Maag EQ4m Hardware EQ VS EQ4 Plugin Emulation 

This comment is the general consensus every time I do these AB comparisons

100% a plugin can emulate a piece of hardware to a certain degree. But there are certain factors that just aren't there yet.

Do you tested the brainworx and acústica audio? I think there is some 3d in there to

Try to use Brainworx SSL 4000, they gave us opportunity to achieve this 3 d effect, and, by the way, this is just "not same" eq lines in right and left channel, this is why we always feel this 3 d effect in analog gear, but you can replicate this easy

Agree i heard the same. Could this EQ give the same effect for basic 2 channel audio system ?

Definitely differences. Would be interesting to do a blind test on this one.

Yes 100%, I think some people just don't want to admit it. I think what I need to do is in the new year start posting some blind tests.

My friend I did it with my eyes close and shity airpods and the hardware destroys de pliguin, maybe you need a bit more mixing practide

Ones £29 on plugin alliance the hardwares £2000. I think most people who are, let's say hobbiests or producers, wouldn't see a £1971 difference to warrant it. It's close enough for most. From a business perspective, it's worth it as a professional engineer. Because that's what sets you apart from other engineers working in the box.

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Most people won't hear the difference with the speakers or headphones they are listening this with, I think that is a big reason why they would go for the plugin, but that means they don't hear what I'm hearing, it's like listening to a CD compared to an mp3 for me. For "hobbiests", I would not pay a single penny on a plugin EQ, I would just reach for the DAWs standard EQ. But for any other kind of professional or semiprofessional mixer/producer, I would recommend putting a good sounding (not all HW is great) EQ and a compressor on the 2-buss. In Tidal, it will sound great. And Spotify, well, let's say, if your master sounds like an mp3 and you add another mp3 compression on your mix, that's what it will sound like in the end. And it's not great. I think, there will be a time, when all the pro's will again realize this, and they will go back to analog, at least for their 2-buss.

@olliketola3482 what I always say on this subject is that the consumer may not know they are hearing something that is analogue or digital and they probably won't care either way. But what they will do is subconsciously know. The difference is that digital mastering will sound 2d and harsh. Analogue Mastering sound 3d and pleasing to the ear. This is the difference between listening once and listening on repeat.

​@@AudioAnimalsStudio​ I think the consumer does care, and they do hear it because it's more pleasing to the ear. And like you said, when listening to analog mixes, your ear does not get fatigued to the sound as easily because of pleasing harmonics. Our job as audio guys is making sure we deliver the best sounding material possible to the artist/customer.

Good point. Very very cool that "atmo effect" might buy one for that, sounds very "expensive"

@@ast4127 I find this is a consistent trait amongst different types of hardware processors. It's more common in compressors than EQ

Yes it reminds me a bit of the Vertigo compressor @@bontempo1271

Just that punch snd bottom in drums was super noticable and i was listening over the laptop. Im afraid of switching to monitors xD

Think we need a blind test on this one. I think it'll result in a 50/50 split.

⁠@@AudioAnimalsStudio something philosophical to ponder: does that mean essentially the difference is imperceptible, for all intents and purposes? I think there is a distinction to be made here regarding perceptibility of changes in audio between, the average layperson (or even an artist) and the engineer. Most laypeople arguably cant hear compression, and presumably - the difference between a plugin and hardware (though some can in my experience). When we decide things are insignificant, meaning too small of a difference to matter - what is often ommited is the sampled group of listeners. Imperceptible to a layperson, or an engineer? The latter is more significant, as non-professionals don’t have ears trained well enough to detect many of the singular moves we make with regard to processing at all. I do see some blind tests on YT which conclude with a roughly 50/50 result, but to me personally- the difference can be significant. Its all about the frame of reference. For those with experience, our ears are our most valuable asset, as well as our own judgement call on what matters and what simply doesn’t

Add some subtle saturation could arguably give you a better sound than the hardware.

its because the hardware has two dedicated paths for the left and right. They are not perfectly the same and so it is creating more depth. You can achieve that bei using an eq that allows you to change the left and right channel independently, so you can create very small difference between left and right.

@@musicproductionbrauns2594 ok. Sounds like a excellent suggestion and makes sense. Anything else?

@@braxal6983 as audio animals already said saturation (can also be done on left and right channel with small differences) but honestly digital saturation just doesn't sound as good as analog (but still can be good of course)

@@musicproductionbrauns2594 My god, finally I saw this perfect comment advice, and yeah, you're right, independent left/right eq + saturation and this will be really close battle)

What you are talking about is what McDSP have been doing for a number of years. I think more companies will follow in their footsteps. As well I think more and more companies will start adding plugin control of hardware with recall like bettermaker, wes audio, freqport and now Elysia. I have the new Wes Audio Tube EQ arriving Wednesday which is a 4 band tube EQ with digital recall and plugin control. It's the closest thing we have to an analogue version of Fabfilter pro q3.

@@AudioAnimalsStudio not really. I’m talking about a universal standard for the next generation of plugins.

@JimboJones99 it's entirely possible this is the way things will. It'll certainly bridge the cap between analogue and digital.

@@AudioAnimalsStudio you should get started on it.

I agree. The plugins close enough for most people.

For a plugin...

More like day and late afternoon early evening I would say..

Day and afternoon tea

Subconsciously, the average listener may hear the difference just not know it. A more pleasing sound to the ear but they don't know why. Plugin = harsh on the ear. Analogue = pleasing to the ear. Even if you don't know why, that's the difference between listening again.

@@Huy-Lo all the best

@@audiosounddoctor5834 haha love it. I know exactly what you mean.

£29 vs £2000 is there 70 times better quality. No. So, for someone who couldn't warrant paying £2000 more for something that is 20% better, it isn't an essential purchase and can't be warranted. The plugin does the job just fine, the hardware does it slightly better but at a big cost. Weigh that up into your decision.

@@AudioAnimalsStudio Well put. I'll probably get it. One thing is sure. I'm 100% happy I found your channel and subscribed. 🙂 Cheers mate!

@houdinididiit one thing I will say is that if you do decide to get the hardware, you will love it. And it will be money well spent.

Still wont be close because plugin saturation still sounds flat and while saturation on hardware has that Lush 3D its all because of voltage voltage is real energy plugins arw zeros and ones emulating hardware thats why they are different they both sound good but just different

@@shevyjohn9308 Yeah, probably

I find a nice clean EQ is one thing that can be emulated in the box. EQs that have character aren't quite there yet.

@nimalsStudio You'd be surprised at how minimal the "character" of an EQ can be. To be real, when I compared my NEVE 1073 to Crave matching the curves, it wasn't as different as you'd think. And the Neve 1073 is everything but a "clean" EQ imho. I see too much engineers saying "this EQ gives me that character". But it's actually, most of the times, just the curves. Which made a lot of sens in the analog days to collect them all for that reason alone. But nowadays, when you match the curve, you realize the character is often quite insignificant. Especially when not going beyond 6db increments (which is very often the case in mastering or mixbus processing). Although in all fairness, the difference (however extra subtle it can be), is more noticeable on complex materials like a stereo mix for example, in my very humble opinion.

The fixed bands make it an EQ that goes well with a nice 4 band EQ that includes frequency and Q. The maag is great for the sub band and airband. What's in between is hit and miss. Works with some tracks not with others.

Yes

The reason I shot these demos is because the 1951 has replaced the maags and Kushs. So wanted to shoot these videos before they left the studio. The 1951 is exceptional. Does everything these units do and more.

@AudioAnimalsStudio awesome 👌🏻 I really wonder which of your Hardware are the essentiell 3-6 pieces that you would choose to work with as your main tools if you would have to. Which are to ones that stand out the most for you and especially for music like pop, rnb neosoul, electronica + clubmusic and as well as indie folk and jazz. Since you have a lot of pieces - and all of them make perfect sense - what would be the essential most quality pieces that go well together and would be your pick? Arw there game changers in your chain or on your wishlist that you'd choose to master with if you would have to transform the sound to the highest level, to achieve the best authentic Master for the specific music as possible? Would be great to see a video about that. The eclectic stuff .. Thank you a lot for what you do! Love your channel! Tom

@@AudioAnimalsStudio can you pls tell me the full name and model of the 1951 ! I have no clue which brand eq this is?

@Aquiiin that's a great question which I can answer in full in an upcoming video. In the master chain I would choose the following as essential for me. Buzz REQ 2.2 EQ SPL iron compressor Hum Audio LAAL Limiter Audiotales Designs 1951 Blackbox HG2

@@KaranSarup audiotales Designs 1951 and 1954