Tubetech CL1B vs UA PLUGIN | Plugin vs Hardware

These comparisons would make more sense if they compared the actual hardware that was emulated, not all CL1 B’s sound the same!

But I wanted to spend $4k lol

without the uad doing the last 10% ... makes the sad a gimmick. Might as well just use any other stock plug

Good comparison, except that I keep looking at the hardware gain button, which I see is higher than that of the plugins, which makes the comparison a little unfair.

what mic did u use please ?

Deus abençoe os criadores de biblioteca para o Nebula, por enquanto é o que mais se aproxima. Obrigado pela comparação.

The plug in has a faster attack time if you were to slow it down it wouldn't be soo aggressive and squeezing the vocals

Just picked up the plugin for $80. You’ll have to decide for yourself if the hardware sounds 50 times better.

I never was big on the UAD/ soft tube version but was very surprised how well it did with proper gain staging at lower compression settings.

sheesh the hardware is so much warmer and butterier which goes without saying. I can hear the compression with the software immediately. Not sure its worth it even if its on sale lol

im listening in 250 ohm headphones the plugin is great but the hardware is still better

What song is this? Vocal sounds amazing

nice video!!! I would love to see the same comparison of the manley vari mu !!! please

LA2A OR CL1B for recording hiphop for male?

Why use the same settings? And why not disk in the piggin in first and match the hardware to that setting? You would be surprised. Everywhere I see these comparison videos, the hardware is set first and the plugin is matched to those setting

The plugins are identical and null out as they are both softube. UA just struck a deal with softube to have it run on their platform.

Ofcourse the hardware is gonna sound better being processed through live hot vacuum tubes vs digital immulation. But the question is...... Do i wanna spens $3000 on a tube compressor, add to my light bill and take up space or fo i spend $90 bucks (or even download for free- wink wink) the computer version? Hardware doesn't logically make sense anymore. And the end listener could even tell the difference anyway.

Hardware has more heft, dimension, headroom. You can hear the limitations of the plugin. The plug in sound decent until you push it, then the hardware just pulls away justifying the price tag.

How can you get such a clean vocal recording… can you please make a Video about that?

night and day difference. the hardware unit grabs transience more and has more of a lively bite to it. The plug in sounds flat. Most VST vs hardware compairsion yield similar results

THE CL1B MKII HA S NO HARMONICS! CL1B MK 1 DOES......

Hardware sounds more warmer and more tubey because it's actually going through real tubes. The software sounds less warm and doesn't sound like it's going through a tube because it isn't. But it does still great as a software compressor. I would definitely buy both the software and the hardware for both home and software for abroad recordings because I mainly like the compression on this unit and I think the software does an excellent job emulating the Tube-Tech compression pretty well which is why I bought the software for remote location recording.

Important to consider is what converters he’s using and the color they’re imparting.
Like most plugins, there are diminishing returns depending on how loud the signal going into the plugin is. Not as much of an issue with hardware, but especially when mixing, we have more control over gain staging in the box.
For tracking, hardware will always win, but if you’re not doing a ton of GR, the UAD/Softube version as an insert in console is pretty damn good. I have a cl1B and often track with the plugin if I’m in a hurry and it does the thing.

So my question is can I just hook my cl1b up to my Apollo Quad 8 with out buying a preamp and just use the unison preamp and if so how do I bring that in do I bring that in as a mic input or line in

Or do you think it would be better to just buy a analog pre amp and if so for rap vocals which pre do you think would be better for rap vocals

1. Neve 1073 Spx
2. Avalon 737
3. Neve 1073 mpf Bae with Eq

I’ve used the hardware since 2010. I’ve tried every single emulation. Hoping to find something similar in the box. Nothing sounds like it. The best tracking compressor period. The action of the compression in the box is far more pumpy than the hardware. Softube makes great products but this one is a no go for me..

The hardware allows articulations to be heard while the software softness it. I prefer the hardware character. Another person said there is no air in the plugin and i agree. That is another way of saying the same thing. I will comment it looks like the hardware make up gain is up while the plug in is not.

Thanks for letting us hear how an Analog Tubetech sounds...really impressive peace of hardware....I honestly think its the best sounding analog tube comp......sounds better than manley, fairchild and la2a to me

My Nebula....Blue Mu is 90% there....I think Im using Tim Ps Blue Mu Comp on all my vocals, for now

Tube Tech sound better on Vocals, Synths, Piano and Guitar....for stems because it sounds more open than an LA2A

But you've made me want to go analog tube tech for my Vocals instead of an LA2A

Digital is 1's and 0s and Analog is 1s and 1s so analog can cover more space sonically so its always going to sound fuller

If you use Nebula and Acustica Audio against your Gear...I can garuntee you, you will get about 90% match and 100% if you still run that nebula or acustica audio stem at least through your console

You never Use Nebula..or Acustica Audio....so I think your Comparrisons are inaccurate......You at least need Nebula or Acustica Audio...so each digital stem has some "Analog Space and Warmth on it" Then compare it....after Gain Matching

I felt that the plugin wasn't reacting very well to transients material. I did a comparison on my channel too (with a CL1A tho). And I use a specific setting on snare to get a lot of snap (in parallel) with the CL1A. The plugin was completely unable to replicate it (to my despair).

The hardware squashes the vocals in a MUCH more natural way and doesn't even sound very compressed. It also doesn't introduce this harshness in the mids (3-6k range? not sure) that the plugin does.
The difference is less noticeable in the female vocals but really shows in the louder section. The hardware handles it extremely well. The plugin sounds overcompressed, even if it's the same gain reduction.

mmh auto-tune

Great comparison, LOVE THE OUTRO MUSIC

the hardware had higher settings on the threshold, gain & ratio on both male & female vocals.. i guarantee i can easily make the plugin sound better by adjusting the knobs.. bottom line, both are great.. only difference is the plugin has no resale value & the hardware does, that should be the only factor when deciding which one to buy

the low end on the hardware is impressive its so lovely on the plug in its gone
to my ears there is a big difference
or its also the converters and other factors that seems to add more information on the hardware

Great video. Dynamic eq, saturation and transient shaper after the compressor plug-in will match the hardware, but it's extra steps.

The difference is massive to me....i just like the sound of tubes its an amazing sound instantly musical and pleasant....digital is digital harsher thinner just is what it is. until we have the same amount bits as we do atoms analogue is just going to win....

I feel like the analog one makes the vocal sound like it’s not even compressed, even though it is compressed

Please the Neve and Avalon

The software doesnt even model the THD or the units frequency response.

Theres (for some reason) only one plugin modelling the CL1B in a thorough way (and its technically not modeled). Its from Tim Petheric and its for Nebula. Sounds perfect to me, that convolution technology is incredible

Hi, Excellent comparison. I heard a little more 3D depth at high frequencies and a slightly softer compression character in the female vocals in hardware, but both sound very nice. Thanks for the video!

I feel like the hardware is really going to let the vocal shine more where as the plugin may leave room for the vox to get lost in the mix which you'll have to add a little EQ (a musical one) to get it shining again. I feel like the hardware makes the vocal float a little more. But the plugin is a lot less money obviously lol

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