First, thank you for demoing both the cross blend and the link functions on the 2500+. I've had this unit for a over a year and still didn't understand what the cross blend was doing. When I started this video I thought, oh 30 minutes, that a long time. But towards the end, 30 minutes felt too short! Subscribed!
@bigmike2149 im starting to wonder since I do hip hop and the drums are already hitting hard why would I need my ali 2500+ say over a ssl comp clone like smart research c2 or c1
I love this! Thank you so much for this🙌🙏✌️♥️ Edit: I've only used plugin versions of these. What this showed me is that I'm okay with the SSL style plugins I have, but I've never heard a plugin replicate what makes the API sound so badass.
It is also important to note that the release times are different so it’s not a matched comparison. A shorter release time will lead to a more “open” sound that SSL has in this example.
I have 2500 but never use it on feedforward setting as it's too grabby, the whole video is on FF and it's making 2500 a disservice, if you look for more transparent sound don't make any assumptions from this video, it can be as gentle and smooth as it gets
Good call, all the modern API compressors 629, 527's, and 2500 allow for modern or vintage FF/FB adjustments unlike the SSL bus comp variations. I've got thousands of big board SSL 4000, 9000, 6000, AWS, and Duality hours logged and an API Box at my house... so I LOVE both these compressors. IMHO you can't go wrong with either or both, but the API does offer more tonal variety he does not go into in this video.
I ma fan of api. But the low and mid low saturation from ssl wow...period. thanks man for concluding the trio including the previous video with fusion and portico compression. Its like comparing. Stallone ..swarznegger and bruce willis..
I love them both for different reasons, when you crushed the drums with them, I got the best idea ever... what if you record drums and you have a specific mic for a drum crush channel Then I think that a combo of them both would be Superior. use the API to get those transients crazy punchy, and he SSL to get the tail of every hit to just fully blear out... cause the way you had it set up I could hear that The API made everything in between the transients more quiet and the SSL made the transient a bit softer but totally crushed everything between them... awesome video Dom keep it up
Actually I vote for Alesis 3630 on master buss. Nothing can destroy the mix so efficiently, than the 3630 with its original power supply. 😅 Definitely adds color, distortion, rounds the edges, and glues the mix into one big fat sausage.
I actually prefer the API here. Gives more punch. THe kick is enhanced more. The SSL sounds more like a plugin. But the SSL does glue everything else better. I think this is probably settings related... I used to have an SSL 4000E mixer and that bus comp was magic
Thank you for this revealing test ! To my surprise ...mix bus processing only: The API sure offers more possibilities butin the end I feel you're strugglin against a much narrowier "sweet spot", for what I can hear the SSl has a bigger sound under heavy comp, is a better bouncer/mover and adds a modern glossy sound that is instantly recognisable.
i think when you parallel compress the drums with the api ,Thrust on Loud it makes it so easy to blend in the parallel without the extra high frequencies added, so the ssl needs an eq behind it for parallel. i am going to buy the api as a first bus compressor mainly for the mixbus. you can even parallel the mixbus to add more mids and highs energy or jus the lowend, with that said ive been using the api 2500 uad plugin for years on almost everything and i love the dark tone it adds to the mixbus so im going for the api 2500+. thanks for this great video!!
They both have their uses. The api I personally use on drum buss and anything that needs a bit more punch and snap. The ssl I think was designed more for a whole mix or 2buss compression. Of course can use on anything but that's just what I've found. Also the api works on bass for heavier music for me.
When pushed hard, the API maintains that hard punch, and the SSL does the splatty sheen thing. Both are great....... Watching you tweak the SSL, it seems like you could get it to sound pretty close to the API, but the API just does it right out of the box with no fuss.
The API is more natural sounding; adds a weight and dimension I don't hear with the SSL. The SSL has a hi fi sheen and 'radio glue' we've all become accustomed to. Both are great units. I use a 2500 daily on mix buss. It's a swiss army knife that takes a little getting used to, but once you learn what it can do, the applications are endless. Cheers.
I have the SSL G Bus Compressor in 500 series format (here the high pass filter is a great feature) and an API 527 Mono Compressor.I wish I would have a 2500+ aswell, both sound great. The API really gives the punch which I love. Great video and comparison, thanks a lot.
Is it weird that the SSL just sounds more invisible to me? I feel like I can hear the compression curve of the API instantly and it reacts to the low end in a really noticeable way. But the SSL does make everything feel really consistent and glued, while also have a 3D sound. I guess it's partly personal taste, I just love the immediacy and closeness of that SSL Bus sound, the classic subtle mid-forward sound. Either this or SPL Iron. It also bears noticing, one will mix differently mixing into one of these, and an SSL clone with a decent low pass on the sidechain can also open up the bottom end punch a bit more. Very interesting.
Really! No 33609? Bus Compressors come in threes! I think the Bus comp inside of 4Ks & 9Ks often got sent to the Drum Bus with the Neve 33609 strapped across the mix. The API 2500 is definitley a go-to for drums as well, so... SSL "Glue" API "Punch" NEVE "Smooth" or "Scheen" Mix & Match. And, run one into another for serial bus compression. We run 1176s into LA2As on vocals.
I own both of these hardware units but I own the grey face ssl bus comp.... I find myself leaning towards the api tbh it’s such an amazing compressor for smoothing out harsh digital top end 💯🔥🔥🔥🔥
2 is better than 1 😁 In my opinion the API was well balanced, sounded really really good and covered all frequencies in the mix. A very universal compressor. The SSL sounded more for if your music will be played in clubs and on a big stage concert. Loud, pumpy and aggressive. I feel the SSL focused more on the kick, guitar and vocals which are really what are supposed to stand out in a good mix and song. Just my opinion. Great video 👍🏼
Thanks so much, this was very helpful! I got the exact same setup, actually the SSL right above the API in the rack. Bought with trading in quite a bit of gear! First off, the hardware is SO much better than any plug-in emulation. I use Aurora(n) converters now and it's just amazing how much bigger, wider and punchier the 2bus gets no matter how little actual compression is going on. I see that you mostly used the 'New' setting on the API, do you prefer it? So far I mostly used the 'Old' setting. Another thing I learned from another tutorial or article somewhere: The 'Loud' setting on the API's 'Tone' section has quite a dramatic effect on upper frequencies, it's a great way to control overheads when using heavy compression. As for preference, I love both! But I agree that the SSL would be a better choice as first bus compressor. I bought mine used just after a new and more elaborate version came out but I totally love the simplicity of the SSL here. Very easy to set up and it lets you go more with your first/gut reaction which is always a good thing!
Stumbled upon this video. First let me say, great video and thank you for making it. I own a UA Apollo had the SSL plug-in. I'm not in a position to get the hardware version. I was trying to see if I should get the API plug-in and this video made up my mind for me - LOL. I can't wait to see what is produced, I'm hoping to get the classic UA quality from the plug-in. I hope it works well for me.
Because of budget. What you think or you have hear the api sr22 or a clone of the SSL FX G384 that’s Stam is manufacturing for early next year. Both are less that half the investment of those unit . Thnaks
had the api for a month or so it’s really nice and love the gain and punch on it but but to me it just cannot glue like the ssl type so o got rid of it for a dangerous compressor i’m also building my own ssl style compressor
@@teflondaprincei got the hardware by dangerous music it glues better even though its way cleaner the api is very hard to glue and it eats the transients faster than gluing
I know right. If I’m going to spend a lot of money on an outboard compressor for an Audio signal, I certainly don’t want to hear it, that’s just insane
Need people to understand there is no particular right way to add hardware or plugins to buses, I use an SSL native comp along with a Fairchild 670 or a neve 33609 depending on the mix, it’s all about if it sounds good.
awesome video. i‘m thinking about getting one piece of hardware for my master bus. i‘m doing a lot of orechestral mockups (williams, michael giacchino, alan silvestri style). but also doing all kind of music when needed. so mockups sound always a bit dead. thinking about buying the stam SA4000-5 MK2, sslg-bus 500, ssl bus+ or ssl fusion. do you think that make sense? what hardware what you recommend on the master bus? great channel, thank you, all the best
The API sounds way better as any of its plugin clones - I never liked its plugins. The SSL is more transparant which is because the API pumps up anything and makes the sound more blurry,, very clear in the synth mix. The SSL grabs the mix more. Bass is tighter while the API tends to get whooly sometime IMHO. About the SSL: try the Tonefarm clone... better than the original LOL.
I agree. I've always liked the sound of the 33609, it seems to incorporate the heft and punch of the api combined with the glossy sheen of the SSL. In all fairness the 2500 takes some getting used to and I haven't mastered it yet. 33609 is definitely more user friendly.
Hello and respect ! First thank you for all the help in the videos it really helped me a lot!!. I have a problem with duplicate events ,when do copy or duplicate any audio (cubase 11pro), all the editing i do is done also in the original First event ??,..please please help 🙏 I tried anything forums and nothing .I'm cant work like this its impossible 😪
I'm a fan of both brands, but it's just something about that API that I just absolutely love. Maybe one day I will be able to add the 2500 into my life.
To me the API sounded better in every application. It just sounds more snappy punchy and has a musical color to it. The SSL to me sounded more clean and surgical yet more gluey if that makes sense. I prefer the API
So true. The bus+ is a game changer. I had a 500 series SSL g comp and an API 2500+. The API always won any drum shootout. I sold the g comp to get the SSL Bus+. The side chain on the Bus+ allows the low frequencies of the bass drum to come through which makes a huge difference to get more of that low end punch. In mid side mode, side chain set to 250hz with the dynamic eq set just right the bus+ is amazing on drums. I picked it over the 2500 on drums on my last shootout.
Hello. I have a question about Remote MIDI Control. Is it normal that when I assign functions to certain faders, after closing Cubase and reopening, all parameters are deleted and I have to reassign or load a saved preset ..?
@@DomSigalas I'm sure I do everything as you do, it works very well until I close Cubase and restart it then all settings disappear. There is a detail somewhere that I don't know ...
@@lukim_2498 hmmmm... I would suggest you report this on the Official Cubase forum or a Facebook groups with some screenshots of your assignments. It could be anything really !
haha, SSL all the way, anytime. The title should be "home amateur compression" Vs. pro sounding compression. 😄😄 If you're going to listen the song only once, API is the winner, if you want your song to be on repeat SSL wins everytime.
@5:39 and before that @DomSigalas your body gestures, your miming of the music, your way of explaining that "complex relation" between the "kick" and the other elements of that song, reminiscing the explanations of the great mixing engineers who understand and feel subtle aspects of the music ... You might want to be considered a sound engineer, but you also need to know that the sound engineers really do hear and feel the things they talk about and they do not try to impersonate other people! It is embarasing to watch you "explaining" "the relation" between "the kick" and the other elements of the song when there is no kick in that song and thus no "relation" between "the kick" and the other elements! Watching you faking/miming the understanding of a process that does not exist in that song is the most evident and embarrassing example of a person performing a job he has no knowledge of. I feel uncomfortable being in the position to write such a negative comment, but we can only advance as a civilisation when each person understands its job and knows how to perform it. That's why we have different kind of jobs and we shall only perform what we know and understand, and not what it is considered as "trendy" or "cool"! It is hard for me to make you feel sad, but the truth needs to be told and it would be even harder and unfair not to say that there are other people worthy of that job. Have a nice day everybody and follow your passion ❤
