Distressor Butt Saver

[Aearth]

Distressors saves my ars once more this time the drum buss. I normally don't insert a pair of Distressors on a mix buss, but I had no choice because I sold my Drawmer 1968 and a plugin as usual couldn't cut it.
Anyone suggest a decent compressor plugin that works on drums or on anything, the outboard route is proving to be very expensive but appears to be necessary.

Nic

[jkhuri44]

the Waves ssl 4000 series....sounds...amazing....very hardware like....and designed to be used as a buss, like a real SSL mix/master busss...
or...more common options...

if your sample rates are high enough....Waves R Comp for a vintage compression sound (as THEYYYY say)

or the waves C 1...if your looking for something more transparent.

i cant recommend the waves range enough....

[Chris H]

I find the sonalksis comp is quite usable

[heathen]

Psp mastercomp does a pretty awesome job too, but its a mega cpu hog, especially in FAT mode. Waves SSL is usable, but can get a tad harsh at a heavy gr. I think I can see a Smart C1 or C2 in your future Nic. Also I've been getting some gooood results using the Waves SSL bundle, especially the SSL channel eq out into the c2 or ES8, but I reckon a cheaper analog comp would do a great job with the Waves ssl channel as the ssl adds a good amount of punch on its own for some reason, it's great on the bottom end thump and midrange crack.
Or maybe try to borrow an SSL Duende, I hav'nt tried it yet but some people say it smokes the waves SSL bundle.
Maybe even give Scotty a call and see if you can borrow an essence comp or 2, I just got one and it sounds superb, I think around $2800 for a pair, he may even do em cheaper for a pair. For bass they are awesome , I've tried it on vox and drums too with great results.It's almost the same as the Buzz soc though with class A amplifiers and Lundahl input and output transformers, very nice.

Your welcome to drop on over if you like and have a play with some plugs and comps.

Cheers
Heath

[Aearth]

Thanks everyone.
I looked at the Waves SSL and for the price I can buy a stereo outboard comp and my mac is only a dual 867 and recommended min from Waves is a dual 1.2
Hmmmm may need to ring Scott.


Nick

[Kris]

hey nick, you can try my TC Powercore firewire if you like. Give me a call.

kris.

[davemc]

Plugins well URS and Waves SSL are ok. Same the Chandler EMI stuff.
None to me gives the nice distortsion of real outboard, when I compared the URS 2254 to my 2254 similar sound just no where near it in terms of 3Dness and magic.
You could go and make DIY SSL comp if $'s are tight, I thought the one I have here sounds better then plugs I tried.
One of the things I thought the 1969/1968 did well was a parallel drum sub.. On the stereo buss never really liked it.

[Peter Knight]

Hey Dave have you tried the URS Cambridge EQ? I'v heard its pretty good, wondering if I should finally bite the URS bullet.

[davemc]

Hey Dave have you tried the URS Cambridge EQ? I'v heard its pretty good, wondering if I should finally bite the URS bullet.

Cambridge is UAD? isn't it.. I have a few mates you have UAD cards and love them.. Me I am happy with the Sony plugin pack myself.. Not the color, although I just do not think plugins do color well myself.
URS seem ok. I A/B there Neve with the Shep I had and again sounded ok just no magic.. I mean they are very usable plugins, I just think they should market them as good eq's and compressors instead of having a GUI and say Neve/API/SSL because they are not the same.

[heathen]

Yeah I agree, the gui's are very misleading. Most emulations are not even close, hows the price of the waves mercury (neve emulations) bundle,I think $11,000 US, you can get the hardware at that price, rediculous!

[Aearth]

I really can't believe how Waves can justify the price of their software and then hit you for their annual WUP fee.

Nic

[davemc]

I will not buy the waves SSL stuff. More interested in the firewire duane? SSL have. Does not cost much of a difference $ wise, uses no computer power and no WUP...I know a few people who like there liquid mix as well..Plugins are getting better although still prefer hardware if I can. Although now I am just doing some mixing at home ITB so selling the last outboard I have

I think waves is so much as probably only 1% of studios who have waves actually own it. :D

[SNJ Studio]

Well, if your are used to a Drawmer or a pair of Distressors on your drum bus, then plugins are not going to sound as good. There will be some that are usuable, even inspiring, but IMHO having those beautiful outboard units patched into insert points of an analogue channel is never going to sound like a mix that is in the box, being summed digitally, and has a plug in doing dynamics. The hardware will hold it's value for years, might even increase if you buy the right unit. There is more respect earned with rack units sitting on the desk than GUI's on a screen. Sure you cannot create multiple instances without bouncing tracks, but would you prefer 10 tracks of Alesis 3630 or two channels of LA2A? Because most digital compression sounds like a 3630 on a bad day, unless you spend big moolah.

Here are some digital exceptions to the rule. URS plugs can sound very cool - personally, I get more joy from the 1970 compressor than the 1980. The waves compression is crap - the renaisance (sic) plugs are very crunchy and lo-fi, and anything over 9dB of compression sounds very bad. The waves SSL compression does not impress me, even on stereo busses which is what is was made for. Sounds thin, sucks too much transient out of my sounds, not slow enough attack. If waves had of released this plug without any SSL letters associated, it would be burned at the stake in forums, but no.... it's an SSL man! Well sounds like warm shit to me. The UAD-1 compression is where it is at, my friend. I think this is as close to analogue compression I have ever heard in digital land. The fairchild is what you need on your drum bus, maybe some LA2A.... my hat really goes off to Universal Audio and I haven't even heard the new Neve emulations which are getting glowing reviews from guys who always bag out digital compressors.

My summary would be just save up for the hardware. If you really have to stay digital, sample some love from UAD-1.
Adam B

[Peter Knight]

Hey Dave have you tried the URS Cambridge EQ? I'v heard its pretty good, wondering if I should finally bite the URS bullet.

Cambridge is UAD?

You're dead right mate. Temporary brain explosion over here :lol:

[heathen]

I dunno Adam the Waves ssl channel is pretty good for mixing drums if you patch out into a nice analog comp, though on thier own they are not superb, I find the bottom end in the channel strip eq pretty chunky for a plugin I also really like its gate, though the channel comp sux pretty bad. The emulation of the stereo buss comp is pretty poor too, Smart C2 is wayyyyy better . Though yeah gimmee some real ssl channels anyday. Mmmmmm a rack of 8 xlogic eq's would be great, though tooo much for me.

[electricsound]

Second the UAD love. I totally adore the UAD Fairchild on the drum bus.. can't get enough

[kingtone]

I reckon you should buy a Drawmer 1968ME.... i could sell you one for good price!! :wink:

[Chinagraf]

Have you seen the Rolls super stereo compressor? Worth a look if your into the SSL thing, it's a bit cleaner though. I have heard good things about the Hand Crafted Labs Levllar also.