Budget Audio Interfaces | SSL2 vs Audient ID14 | Which One Wins??
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video we compare two of the most popular budget friendly desktop format audio interfaces, the SSL2 and Audient ID14. Both of these interfaces are incredible for the money, and are available in the UK for around £200 each. But which is best?
We test the mic preamps, 4K mode on the SSL, look at the Audient's superb hidden functionality, and Mark tests the D to A and A to D converters by running the same bit of audio through them 500 times!
Please note that we purchased both of these units and are not affiliated to, or sponsored by, either company in any way.
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Hahaha Genius! Great review Mark!
Thank you, Warren! That means a lot coming from you! ❤️❤️
@@PresentDayProduction you're doing an amazing job here! Can you email me? My email is warren@producelikeapro.com haha of course it is!
Produce Like A Pro Produce Like A Pro I hope you’re doing marvelously well! 😄
@@Producelikeapro You are amazing at a SNIZZLE amount of likeability Warren! 🤪♥️
@@MannyXO I am thanks ever so much
Still happy with my ID14. Thx for the great test! I was thinking I want the SSL2 when it came out in a stupid way of a consumer mindset, but quickly went back to earth. Both units are great for homerecording.
Awesome video, hilarious! I chose the SSL 2+ because it has two headphone jacks so I can listen and record another person who can also have phones. And I like the 4K sound a lot on vocals.
Best interface test so far, I mean it, this channel would be huge. Subscribed
Thank you Juap!
Yep. Best interface test I've seen so far and with a surprising outcome
Thanks Robert! I must admit, I’ve heard a lot of people slagging off the converters on the SSL. That’s why I wanted to do this test. So.... the verdict on the haters is... they’re deaf haha! To maintain that level of audio integrity with what is effectively 1000 trips through D/A and A/D is incredible. Hats off to the technology in these budget options these days! Thanks for watching 😎
Every gear review or shootout EVER needs to take a serious look at this brilliant video
Testing preamps:
Voiceover sample with the SSL 2:07
Voiceover sample with the Audient 4:00
SLL without 4K 6:09
SSL with 4K 6:16
Testing converters:
Original file 10:44
50x roundtrip through SSL 10:57
150x-500x roundtrip through SSL 11:08
50x-500x roundtrip through Audient 11:25
50x rountrip SSL vs Audient 11:44
500x roundtrip SSL vs Audient 12:00
Genius indeed! Cleary shows wich one is the best. This test should be mandatory to all audio interfaces. It is easy to bla bla bla about specs, I want to heart it 500x in a loop!!
I wish you've done a comparison between SSL 2+ and ID 14 MKII now :)
This channel deserves more subscriptions. Top-notch content! I had some good laugh.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it ❤️
The best review ever in audio interfaces... well done... never though that genius ideia of re-recording 500 times...
Thanks Paulo! I’m glad you enjoyed our video!
This channel is just killing it with these reviews. My co-worker and I found your videos a couple of weeks ago and we're so surprised that this isn't a much bigger channel. Great production quality, in-depth reviews, and some of the best, most concise A-B comparisons you can find. Keep up the great work, you guys rock!
Thanks Dave! We’re still a fairly new channel, so have some growing to do, and comments like yours really help, so thank you! And we promise to not try and sell you a book at any point 😎 Thanks again for the support!
The intro was priceless 😂 please keep that amazing sense of humor in your work!!
Easily the best review of any interface I've ever seen, funkin' hilarious. A bit disappointed that nobody plugged an electric guitar into the D.I. jack of the Audient as you can get quite a natural sounding crunch effect out of it if you crank the gain up. The quality available to the home recordist for a couple of hundred quid is astounding. If I coulda got the same quality back in the day when bouncing tracks on my Tascam 424, I'd be a zillionaire by now............
OMG - How to turn a normally mundane review into 'Comedy Central' - love it. No wonder I couldn't help subbing...
I got my SSL2 today...Had to upgrade because of my broken Focusrite Scarlett Solo....I like the amount of Gain I can get for SM57 and also with a cheaper condenser mic (I used EIKON C14...which is btw very good sounding for the money) the sound is amazing. I chose over Audient since I already have a good DI box (hence the Audient JFET input will not be of much use I guess) and I wanted a good input Gain which Audient lacked for the Dynamic mics....I also liked the 4K button as it makes my vocals stand out and also the guitar soloing with this button ON is very good. Only thing which all REVIEWERS did not mention was the 3 buttons in the SSL 2 (the phantom power, instrument and hi z) did not show whether it is turned ON or OFF...But I could find that there is a depression in the button once you turn ON....Over all I liked the sound...I hope this could be helpful for someone.
This is why you're my guys. I appreciate you lifting the veil on Audient's converter quality.
Thanks for your comment Matt!
this is the best review I've ever seen, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the clear lineup, focus on the products and straight-to-the-point stuff. This is the first comparison I've seen of the converters, and I'm glad to know this much about two interfaces I'm waffling between. I currently use a Behringer XR18 but don't need that much i/o anymore, and also want something that's a step up in sound quality (though the Behringer isn't bad considering their history).
Here On Mars Thank you for the kind words! Glad the video was useful for you. I’m sure you’ll find either a good step up from the Behringer, in build quality and general pleasure of ownership if nothing else! Thanks for watching 😎
You guys should do that with higher priced interfaces aswell!
Would be very fun to hear the differences in conversion! :)
Thanks Guys for the time dedicated. I've got iD14 and i confess I came here for some doubts about the preamps SSL2 with 4k. At the end of the video I've decided to keep with my reliable iD14. Audient Preamps quality. Anyway, I won't lost the it's featurest, above all Adat in
Mr. Alex... do you recommend ID14 for cloud lifter + dynamic mic set up and no white or static noise ?
Guys please do more audio interfaces reviews, this one's great
Great video guys. Love the 500x converter test 👌
best review on youtube hands down EVER!
Most fun I’ve had watching a demo in a long time hahaha, great demo!!
I have the ID14 and smashed the Like button 500x
This is a cool way to test converters, I'd love to see this with more units!
Great review. Would love a 2021 update with the mk2 versions!
This reviews are f* amazing!! Congrats to you both, wow
By far, the best SSL vs Audient I've seen!
This is the first time I see such an in-depth and "for real" comparison between the interfaces conversion differences.
The amount of effort you put in this comparison is incredible, thank you for that.
Please, keep on the amazing job.
Thanks! It’s great to see that people like this format of comparison. We’ll do another soon!
Very funny review, but also with many important details. I will check the ID series again now.
Brilliant test! Haha. I would have never thought to do that. Great and entertaining review
best converter demo I've seen!
Thanks, James! We’re glad you enjoyed it!
Upgraded from a UR22 mkII to an SSL2 and the difference is night and day. Don’t ask me why I’m still watching these videos...
This is such an epic video. Ah good information, keep them coming!
Superb format for a review, I love how revealing the process is and yet how it comes back to the conclusion that they both sound great! I once put 10 Panasonic and 10 Nichicon caps in series on a breadboard in the hope of being able to hear a difference...think I should’ve stacked up the full 500. Would love to hear how some of the UA and RME interfaces fare in a test like this...you should keep the format going;, just keep getting interfaces with the same piece of music and process and put out occasional comparison videos. Sorry, I’ll stop yapping now. Love you guys, you make me smile
Excellent video guys.
This should be the test to use for all interfaces; industry standard.
Interesting test, especially the 500x converter test. It's probably used daily... if you're crazy enough for that!
Seriously, thanks for this (re)view on things.
taking the time to do 500 convertions to prove quality?... im in, suscribed
Thanks for subscribing, Nahuel!
This is hands down the best, most entertaining, insightful, objective and in-depth comparison I've ever seen of audio gear in my entire life.
I've subscribed! Thank you guys!
This is probably the best interface test I've seen so far! Not that there isn't some great information out there, but the approach is just great.
Thank you both, although I'm not going for a change.
Thanks Peter! Keep making your great music!!
@@PresentDayProduction I really wish you really remember the track :). Anyway I will ask you to master more tracks for sure.
Peter Brandt Nails On A Chalkboard 😎
@@PresentDayProduction Speechless and baffled :)
Love the 500 trip effort!!!! Would love to see other converters like UAD Apollo and Apogee symphony with this same comparison!
@Musique Développement this would be very nice , SSl vs UAD i belive SSL plays on the same class
This is the perfect review, thanks guys!
good video - very nice production values also ----- I have a SSL 12 and an Audient iD44 Mk II. They are both quite excellent.
@teashea1 any onions on the differences between the two? I’m considering both as upgrades to my home studio, and am especially curious about the noise from the SSL (I already own the id14)
@@muzikjay Because of the inserts I would suggest the iD44 mk II
@@teashea1thank you!
Would love this type of test with all interfaces, next one I would love to hear is the MOTU M4
Fantastic intro and outro!!!! Brilliant!!!
Could you run the same 500x round trip test between the Audient ID14 and ID44? I’d be really interested to hear the differences...!
I'm sad I didn't get to see this before I brought my SSL!
after watching this vid I'm very very happy I did :) thanks!
The SSL is an awesome interface! And the Audient too of course
@@PresentDayProduction They are both amazing, I chose the SSL for the 4K boost, you can chew on the crispy highend, that combined with the warmth from the AT4047 warmth... soo nice!
Yes! I’m a bit concerned you watched the video after buying one though 🤪 I’ll give you the number for my confirmation bias therapist 😎
@@PresentDayProduction LOL
are they cheap?? I blew my savings on a desk!
xD I have not long subbed and this was recommended. I wanted to see what you guys had to say!
And I'm glad I did now as I think I'm finally getting therapy!!!
Could you imagine what a reel-to-reel would sound like after 500 trips?
in the 80s, a good engineer told me you loose almot three db of dynamic per round trip, thats why Clearmountain said you never heard back from tape what was going to it, and that is outside of bandwith limitation
Slightly off topic, but do check out William Basinski "Disintegration Loops" - not round trips, but just tape loops playing over and over again, detoriating beautifully.
Great Review, love the converter test
the most most most interesting and, creative, insane review. love it. I do have a iD14, and I am really satisfied with it.
Excellent review. Appreciated!
wow, just gained a loyal follower, more of the comedy sketches please
Thanks for subscribing! :)
Amazing content! Brilliant! Thank you, I'll go with the SSL :D
Great channel guys, extremely entertaining and very honest reviews 👍!
Great review! You guys are setting a new standard for music equipment reviews. I think if I ever had to sit through another Sweetwater sales indoctrination, I’d lose my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Great Work!!!! Think im gonna watch it again....
Quiet disagreement on the software bundles - the SSL Native plugins are *amazing* and alone worth the cost of the unit.
That the SSL2 is so easy to use and sounds so great for so little $ is the icing on the cake.
ps. the 4K thing may be gimmicky, but it adds a lovely lift to a dark mic, say a ribbon on a guitar cab? (where you also won't notice the extra distortion).
Good times for recording on a budget.
ID14 sounds better.
@@HarvinderSingh-yy8th highly subjective
im looking to buy my first interface so i cant say which sound better, but damn the ssl-2 looks sooo goood!
They’re both awesome!
that was great info, straight to the point, and freaking funny lol.
all that was missing was to throw your mastering converters in there to show off.
Loved the intro, great channel!
Thanks Niklas!
This was awesome & informative. Great review gentlemen!
Thanks for sharing good to know. I still use the M-Audio Delta 1010, 44 and 66. They still work good and you can find them for next to nothing today. I got three 1010, two 44 and one 66
Thank you for doing a Converters quality test..As a guitarist i dont use the mic pres so i need the best converters in a budget audio interface..
If you use the DI input, then you do use the preamps.
On the Audient it’s a dedicated input specifically tailored for guitar 👍
@@yessitsme6884 No the DI inputs dont run the preamps of the interface...Only when you connect thro an XLR of the interface, now your using the preamps Designed manly to drive the microphones..
Best test I've ever seen, thanks a lot
Thanks for that excellent and funny review! :-) I have the Audient and love the ease of use. I just set it up yesterday with a Behringer Ultragain which was nice and straightforward :)
Thanks for watching, we hope you enjoy using your Audient!
Thanks for the review and thanks for the intro - genius!
Hank Johnson Thank you for watching and for your kind words, Hank!
I LOVED this review...
I am amazed how i said it out loud the Audient is sharper and the SSL is just warm and naturale.
After the 500x ... OMG!!!!
Guys i would LOVE if your could do the same with an Focusrite Scarlett vs the SSL...
Since i own the Scarlett 18i20 atm...
Best Regards Thomas
Thomas Pedersen Thank you, Thomas! We’ll try and get hold of one. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 😎
You killed me with the outro hahahaha Perfect as usual
Another plus for the SSL2 is all the cable connections are in the back.
Great to keep a tidy desk
Really depends on what you do.
If you switch connections a lot, it is worse.
@@andesneko Sure. For me it's perfect.
There are many audio devices with front plugs
This was a great shootout. I think it really shows how unbelievable technology has become. You should do it with two entry level models as well. It probably took forever to do it 500 times, but I suspect you'll find that even cheap models outperform expectations. People go on about converters, but the chip set is either the same or similar between models so what matters now is the feature-set and the preamps. I have a 3rd gen focusrite 8i6 and the preamps are all right but I use a Blue Robbie into one of the line-ins and it sparkles. I cannot tell the difference running the Robbie into any line-in on any interface so I think the debate about interfaces is mostly hype now.
I had the id14 for a year and a half, and after that it started buzzing and hissing like crazy on the preamps no matter what i did, then the speaker outputs started hissing randomly for no reason, even after i purchased high quality power outlets and isolated the whole chain, not to mention the fact that the output was too low in volume and too bright for my taste, almost hi-fi .
Also the preamps sounded good at first but then i noticed they where a bit V shaped and not really clean, weird. (Apparently, many people online reported even id22 for crapping out after the warranty expired )
So, i had to take it back to the shop and replaced it with an SSL2. At first i was a bit worried because of how high audient was praised .
Got home and the sound quality in the converters is way higher, i heard imbalances in volume and compression that i didn`t hear on the audient , the overall sound is cold and linear, i think it`s better for good mixing decisions.
The preamps are more midrange oriented and focused, really clean and sober, actually ,i can`t even turn up the knob more than half, great gain range, the noise is inexistent (the audient was a bit hissy and needed more gain even when it was new).
I`m really impressed and i`m happy with the ease of use and quality of this thing , i think that 2 or 3 db of dynamic range on the specs means nothing unless you really hear how the device sounds, don`t be fooled by marketing bullshit.
I wrote this for people that are looking to buy a new interface, my advice is , use your ears and don`t listen to whatever the internet says you should buy .
Great video by the way, i subscribed !
Absolutely, always use your ears! This is what we are ALWAYS saying. Don’t read the tech spec numbers and ignore the physical sound of the unit, see how it sounds and base judgements from that. Always the best way! Thanks for your comment. And thanks for subscribing!
do u recommend the audient id14 for me for best quality output or the ssl 2+
@@elieee88 well, this video says it all, just go with the ssl
ZilaMike but the audient better in 50x round trip, and for u what is the best in terms of first listening ?
Elie Youssef it doesn’t matter, write and record a damn good song and nobody will give a damn what interface you used 😎 you can’t base a purchasing decision on a video like this, only your own ears, but at the end of the day - it doesn’t matter WHAT the audio sounds like after 50, 250 or 500 round trips... you’re never going to be doing that! Pick the one who’s features suit you the best and concentrate on the song 👍
The Audient pres seem way more sibilant, but also feel a lot more natural and less compressed? Anyone else hear the same? (I'm asking to see if I'm in the ballpark here with my ears, haven't compared mic pres at all before, hardly know what to look out for). There seems to be a different character though.
Amazing review! Thank you!
Best interface comparison till date
Thanks! 😎 we’re glad you enjoyed it, more coming soon!
Great video lads!
How’s this not a million views ?
I really like this great job you guys you made it fun to watch and I like how you both gave your take. I just subscribed keep it up.
Thank you for subscribing!
Just repeating what was said below. What a seriously awesome review! You get a follow from me. 🤙
Thanks Dougal! Much appreciated 😎
Great review and hilarious voice overs! made my day!
Died laughing at the intro....man did that ever catch me off guard !lol
Funny and informative! I wish more reviews were like this 😄
Great channel great review! Looking forward to more of these. Cheers
Thanks for watching! Lots more to come 😎
Great review! I have the Audient since its lauching some time ago. I bought a second one for home.
I have the ID22 but I also wanted to get e SSL for the 4K option !
The 4K option sounds great on certain sources, but it’s not for everything. You could probably get the same mojo driving a SSL channel strip plugin
@@PresentDayProduction Ok Thank you for the advice
@@PresentDayProduction Hi! What would you choose for recording vocals? ID44 or SSL 2+ ? Cool video!
Honestly, they’re both as good as each other in terms of preamp and converter quality. The iD14 has a little more functionality though, so probably that one if you want the added control of the encoder. We only kept one of these after the video though, and it was the SSL.
Great job guys... subscribed.
Excellent entertaining review. Most revealing. Nice to hear such a unique review from someone in the UK.. Only one small correction, in audio interfaces like these where its impossible to bypass the preamps completely, the round trip testing reveals more about the preamps, than the converters, cos if there were any deviation in frequency, the preamps are more likely to have more "distortion" from the norm, than the converters alone.
IMHO, I think this gives a hint of a certain superiority in the SSL preamps., as being more full range.
What would be instructive would be to hear what the mastering grade converters sound like after a similar 500 times round trip, and compare that with the cheapie high quality budget audio interfaces like the SSL and the Audient.
Of course in real world use, there's not much of a difference between the audio interfaces, just a matter of personal taste, and depends on one's workflow.
It is so great to live in an age where we can have for relatively not too much money, the equivalent of tools that once cost tens of thousands of pounds and use these in a home studio. So gear is no longer an excuse for mediocrity, and talent is really the only differentiator.
Sadly when I listen to some pop music, they still crush the hell out of the dynamics, in many cases, so we now have the best gear ever, and cos everyone and his dog is releasing music, a lot of it is not very nice to hear. In the old days, the record companies were the filter, cos it cost a lot of money to make music. But at least the barrier to entry has been significantly removed, if you have the talent, pretty much a simple inexpensive setup can deliver great results.
Excellent video. Memorable
We’re glad you liked the review, thanks for watching! We’ll do a comparison soon between our mastering-grade Focusrite Clarett 8PreX and some other kit. Coming soon!
Hahahah WTF - crazy test. The Audient 500 test i could clearly hear some compression or something happen to the track. SSL was tight.
the guy who has written the ventriloquist speech is a genius ....it is the most hilarious review i've seen in a decades 🤣🤣🤣
Great review! Funny and enjoyabe to watch but not missing the important stuff!!!!
As many others mentioned it would be great if you could do a comparison these two interfaces with the Motu M2/4 ...
Also what about these vs the Focusrite Clarett range? Obviously the 2pre USB...
Thank you!!!
Thank you for this, its actually really helpful for me
Excellent review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Fantastic review and entertaining as well as informative. Thanks chaps👍
Hey Nigel, thanks for watching and for the kind words!
please do it again with id14 mkii and evo 8 It could be very interesting!
Funniest review ever :-D
Ssl2+ is best👍💯
Awesome! thank you! i was finding for something like this
Great test, you deserve far more subs.
Thanks! We appreciate your kind comment, we're working some more great content for the new year!
Great review. I may have to subscribe!
How do the converters of these interfaces compare to those of the pricier UAD apollo/arrow?
They stand up very well in my opinion, the fact that we could run audio in and out hundreds of times with barely any loss in signal (until we got up to the higher numbers, and particularly with the SSL) is testament to that
this was so fun to watch :) and informative
great humour( british? )
Great video!!