Cranesong STC-8 vs Neve 33609 vs??

[Hybrid88]

Thinking about a long save up to get something nice for a master buss, something Vari-Mu style (or not), but a quality stereo comp/limiter. It's going to be the only really high quality rack unit I think I'll be investing in so I want it to be suitable.

Must be 2U high only, the one's I'm thinking of trying out are the Cranesong STC-8 and the Neve 33609, any others you recommend?

Also any user experiences with these units, or even cheaper ones you've found to be quite adequate - as I've never spent this much on a pice of rack gear (but have on synths).

Application is for Dance music, House / Breakbeat / Ambient etc. So something that's good for Rock may not be the order here.

Cheers guys

;)

[mark rachelle]

im trying out this comparison tomo

[ChrisW]

A friend who is quite well known in the techno scene is using the 33609.
His productions sound excellent to me.

(He uses a lot of plug-in comps as well mind you).

[Hybrid88]

hmm, yeah they're both very nice units indeed, hard to know which is more suitable without an A/B test.

One thing is for certain, I'll be saving for quite a while on this one - worth it though I reckon.

im trying out this comparison tomo

Let us know how it goes :)

[mark rachelle]

tried out the following yesterday

ana mod 670 (fairchild clone)
Aurora GTC2
crane song stc 8
Neve 33609 JD
Rolls Music Super stereo Comp
Thermoinic Pheonix

in terms of sonic quality with audio passing straight through no compression

i rate the units in the following order

1 - Thermoinic Pheonix
2 - Crane Song
3 - Rolls Super Music
4 - Neve
5 - Aurora (diet coke Neve)
6 - ana mod to Dark for my liking

in terms of the compressor effect i rate the units in the following order

1 Neve
2 Rolls (the suprise packet - great compressor)
3 Crane Song (with practice and a manual this could be #1 or # 2)
4 Thermoinic (this thing sounded amazing, but i wasnt that into the way the compressor grabded 350hz)
5 Aroura
6 Ana mod

If you want 70s with cream get the Neve
if you want to cure the digital woes get the Pheonix (everything sounded better going through this)
If you want a simple strap across the mix get the rolls music super stereo compressor which sounds great all round
if you want 70s with adjustability get the Aurora
if you want versatility at the mastering level then get the crance song
if you want dark colour get the ana mod (wasnt into this as it sounded nothing like the 670, just sounded like a darker manley vari mu to me)

i also tried the audient Zen
which had a pro sound ,
and the wet dry on the compressor was great , pumping in lot of groove but no audible pumping!

pity about the surface mount pots
you couldnt use this in a rented studio
it would last all of 2 weeks

but a rockin solution for pro bedroom guys and gals

[NYMo]

Hi there,

Great wrap up Mark.

As we all know there is not ONE that will be the saviour, but many !

FWIW I would recommend the Pheonix if you only wanted to buy ONE.

cheers
N
Y
M
O

[NYMo]

BTW amazing the Anamod didn't do better...I've read pretty good things about them compared
to the real thing !

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

[Hybrid88]

Thanks for that Mark, very interesting.

So which would you say is best suited for a nice sounding comp for adding a pleasing tone for a modern electronic music master buss?

I've heard before about the Neve having a '70's cream quality, but how would that be relevant with ultra-modern sounding music - does it work together?

The Cranesong seems very much to be the most accurate and versatile "tool" here but I do wonder if it adds nothing in terms of sonic improvement.

The rolls is like a SSL mixbus comp is that right? If so I have something shomewhat similar already so maybe not the best choice for me.


Interested in which would be best to bring out the punch and bass while delivering a pleasing but not harshly sweet sound to it - hard to say really.

...Phoenix would be a very nice unit but man that thing is just not cheap!

[mark rachelle]

best punch in my opinion is the neve
and the tone is great
it brings things forward which is good for current music

do you need an analog compressor for ultra modern music?
sometimes better to master in the digital domain IMO

if you really need to go analog ?

the only 2 compressors that would cut the mustard for full spectrum ultra modern music 96/24
would be the crane song and the pheonix,

i think the neve would effect the transients and sub speed too much
the rolls could be good as it has a roll off switch and does sound excellent , but i didnt try anything too modern through it.

having said that if its chill out, down beat or more retro house, old school hip hop ect then id go with the neve hands down
if its modern pop then if its got gtrs in them then yes, neve would work but not for everything,
if its really Sonic then forget the neve

BTW Awave is about to bring in TK Audio comps!
so that means a real deal ssl style comp sub $2000 that really works.

[ChrisW]

As I said, my bud is a fairly well respected techno artist and he's using the Neve.
I personally think his tracks sparkle.
Although he's been talking positively about a few software compressors of late.

[Linear]

I can vouch for the Phoenix - I've got the mastering version. Flat up to like 60kHz, or so say the specs.

I love it on the 2-buss. The other great thing is it makes a fantastic vari-mu compressor for vocals or bass - interchangeable with my AWA G58.

Great comparo mark!

Chris

[Chris H]

I would have thought the API 2500 would be a contender in the list for versatility and punch?

[mark rachelle]

didnt have a chance to hear the API
it was only what awave had in stock at the time

[Hybrid88]

best punch in my opinion is the neve
and the tone is great
it brings things forward which is good for current music

Pricewise much more realistic for my needs than the Phoenix too IMO.

do you need an analog compressor for ultra modern music?
sometimes better to master in the digital domain IMO

Well yeah, looking for something to ad a touch of class and magic to the sound - I guess analog would be the go here.

having said that if its chill out, down beat or more retro house, old school hip hop ect then id go with the neve hands down
if its modern pop then if its got gtrs in them then yes, neve would work but not for everything,
if its really Sonic then forget the neve

Ok, so for the sake of argument, could you run say Drum and Bass stuff or Prodigy style music through the Neve and have it sounding good?

BTW Awave is about to bring in TK Audio comps!
so that means a real deal ssl style comp sub $2000 that really works.

Forgive my noob questions here, but what's the allure with the SSL? Is it supposed to have a really transparent sound or is it in the actual action of the compression itself that makes it a standard comp?

[jkhuri44]

Richard, if you want something for dnb, etc...and more modern electronic, make sure you can get something with a sidechain insert.

you would want jungle/dnb subs to pump the shit out of your mix....most of the time anyway....you'd want some options anyway i reckon.

ps. richard, if you dont have an Al Smart C2, give that beast a go, very gentle, wide, and good sounding master buss comp imo :-) has sidechain and sounds bonza on electronic.

[Hybrid88]

Richard, if you want something for dnb, etc...and more modern electronic, make sure you can get something with a sidechain insert.

you would want jungle/dnb subs to pump the shit out of your mix....most of the time anyway....you'd want some options anyway i reckon.

ps. richard, if you dont have an Al Smart C2, give that beast a go, very gentle, wide, and good sounding master buss comp imo :-) has sidechain and sounds bonza on electronic.

Cheers mate, yes have heard of the Smart comp, another of the nice SSL spin offs. Thing is I already have something that I think is supposed to be similar to a SSL style comp. Ok so not in the same league as others mentioned but it does sound really quite good to me, it's a LT Sound CLX-2. A fairly unknown comp which I bought from the original owner who paid over 2k new for it, so it can't be too shoddy. Has a sidechain and an expand option which fattens heavy drum loops like you wouldn't believe and I think from memory it runs on the same VCA IC as the DBX 160?. So I'm kinda looking for something to compliment it, so far I reckon the Neve has priority but when I get a chance to go to Awave I'll check them all out first hand to really get an idea of the sonic differences.

Thanks for all your inputs people, an interesting read.

[heathen]

Richard, if you want something for dnb, etc...and more modern electronic, make sure you can get something with a sidechain insert.

you would want jungle/dnb subs to pump the shit out of your mix....most of the time anyway....you'd want some options anyway i reckon.

ps. richard, if you dont have an Al Smart C2, give that beast a go, very gentle, wide, and good sounding master buss comp imo :-) has sidechain and sounds bonza on electronic.

Gentle?????? Dunno about that, run it at any more than 2db gr and it's brutal. Though yeah at 1 or 2 db gr it can be sort of gentle. great for electronic music though. Make sure to turn off the stereo button when you're testing it otherwise it will narrow the stereo image.

[jkhuri44]

Richard, if you want something for dnb, etc...and more modern electronic, make sure you can get something with a sidechain insert.

you would want jungle/dnb subs to pump the shit out of your mix....most of the time anyway....you'd want some options anyway i reckon.

ps. richard, if you dont have an Al Smart C2, give that beast a go, very gentle, wide, and good sounding master buss comp imo :-) has sidechain and sounds bonza on electronic.

Gentle?????? Dunno about that, run it at any more than 2db gr and it's brutal. Though yeah at 1 or 2 db gr it can be sort of gentle. great for electronic music though. Make sure to turn off the stereo button when you're testing it otherwise it will narrow the stereo image.

i was trying to hurt it the last time i used it at yours...its not that brutal! crush on the other hand!