Turtlerock Forum

Al Smart C2.

pretty good for almost anything :-)

Break out your soldering iron and build a GSSL with both the "super-sidechain" and "turbo" boards.

All the info you need is at www.prodigy-pro.com/diy.

The SSL is one of the easiest and cheapest builds around.

That or yeah, like these Jamil said, the Al Smart or as you pointed out, the real SSL reissue.

Good Luck.

anguswoodhead wrote:Thanks Nick but I don't really have the time or inclanation to build a kit.
Plus I wonder about the resale value.......

Fair enough, and you wouldn't find a kit, you'd have to source the parts yourself :)

Best of luck

Shadow Hills mastering compressor. One compressor to rule them all.

I have heard from the guys that sold CLA his unit that it lives on his 2 buss these days. It's basically 2 compressors in one, both able to be switched in or out of the signal path.

I have the mono opto 500 which is a scaled back version of the optical part of the SHMC and it is a thing of beauty to be sure.

The other 2buss comp I'm dying to try is the Dramastic Audio 'Obsidian'. It is supposed to be similar in function to the SSL comp but is said to be wider and more hi-fi in it's imaging.

Slightly different though is the possibility of using 2 x Slate Audio 'Dragon' comps. Check them out if you can, lots of info on GS.

anguswoodhead wrote:Yeah thanks Jamil.
I had forgotten about that little gem.
Of course there is also the SSL X-Logic G Series Comp.
Not sure what the difference is????

Kinda leaning towards valves though - with the thought of swapping in some nice NOS ones asap.

C2 has more options in terms of compression ratios, also has CRUSH mode.

G Series is much simpler.

And sound is a bit diff.

I've been using the Pendulum OCL2 as my 2bus. It's got alot of basses covered. It's got some Fairchild curves preset & can be as thick or transparent as you want it to be. Just putting it in line gives a shimmer that I love. I love Shadow hills as well but they have some maintenance issues that make me wary. Just little things like blown indicator bulbs, but they won't answer my emails for spares. I think there too busy. My OCL has never broken down so I don't know what their service is like.

Speaking of Fairchild... the Anamod 670 looks pretty cool.

Has anyone ever used a fairchild 670 on a stereo mix? I doubt it.

Sorry I can't add too much. I love my SSL (from the 80's). It isn't as sparkly/flexible as some of the newer options.
I haven't heard it, but I'd want to try the API 2500.
Some of the fancier, more expensive compressors mentioned so far would probably be the business though.

API 2500 is great though I usually preferred the C2 on the stereo buss but sometimes preferred the 2500 or ES8 or both. I really like the 2500 on groups, drum groups it's superb, great on vox too.

I'd really like like to check out a Cranesong STC8, the Elysia comps are meant to be great as well, pretty expensive though.

Not trying to start anything but how could you possibly know no one ever used a 670 on 2 buss?

I haven't used the hardware on 2 buss but have used plug simulations. While miles away from the real thing it definitely makes it easy to see how a mix could benefit from a 670 or emulation thereof. For one, the width control it can bring to a mix was a real eye opener.

ChrisW wrote:Has anyone ever used a fairchild 670 on a stereo mix? I doubt it.

.

yeah i have done it several dozen times does that count ?

What about that L2 Ultramaximizer that Wez has for sale? Or is that more for mastering?

musikwerks wrote:Not trying to start anything but how could you possibly know no one ever used a 670 on 2 buss?

Firstly, I asked the question.

ChrisW wrote:Has anyone ever used a fairchild 670 on a stereo mix?

It wasn't a statement and at no time did I claim 'no one ever used a 670 on 2 bus'.

Secondly I suggested doubt.

ChrisW wrote:I doubt it.

I stand corrected courtesy of Rick, but I only doubted it's usefulness based on the amount of times I've been at mixes in Fairchild equipped studios where it hasn't been strapped across the mix.
Added to which my exposure to some of the people who practically put the Fairchild on the map, and when I asked them about the unit they often said they rarely used it anymore, but if they did it would be on something like drums ("as an effect").

Not talking about the plug-in of course....... or mastering.

DwaneHollands wrote:What about that L2 Ultramaximizer that Wez has for sale? Or is that more for mastering?

thats a brickwal limiter, not as much for shaping a mix.

thats a brickwal limiter, not as much for shaping a mix.

Fair enough.

jkhuri44 wrote:

DwaneHollands wrote:What about that L2 Ultramaximizer that Wez has for sale? Or is that more for mastering?

thats a brickwal limiter, not as much for shaping a mix.

What if you recorded a brick wall? Could you use it for the mix then???

been there, done that. Recorded Lamplight in the Castlemaine Gaol with Bluestone walls and solitary confinement cells being the reverb....Special but specific.

mylesgm wrote:been there, done that. Recorded Lamplight in the Castlemaine Gaol with Bluestone walls and solitary confinement cells being the reverb....Special but specific.

And sounded beaut, Myles... in a most ghostly positive way.

Hi there,

Angus...just buy all of these ;-)

API 2500
Thermionic Pheonix (Mastering vers)
SSL GFX 384 (grey one)

Sorted !!

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

Anyone around here built or used the D-AOC? I have it on my "to build" list for later in the year, and am already assembling parts.

This started out as a mastering stereo opto compressor.

http://audio.kubarth.com/daoc/

anguswoodhead wrote:Sorry to be boring but I feel I am heading towards a good SSL clone using original DBX vca's.

If you're going to head down that path, then make sure he puts one of these boards in:

http://www.expataudio.com/expatshop/ind ... roductId=4

Don't stress if you have any trouble getting those VCA's... I think the THAT VCA's sound just as good (OOOPPSSS DID I JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!)

It's a good compressor man, you won't regret it :)

anguswoodhead wrote:
Any of you guys using 2 units on the 2Buss?

Of course I am not trying to 'master' the track, just get the mix sitting nicely.

i've resisted commenting until now.... but dude, if you need an SSL and a vari-mu to get your mix 'sitting nicely', then maybe there are some more fundamental areas that need attention.

i accept that some people like a bit of SSL-style action across the mix, and i also concede that i'm biased towards the sub-group compressor approach (ie i virtually never compress the stereo mix), but you're really getting into 'trying to master the track as you go' territory, even if you think you're not.

my advice... think very carefully about whether you need a compressor on the mix at all. and if you decide that you do, then seriously, one should be enough.

i really dont mind the vari-mu, if you are after tubes!

the gssl is pretty tasty too, heard one, waiting to hear nicks, building one myself with dbx 202's and lundahl transformers as we speak!

I like using 2 on the mixbuss sometimes, when I do it's usually C2 into the Pendulum ES8 and my Avalon eq after those 2. i could mix without them but they sound sooooooo niiiiiiiice. Especially when you switch the ES8 in, just makes everything bigger, wider ummmm more classic sounding. I rarely use more than 1 or 2 db gr on each. You can actually run the ES8 at at about 20db gr without pumping or anything nasty like that.

Hi there,

Somebody said that the Manley Vari-mu was pretty good on thw 2 bus with the Overstayer.

Anyone tried this combo ?

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

jkhuri44 wrote:Al Smart C2.

pretty good for almost anything :-)

totally agree, mine lives on the 2 buss :) a couple of times I even used the crush mode over a mix and it just did good things.

Planning a C1 purchase sometime. Same but different.

Crush on a full mix? That's pure evil Ben. :)

heathen wrote:Crush on a full mix? That's pure evil Ben. :)

ur just a puss :P

heathen wrote:Crush on a full mix? That's pure evil Ben. :)

I know (add pure evil laughter here) hahahahaha!
I used it because it suited the style and seemed to pull everything together with the extra brightness and distortion. Weird i know. But - if it sounds better.

:)