Purches the SPL Hermes in 2025 as I was getting into Mid/Sid Mastering. After a couple session I reached less for is as the gear I own and used most frequently already has internal encode and decode for mid/side. So as much as this unit ROCKS... I need the space in my rack for other gear.

Revolutionize Your Mastering Process

Imagine a powerful mastering routing matrix accommodating up to eight dual-channel processors that you can reroute with a button press. A device that would let you create presets and save and compare them with — you guessed it — a button press. If you've just pinched yourself to see if you're dreaming, Sweetwater is pleased to inform you that you're not. We're talking about the SPL Hermes, a professional mastering router that takes the pain out of optimizing your mixes. Never again get lost in a sea of patch cords while repatching your mastering chain. With Hermes, everything you need is in your rack, pre-patched and ready to rock — just like in world-class mastering suites. Streamline your workflow and master like a pro with SPL Hermes.

The routing matrix for your mastering studio

Professional mastering houses have been equipped with matrix routers for decades. Long before they were being manufactured and you could buy one, mastering routers were custom built by in-house engineers to the specifications of the staff mastering engineers. So, it comes as no surprise that SPL, highly respected at Sweetwater for their superb ultra-pro studio equipment, would pick up on this need and design a thoroughly professional mastering router, making streamlined mastering workflows available to studios large and small. Hermes revolutionizes the mastering process.

Two integrated parallel mix stages

Hermes is equipped with two integrated parallel mix stages that you can assign to any of the eight processors. This allows you to easily compare, for instance, two compressors with different parallel mix settings. The parallel mix stages are stored in memory with your processing chains.

Optimize your workflow and your existing gear

Hermes optimizes your mastering workflow and makes the most of your existing processing gear. Operations that were previously extremely cumbersome — like repatching to audition a simple change — is now a thing of the past. With Hermes, you can change processor sequences on the fly, store them, and compare settings instantly. All with switches, relays — and no software. With Hermes, you will rediscover your processors, because the possible combinations and parallel mix stages open up new sonic frontiers.

Audiophile-grade components for sonic purity

Hermes routing is entirely passive using audiophile-quality high-end gas-capsuled and gold-plated relays. All active electronics such as the I/O stages and the Parallel Mixes use SPL's proprietary 120V Technology.