| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: compressors...
by ds | 03/09/01 at 16:42:09
Okay, I know everyone loves the RNC compressor, and I'm going to check one out somehow, but I'd also like to hear people's opinions on other compressors that go for under 500 dollars. Anyone have a favorite or are there any I should avoid? Thanks!
Subject: Re: compressors...
by db | 03/09/01 at 18:22:46
8)I have assorted DBX compressors, like project1, overeasy types, 166, etc.. They are ok for isolated sounds, like bass, kick, guitars. But they are not very good on the 2 buss, or sub mixes, the 162, and the DSP I have work very good on mixes. So you may want something better, I hear that the *** has the sound of a $2000 compressor, so I would have to say that if I were looking for better than the little dbx's , that would be the one. I see on the boards lots of Ashly comps for like 50 bucks, I have a sc-50, and I like it for snare, and on the sub. I expect the 2 channel version would be ok for mixes.
--db
Subject: Re: compressors...
by Silent_Bob | 03/09/01 at 18:32:04
I like Behringer composers. They have the same control circuits as DBX and they can operate as 2 mono compressors or single stereo compressors. DO NOT GET ALESIS COMPS! Even though they have the same control circuits as the Behringer and DBXs, they really skimp everywhere else. I think the frequency response for the Composer goes up to 50KHz but Aleses Nano is only 20KHz and the 3630 is 30KHz. They also only detect positive peaks and not negative peaks so it's mega harsh with transients.
Subject: Re: compressors...
by Tim_Z | 03/09/01 at 23:46:56
I have a pair of Drawmer MX30's that I am quite fond of. Sonically they are VERY good, but they have limited controls. They can work as a stereo pair, or as indivdual mono units. They also have good working gates in each channel as well. Pretty decent units for the price.
Tim Z
Subject: Re: compressors...
by Puke | 03/10/01 at 14:00:18
If you're in a major market like LA or San Fran, NY, or yada yada. You could do better getting one on the used market. Stuff like dbx 166/ or 266, or 160x etc. are only "good for the money" , not necessarily good period. But you could get something on the used market under $500 that would be good enough, period. Orban made some: 424A and 418A are old 2 channel orbans that sound excellent and I doubt you would need to go over $300 or $400 to get a used one).
Valley Dynamites, I'm guessing, can be had used for $300 for a 2 channel one, and they are excellent.
Gain Brain II's can easily be had for under $200/channel used (a few months ago valley audio almost quit making them and were blowing out what was left for under $200/channel, but I think they changed their mind about discontinueing them because they got a bunch of orders in or something), but you have to have the powered rack to put the channels in, so I don't know what the rack would run you (+/- 15 volt psu is all it is, nothing special).
If you found someone with a stereo version of the original 160 (dbx162) you might could squeeze it out of them for $500, but the catch is it only operates as one stereo unit, not two mono units.
I don't own an ashley comp/limiter, but I've never owned anything ashley made that was not well made and good sounding.
Generally, if you can put a limiter on a program and really squash the shit out of it, if it keeps trying to sound good longer then you can tell it is a better unit. But some limiters don't even come close to limiting program music well without being terribly obvious...stay away from those unless you have no choice.
Subject: Re: compressors...
by the_dirty_hen | 03/14/01 at 13:35:59
i heard that the behringer autocom pro was good. anyone else hear anything on it??
ma hen[color=Red][/color]
Subject: Re: compressors...
by Dolphin | 03/14/01 at 15:26:48
I agree with Puke.Buying a NEW compressor in that price range,that's said to be good for the money,does not mean it's good.
This is only my opinion,but I would consider spending a little more money if it's at all possible,and step into a higher quality unit.
This is only based on my own experiences.The first compressors I owned were the Aphex four-channel "easyrider" and an ART cs2.
In reviews,I'd read that these units were good for the money.However in practical applications I could never accomplish what I was trying to do,based on what I'd read a good compressor was supposed to do.
If I was using a "threshold/ratio" setting that I'd read was good for a typical application,I found that it either did nothing or ruined the sound of the instrument.
One day I bit the bullet and bought a symetrix unit.It wasn't that expensive,but it was a little more than the "entry level" units. I noticed a difference immediately. I could actually dial in a setting,and the unit worked.The sound maintained it's integrity.
Keep in mind,that one stereo unit (two mono)can be used in all kinds of appliations during the recording of just one song.
You can compress your levels during recording,you can run the unit,again across a stereo sub-group when mixing,and you can ultimately run it across your whole mix,if need be.
All with one unit.
I would consider spending a little more,and still buy used.
Drawmer,Summit Audio,Symetrix,T.C. electronics,the ART pro VLA is also a nice unit.
For a unit that was going to be used for many different applications,you'd need something that wasn't going to colour the sound too much.
I can assure you,it makes recording/mixing a lot more fun and rewarding.That's my two cents worth.
Subject: Re: compressors...
by ds | 03/14/01 at 16:34:32
Hey everyone, thanks for the great suggestions! It's really helpful because I'm basically clueless about what a good compressor is (having never even touched one!). ;D
Subject: Re: compressors...
by JR#97 | 03/14/01 at 17:23:22
I'll echo Dolphin's choice on the Symetrix. They make good stuff. One thing to keep in mind since you've never touched a compressor is that a compressor isn't an effect. In other words, it's not always as apparent as say a delay or reverb. A sure sign of amature hour is over compression. My suggestion will be to gauge the rest of your set-up and determine what will fit in. A high end unit will be over-kill on a budget set-up.
Subject: Re: compressors...
by ds | 03/15/01 at 11:12:48
I didn't mean I've never touched a compressor, I meant I've never touched a QUALITY compressor! ;)
I've got a DBX 266, one of those new models they have. It's not BAD, but I've done experimenting with it and colors the sound a little bit in a way I don't like. I used it on vocals for a recording I did this winter (see my post in the "let us hear your stuff" section- most of those songs were done with the 266). Like I said, it's an okay compressor, but then again I thought my AKG C3000 was a "great" mic until I tried some mics that actually bordered on great! :D