compressor

Rackoon

Beatmaker
ill o.g.
I dont own a outboard compressor but I keep hearing about how API comps are very good for drums and everything else... model 225L - 525- 2500 ( www.apiaudio.com ) but quite expensive..

The old "DBX 160" would be the cheap alternative for fat drums...apparently used by big time producers


Hope this helps
 

Shonsteez

Gurpologist
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 33
A buddy of mine just got done working in a pretty dope studio, the same one that the engineers from the show Flight of the Conchords work in and he said that they use those old DBX 160s on a daily basis. Still a classic compressor for all types of applications from what it sounds like.

Ive never had the luxury of purchasing a dedicated outboard unit yet so I still use software comps.

Is there a specific kind your looking to use for your music?
 

7thangel

7th Angel of Armageddon
ill o.g.
dbx's are great and inexpensive and just about everywhere (a strip joint that was selling everything including beds!! :wideeyed::confused:...............
had 4 160 xl's for about $250 a while back on craigslist)

i love the drawmer 1968 and 1969, effin' sweet, grimyif need be and fattening

api are a staple

avalon. great

he other typical names

i've heard good things about art
 

LDB

Banned
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 73
i use waves c4 and the Renaissance Compressor. Cheap alternatives to hardware.

ah my fair skinned brethren.....not so cheap but just as good I'd add. That Mercury bundle is 10 stacks or more retail.
 

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
amen on the dbx160xl, but just for drums or stabby bass...stay away from the dbx tube comps, those dbx 566 are really crap. The old 160 that has been refered to here is actually more expensive than the drawmer 1968 but the 160 has a variety of releases, most interestingly would be the S or A type (but rather have S). Basically, there is no real answer as each voice is also different which makes software a good solution but not per se better. Good hardware is really going to be expensive and some items are just legendary and of course, again, more expensive (Focusrite red 7) but are the world to any good mic.

I dunno about art, ive worked with some art gear before and i always find them in the rock biased studios but never really impressed me compared to digitech.

You might want to look at FMR RNC 1137, its been out for a while but its (like the title) a really nice compressor for a nice price.
 

mono

the invisible visible
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 20
the ssl's are realy cool. its just, i recorded only once with a hardware preamp/compressor, the spl goldmike that was, quite inexpensive one, and softwareplugs NEVER gave me the warmth, punch and brilliance i got from that one. so a hardware comp will be definitely an addition to my set sooner or later.
the chandler looks nice and the reviews are realy promising. time for an extra job
 

7thangel

7th Angel of Armageddon
ill o.g.
it's tricky, stuff like psp's vintage warmer and it's mix 2, as well as tape/valve sims can give you the warmth but it has to be done right.

there are some excellent hardware compressors by the big names such as api, neve, avalon, ssl, massenberg, etc that can be not as expensive as you would think, at least some of their versions. plus check for used ones on ebay, craigslist or from store sites as well as discounted ones used for demonstration might be the way to go.

another option is a summing box, to possibly get that analogue imperfection aka warmth (not always but..).
 
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