Why Analog Mixing Isn’t Dead: SSL Consoles vs. Plugins

Alright, let's cut to the chase. The whole analog versus digital mixing debate? It's been raging for years, and it’s not cooling down anytime soon. You’ve got producers swearing by their racks of vintage gear and others cranking out bangers entirely "in the box" (ITB). So, what’s the real deal, especially when we talk about legendary gear like SSL consoles? Is there still a place for these massive analog beasts in a world dominated by hyper-realistic plugins? Spoiler: you bet there is, and the reasoning mirrors the ongoing personal quest for the perfect tone that drives many musicians and engineers.

We got a peek into a room with some serious heavy hitters, including David Bendeth (the man behind countless rock anthems), to hash this out. And what came up might surprise you, or maybe just confirm what your gut’s been telling you.

The Great Debate: Can You Really Tell Analog from Digital?

It's a classic test. Can seasoned ears actually distinguish high-end analog gear from its digital counterparts in a blind shootout? David Bendeth himself shared a story about betting he could tell the difference between a half-inch tape machine and Pro Tools. He got turned around, faced the wall, listened to ten playbacks… and got seven out of ten wrong. Ouch. That was a pivotal moment, signaling that the pristine audio quality of digital was undeniably on par, though many still chase the unique character that separates a tape mix from a purely digital one.

But if that's the case, why do guys like Bendeth still gravitate towards a hundred-thousand-dollar SSL console? If even he can be fooled, what’s the point? Well, it turns out the "point" is a lot more nuanced than just a simple A/B test.

The Allure of the Analog Console: More Than Just Sound

There's something about a physical console that goes beyond pure sonics. It’s about interaction, feel, and a workflow that many find more intuitive and, dare we say, musical.

The Tactile Connection: Mixing as an Instrument

Bendeth likens his SSL console to a piano. It’s not just a collection of faders and knobs; it’s an instrument he plays. He’s constantly riding faders, feeling the music, and making adjustments in a way that feels directly connected to the performance. This physical interaction, putting hands on faders, can forge a deeper bond with the mix. It’s less about staring at waveforms and more about reacting to what you hear and feel.

Ergonomics and Workflow: Hands-On Control

Let's be honest, mousing around a screen for hours can get old. The ergonomic experience of a large-format console, with everything laid out in front of you, can be a game-changer. Joel Wanasek, another seasoned pro in the room, echoed this sentiment. For him, being able to reach out, touch the music, and physically manipulate parameters on his SSL Origin console offers a more immersive mixing experience. This hands-on approach can lead to quicker, more instinctive decisions.

SSL Consoles vs. SSL Plugins: What Do the Pros Say?

Okay, so the workflow is a big plus. But what about the sound? We’ve all got our favorite SSL-style plugins – the Waves SSL E-Channel and G-Channel are classics, and the Brainworx SSL emulations are top-notch too. Do they truly capture the magic of the hardware? The consensus in the room was… mostly, but not entirely, a sentiment echoed in comparisons of other classic gear, like the debate over 1176 compressor plugins vs. real hardware.

The "Software Sound": A Common Critique of Plugins

Joel Wanasek, despite mixing ITB for 20 years and being intimately familiar with plugins like the Waves SSL (his go-to for UI comfort), made a critical point. He finds that many plugins, regardless of how well they model the curves, have a certain "softness" and a lack of definition in the stereo field. It wasn't until he got his hands on hardware SSL 4K channel strips and later an SSL Origin console that he truly felt the difference. This perspective is fascinating, especially considering he's also a master of getting huge sounds ITB, as seen in his own mastering chain breakdown. Just passing audio through the hardware at unity gain revealed a saturation and character that plugins didn't quite replicate.

Hardware Saturation and Depth: The Analog Edge

This "saturation" is a biggie. Analog circuits, when pushed, introduce subtle (or not-so-subtle) harmonic distortion and compression that can add warmth, glue, and a sense of three-dimensionality. Joel described the hardware as putting things in a space – front-to-back, left-to-right, top-to-bottom – in a way that digital, despite mathematical precision, often struggles to achieve. It’s that elusive depth and punch that makes tracks feel more alive. For those chasing that perfect blend of punch and clarity, understanding how to use compression effectively in metal is key, whether on hardware or with plugins.

Plugin Preferences: Waves SSL vs. Brainworx SSL

Interestingly, even among plugin users, preferences vary. Joel sticks with the Waves SSL mainly due to familiarity with its UI, even if he acknowledges the Brainworx version might have more sophisticated non-linearity modeling. This highlights that workflow and comfort with a tool are just as important as minute sonic differences.

Headroom and Pushing the Limits

Rick Carson, owner of a stellar SSL 6000 console, pointed out another practical difference: headroom. He feels he can push his console much harder than a plugin before it “shits out.” That ability to drive the analog circuitry and get pleasing saturation, rather than digital clipping, is a significant advantage, and it's a feeling many try to replicate with techniques like super-aggressive mix bus compression in the digital realm. He finds the original Waves SSL plugin comes closest to his console's sound, but the hardware just goes further.

The "Feeling": An Unquantifiable Advantage

Mike, another engineer who learned on Bendeth's SSL 9K and now owns his own SSL, emphasized the "feeling." When he grabs a mid-range EQ on the console, something just comes alive through the speakers. There's an energy and immediacy that plugins, while incredibly close and getting better, don't always fully capture. It's the kind of power that comes from using tools to add density, punch, and aggression, not just control levels. This "feeling" is subjective but consistently reported by analog aficionados.

The "Musicality" Factor: Emotion and Impact

This brings us to a crucial, if harder to define, aspect: musicality. Joel Wanasek passionately argued that switching to an analog console like the SSL Origin brought out a "substantial amount more emotional impact" in his mixes. He could feel the bass player's notes and the movement in the music in a way he didn't ITB. This emotional component, while defying easy technical explanation, is a powerful motivator for those who choose analog.

Analog Workflow in Action: David Bendeth's Rapid Drum Mix

Talk is cheap, right? David Bendeth then put his SSL 9K through its paces, whipping up a killer drum mix with astonishing speed. And here’s the kicker: he barely touched an EQ initially.

Simplicity and Speed: Getting Killer Sounds Fast

Bendeth started by killing all unused channels, then brought up his kick drum elements – a blend of pre-mixed samples and the original kick. He did a similar thing for the snare, blending a direct sound with a parallel processed one (possibly using something like an ADR for sample layering/triggering).

The Power of Balance and Console Character

Next, he brought in overheads and room mics. The key here was balance. He focused on getting the fader levels right, letting the inherent character of the SSL console do a lot of the heavy lifting. The drums sounded massive and punchy without individual channel EQ. This is a testament to both well-recorded tracks and the console's ability to sum signals musically, a principle that also applies when learning how to set up a mix bus for metal inside your DAW. For those looking to master their EQ strategies for mixing modern metal, seeing this "less is more" approach on a high-end console can be incredibly insightful.

Parallel Processing and Effects Sends

He then sent signals to his outboard effects, dialing in reverbs from units like a Yamaha SPX and an AMS RMX16 to create different ambiences and character. The entire process was fluid, fast, and focused on the overall sound and feel. The takeaway? A great console, in the right hands, can help you achieve incredible results quickly by enhancing what's already there.

So, Is Analog Always Better? The Recall Conundrum

Before you sell your audio interface and start saving for a vintage console, there's a huge practical advantage to working ITB: recall. Rick Carson, despite his love for his SSL 6000's sound, admitted that recall is the "bane of his existence." Working on multiple projects daily makes the instant recall of a plugin session incredibly valuable. His solution? A hybrid approach, using his console channels as hardware inserts within his Pro Tools session, printing the analog goodness in real-time so he never has to recall the console settings.

Bridging the Gap: Getting the Best of Both Worlds

It seems the ideal scenario often involves a bit of both. If you've grown up entirely ITB, you might not even know what you're "missing" because your reference point is plugins. And that's perfectly fine – amazing records are made entirely in the box every day.

However, the tactile experience and potential sonic benefits of analog gear are compelling. Even the ITB proponents in the video acknowledged a desire for more hands-on control, perhaps through a high-quality DAW controller, after seeing the fluid workflow on the SSL.

Nail Your Mix: Learn from the Analog and Digital Masters

Whether you're dreaming of an SSL desk, rocking a hybrid setup, or mastering the art of ITB production, the core principles of mixing remain the same. It’s about understanding your tools, training your ears, and making decisions that serve the song. It raises the question many aspiring engineers ask: can a traditional education get you there, or is hands-on, modern training the key?

If watching pros like David Bendeth effortlessly dial in world-class sounds on legendary gear gets your creative juices flowing, imagine diving deeper. At Nail The Mix, you get exactly that. Each month, you get the multitracks from massive rock and metal songs and watch the original producers mix them from scratch, explaining every plugin choice, every fader move, and every creative decision. You’ll see how they tackle everything from aggressive guitars to punchy drums and powerful vocals.

Want to truly Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets? It’s about learning the why behind the how. Seeing these techniques in action, whether on a classic console or with the latest plugins, is invaluable. Ultimately, the goal is to make your drums (and everything else) sound as impactful as Bendeth challenged: "Make your drums sound like that." With the right knowledge and practice, you absolutely can. Check out Nail The Mix and start transforming your mixes today.