Haha I'm still fucking stoked. For this semester's production we were able to record a 24-tracks song in a commercial studio (Dorian Gray Studio 2). Said studio recently acquired a 24 channel SSL Duality console 
The Duality features the SSL "super-analogue" preamps with the option for each channel to use the VHD preamps with more harmonic distortion for a more coloured result. both the E and G series equalizer and the SSL dynamics section, and of course the SSL bus compressor. All signals went through the analogue console first and were only tracked with ProTools HD - everything like monitor mixes, EQ, gating and compression was done completely otb.
Honestly, I was very sceptical about big consoles or even analogue consoles in general - why would someone want to pay 100.000€ for this thing when you can get a lot more inputs and just buy some nice outboard EQs and compressors?
Well now I think I somehow understand. The concept of this console is really really nice and has a very smooth workflow. Although the signal flow is fully analogue, you still get the advantages of the digital domain like DAW control, total-recall and automation. Some examples: As I said you can choose between the normal, clean preamps and the VHD preamps. You can switch with one simple button - And the gain knob manages the gain for both preamps, you have a second switch to add harmonic distortion without altering the loudness at all. Fucking amazing. Same goes for the EQs, you can switch between the normal EQs and the more musical EQs with one button (the difference is very noticable). These are rather small features but they make listening and comparing sounds a lot easier. Needless to say the compressor has a auto-makeup-gain feature, so you can deactivate it and really hear what the compressor is doing to the sound and you're not deceived by the different loudness. And you can switch the order of how the mic/line signal hits the analogue parts (Filters, Gate, Compressor, EQ, where the return signal comes back etc.) with a few buttons.
Then there's the digital domain where you can control virtually any parameter of ProTools or other DAWs. It has a lot of TFTs for each channel and also one for controlling the DAW (plugins, setups, etc.). For example, the console can show you which knobs you have altered in your session so you can easily reset the whole console.
By the way while I still find it hard to tell whether plugins or analog compressors really make a noticable difference, I can definitely vouch for analog equalizers over plugins - at least for musically boosting frequencies. I need to get some good equalizers soon
It's probably the same feeling everyone has after he/she used a "big" / high-end console for the first time but this is seriously awesome. Just thought I'd share this with you. What do you guys think of such consoles or what were your experiences? Do you share my delight or do you think they're overrated, overpriced relics? Or that the gained ease in workflow and probably "better" sound is worth the money (if you have it)?
Personally I don't think the sound aspect would make me buy an SSL / API / whatever console. But the sound combined with the great features and usability really made me overthink my former opinion. :Spin: (I know of course that I will never ever have the money to buy one)
PS: The pre's have fucking +75db gain, that's pretty rad imo (hello there, SM7b)
The Duality features the SSL "super-analogue" preamps with the option for each channel to use the VHD preamps with more harmonic distortion for a more coloured result. both the E and G series equalizer and the SSL dynamics section, and of course the SSL bus compressor. All signals went through the analogue console first and were only tracked with ProTools HD - everything like monitor mixes, EQ, gating and compression was done completely otb.
Honestly, I was very sceptical about big consoles or even analogue consoles in general - why would someone want to pay 100.000€ for this thing when you can get a lot more inputs and just buy some nice outboard EQs and compressors?
Well now I think I somehow understand. The concept of this console is really really nice and has a very smooth workflow. Although the signal flow is fully analogue, you still get the advantages of the digital domain like DAW control, total-recall and automation. Some examples: As I said you can choose between the normal, clean preamps and the VHD preamps. You can switch with one simple button - And the gain knob manages the gain for both preamps, you have a second switch to add harmonic distortion without altering the loudness at all. Fucking amazing. Same goes for the EQs, you can switch between the normal EQs and the more musical EQs with one button (the difference is very noticable). These are rather small features but they make listening and comparing sounds a lot easier. Needless to say the compressor has a auto-makeup-gain feature, so you can deactivate it and really hear what the compressor is doing to the sound and you're not deceived by the different loudness. And you can switch the order of how the mic/line signal hits the analogue parts (Filters, Gate, Compressor, EQ, where the return signal comes back etc.) with a few buttons.
Then there's the digital domain where you can control virtually any parameter of ProTools or other DAWs. It has a lot of TFTs for each channel and also one for controlling the DAW (plugins, setups, etc.). For example, the console can show you which knobs you have altered in your session so you can easily reset the whole console.
By the way while I still find it hard to tell whether plugins or analog compressors really make a noticable difference, I can definitely vouch for analog equalizers over plugins - at least for musically boosting frequencies. I need to get some good equalizers soon
It's probably the same feeling everyone has after he/she used a "big" / high-end console for the first time but this is seriously awesome. Just thought I'd share this with you. What do you guys think of such consoles or what were your experiences? Do you share my delight or do you think they're overrated, overpriced relics? Or that the gained ease in workflow and probably "better" sound is worth the money (if you have it)?
Personally I don't think the sound aspect would make me buy an SSL / API / whatever console. But the sound combined with the great features and usability really made me overthink my former opinion. :Spin: (I know of course that I will never ever have the money to buy one)
PS: The pre's have fucking +75db gain, that's pretty rad imo (hello there, SM7b)
