Waves SSL EV2 Channel Strip - $39.99 (84% off)

[antic604]

The SSL sound. Elevated.

Authorized by Solid State Logic, SSL EV2 is a brand-new recreation of the legendary SSL 4000E console channel strip. With new features including the original SSL ‘O2’ Brown EQ and the console’s richly saturated mic pre and line inputs, SSL EV2 delivers a new level of analog depth and detail – an elevated take on the timeless SSL sound.

https://www.waves.com/plugins/ssl-ev2-c ... v2-channel

[antic604]

Won't comment about the sound yet, but CPU wise EV2 is +20-30% vs. CLA MixHub and x2.5-3(!!!) vs. bx_channel E.

EDIT: I f**ked up by loading Lite version of CLA MixHub - when using normal one it and EV2 are basically on par in terms, but actually 3-3.5x heavier than bx_channel E.

[jamcat]

I was interested in this because Waves modeled the preamps. So I tested the EV2 preamp against Brainworx bx_console SSL 4000 E and IK British Channel. I put each of the SSL models followed by IK Tape Machine 80 on every track of a song. I did not use any EQ or compression on the channels, only preamp/input boost. I also wanted to hear how the different preamp models drive the signal to "tape" since the IK Tape Machines respond dynamically to how much signal they are being fed.

In Studio One, I selected all channels, which let me turn on and off the different plugins across the entire mix at once with a single click for a really good head-to-head comparison.

Waves EV2 sounded somewhat similar to Brainworx, but really exaggerated. It gets very crunchy very quickly, and it's very mid focused, almost band limited. It had the least low end and sounded the most congested of the three.

The IK British Channel was the most neutral and had the fullest low end. I did a comparison test with just a straight dB boost on each track using only the Studio One Mixtool, just to make sure the British Channel input knob was doing more than just a linear level increase. I can confirm the British Channel is definitely adding saturation to the signal with just the input level boosted and no EQ or compression. It will be interesting to test out the SSL console preamp modeling in FAME when it is released, and see how it compares to the British Channel and bx_console.

I will take a pass on EV2.

[antic604]

I was interested in this because Waves modeled the preamps. So I tested the EV2 preamp against Brainworx bx_console SSL 4000 E and IK British Channel...

Thanks for this! Too bad you didn't try it against CLA MixHub - apparently it's very similar (has the same preams, EQ solos, but lacks easy routing and buckets, obviously), but unless the differences are very obvious I probably won't be able to tell them apart

[The Noodlist]

PA has the upper hand with TMT, no WUP and can be used on multiple machines easily.

I just update the dbx® 160 Compressor from Waves, the larger GUI states are blurred, WTH. Hard to believe in these times, even freeware has better scaling.

[antic604]

PA has the upper hand with TMT, no WUP and can be used on multiple machines easily.

...and in my testing takes 1/3 of CPU.

[sososo]

I did a comparison against UAD&BX. For me it‘s a good sounding strip. Preamp sounds good similar to UAD the BX has no preamp you can adjust some THD but the harmonics are different and less prominent compared to the others, even driven its more or less placebo. Not a Waves Fan but this is a really good emu and for that price no brainer.

[ramseysounds]

PA has the upper hand with TMT, no WUP and can be used on multiple machines easily.

I just update the dbx® 160 Compressor from Waves, the larger GUI states are blurred, WTH. Hard to believe in these times, even freeware has better scaling.

5 posts in on a waves thread and WUP and scaling are mentioned

How about commenting on performance?

[0degree]

PA has the upper hand with TMT, no WUP and can be used on multiple machines easily.

I just update the dbx® 160 Compressor from Waves, the larger GUI states are blurred, WTH. Hard to believe in these times, even freeware has better scaling.

5 posts in on a waves thread and WUP and scaling are mentioned

How about commenting on performance?

Don't know, maybe WUP and scaling are actually real problems to a lot of people?

[v1o]

Not tried this one yet. But for me Sonimus Stoneq has the best SSL EQ, it even has a drive control for saturation but lacks both the channel compressor and gate section. So it's not a complete channel strip.

[v1o]

I just update the dbx® 160 Compressor from Waves, the larger GUI states are blurred, WTH. Hard to believe in these times, even freeware has better scaling.

If you had done a bit of research on this forum you would have known the scaling was blurry. And maybe you would have avoided WUP..

[The Noodlist]

I just update the dbx® 160 Compressor from Waves, the larger GUI states are blurred, WTH. Hard to believe in these times, even freeware has better scaling.

If you had done a bit of research on this forum you would have known the scaling was blurry. And maybe you would have avoided WUP..

It was one of the freebies as was the update.

[tonymax]

how does this compare to the SSL plugins themselves..
im assuming is closest is the channlestrip 2 by SSL?

thanks

[beely]

how does this compare to the SSL plugins themselves..
im assuming is closest is the channlestrip 2 by SSL?

No, the SSL channel strips are *not* emulations of their old analog mixing consoles.

Other options are the PA SSL channel strips, the UAD ones, the Softube one, and so on...

[pixel85]

I don't hear that much of a difference between CLA and SSL but I still prefer CLA for EQ tasks (I like to push it hard like Chris ). SSL seems to be gentler/transparent at the same settings in comparison to CLA.
I forgot to try Brown Knob but I already heard it on YT and tbh I didn't like it at all.
There's also a difference in compression but I think that I would need really high-grade monitors and studio room to hear more differences.
I don't use channel strips that much these days so I'll save 30 quid for something else and I'm staying with CLA.