors on the front end while recording and never as an insert. Maybe I should have tried the comparison that way. Thanks for watching.
Excellent!!Thanks!!!
You are welcome!
The hardware is way snappier and sounds less compressed.
I still use my hardware alll the time!
The plugin just lacks that energy, feels a bit dull