Just got my VSX yesterday I can agree that the Archon Mid-field is the standout. Impressed with the Club room, I will definitely be using this to just check my low-end tightness which is hard without proper monitors.
It is extremly huge. I got the vsx now and can say that it changes everything, because you then have the first time an environment you can really trust AND it will show you brutally honest what's wrong with the mix.
Great Video - funny ennogh when you swapd rooms I couldn't hear any noticeable difference on Airpods Pro, only when you got to boombox and headphone models I started to hear the changes
I just bought these, and I agree with all your opinions on each room. The archon near field tripped me out making me take off my headphones because I thought my near field speakers were actually turned on haha. Pretty wild how much of a car the tesla sounds like. My only con is the build of the headphones. Theyre built rather cheap. Overall not bad so far
Totally agree about the build quality. My Beyerdynamics are built like a tank, and I'm worried I'll break the VSX band every time I put them on. Hopefully they come out with a more robust version in the future.
I just got my VSX headphones Thursday and I love them so far. I'm still listening and getting used to them before I start mixing, but they're excellent. I'm going to try the headphones with my Waves NX software also since they're so flat. I also want to see how the NX spatial imaging sounds with the VSX. Love the new tech. And for $500, I can't vouch for these enough! Also...I really love being able to check the car and earbuds specifically! Crazy...
I'm not sure how flat they are without the software. For Waves NX, I would use VSX software first, bypassed to HD linear mode. Then add NX for the room sim.
Funny, every video I watch that reviews the VSX system has comments where the person doesn’t seem to understand what this system is for. They think that it’s about mixing in headphones, not understanding that the headphones are just the vehicle that puts you in different mixing spaces.
Watching this right now! Never have mixed with headphones, and I've owned a pair of DT770 Pros; I'm looking forward to trying the VSX software and headphones and seeing what happens!
I use the free version of CASTER to run all my system audio through VSX (and Sonarworks and Sienna free). It has 3 plug-in slots. VSX is great! Also, thanks for a great review and for showing samples of the rooms. Slate has a deal to get 3 expansion rooms for $40 for like another day or so (vs. $29 each).
@@MichaelLevine Ah thats too bad. I'll wait a bit then. Coult you please explain/elaborate how you use CASTER to get systemwide VSX? Do you mean groundcontrol caster? how is this better than e.g. Menu Bus or Sound Source? thank you!
@@tendingtropic7778 Yes, I mean GroundControl - I've never tried Menu Bus or Sound Source - I'm sure they're great too. But the free version of Caster has been great for me. You get 3 FX slots on the output of Caster, and you can select whichever speaker output you want (in this case, you'd choose the output that your VSX headphones are plugged into). Does that make sense?
Very helpful review of this system which I have for about two weeks now. I‘ve got a question, hopefully not too naive: Do you start mixing your production with this system from scratch or do you mix as usual and at the end of the mixing process only use it to control and adjust your mixing work? Thanx in advance for a short answer.
I mix through VSX from the beginning of the process. Stick with one room, then check on different rooms/systems within VSX toward the end of the mix process.
Should I mix with these headphones as I produce my song? or wait until my song is finished and then begin mixing from scratch with these headphones on? Thanks.
Wait until the song is finished, then mix through them. You could certainly use them to track/produce too, but I would probably use them in HD linear mode for that.
Great, comprehensive review! How would you compare Slate VSX to the Waves Abbey Road Studio 3 plugin that you reviewed earlier? Apart from having more options/rooms/devices, does VSX provide a more realistic or detailed room emulation? I ask because I already have Studio 3, which I really like and find helpful for checking mixes. Unfortunately, it's not possible to demo Slate VSX without first buying the product. Thanks!
VSX does provide more detail, depth, and realism. I've even heard sound effect parts of songs where it sounded like the sound was coming from behind me, which is really difficult to achieve with headphones. Check out the beginning of MJ's "Black or White" to hear an example of what I'm talking about. They're not even in the same league really, probably due to the fact that the hardware and software are so tightly integrated. That being said, you could use VSX and still use ARS3 if you use VSX in the HD linear mode and add ARS3 after.
I have Waves Abbey Road Studio 3 and also now Slate vsx. I can say that Slate vsx is another world. I'm pretty sure that after using Slate vsx you never touch Abbey Road Studio 3 again. It take some hours time to get familiar with the Slate vsx realism, but after the first 'shock' you will definitelly level up in mixing.
Great vid as always, I know its a bit old but I was wondering what your thoughts are on just using Audifed Mix checker? I'm using Focal Clear MG Pros and a dedicated high end head phone amp. But want to check what mixes might sound like on laptop/phone etc ... wondering if just using that plugin would get me there? I guess i should just demo it lol Or is VSX much better for these types of checks? Cheers!
Please elaborate on setting up on a cue? The manual suggests setting up on the main and bypassing on mixdown. There is a notable gain reduction when the plugin is bypassed.
Setting up a cue mix is different depending on your DAW. In Studio One I just create a cue mix in the I/O settings and choose my headphone output. That way I can leave VSX on all the time and never need to worry about bypassing.
Great review, I'm loving my Slate headphones! Could you please explain how you set up your profile in Audio Hijack, the mode you showed that has the Slate VSX for the Archon midfield speakers at 9:50? Many thanks
First you create a session in Audio Hijack, then drag system audio as the source. Next comes the VSX plugin, and finally your output device. Make sure you choose your audio interface as the output if that's what you're listening through. If you set your preferred settings in VSX, it should open that way every time you open the session.
How are these for producing??? I was thinking of going for beydy 900 pro x but maybe i. Can just use these with the headphones emulations then do mix downs with the rooms running
hey bro so i just got mine but the plugin is so much lower than when disabled i dont want to mix to where im clipping when i turn it off, whats the best advice on mixing on them to make sure the levels arent off
I use it on a cue mix so it doesn't affect the levels on the master buss, just what I'm hearing. Maybe put a meter plugin before it so you can check levels.
So I just got a pair and I HATE Steven’s room. It sounds so scooped. I did not get the deluxe edition so it looks like I’m grabbing Archon and NRG lol Great video
@@GreenLightSound Hey, thank you. However, have done some research and am testing without can opener etc. Apparently, HD Linear is setup for the best listening environment as is and doesn't need crossfeed. Will test some mixes with and without, Cheers! Soul
Great review and tips! Would you use the Depth at the default 50% or full? Is full just a complete experience of being in the room? (I can't seem to really hear a difference). Also, could you give info on how to set up equalizerapo with this? (I don't have a Mac)
I always just leave the depth at the default 50%. Increasing it is supposed to increase the room tone, but I only hear a subtle difference. Here's a video for systemwide audio on Windows: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XdnNvRhs3Zo.html
Well, I listened to them all. Question, which one did you use to mix on? Did you use the Archon? So, if you chose the Archon, and mixed and it sounded great, then listened in the other rooms and it was not acceptable, what next?
I use Archon mids to mix. Rarely need to make much adjustment after that. I might check vocal balance on the mono cube, and low end on one of the bigger systems, then check in the cars. Make small adjustments, then check again on the Archon mids. But they get me 99% of the way there.
They're wired, so the same as anything else. I bought a pair of AiAiAi TMA--2 wireless+ before I got the VSX ( I loved the TMA-2 so much that I got the updated TMA-2 Wireless+ for my 2nd rig ), and they are completely latency free. Richie Hawtin worked with AiAiAi to make a pair of wireless latency free headphones for DJ use. They aren't based on bluetooth and have their own proprietary system with a receiver you plug into the phones jack of your interface. They're really good, but, if I'd known what VSX sounded like before I'd bought the TMA-2 wireless+, I would have just bought the VSX because that's probably all I'll use now. If you really need latency-free, get the TMA-2 wireless+, but if you don't really need that feature, don't sacrifice the mixing integrity and flexibility of the VSX system just solely to get that one feature.
Final plugin on the master. Be sure to bypass when printing. I use it on a cue mix headphone send so I don't have to worry about bypassing it. Not sure how you would set that up in ableton.
Man, I cant even mix by using refference with headphones ( I own k701), it just gets my head foggy and lose grip of everything haha. I love monitors, I cant livr without them :(
They're totally different. VSX is a hardware/software package that uses headphones to simulate mixing in different mix environments. Ozone is mastering software. Also, VSX isn't a rental model, but offers a split payment option to spread the $479 price over 12 months. You can also pay the full price up front.
Hi Joe, today is my first time on your page, please if you can do full session of Gain Staging again please and thank you. Because I use logic pro x, but most the time logic output clips, and when I levelled all my tracks and bounce it , it sound low. On yr of 2017, you were showing some gain staging, but you did just only drums, but I just wonna know keys and all the rest of the elements has to be the same level 0db as the drum or what? So please you can do full session of that, and next question, most all the time I always mixed my instruments as a audio file, but rather as Midi files, and if audio files do I need to level them before exporting them as each track
Gain stage everything to -18dBFS on a VU meter, or any meter that measures average level over time, and -6dB on a peak meter for elements that have lots of transients and not as much sustain. This is just a first step before mixing. If you want to bring all of your tracks up to a louder level without clipping the master buss you need to use a combination of compression, saturation, and limiting. These are elements that are added at the mixing and mastering stages, not during the initial gain staging described in that video.
Thanks for the video! What is the best way to get used to the VSX when using a systemwide solution for playback? Should I listen with the "HD Linear" or my favourite room and speakers? Also: I read a few people say that these headphones needs to be "broken in"/"Will open up" after a while. How many hours of playback does that usually take? Thanks again.
Listen on your favorite room and speakers to get used to the virtual room experience, especially with reference material you know well. I highly recommend the Archon midfields. The HD Linear mode will just sound like any other headphones, although a nice, flat pair. I felt that the headphones broke in after a couple of days of listening, probably 4-6 hours max. It didn't take long, and the difference is extremely subtle.
@@GreenLightSound Thank you so much for responding. I do feel that on "default"/without software the VSX sound a little "muffled" compared to my AKG 701's, but that might just be because of the fact that the AKG's are not linear and exaggerates some higher end frequencies. My experience with the VSX thus far has been great! There is still a learning curve to these but for the first time I've been able to make accurate decisions about the low end in my mixes! There is still stuff around 1 - 5/6 Khz that I might need to pay more attention to since I tend to attenuate those frequencies a bit with the VSX, but it's not far off mixing-wise, at least to my knowledge.
The AKG 701's have a fairly significant boost in the 8-12 kHz area, so you're probably just used to that. I had the same problem with my Beyerdynamic DT 880's.
@@iseeu-fp9po No, I mean that the 880's also have a pronounced upper mid range boost. I corrected it with Sonarworks so the transition to VSX didn't seem dull. You also have to be careful when placing the VSX headphones on your ears as even a slight difference in placement can result in a loss of high end.
great video..I happen to have Can Opener...I tried it both before and after VSX...both seem to sound good, in this case, what do you suggest is the optimal order? Thanks
@@GreenLightSound thanks. And yes I tried it with HD linear headphones. Actually works pretty great. Thanks for the tip. BTW, I also downloaded the audio highjack software but is there a way to NOT record with it? I wanted to use VSX to watch movies but I don’t want to record the audio. Thanks.
@@jaketanner109 Definitely. I use it that way all the time. Just set up a "session" and have the block order be computer audio>VSX>output device (your interface).
Im using studio one. I saw that VSX was put at the insert section in the mixing console. Meaning once the mixing is done, do we have to disable that VSX plug in/remove it? My understanding if i take out that VSX plugin from insert then the original sound is go back. Looking forward on your reply.
I have VSX on an output that only goes to my headphones, so I don't need to disable it. If you have it on your mix buss, then you do have to disable it once you mix down. Since you're using Studio One, you could just insert on on a listen buss.
Do you think an option to hear the mix on headphones from a mono source would work? I'd love an aura tone emulation. I don't want to buy a mono speaker for work at home.
I think it would work. The boombox emulation does a fairly good job of reducing the stereo image and focusing on the mids. I have heard that an Auratone emulation is in the works for a future VSX update.
Two things to keep in mind before purchasing them: 1) There is a seal you have to break and a 'Software Redemption Code". So if you want to try them, you are not allowed to return them anymore in most stores. 2) In most cases the Device you are plugging them in, will already alter the Sound quite a lot and you are pretty far away from 'neutral sound` before even hitting the headphones. I thought they would come with a dedicated headphone preamp. If you do not plug them into a high quality headphone preamp that includes a high quality, linear D/A conversion the whole thing will not work properly.
Please help, just got my VSX headphones but everything seems to be heard normal like a normal headphone, or even muffled n worse, what am i doing wrong here, was so excited to get them, put it on the master channel last in the chain, even the depth knob does not work no 3 d room effect like everyone says, the bypass button only increases the volume but no change in the sound, dunno what im doing wrong please help.
@@GreenLightSound the sound of the room is the frequency domain curve (eq) and time domain impulse. Any room have its own. When u emulate environment u need to emulate both, its like reverb sruff but if U apply time domain addition to signal in terms of acurate critical listening the results cannot be good. Thats why there is no place for any magic as if U gonna to change time domain signal U will get messy sound. Its addition case, when we listen in most rooms the reverbration time is way longer than in professionally calculated studio rooms. So if U use slate magic and headphones its going to be simple impulse reponse convolver.
great review Joe, i've been in the market for a set of headphones for the last year and then this pops up. Only thing i'm concerned about is how to install the software on an offline PC
Thanks! You might have to contact support about an offline PC. The install is handled through an app called Steven Slate Audio Center. It's a portal for installing VSX, Trigger, and Slate Drums.
@@GreenLightSound cheers Joe, I take it the Slate app has to be online to authorise the software? I do have an online laptop that I browse on do maybe I can authorise my purchase on the laptop and transfer the license to the audio PC
@@stupidusername38 I assume the app has to be online to deposit the license to your iLok account. Once that's done, you should be able to move the license to any system if you have a physical iLok. I don't use the listen bus since I have a separate headphones cue mix setup in my template, but you could certainly use VSX there.
