Higher quality mixers - is the SSL Big Six really the only one available in 2025

octatonic

Agree.

I do some go all ITB, especially if I think I’ll need to do loads of recalls.

But especially for tracking I love using the outboard. I have a habit of printing effects quite often. 

octatonic

marxski said:

When I prepare a mix I usually put the plugin versions in bypass (with the same settings) below to the hardware. Which allows me to work quickly (take the plugin out of bypass and disable the hardware version). 

That's an incredible setup. 

Thanks. Yeah it is a fun place to be too. 

marxski

octatonic said:

But especially for tracking I love using the outboard. I have a habit of printing effects quite often. 

Braver than I!

octatonic

marxski said:

octatonic said:

But especially for tracking I love using the outboard. I have a habit of printing effects quite often. 

Braver than I!

It is an evolution if the mix process.
It is faster to mix if you capture the best sounds you can.
That simply is not recording everything dry and for a few reasons.

1. Saves time in mixing.
If you dial in good settings, your audio is already shaped and balanced, requiring less post-processing.

2. Better performance from artists.
Hearing a more polished sound in their headphones can boost confidence and inspire better takes.

3. Prevents clipping & maintains consistency.
Compression can control dynamics at the input stage, avoiding unwanted peaks and inconsistencies.

4. Analog colour & warmth.
Using high-quality outboard compressors and EQs can add musicality and richness that plugins may struggle to replicate.

5. Commits to a sound. This forces creative decisions early, preventing endless tweaking in post.

It isn't something I especially recommend early on, although you can do something I still do quite often, which is to mult the output of the mic preamp so that you send one straight to the interface and another through the EQ and compression that you decide on at the time. I do this less now than I used to, because I have what I like dialled in pretty well. It is a good way to start though.

marxski

Well my procrastination has paid off… Andertons are doing an early Black Friday extravaganza and are doing the Big Six for £1499 so I’ve bought one. Still sitting in its box for now as I’m taking delivery of some rockwool panels which need to go on the ceiling so sorting that first. Need to sort a patchbay as well.

octatonic

marxski said:

Well my procrastination has paid off… Andertons are doing an early Black Friday extravaganza and are doing the Big Six for £1499 so I’ve bought one. Still sitting in its box for now as I’m taking delivery of some rockwool panels which need to go on the ceiling so sorting that first. Need to sort a patchbay as well.

Congratulations, I am sure it will be excellent.

marxski

octatonic said:

marxski said:

Well my procrastination has paid off… Andertons are doing an early Black Friday extravaganza and are doing the Big Six for £1499 so I’ve bought one. Still sitting in its box for now as I’m taking delivery of some rockwool panels which need to go on the ceiling so sorting that first. Need to sort a patchbay as well.

Congratulations, I am sure it will be excellent.

Thanks! 

Nerine

marxski said:

Well my procrastination has paid off… Andertons are doing an early Black Friday extravaganza and are doing the Big Six for £1499 so I’ve bought one. Still sitting in its box for now as I’m taking delivery of some rockwool panels which need to go on the ceiling so sorting that first. Need to sort a patchbay as well.

I’ve been using mine a lot this past month. Still think it’s a mega little centrepiece to a project studio.