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what is your favorite hardware compressor?
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jun 26, 2006 19:25
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some weeks ago i was at someones studio where i heard the effect of a hardware expander and a tube compressor on bass and kik. it gave me the idea that its something you simply do not make with software warm, dry, punchy etc.
my question is: what are the experiences here from people with hardware stuff? what does this excellent piece of hardware do for you and how much are you still prepared to pay for it? now knowing what it does. |
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fregle
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jun 26, 2006 19:40
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well, firstly i have to say that i would not be able to buy an analogue compressor that's better sounding and more versatile then the psp vintage warmer... But there are comps out there that certainly sound muuuuuch better, i'm thinking pultec, manley and UA here... But i never really got the chance to A/B those machines, and they all sound so nice that if u don't A/B them against each other u don't know which one to like best... If i have to go by the comments of engineers i'd go for the UA 1176 (or something like that), with the great pumping sound when u press the 4 buttons all at the same time... That's apparently one of the most popular channel compressor in existence...
For our market (less then 2000$), only the TLaudio ivory's are good enough to beat the waves compressors and psp vintage warmer imho...
Anyway, if u buy a hardware compressor u can only use it once, software u can use as much as u want (u can open 10 vintagewarmers in ur project if u want, but u have to buy 10 expensive comps if u want to do the same with hardware), and for a good compressor u pay so much that that is not an option... to be honest, i think that the only reason to buy a real good hardware comp is when u are starting ur own recording studio.. if ur a professional or amateur composer, or an amateur engineer just keep to the software... If necessary the label will rerecord it in a studio that has those machines... if u have 10 clients who all want u to produce they're album, then build ur own studio, and by all means, buy the neve or ssl desk and the neve/ssl/pultec/manley compressors.... But only if u know they will pay themselves back in time, otherwise it's really not worth it... |
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PoM
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Posted : Jun 26, 2006 20:27
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jun 26, 2006 21:26
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thanks guys, for me the gearslutz is to much. there they are talking abt neve etc. dont know where to start there. fregle's tip i will check. i saw lately tlaudio ivory 2nd hand for 500 euro or so. its a bit around this price category i am looking for. |
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jun 27, 2006 10:32
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When you're at a music-shop, also try some tube compressors/limiters/preamps/eq's. Those will give you compression, and you can push them furtur than software, even to the point where they will distort and add the warmth and grunge that can make your tracks sit nicely in a busy mix. It's really the same as with guitar amps: tube (pre-)amps give a really nice overdrive, sustain and they also compress a signal, since peaks are transformed into distortion beyond a certain treshold.
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Aiyro
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jun 27, 2006 17:38
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Why not pay some Brains to build a copy of one of your fav compressors.  |
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jun 28, 2006 17:40
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after the recomendation here and two more from other people just went for a new tl audio ivory 5021 stereo compressor, costs me in dutcheuro's 540,=. and aiyro... yeah why not pay some Hands for an original. now i hope it brings what i dreamed off. cant wait. |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
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Posted : Jun 28, 2006 18:57
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jun 29, 2006 10:38
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Nice, very nice... The specs of this TL audio thingy look very promising, i'm curious if it does what you're looking for.
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Audiomatic
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Posted : Jun 29, 2006 13:04
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Universal Audio 1176LN Limiting Amplifier for hard compression and Universal Audio LA-2A Leveling Amplifier for softer compression is a good way i think. |
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jun 29, 2006 14:18
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@audiomatic, do you use the real ones, or the UAD-1 emulations of those ?
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AvS
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Posted : Jun 29, 2006 21:17
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Sorry to say this but I've only heard bad things about the TLaudio ivory series. I mean really bad like "this is one of the worst compressors ive ever heard!". I havnt tried them myself but ive heard many people say this. Doesnt mean that its true but just be aware. |
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jun 30, 2006 13:35
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thanks AvS, u just made my day, tomorrow i will receive the ivory, hahaha. no really its good to tell this. anyhow the sun is shining today. will let u know.
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vipal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 9, 2006 00:25
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ok, promised to come back.
about this relativly low priced hardware compressor (in comparison to the other tubes i saw). for me its really amzing to hear what it can do. really cool sub-low added. my impression with most bass enhancers like powercore caracter or rbass (although this one i did not really try to be honest) is that the low mid is boosted instead of low low and it sounds like you loose instead of win bass feel. with this hardware thing its different. also on kik its very nice. wanted to post a for and after the ivory but sorry it did not happen.
and for fregle: i dont need more then one. i do kik and and bass on seperate channel. nice sidechain on bass and probably at the end the whole mix with compressor off just to warm the mix. i dont think you can do this with software and it is so fast to find the good points. the only pity is that release and attack are in 4 preset steps, but thats probably a price thing.
so guys invite yourself into ones studio to check what a hardware compressor does. i for example would buy this thing before i would buy uad-1. but thats personal offcourse and uad has more etcetera.... ok, boom
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AvS
Started Topics :
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Posted : Jul 9, 2006 16:04
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Shit vipal I didnt know you had already orderet it! I can't say Im sorry but If i new i wouldnt have been so harsh. 
But hey great to hear that you like it! Hope to hear some sounds clips.
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