neve 33609 JD vs vintech 609CA

[mark rachelle]

has anyone here heard the two of these together?

the 33609 JD sounds wonderful! but the vintech is 1500 cheaper!

[Chinagraf]

I haven't heard the comp, but have compared their 1272 to my Neve pair in a blind test and while the Vintech was by all means good, the Neves were better. The Vintech was like 80% there, a bit like diet coke compared to real coke. I heard similar things about the X73 from friends who's opinion I trust. Again, this is just my experienceof the general line not the 609CA, so take it with a grain of salt. Is Geoff from Aurora making anything like the JD? His stuff is good.
There is always the thing of what you are using it for. There are always cases where the end listener/client couldn't tell the difference, and moreso couldn't care.
The question I always ask myself is- In a year's time the $1500 difference will be paid and forgotten, so what will I be wishing I had bought then?

[mark rachelle]

to true on the dollars

the original 1073s have this sound, this creamy chorus type gritty sheen, whilst at the same time sounding huge and wonderful

The Re issue neve compressor does sound like this,
however you try to explain it after trying it the other day all i can say is that it added magic and groove.

in fact it is the sound of music to me,
having grown up on vanda and young and chin and chapman i guess its a bit like coming home.

still i cant believe why all the mastering suites in this country favour manley vari mu's over the 33609

[Chris H]

Hey Mark, here is a discussion on the 33609 in mastering.
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index. ... /0/0/5706/

[mark rachelle]

Thanks Chris

as usual it seems opinions divided but for those who like this type of compressor it seems to be the one
and some people think its too grabby

[Adam Dempsey]

still i cant believe why all the mastering suites in this country favour manley vari mu's over the 33609

Hey Mark, think I've used the Vari-Mu twice in the past 12 months, although when called for it can do what no other can, IME. Choice is usually no comp, STC-8 (waay versatile), Vertigo or LTD-2(m)'s.

[Chris H]

Thanks Chris

as usual it seems opinions divided but for those who like this type of compressor it seems to be the one
and some people think its too grabby

Hey mark, for what it's worth......just noticed in Terry Manning's mastering gear list is the 33609 as well as the Manly, Cranesong & mmmm, the TK BC-1 Compressor seems somewhat out of place as it is only $1,250.00 at Mercenary.

[mark rachelle]

ooh that TK

never heard of it before

but just clicked on the links at mercenary
its very good , its either that or the pendulum,
certianly the compression sounds better than the smart C2 and the chandlers!
although the germaniums had a lovely mid tone and the smart was a little faster in slew rate and clearer in mid placement so it does sound a fraction sonically better,

however TK sounds more ssl than the smart which really sounds nothing like an E/G series mix compressor

for me the TK gave the best overall level balance of instruments

great price too!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3934200-post22.html

[mark rachelle]

actually , i was probably a bit hard on the C2 sounding nothing like the ssl

really the sound of the ssl has more to do with its lack of bottom end (pre j series)
and the sound of its filters and channel compressors and eq

those filters are where the ssl sounding records are made IMO
there is something very "bit crusher" about the sound of the lo pass

and to be honest when mixing gtrs its a must have.

i suspect part of the hype with the 2buss comp is more to do with gain structure of the desk and the fact that most engineers usually have more than unity gain make up, so really people are getting comp + gain

[heathen]

Orrrrrr for us guys who don't own or have readilly available access to a big analog desk something like the C2 on the stereo buss can be a life saver. Or a few different units on the stereo buss to get a bit of a thicker sound.

I really like my Pendulum ES8, it limits effortlessly and very smoothly. Switch it in and you hardly know it's there, switch it out and you really know something is gone. It's a pretty subtle sound though once you're used to it switching it out will bring an instant frown ususally from me. Does'nt suit everything but for rock it's amazing, on electric rhythm guitars it's amazing.

Drums it's great on too, for some reason 100ms attack and 100ms release works a treat. If you're buying an ocl2 I know nothing about them except I'd like one of them also.