Anyone got some additional presets for that beauty?

 

ok this debate made me download and install the latest native ssl plugs and try the bus compressor from the sister site, its been years since i tried it at my friends studio.
i take it back. it is as good as sand. sand can be tweaked further with more options but i really like it it compared to back when i tested it, very good plugin.

 

While class a is very good it is also limited on what you can use it.
I did some apples and oranges comparison and threw on the good old bx console n.
What console n does better is that it stays true to the source, taking bigger cuts and never gets harsh. This is the only con of class a plugin, fixed eq positions.

 

Plugin Alliance / Lindel Audio just came out with a competetor, would be interesting to see how they compare

 

been waiting for it because I love the 80 Series.
here's the link, check it out guys. Seems more interesting with all the EQS (550a,b,560) and compressors (2500+525) included in one strip.

but more than happy with American Class A transient shaper punch.
still waiting for some proper youtube guy to compare 3 of em (including UAD Vision)

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/lindell_50_series.html

EDITED : apparently our CIS friends being generous today, it's up!

 

Last edited: Jan 12, 2021

That Germanium on the buss is what music's about

 

Softube Chandler Limited?
FWIW,Waves AR TG Mastering is one of the few Waves plugins that I find decent like most of the Abbey Road line.But I don't know the Softube Chandler limited,I haven't bothered because as you know I have been underwhelmed with many softube plugins.I will try that so!

 

The Germanium Comp is the best of the bunch. The rest is just ok.

 

Germanium is great because it replaces a number of plugins.
Imo it shines the best in MS mode where you can really tweak it to the max.
It took me about 15 minutes to understand what is going on, but once you do its easy and intuitive.
I have no idea if the metering on this is correct, let us assume it us, it can take a lot of GR, really a lot.
I would rate it among two of the best acustica plugins, which to me personally are water and viridian, the sound of germanium is very, very similar to these two.
In Germanium i hear the same same warmth, glue and low end punch/bump/roundness as in these two AA compressors, something i could not hear in any other algo plugin before.

 

Ok,thanks,I try it tomorrow.

 

I dare to say, after several tests, that Germanium is the best ITB compressor for several reasons.
Very adjustable, replaces several plugins, amazing M/S mode, round analog sound, adds weight and depth, non static like most algo plugins.
Acustica could take notice on how to make a low cpu great sounding plugin.
This compressor is a game changer in algo plugins.

 

SInce I am on Mac, I'm going to check out the one by Plugin Alliance instead.

It's by LSR Audio and has the VLB 525 Compressor included which is kicking ass on Drums. It was never released in the scene, so the prospect of having the API 550A/B, 560 and the VLB 525 in one strip is something I am looking forward to. Especially since I want to leave waves stuff behind.

 

This class A by Softube is very nice indeed, it's also very different from SSL Native, but still very usable.

But man, I read what was being said about the Germanium compressor, and indeed, man that thing is amazing, I'm flabbergasted really. The fact Software has come this far in emulating hardware it's just really really amazing. Wow.

 

UPdate to my previous post during my plug-in clear out of 2021... to leave only my GO-TOS...

I have to say, the Softube American Class A is amazing. For workflow, fast great results, nice gui and it works with the D-Command I mentioned earlier (thank god it's a stand alone plug unlike the ssll console 1 stuff).

Also I did give SSL NATIVE another good test (V6) but nah.. it's still the same old same old code, it was not as good as BX_Console E SSL, and the bus comp wasn't as good as BX townhouse/Vertigo VCS 2 (switch depending on if you want darker mojo or clearer punch).

Anyway, the Class A strip has become my go-to because of how fast it shapes sound and gets results, it's not the most detailed strip (i.e eq settings) but strikes a nice balance between fast Neve workflow and deetailed SSL fully parametric.. I LOVE proportional Q EQS (like PSP E27, Harrison 32C and This API!). FOR ME, maybe not for you, but for me I find it so much nicer and musical to have proportional Q without worrying about getting the Q right after every extra boost or cut... IF I need that kind of detail I'm not going to use SSL in 2021.. no way, I'll use Pro Q 3 in natural phase mode as my surgical/detailed EQ. SSL is actually outmoded and overhyped from the name in DAW times imo... because back in the day it was the first EQ to give us what digital eventually gave us, fully 'explorable' eq - in analog this was a big deal but now we have much better tools for that - Maat Blue, Pro Q3 etc... For character EQ SSL isn't and wasn't ever particuraly desirable, about the only thing wanted on those consoles was the bus comp and the channel dynamics for drums (and of course the total recall/robust automation in the 80s), but the API is just as good on drums and MUCH faster to dial in, I also think it suits far more sources like vocals and synths, giving them more character and edge, while SSL doesn't do much other than tweak curves.

THe drive on this may sound a bit raunchy/brash in solo but it works great in a full mix.. (esp if like me you have a TON of saturation all over the mix from tape, HG2, VSM3, True Iron, Neve on tracking, HEAT in protools always active - for digital it's already a 'thick full mix' so the API works great for me vs even MORE sonic bloat from the neve emus) it's a bold strip eq and compressor and drive... for bold moves, which is exactly what you want from a 'console' with analog emulation (mojo) to get those quick moves in to restage your sound and this strip can be pushed without ruining the sound... an SSL can REALLY mess things up if you push too far or mess the Q up or whatever, ALSO SSL's are just not good for someone like me who overthinks at times and looks at all the choices of eq gain... freq... and q... YAWN.

Neve are great but basic, I have outboard neve pres/eqs for tracking and get my trafo goodness there, SSL itb is pointless, esp the native SSL plugs that are pure digital with ZERO emulation or mojo... usee BX or Softube for SSL if you must. API is beautiful, and also slightly less used than SSL and Neve... which keeps things peppy ;)

I also tried the Lindell 50 (API) strip but really didn't like it in the end, their 80 was better but honestly I just removed the lot.. all the BX strips, the lindell strips... and the SSL strips and am sticking with Softube AMerican Class A as my goto for initial track shaping and mojo. I only want ONE strip plug or it gets annoying deciding which to use, and this was the best strip I ever tested for MY music (indie electronic rock/guitars/synths/real bass etc).

For anything else I'll use discreet plugs, mostly from softube and PA (chandler curve bender, softube fet, germanium, tubetech etc),

Thanks to, I think it was the thread starter R Morgan who tipped me off on the sister site back at R2R's wave that THIS plug wasn't tied to console 1 (I ignored it at first cos thought it was), he waas right.. it's really great and it'll be the defining 'sound' of my upcoming work.

I found the BX Neve slightly flabby and muddy vs this API by softube, and the BX SSL to be a bit boring/clinical... also the guis on the BX's are hella busy and get tiring to look at (and even use via Dcommand) the Class A strip is ergonomic perfection and looks as good as it sounds.

 

Softube American Class A only works with console, right?

 

nope

 

Unlike their others strips, the API has a vst version so you can use it even without Console

 

Thank you @mickey and @tchouangtseu for your answers. I'll try it then

 

If you like saturating the mixbus, try the softube zener limiter THD only in MS mode. Put it as your last plugin in the chain.
Just gets you that pro glue and definition, it grounds it and just makes everything sit better in the mix.
Zener in THD is unlike anything in ITB, its a killer plugin and i have tons of saturation plugins.

 

Is it true that R2R puts watermarks that give you that Fripp and Eno sound?