KVR Audio

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:14 am

Yep... normally it's $750. Just reflects the amount of time and effort that went in to developing it.

It was no 3 month project that's for sure. At least, it's the impression I get.

masterhiggins · Post by **masterhiggins** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:02 am

simon.a.billington wrote:Yep... normally it's $750. Just reflects the amount of time and effort that went in to developing it.

With big companies like Waves, effort has almost no bearing on price. More likely it's the cost of licensing the SSL name. They're probably paying a few dollars for that. Slate's SSL-inspired plugins are arguably better and cost considerably less.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:25 am

FYI back in the spring when waves offered a $50 coupon + the Classic collection was on sale for $395 at audio deluxe. so that got me SSL, API and V-series all for $345. I think that was the best deal I've seen on the SSL collection.

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 3:38 am

jezjez wrote:
antithesist wrote:
sonicpowa wrote:Lowest price ever is $249 on January (SoundGrid version $375)
Anybody remember the lowest dealer price then, or other previous "lowest ever" deals?
According to this the cheapest was $190ish
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 6&t=429795

looks like $210 at everyplugin may be the cheapest this time around?

Oh, yeah... I even posted in that thread.

So much for this current deal being the "best ever."

I'm still considering... thanks for the everyplugin tip!

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:57 am

simon.a.billington wrote:Yep... normally it's $750. Just reflects the amount of time and effort that went in to developing it.

It was no 3 month project that's for sure. At least, it's the impression I get.

Not trying to be argumentative, but I hardly think they are worth $187.50 each to anyone... $50-ish?

Maybe.

We have all the Duende (yes, all) and all the SSL-type from IK (3), NI (3), Slate (3), PSP* (1), Overtone (1), and the free fxpansion bus comp (maybe forgetting some, too)... no UAD or Softube Console 1, though.

*plus the ios PSP channel and bus comp in Auria.

Waves, Duende, UAD and Console 1 are the only officially "badged" by Solid State Logic.

We also have quite a bit of actual SSL superanalogue hardware (full X-Rack and X-Desk).

Anyway, Waves were the first SSL-type plug-ins and they are official... I think they said they took over a year on them.

Yet, some people hate them and some still like them a lot.

That's the fence I'm sitting on.

jinotsuh · Post by **jinotsuh** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:00 am

sonicpowa wrote:Lowest price ever is $249 on January (SoundGrid version $375)

I got it from Plugindiscounts in January for $184.10

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:02 am

plexuss wrote:FYI back in the spring when waves offered a $50 coupon + the Classic collection was on sale for $395 at audio deluxe. so that got me SSL, API and V-series all for $345. I think that was the best deal I've seen on the SSL collection.

Killer deal!

I didn't even think of that... instead, I got the V-Comp for like 16 bucks using the last $50 voucher.

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:06 am

jinotsuh wrote:
sonicpowa wrote:Lowest price ever is $249 on January (SoundGrid version $375)
I got it from Plugindiscounts in January for $184.10

Killer deal, too!

See, I don't want to pay even $25 more than the low, but I guess I might.

Thanks to you and all for the info.

Edit: I think I must have still been recovering from holiday purchases in Jan.

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:24 am

I do have IK's version as well. I use them both, often side by side, I'll throw in NLS quite a lot too.

Don't get me wrong, I think they're a bit over priced myself. I do think some of that would be because of the badging, though. It's interesting that they still are desirable to people. Me for one, but I've been running into a few online who have either got these particular plugins, or are spending money on this sale.

To each his own though. It sure as hell is this my job to sell someone else's tech to you guys. I'm just trying to look at it as objectively as I can.

They still are very capable plugins. Anyone with doubts should just download a demo and form their own first hand opinions. That's what's really going to matter the most.

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:18 am

Of course... that and that Waves full prices are ridiculous, even most of their sale prices are to me.

The last one I got was MaxxVolume on "one day" sale for $25 ($29 less dealer discount).

I think the full price is like $180... it would probably somewhere between $50 and $100 on the weekend sale, etc.

Their musical-chairs/shell-game pricing is maddening... then there's WUP.

Anyways, if they ever sold these as singles, I'd likely be satisfied with one of the channels and move on (that must be part of their agreement, too... also, they never used to be discounted).

OK, excuse my going on, and do demo responsibly.

sonicpowa · Post by **sonicpowa** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 11:30 am

jinotsuh wrote:
sonicpowa wrote:Lowest price ever is $249 on January (SoundGrid version $375)

I got it from Plugindiscounts in January for $184.10

I got it too, probably the best dealer price ever. (thanks Plugindiscounts!)

antithesist · Post by **antithesist** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:25 pm

Bastards!

Just kidding... glad you guys got the best deals.

I may wait and see what the next "lowest price ever" on Waves SSL is.

don1thedon · Post by **don1thedon** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:08 pm

Very tempted ...

Robmobius · Post by **Robmobius** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:37 pm

Are they really that good tho'?

I mean, there's quite a number of very high quality plugins available now. The Waves SSL were state of the art when they came out. But I don't think they can hold their own at that ridiculous $750 price.

I think their sale price, should have been their actual price (for the last few years at any rate) because of very tough competition.

Same with the API stuff. I think that having the 'magical' $750 price tag is luring people into thinking that they are amazing just because they are expensive (imo).

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 3:02 am

Fair point...

But they still sell it would seem. There's a huge sub culture out there on forums like this that use the Waves SSL. Some are using them along side other emulations, some prefer them over other emulations. Then there are those that prefer other emulations over these. It's really mixed.

I think a large contributing factor to going with other models is the price point, and the fact that these are one of the very few sets of plugins you can't get in another bundle other than Studio Classics. It's not even available in the mega Mercury bundle. So I imagine that would be contributing factors to some people opting in with other emulations at better prices.

Even so, some just prefer the sound of the other plugins for their own merit.

Waves did a huge price restructure not long ago. I imagine if they were having problems selling the SSL, it would have come down in price. As it is, it seemed to go up in price if I recall correctly.

These plugins also get updated quite regularly along with everything else Waves, so that shouldn't be a concern as well.
I can understand your concerns with them being old, but think, it is an emulation of a classic piece,of hardware that also hasn't changed in all this time. If Waves did the job right, it would STILL sound like that original piece of hardware so there would be no need to redo it, just tweak it when it needs.

I'm sure if there wer significant difference in quality from the real thing, it would have been readdressed when it went 64-bit a couple years back.

You don't have to buy it, but if it was something you were considering grab the demo and try it. Otherwise you could end up kicking yourself for not jumping on the sale price. There's no guarantee it's going to go on sale again for Black Friday either, but then, it might just happen.

Best price on Waves SSL4000 I ever saw!