SSL Big Six + TC Electronics Clarity M

[bluedot]

I have an SSL Big Six, and love it for input and monitoring. But by the time it "goes in the box", I never end up summing through it - even though I would like to!

I rely on my Clarity M for mixing levels and LUFS and have been using it for years. By using it as a plugin, to go back out and sum and bring it back without the benefit of the meters makes me stay in the box for final output.

But then I'm missing summing, using that compressor, and the Ultraviolet they gave me with it. It makes me sad, I know my mixes would sound better and I am looking for a solution.

I'm told all the metering systems are digital, and to convert Big Six outs to digital to use the Clarity would require another spendy device like an SSL Alpha 8 (or something similar) and run the outputs of the Big Six into that on mixdown.

Seems like a $900 solution to be able to plugin the Clarity. Yah, its probably better as a dedicated "print stage" as it has better specs than the Big Six.

Can someone walk me through how to accomplish this and whats really important here?

Thanks

[Arpangel]

The Big Six is what it is, why not just mix through it into your interface? why involve Clarity? maybe I don’t really understand what you’re trying to do?

[Hugh Robjohns]

I rely on my Clarity M for mixing levels and LUFS and have been using it for years. By using it as a plugin, to go back out and sum and bring it back without the benefit of the meters makes me stay in the box for final output.

Huh?

Route source channels to Big Six. Mix to stereo output. Route stereo mixer output into computer for recording final mix. Clarity monitors mix levels.

Where's the problem?

I'm told all the metering systems are digital...

They're not. We used purely analogue meters in the past. I still use BBC twin dual-PPMs to this day. They don't give me LUFS numbers directly, but I can mix in the right ballpark using them without any difficulty, and then finesse the levels as a mastering process later if necessary.

...to convert Big Six outs to digital to use the Clarity would require another spendy device like an SSL Alpha 8 (or something similar) and run the outputs of the Big Six into that on mixdown.

What's wrong with the interface you already have?

[The Elf]

...plus I'd question the belief that passing your mix through an outboard compressor is going to result in anything magical.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Not interested in the personal audio-religious beliefs, just the science of signal paths...

[The Elf]

Not interested in the personal audio-religious beliefs, just the science of signal paths...

A guy on Youtube says they're the same thing...

[Hugh Robjohns]

[SafeandSound Mastering]

Most of music production is about art of course. Coupled with science otherwise nothing would work.

Unusual, interesting, surprising consequences are not magic but when it comes to creating a vibe or something that happens in one moment in time only they could be important. Music is ultimately about feelings, whatever helps those feelings along is 100pct valid.

I don't think we should never question how people get to the result if the result is incredible.

I have passed mixes through a compressor many 1,000's of times and with the right compressor or other combination of what are normally fairly non linear tools something does happen that can be called beneficially unusual, affecting the music in a way which is beyond analysis in that moment.

Not beyond analysis ultimately, though analysis is not the objective, the feeling is.