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advice on buying a hardware compressor
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Adrenal Mode
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
308
Posted : May 5, 2007 22:31
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how would my channel would looks like if i had 1.5k @ moment?, as i told you i would DIY my channel bcuz its cheepr and can sound even better....anyway, its depend on what YOU need...but the things you need if you want to go analog is, first a good A/D conv or a good sound card with good conv then if you need to record vocal the secend thing you need is a good preamp to capture the sound as good as possible, then compressor and EQ if needed, the smartest thing to do is to buy a good channel strip 2u rack that have it all  , and always remmber that you dont have to buy NEW gear...secend hand is also good
if your after the "color" go for tube based and if you want the sound "in your face" go for transistor circuitry compressor....the selection is huge man...searche abit.
btw, on what things are you going to use the compressor? and what kind of music are you making? bcuz i know alot of ppl that got hardware and after thay got it they sad, what is it, its sound bad...so you see my point...
but again, to my opinion if you want to improve your mixes go digital, UAD is your solution, i have it with almost all the plugins (except rolandD) and i'm geting mega results, so dont be so analog person...expend your mind abit bcuz with digital you can do megic 
Cheers and good luck bro...
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 5, 2007 22:55
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I have been eagerly defending Analog in this forum recently.
But from my experience: So far I didn't find an analog compressor under 1500, which does a better job then a good emulation like the UAD.
The UAD emulation also have color. BTW.
If you want to beat UAD in versatility and sound you have to go up to around 3000-4000k and something like a VariMu. Then you have color.
Otherwise I would go for the low end, ART pro VLA, color for sure, VariMu style. Not usable for anything, but good in somethings.
 Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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Adrenal Mode
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
308
Posted : May 5, 2007 23:40
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-05 22:55, subconsciousmind wrote:
Otherwise I would go for the low end, ART pro VLA, color for sure, VariMu style. Not usable for anything, but good in somethings.
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well, ide say dont get neer cheep gear!, and ofcourse not ART ones...(metter of personal tasta) with 1.5k you could get your self mono compressor such as the LN1176, LA-3A that by the way sounds very good! or channel strip like the LA-610. You can also go for dbX if you want good sound with min $$$...and dont forget to check secend hand gear, you can find great stuff with very low price. |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 6, 2007 11:02
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Don't predjudge ART. ART does a lot of crap, almost only. but as much I can tell about the pro VLA it is an exception.
read about it, or try one.
It's a good thought to go for a single channel, though. But he said, he needs stereo.
Its not a good tipp to generaly recommend dBx, in my opinion.
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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AvS
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
464
Posted : May 6, 2007 13:08
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-06 11:02, subconsciousmind wrote:
Don't predjudge ART. ART does a lot of crap, almost only.
Its not a good tipp to generaly recommend dBx, in my opinion.
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I find this kinda funny reading your first two words again. |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : May 6, 2007 16:37
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-06 13:08, AvS wrote:
Quote:
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On 2007-05-06 11:02, subconsciousmind wrote:
Don't predjudge ART. ART does a lot of crap, almost only.
Its not a good tipp to generaly recommend dBx, in my opinion.
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I find this kinda funny reading your first two words again.
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it should have been clearer what I ment this way:
Don't predjudge ART. ART does a lot of crap, almost only MAYBE.
I think it's clear what I want to say, isn't it? Sure a company can be known for expecially good, or bad products, but there are always exceptions, so normally its best to recommend devices only, not brands.
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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Dark Life Records
Dark Life Records
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
94
Posted : May 7, 2007 02:05
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just compare couple most known hardware compressors with,
and i tell what i think: UREI & Drawmer - these are good compressors, all the rest is no worth of spending money (no such BIG difference between cheap hardware and VST... sorry)
no doubt.
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AvS
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
464
Posted : May 8, 2007 14:16
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-07 02:05, Dark Life Records wrote:
just compare couple most known hardware compressors with,
and i tell what i think: UREI & Drawmer - these are good compressors, all the rest is no worth of spending money (no such BIG difference between cheap hardware and VST... sorry)
no doubt.
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What UREI comp?
What Drawmer camp?
Name all the rest of the compressor wich you think suck. Pretty useless post otherwise. |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : May 8, 2007 15:06
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-07 02:05, Dark Life Records wrote:
just compare couple most known hardware compressors with,
and i tell what i think: UREI & Drawmer - these are good compressors, all the rest is no worth of spending money (no such BIG difference between cheap hardware and VST... sorry)
no doubt.
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So Manley Vari Mu, CraneSong STC-8, Alan Smart C2, Pendulum ES-8, Thermionic Phoenix, Emperical Labs Distressor, Fearn VT7, Tube-Tech SMC-2B, Gyraf Gyratec, API 2500, etc are no better than VSTs?
UnderTow |
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Dark Life Records
Dark Life Records
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
94
Posted : May 9, 2007 15:50
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UREI 1178
Drawmer 1960
Manley is great also but manley sounds too warm (for this kind of music).
I am talking about hardware which sound work good to electronic music.
The rest that UnderTow mentioned, i don't know personally, so it's hard to say sth about.
I just heard some hardware compressors which are digital, not analog, and they not sound really GREAT, SUPERB etc... to spend lot money on it (maybe they sound well with some for ex. rock music, not with electronic).
And each analog compressor sound different, each one works different with many kinds of music / instruments.
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implant
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
12
Posted : May 11, 2007 05:44
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well i`ve got an rme fireface and i`m buying a pair of dynaudio soon . now what i`d realy like is a good "fat" compressor to add some flavor to things . i dont mind it having some coloring . thats what analog is all about isnt it? on the other hand this is digital music so too much coloring isnt that good . so i`m looking for a compressor that has some charachter but not too obviuos .
You got good soundcard and monitors. Why not invest in room acoustics first, and then think of the hardware units? If you alredy taken care of it or you just have to have hardware compressor,save some more money and buy some top-notch unit (Tube-Tech,SSL,dBX,Manley....).
Another idea that comes to me is a summing bus, it would improve your mixes,too.But, when you decide to go hardware there is really no end (because you get addicted:-)), so be carefull with tour credit card . Greetz,
I.
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groovemachines
Started Topics :
5
Posts :
57
Posted : Jun 26, 2007 11:41
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Quote:
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On 2007-05-05 23:40, Adrenal Mode wrote:
Quote:
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On 2007-05-05 22:55, subconsciousmind wrote:
Otherwise I would go for the low end, ART pro VLA, color for sure, VariMu style. Not usable for anything, but good in somethings.
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well, ide say dont get neer cheep gear!, and ofcourse not ART ones...(metter of personal tasta) with 1.5k you could get your self mono compressor such as the LN1176, LA-3A that by the way sounds very good! or channel strip like the LA-610. You can also go for dbX if you want good sound with min $$$...and dont forget to check secend hand gear, you can find great stuff with very low price.
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I am thinking about buying an UAD LA-610 but I am a little bit confused about its 1 channel. How I am going to makeup and excite an stereo track with only 1 channel? first L then R ? |
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parapsyched
Scratch 22
Started Topics :
72
Posts :
548
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 19:46
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well i havent checked this thread for a while and it got alot longer all of a sudden . so first of all thanks everyone for the replies.
alex- well i make trance obviously but i`m also into accoustic stuff and will definetly be recording instruments soon. so i`m not thinking completely digital here.
been reading alot and thinking about this whole issue and it does seem that spending less than 3-4 k`s on a comp is a waste of money.
if you want too do something do it right . right?
so after asking around and reading up i think the UAD is the answer after all. its seems to have what i need. shame it doenst come with knobs though..  i realy love knobs... and buttons you can push. but the UAD seems to have alot of options and it jsut might be the right thing for me.
if u dig deep enough u just might reach the sky...
"dream is destiny"
http://www.scratch-22.com |
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