Here's the verdict:
John Vestman wrote: Now for the details on all platforms tested:
Pro Tools LE - Upper highs are more apparent, but broken up and a hair spitty and more hashy sounding than Paris.
Pro Tools Mix+ 5.1.1 on OS9 - Good, highs not as high as Yamaha 02R-96, bass doesn't speak as well as Yamaha 02R-96, Paris has more open snappy highs.
Pro Tools High Density 5, OS9 - This was my first pick, as noted above. Very musical sounding. Highs are more evenly balanced than 1A which is snappy, but thinner. Good vocal projection and organ sings out more musically than Paris. Verb at end is very musical compared to Paris. Most evenly balanced.
Pro Tools 6 on Mac OSX - Close to Logic (less muted) and extremely close to Panasonic DA7
Pro Tools Mix+ (source file was Mix 24) through [Lynn's] Pultec EQP-1A3. This platform was routed D > Mytek 8x96 > Pultec (in BYPASS, transformers only) > Mytek AD 2021. - Highs speak better than Trident 24 (see below) analog (could be fewer electronics than the Trident's ciruit path), bass notes are better separated in PT HD (a common note about digital), but the mid bottom is fuller on this one. Yamaha 02R-96 (below) snaps nicely next to this but the apparent level isn't as good as this. This is a near-tie with PT HD - but it has that analog fullness.
Paris - Cleaner highs than Pro Tools LE, but similar sounding. More emotional than Pro Tools LE. Crisper upper top than Fairlight.
Logic 5.5 OS9 - Good, but a hair muted vs. PT HD or Digital Performer
Digital Performer - Very nice - wide - a close, more analog sound right along with PT HD, but PT HD still has better piano dynamic distinctions, and the vocals are more articulated, but this is one of the best.
Soundscape - Muted highs.
Logic 5 OS-X - Better than Soundscape, but the Manley 16x2 is better than Logic or Soundscape (and Sony Oxford HWMxr-Digital is more open sounding).
Nuendo - Good, but PT HD has better separation and better top. Sony Oxford (HWMxr-Digital) is more analog sounding.
Pyramix - Good, but PT HD is more snappy, Digital Performer is more live with better vocal articulation.
SAW - Ok, but not great - a hair drab
Studio Vision Pro - Better than SAW, but not as open as DP4, Yamaha 02R-96 or PT HD.
Cubase - Snare is duller than Studio Vision Pro, blurrier than PT HD, less separation than Studio Vision Pro
Sonar - Better than Cubase, not as good as Manley 16x2, PT, Yamaha 02R-96. Paris is more exciting, better highs.
Cool Edit Pro - Good apparent level, but PT HD has more separation between instruments and a better sound stage image. Mid bottom a hair bigger than PT HD.
Samplitude - Good but not as punchy as Sony Oxford (see below) , and PT HD has better separation.
Vegas - Nearly tied with Cool Edit Pro. PT HD is snappier, Sony Oxford has still thicker bottom but this one is excellent.
SSL 9000J analog console using Pro Tools 888/24 DA/AD (HWMxr-Analog) - Very natural, better than Pro Tools Mix+ 5.1.1 on OS9. Better apparent level than any so far. More evenly projecting than PT HD and excellent separation.
Trident 24 analog console -- using Pro Tools-192 and Apogee 8000 converters (HWMxr-Analog) - More open highs than Sony Oxford , more level than Yamaha 02R-96 or Cool Edit Pro. Highs have nice muscle, but not as exciting as Paris. Good punchy mid-bottom - not surprising as it's an analog board and those Apogee converters help.
Dangerous 2-Bus--RADAR 24 Nyquist DA / Cranesong Spider AD (HWMxr-Analog) - Top end is much slower and rolled off than Paris. Horns are not as tight. Snare is less immediate than Paris.
Manley 16x2 Line Mixer using Pro Tools HD-192 converters (HWMxr-Analog) - Good, but Paris is still snappier. Snare sounds a little compressed. Articulation of bass is not as good as Dangerous 2-Bus, and the snare in Dangerous 2-Bus has better transients.
Sony Oxford (HWMxr-Digital) - Transients aren't as snappy as Paris, but there is a nice apparent level in the mid bottom and the bottom is punchier than Paris. Bottom goes lower than Yamaha 02R-96 (HWMxr-Digital), but Yamaha 02R-96 (HWMxr-Digital) highs are wider, more open. Kinda analog sounding.
Sony DMX-R100 (HWMxr-Digital) - Duller than Paris or Panasonic DA7 (HWMxr-Digital) - not so hot - Sony Oxford (HWMxr-Digital) is better for bottom and musicality, and the Panasonic DA7, Logic 5.5 and PT 6 on Mac OSX all have better top articulation.
Fairlight - Bottom and mid bottom isn't as nice as Pro Tools High Density 5, OS9. Yamaha PM-2000--RADAR 24 Nyquist DA is a little grainier on the top than this one. Tail on reverb at end isn't as long as Pro Tools High Density 5, OS9.
Yamaha PM-2000--RADAR 24 Nyquist DA / Cranesong Spider AD (HWMxr-Analog) - Bass not as defined as Paris Slightly duller and less lively than Paris. Upper mids are slightly more smeared than Paris.
Yamaha 02R-96 (HWMxr-Digital) - Even better than Digital Performer. Bass speaks very well, highs seem to go higher than PT HD but the separation between instruments isn't as good as PT HD. Verb is good, warmer than PT HD with a hair fuller low mid.
Panasonic DA7 (HWMxr-Digital) - Good, but not as good as PT HD or Digital Performer
Tascam DM 24 (HWMxr-Digital) - Not as natural as Trident 24 analog, highs slightly broken up, PT HD has more definition.
http://www.johnvestman.com/DAWSUM.htm
now we all know - thanks for posting this immensely valuable link, Davor!
It is higly entertaining....
