Hi, i want to buy a Daw Controller Set on Black Friday for my personel Pre Christmas Present.

I'm just thinking between The SSL UC1 and UF8 Combi or SSL UF8 with a Console 1 .

Just for Look on the Desk i would buy the SSL UC1 & UF8 .

But what would you recommend for workflow and Sound ?

Are there some Guys who own maybe both ? Console 1 and the SSL Set and can share the experience ?

Greets from Germany

 

Console1 is fun, and with the sistersite one can check the whole system thoroughly.
i must say i like the sound of the SSL from SSL a bit more, but Softube gives you a wider range of Gear.

I Suggest check the ebay, and similar 2nd hand sites, for console1.
They can go as low as 200 for C1 and the fader is about 350-400

Either way, it is a different kind of workflow, you may not like it, you may Love it
For learning Gear & Sound it is very cool

 

thank you @dondada for your answer

most of the time i produce Hip Hop / Trap Beats and stuff, sometimes a Remix.
Not often but sometimes i make Deep House / Slap house.

which sound would you recommend for that type of Music , the Console 1 with the Emulations or the SSL Sound ?

 

thats not easy to say
and you still get 2 flavors of ssl with Softube (4k and 9k)
and if you have a UAD you can controll some of those too

i would suggest you get your hands on them, you have too feel them.
Console1 starts @220 and SSL starts @750 (since its fairly new)
But the price for softube+ sistersite is hard to beat

they both sound goood!

 

okay, thank you
unfortunately that doesn't make my decision any easier

i think i will go to my local Hardware Dealer and get my hands on both before i buy.

 

I have been researching controllers for some time. I'm on a Mac. What I see is the functionality is largely about Which 3rd party companies use Which controller language [Eucon, MCU, etc].. For the most part, the controller manufactures are good with their own products, but not so much with 3rd party products. Frustrating. Sure, these guys look cool, etc, but you may want to investigate what you are looking to do, and if these products will work out [And also grow and become more inclusive: SSL shows some promise]

 

I've had both,at the same time. The UC1 + UF8 are in another league as far as control. I personally find the SSL plugins they give you to use with it, are all I'd ever need, and I have almost every plugin from Softube. good luck!

 

The new SLL native plugins are on a higher level, pretty much the best SSL sounding plugins right now. Hardware also probably better quality and more interesting to work with.

 

Great concept . I have to explain this to my wife

 

Solid State Logic UC1 vs Softube Console 1 | It's Not Even Close.. SSL,

SSL UC1 vs Softube Console 1

SSL Pro's
1. Screens! why Softube, why wont you give us screens! even a little add on 'meter bridge' showing the track names would make Fader Sooo much easier to use. Love the SSL for this
2. Form Factor - UC1 and UF8 can be used side by side whereas C1/F have to be on top of each other, which is pain for my workflow
3. Brushed Aluminium top and 'proper' SSL controls do look much nicer
4. SSL badge. sorry
5. Proper Buss compressor - its right there, front and centre, would love that in my setup

SSL Cons
1. No drive - I love this on Console 1, its the nuts. Sure there are plugins, but its just so immediate to have a dedicated control right there on the surface
2. No Stereo width control. This is the best of its type i've heard - again there's a knob right there on the Fader
3. Only does SSL plugins (at the moment) - True, I live in the E-series 4K most of the time but the Empirical Labs Trak Pak rocks, and I love the API one on guitars
4. 2 x PSU's if you have both UC1/UF8, plugs are ALWAYS at a premium

Quite similar but a bit different. Both look worthy!
www.soundonsound.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=78232

 

You never knew this??? This is one of the “unspoken” rules of being a guy, especially as you get older. You start off with “I don’t know what I want, it might cost a bit”, then move onto “honestly, it’s fine, I wouldn’t expect you to spend that much”, then the final coup de Grace of “look, I just don’t want you to spend money on something I don’t really need, so just let me sort my own present”. Then let the large boxed deliveries commence…

Welcome to the club!

 

In short, my opinion between these two.
SSL does only two plugins but it does it with authority, faster workflow and precision while Softube works with more plugins but is clumsier and slower to work with.
I see a lot of softube consoles on the used market, that says something.

 

Thanks @ hackerz4life, for the views and insights.

Spoiler: Hands-on SSL UC1 - hardware controller under test by Dr. Andreas Hau, November 19, 2021

Hands-on SSL UC1 - hardware controller under test by Dr. Andreas Hau, November 19, 2021

Computer-internal mixing is standard today, even well-respected star engineers like Michael Brauer or Andrew Scheps, who stuck to analog consoles longer than many others, are now working "in the box". Nevertheless, the dream of real controllers lives on: being able to touch the sound and shape it with your own hands ... but with the convenience and immediate recall of a digital system! The English mixer manufacturer SSL has taken on the problem. The result is a hardware controller, especially for the popular SSL Channel Strip and the no less legendary SSL Bus Compressor in plug-in form.

Plug-ins you can touch - this concept electrified me, like many other users, from an early age. For a long time, however, the manufacturers relied on universal controllers, which the customer then had to painstakingly "train" in. Operation was never really intuitive - you turned the wrong button too often because you couldn't remember the assignment.

Now the British manufacturer is going its own way: The UC1 is a hardware controller that is exclusively designed for the in-house plug-in emulations of the legendary SSL consoles. Not only is the channel strip mapped with EQ and channel dynamics, but also the legendary bus compressor, which gives the mix the necessary »glue«.

The arrangement of the controls corresponds practically 1: 1 to the supplied plug-ins, so that you can find your way around very quickly. The metering with two high-resolution stereo LED chains and an analog pointer instrument is excellent.
The included SSL Native Channel Strip 2 is based on SSL's legendary analog consoles. The EQ curves can be switched between G-Series and E-Series.

The plug-in SSL Native Bus Compressor 2, which is also included, emulates the bus compressor built into SSL consoles, which has provided the magical "glue" on countless recordings since the 1980s.

The 360 ° surface, which can be called up by a button, shows a mixer surface with all inserted »SSL Channel Strip 2« instances. The instances of the »SSL Bus Compressor 2« plug-in can be shown on the right-hand side.
The hardware clearly looks like an SSL desk! And it feels almost like that too. The UC1 controller has a stately size of 300 × 266 × 61 mm and a weight of 2.1 kg. The angular housing is made of metal and exudes the professionalism associated with the name Solid State Logic. Two supplied metal feet can be attached to the underside to improve ergonomics. The angle of inclination can be changed using various mounting options.

You can find the complete article in the Sound & Recording issue 5/2021. Order here for free shipping or download inexpensively as a PDF.
Manufacturer: Solid State Logic
UvP / street price: 795, - Euro / 719, - Euro
Internet: www.solidstatelogic.com

Our opinion:
+++ dedicated controller, maps plug-ins 1: 1
+++ high quality workmanship & feel
+++ very good metering with LED chains and an analog pointer instrument
+++ high-quality, universally applicable plug-ins
- no panning, no saturation

Spoiler: SSL UF8 - User Review - Good workmanship, disastrous software

SSL UF8 - User Review - Good workmanship, disastrous software

Andibruhn 07/13/2021
The UF8 is pretty much celebrated by everyone, but I suspect that it inspires technicians rather than musicians. Great faders, solo, mute etc, everything is great - but when it comes to improving the workflow when arranging and mixing, the software fails all along the line. The menu navigation is completely illogical and not very intuitive so that something is constantly being adjusted and, even after 3 weeks of operation, you have to look too often in the manual (or watch the unbearable video in which the speaker celebrates everything with a loud 'Nice').

The names of the tracks become Abbreviated to 6 (six !!) characters so that you can no longer recognize them. The so widely announced plug-in control via controller is a farce, because rarely all and if only a few totally unimportant controls and switches of the plugs can be operated. Unusable. Still: Nice !!

You just never get to your goal logically and reach for the mouse with relief. Maybe there is a software update, but the SSL support was rather brash and didn't want to provide any information. If you want to operate mixes with just a few tracks and want to put a few shortcuts on the keys (which are also on the computer keyboard) then the UF8 is a great thing, otherwise it will get in the way and wreck you whether the user-unfriendly Software.

I missed the moneyback time, but the thing has already cost me so much time (and hardly saved any) it will be put back in the box until the next big software update, has another chance, otherwise it has to work. A blender.

A blender that flashes wildly and colorfully when switched on and lights up before it cannot keep all the promises ...
Good: workmanship, feel, optics, PR
Bad: software, user guidance, tutorial videos, support
Very bad: The promised plug-in operation
www.thomann.de/de/ssl_uf8.htm?ref=slsrnk_rnkng_STCODA_6_520390

 

Last edited: Nov 23, 2021

The thing with controllers is that most multi channel controllers mimic the workflow of a console. But the thing is that an analog studio board is a dedicated to only mixing music with that one console, while bedroom producers usualy work with several different plugins and end up frustrated because they are limited in what they do, so you really have to think about your own workflow and if you will save time and also get some inspiration from it.
I have tested and owned a lot of controllers and mouse+keyboard is for home production still the fastest route.
One fader controllers are also good, small space and usually not working against you.

 

Like you, I am a friend of the workflow and I prefer to use the mouse and keyboard. Many people are fascinated by buttons and knobs. Again and again these consoles, I agree with you, we are not in the studio and we are not trained sound engineers either.

Jean-Michel Jarre uses a monitor that is taller than it is wider, so he has all traces under control. Midge Ure,
the singer from Ultravox, was delighted with the "Melodyne" tool, at last you can comfortably intervene
and save a lot of time and nerves. Klaus Schulze threw his DAW on the wall using a projector.

There is also software that sounds great but is difficult to use, a lot of submenus, displays that are too small, no manual.
You should work with what you understand well and where there is a good workflow.

Today we have a very large selection of hardware and software and I am excited to see what will prevail in the future.

MidiKeyboard Conroller:
- Nektar Panorama T4 and T6 - the DAW specialists
- Novation 49SL MK3 and 61SL MK3 - the universal controllers for hardware, DAW and Co.
- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol - The Plugin Allrounders T6 - The DAW Specialists
- Roland A-800 Pro (Midi Keyboard Controller)
- Arturia Keylab Mk2 - a MIDI keyboard that doubles as a DAW controller.

Icon QCon Pro G2 - MIDI / audio control surface with motorized faders - 499 €
- The Icon QCON is the Cadillac of DAW controllers
- different DAW overlays for Cubase / Nuendo, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, FL Studio, Samplitude, Reaper, Studio One, Bitwig, Reason, Pro Tools, Sonar, Audition, Ableton Live and free assignment by the user

 

Last edited: Nov 23, 2021

I never touched them before, but i have been thinking about getting the console 1 and fortunately i have a budget for it today,
As soon as i receive it and spend some time with it then I'll let you know my opinion,

Have a great time guys,

 

Working with mouse in long time with hurt you as it hurt my hand!
also controlling knobs with mouse would automatically take some of your attention to the mouse and GUI of plugin (knobs)!
That's why i decided to get a controller, Actually controllers are really good (any kind of controller), i've got elgato stream deck and set up many things on it like my vst plugins as a hot-keys and macros and many more which allow my to have a faster workflow and more confidence! and i don't need to think about what I'am looking for, i can see them all quick and easy!
Maybe there are more benefits that other people might mention, but these are my point,

Best regards,

 

Nice that we get an insight into your way of working here.

Everyone should find their own way of working. Today people sometimes work with laptops on the couch or in the train.
Some people have 2 screens and some people sit on an office chair at their desk. Some people only
hear with headphones and some people don't have a midikeyboard. The users are very different,

Now the industry tries to manufacture things that people need and thus buy. Now the user comes with his
experience reports, positive as well as negative, from which we form an opinion and / or a purchase decision.
I do sound design and have created sound banks for 111 software and hardware synthesizers. Reference: http://ohlenbostelhelge.magix.net/public/

For software synthesizers, I used the mouse to operate the buttons and controls. Hardware synthesizers like the R3 and MX-49 have software editors. The display of the MX-49 is too small. The Blofeld and MiniNova have too many sub-menus. Large displays are expensive and manufacturers seldom make these additional expenditures. Meanwhile, the trend is like for example Korg - to reduce the controller to save material costs, you then get this small display with umpteen submenus, which is then a torture to work with. With the Yamaha Reface CS, you can no longer save any presets, you can only log into the cloud and then play presets. That is the peak of the savings.

 

Buy gamer mouse, it’s better then any controller