XRack(summing and Gbus) vs Ableton and The Glue

[sweetjesus]

I'm demoing some kit I'd like to buy..so I made a little blind test for myself and friends which I thought to share with you guys too.

One of the files is:
A loop + snare + kick + bassline going through to separate summing channels on the XRack and routing through a very heavily pumped Gbus compressor.

The other file is:
Same elements, mixed/summed through Ableton Live and pumping through Cytomic's The Glue compressor with the same settings as the real SSL.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/wj4vq9

I tried to match the levels as best as possible to avoid any issues there, but this is by no means a full scientific test.

Happy pickings!

[Cowlash]

I preferred test2

the test1 track sounded more forward and slightly (but not a lot) harsh and the test2 sounded more rounded and wider

Ive been mixing for about 2 days straight though, so I could be way off by tomorrow morning :p

[sweetjesus]

I preferred test2

the test1 track sounded more forward and slightly (but not a lot) harsh and the test2 sounded more rounded and wider

Ive been mixing for about 2 days straight though, so I could be way off by tomorrow morning :p

Would love to hear your opinion tomorrow morning and see if you stick to your guns or change mate!

[hdrpbx]

listenin on headphones
personally i prefer test1 over test2
the dynamics (especially of the bass) sound less squashed and more natural to me
but honestly i cant tell wich is wich, i'd probably say 1=SSL 2=ableton but thats just speculation

[timothyallan]

1

[leggzter]

I honestly can't hear enough of a difference, if any, (adam s2.5's in an acoustically treated room) to warrant the extra spend.
I would stick with the cheaper option.
Was this a trick question?

[hdrpbx]

the main difference is pretty evident on the bass imo (the sub movement and the way the kick gets in and release)

and also the clap snare on test 2 sounds a bit more pumping than on test 1, you can hear some more evident volume changes (the second snare of the bar comes out louder)

[Cowlash]

as mentioned, the clap/snare on test2 sounds wider and the bass response sounds nicer on 2 as well

listening on genelec 8030s in a treated room with burnt ears

[nuxnamon]

I'd be interested in seeing just the xrack summing vs ableton summing and see which sounds better.. ssl vs cytomic is another test.. too many variables at once.. in the end, I like the 1st one.. ask me again tomorrow and I'll pick the second one..

[3dot...]

the 1st has more wideness to it...it's more "round"..
and the 2nd sounds a bit more harsh / edgy...
they both sound nice btw..

[sweetjesus]

I just thought I'd say...I love this thread.

[3dot...]

WHICH ONE ALREADY?!

[Sarrova-Q]

Test 2 is the X-Rack. More definition and better handling of the dynamics.

But, as said before, this isn't really an honest test because even if you matched the settings on the compressors, the software could still handle the material different so I could be wrong. I have a friend who owns an X-desk and I can tell you the results are spectacular. Sending mixes through the X-desk does make a huge difference compared to mixing internally.

[sweetjesus]

Test 2 is the X-Rack. More definition and better handling of the dynamics.

But, as said before, this isn't really an honest test because even if you matched the settings on the compressors, the software could still handle the material different so I could be wrong. I have a friend who owns an X-desk and I can tell you the results are spectacular. Sending mixes through the X-desk does make a huge difference compared to mixing internally.

point taken, but what would you suggest as a fair comparison then?

[sweetjesus]

okay so... drumroll..

the first one is Live + The Glue.