BRAINWORX vs UNIVERSAL AUDIO SSL 4000 E Series Channel Strip Comparison with Audio Examples

A Features Comparison & Audio Shootout of the SSL 4000 E-Series Channel Strip Plugin from Universal Audio and Brainworx, with audio examples on drums, bass, guitars, keys, vocals, and a full mix. UAD VS BX from Plugin Alliance. 🎧 Headphones Recommended 🎧

📖 Chapters list below for audio sections.

🎬 SUGGESTED VIDEOS:

🎼 WRITTEN, PRODUCED & MIXED by Ed Thorne
🎤 LEAD VOCALS by Ed Thorne
* These musicians are available for remote recording sessions to play on your music. Get in touch with them directly, or with me, and I'll put you in touch.

📖 CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:59 Features Comparison
5:30 Disclaimer
5:50 DRUMS Audio Comparison & Analysis
6:38 BASS Audio Comparison & Analysis
7:25 GUITARS Audio Comparison & Analysis
8:14 KEYS Audio Comparison & Analysis
9:15 VOCALS Audio Comparison & Analysis
10:21 FULL MIX Audio Comparison & Analysis

#UniversalAudio #Brainworx #SSLChannelStripPlugin

✅ SUGGESTED UAD PLUGINS:

✅ SUGGESTED PLUGIN ALLIANCE PLUGINS:
Brainworx SSL Channel Strips (any) | Townhouse Buss Compressor | ADPTR MetricAB | BX Subfilter

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[Hermiel]

Generally speaking, when A/B-ing processors one **must** loop short sections of audio to keep variables at a minimum. Switching plugins as the song progresses serves only to confound our primate brains. Differences between one song section to the next are typically gargantuan compared to the differences between processors. The more subtle the differences you're attempting to highlight the more important it is to loop short sections of audio. Give our auditory systems a fighting chance!

[bangubw]

Bx, UAD, waves, IK multimedia, Slate digital. It really doesn't matter what you use. If you are good at mixing any of these will get the job done. They're all good!

[krocs]

Great video. I think the difference we are hearing is because UAD has a built-in THD and in BX THD is set to "0" from what I can tell.

[wes]

To my ears, the UAD has better imaging than the Brainworx. Across from a whole mix, that difference is huge.

[Necroparalyze]

BX is so customizable. THD level and integrated parallel comp as well as the integrated overall parallel processing. And, I like the ability to tweak ALL instances of BX using just the header of any instance you currently dealing with. So, BX - one love :3

[martinrenegade]

Thankyou. Very happy with the bx ssle . This and other videos convinced me which to get. $349 usd rrp black friday discounted to 29.99. perfect timing.
Now I can compare to the knockoff ssl9000 in Reason 11.

[soronoc]

I like the one can actually run on 100 channels without selling my firstborn, it's the BX for sure

[sword-and-shield]

UAD showing their worth here...thx for the vid.

[nikhollis]

Great vid, mate. Your explanations are very commendable. I picked up the BX 4000 G (for a CRAZY price) a while back, I really like it (not played with the E, but I have the Waves collection). I struggle with subtle sound differences as I have been to too many Motorhead/Mogwai but am training my ears (been using the Slate Academy vids), slowly!! Keep up the great work!! Enjoyed!!

[shawnlutz]

Great job Ed. Both sound really good and very usable. I would go 500 series hardware since I already have a VHD mic pre. I liked the UAD a bit better on the full mix. You're looking at a $50 USD difference with the Brainworx at a list of $349 and UAD $299. Given I already have an investment in UAD DSP chips (Twin DUO+PCIe OCTO) if I were purchasing plugin versions I would go with the UAD version and probably spend a bit extra to get the SSL G bus comp (can sidechain on that one).

[greigsmithy]

Thanks for your work, much appreciated here. I've owned the UA version for a long time and after hearing your comparison I don't see any major advantage to spending $349.00. The Brainworx was very nice to look at and the added side chain was a definite plus. The numerical readings on the knobs was a nice touch as well. Again thanks for you work here.

[dewaldomusic]

UA sounds more 3D to me on my Adam S3H's. A bit of a plastic-y sound for BX.

[bigdoghat]

The tricky thing about Brainworx is that each channel sounds different. So you'd have to start with the channel that sounds most like the UA SSL with nothing engaged to give Brainworx the extra leg up :)

[PurpleMusicProductions]

Thank you for this video. Overall I liked the sound of UAD better because the BWX constantly had that scooped slight over compression feel to it. I presume you could tweak and eq around it because the additional features in comparison to the UAD was stupendous. For the price on sale I could see why BWX could be a strong contender. UADs business model and limitations makes me not want to go down that road as I consider my next move.

[JeffyG]

Great video. I presume you used the same audio interface for testing, but as I understood it, the UAD SSL leverages the Unison pre-amps of an Apollo interface and the BrainWorx uses your computers cpu. I think the unison pre-amps add color and dynamics controlled by the SSL plugin. So, what’s going on with the BrainWorx SSL plugin if the signal is still coming through the Apollo unison pre-amp? Are we hearing the plugin natively, or a combination of the plugin AND the unison pre-amp? I’m confused.

[LanceJordan]

Nice video. What might have been cool is to A/B test with everything pretty much flat but demonstrate a big mult-cannel BX with unique channel pairs vs UA which misses that feature. Does that cumulative effect add up to a "bigger more separate" mix?

[JohnSk]

Nice video man.Just for the informative part of it if you want to experience SSL vibes try SAND3 (which I abuse everyday lol) by Acustica Audio you'll be surprised how convolution technology kills those two. As for the comparison the BX is actually working properly when it's been set with THD across the tracks, that creates the 3D image we experience with UAD by default. In terms of easy use I'd pick UAD, in terms of flexibility BX wins here.Both sounding top notch and also used them both in various occassions.Keep on \m/

[hr]

Get Harrison mixbus 32c v7 and end your plugin window clicking. Best move I've made. Cheers

[nolanneal]

Did we get to hear the Jensen transformer engaged on the UAD SSL?

[ernestbuckley]

I own both but use the Bx 95% of the time. It has a velvety (slightly dirtier) sound to it which I prefer for most of my work.