revised: The NEW SumTest with NLS and VCC

with industry Pro, Nick Batzdorf

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andygabrys
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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by andygabrys » Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:03 pm

If you are serious about comparing further, I would suggest using one of your completed pieces. Mix through these plugins and compare the unmastered results.
demo the WAVES NLS, the Slate Digital VCC.

then check out the cheapest summing boxes out there - http://www.unitaudio.com/index.html

and maybe the next cheapest http://www.rollmusic.com/folcrom.php

and again a little more http://blacklionaudio.com/content.php?p=36

all of which are less than $1,000.

you are probably aware of this too: http://shopping.vintageking.com/sumshoot.html with a bunch of sound samples.

spoiler alert: the mixes which are summed through the analog summing boxes generally have higher RMS level, and sound more exciting as a result, so its hard to really compare 1:1

good luck!

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by Russell Landwehr » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:11 am

Thanks guys.
Stuart, I PM'd you.
Andy, do you use those plug-ins? I never knew they existed. I would love to stay in-the-box. I do have a song that has a high track count where I could demo the plug-ins. I will look into that.

Also, I removed some variables from my test. I reduced the track count to 8 stereo tracks. Removed the stereo narrowing. And sent the tracks only on optical to and from the other box.
The tracks are.
1-Kick
2-Snare
3-HH
4-Bass 1
5-Bass 2
6-EP
7-Sampled Strings
8-Synth

I did no normalizing or compression or limiting.

The result is http://www.sensawehr.com/wav/Summing%20Test%20v4.4.wav

And I cannot tell a difference between the Ableton, SAC and CueMix summing. (perhaps because the track count is low?) So there you go, digital is digital is digital. (mebbe someone with golden ears can tell the difference.)
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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by andygabrys » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:17 am

Hi Russell,

I have the slate VCC. Stuart has the waves NLS. I demoed the NLS when it came out, but it's was really hard for me to tell if it was doing more fantastic that the Slate VCC which I already had. And the slate VCC is very cool and I still have lots to explore in it.

I think the slate site has a/b bounces of the plugs in various setting vs straight ITB summing as well. Happy exploring.

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by andygabrys » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:11 pm

well call me crazy, but on the summing A/B/C I think I do hear a difference between A and B/C.

Theoretically, they should sound pretty much the same right? Three digital workstations / DAW at 24 bit, digital transfers? no modeling of console or analog effects on any of the three options that aren't baked into the sound?

the bass line goes Root -root etc...... and then goes 5th octave.

On A, there is quite a bit more bass synth on that part. Sounds like one bass that is kinda of smooth, and another that has a little grain on it (like the cutoff is higher on a filter). they are both here.

On B/C its much less. Like the bass with the "grain" is missing, and you hear the kick much more clearly.

Again - still the exact same mix? I would be looking for where Bass 2 ended up on B/C.

my 2 cents

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by cardell » Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:17 pm

andygabrys wrote:I have the slate VCC. Stuart has the waves NLS. I demoed the NLS when it came out, but it's was really hard for me to tell if it was doing more fantastic that the Slate VCC which I already had. And the slate VCC is very cool and I still have lots to explore in it.
Do I detect...a thinly veiled...MIX OFF challenge Sir?! :shock: ... :lol:
(Inner monologue: I hope not, 'cause I'd most likely lose to Andy. :o )

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by eeoo » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:13 pm

Whoa, Stuart vs. Andy in a mixoff? Place yer bets everybody! :lol:

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by andygabrys » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:21 pm

cardell wrote:
andygabrys wrote:I have the slate VCC. Stuart has the waves NLS. I demoed the NLS when it came out, but it's was really hard for me to tell if it was doing more fantastic that the Slate VCC which I already had. And the slate VCC is very cool and I still have lots to explore in it.
Do I detect...a thinly veiled...MIX OFF challenge Sir?! :shock: ... :lol:
(Inner monologue: I hope not, 'cause I'd most likely lose to Andy. :o )

Stuart
are you casting the Gauntlet Sir?

lol.

I am happy to run the tracks through the plugin, but I defer on the "mix-off". although who knows, we all might get something out of it.

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by Cruciform » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:39 pm

As Stuart's second, I ask for a clean contest, compressors at dawn near The Old Studio. :lol:

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by eeoo » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:15 pm

You need some back up Andy?

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Re: A Summing Test that needs your evaluation

Post by andygabrys » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:11 pm

I've been reading the Three Musketeers with my son. I absolutely need backup EO!

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