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Post by keymod on Nov 10, 2019 7:41:23 GMT -6
What are people using on their drum buss? API 2500 seems to be a standard. I'm looking for 500 series recommendations. What's another alternative to an API 529?
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Post by thirdeye on Nov 10, 2019 7:48:23 GMT -6
I switch between a Serpent SB4001 and a SSL G Comp.
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Post by kevinnyc on Nov 10, 2019 8:26:48 GMT -6
Keymod you’re a soundskulptor fan, right? This one is near the top of my list for a next build....
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Post by keymod on Nov 10, 2019 9:16:29 GMT -6
Hi Kev!, How've you been? Lol, I already built one and it is very nice. I am wondering if someone makes an API-style buss compressor kit? ( waiting for Jeff to do a CAPI version ) Otherwise, I may build another CP4500 when funds allow.
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Post by guitfiddler on Nov 10, 2019 9:17:27 GMT -6
This is my next one. I realize you said 500 series, but this seems to be a serious contender.
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Post by swurveman on Nov 10, 2019 9:31:56 GMT -6
I now use the Waves SSL plugin for both my drum and parallel busses. I had a hardware Smart C2 and an API 2500. The 2500 had much more of a midrange sound. So, if you wanted the snare to pop it was the better choice. The C2 was warmer. If you wanted to brighten your overheads and give the snare a bit more oomph the 2500 was an excellent choice. I have not heard the 2500 plugin, but have read that it's not comparable to the hardware. Anybody using it?
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Post by svart on Nov 10, 2019 10:07:49 GMT -6
Always a SSL style
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Post by guitfiddler on Nov 10, 2019 12:19:07 GMT -6
I now use the Waves SSL plugin for both my drum and parallel busses. I had a hardware Smart C2 and an API 2500. The 2500 had much more of a midrange sound. So, if you wanted the snare to pop it was the better choice. The C2 was warmer. If you wanted to brighten your overheads and give the snare a bit more oomph the 2500 was an excellent choice. I have not heard the 2500 plugin, but have read that it's not comparable to the hardware. Anybody using it?
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Post by drbill on Nov 10, 2019 12:44:17 GMT -6
500 only? SB4001 would be my choice. The "Grind" feature is nice on drums.
If you really want a more aggressive smash, I'd choose Mr. Focus 500 modules with Smash Comp in the first slot and Mass Drivr in the second slot. Can get really heavy handed, but there's a mix blend, so it works out really well quite often.
BTW, the SB4001 has a direct / wet blend as well.
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Post by soundintheround on Nov 10, 2019 13:56:56 GMT -6
I like Vari-Mu type compression, but one with a decently fast release....no SSL for me.
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Post by stormymondays on Nov 10, 2019 15:03:57 GMT -6
I like SSL style and the Drawmer 1968. No 500-series, sorry!
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Post by timcampbell on Nov 10, 2019 15:15:05 GMT -6
I use A Gyraf Audio G3. It's a stereo, tube opto-compressor. A much better sounding La2a.
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Post by soundintheround on Nov 10, 2019 15:31:21 GMT -6
I use A Gyraf Audio G3. It's a stereo, tube opto-compressor. A much better sounding La2a.
To each their own, but I find LA-2As just fine as they are
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Post by EmRR on Nov 10, 2019 15:31:47 GMT -6
The SB4001 is hard to beat. I'll switch between that and an FCS P4DMS or P3 most of the time, and the SB4001 wins if I want a smushier 'tape' sound with some pillowy smack to it. Seems more present. Something that needs more transient edge to it might win in the FCS comps. It's too bad the fancy FCS P3500 stereo 500 module went away, not many out there, basically a P3 in 500 form. Sometimes I'll use a pair of Distressors, sometimes a vari-mu pair no one ever heard of....
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Post by Blackdawg on Nov 10, 2019 17:01:59 GMT -6
SB4001 here as well. Kicks ass on everything really. I don't think there is a better SSL Bus comp out there considering all of the features it has(which is literally all of them) and sound is so good. I got mine basically new off Reverb for only 680 bucks too. The deals pop up here and there on it. Add some DIYRE EQP5s after it and man...hard to beat the combo.
Be cool if Jeff did a 2500 stereo 500 kit though. But I bet two of the comps he does make would be fun as well as it is.
You could also get a SSL comp like Audioscapes and add the Cavendish mod to it which adds some API transformers on the output and 2520 style op amps on it for some more mid range drive.
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Post by drbill on Nov 10, 2019 17:05:48 GMT -6
SB4001 here as well. Kicks ass on everything really. I don't think there is a better SSL Bus comp out there considering all of the features it has(which is literally all of them) and sound is so good. I got mine basically new off Reverb for only 680 bucks too. The deals pop up here and there on it. Add some DIYRE EQP5s after it and man...hard to beat the combo. Be cool if Jeff did a 2500 stereo 500 kit though. But I bet two of the comps he does make would be fun as well as it is. You could also get a SSL comp like Audioscapes and add the Cavendish mod to it which adds some API transformers on the output and 2520 style op amps on it for some more mid range drive. OR....drop a Mr. Focus after it for both API and/or Tube circuits. That's what I'm doing quite often....
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Post by Blackdawg on Nov 10, 2019 17:08:17 GMT -6
SB4001 here as well. Kicks ass on everything really. I don't think there is a better SSL Bus comp out there considering all of the features it has(which is literally all of them) and sound is so good. I got mine basically new off Reverb for only 680 bucks too. The deals pop up here and there on it. Add some DIYRE EQP5s after it and man...hard to beat the combo. Be cool if Jeff did a 2500 stereo 500 kit though. But I bet two of the comps he does make would be fun as well as it is. You could also get a SSL comp like Audioscapes and add the Cavendish mod to it which adds some API transformers on the output and 2520 style op amps on it for some more mid range drive. OR....drop a Mr. Focus after it for both API and/or Tube circuits. That's what I'm doing quite often.... that sounds like it would work quite well! I am going to have to get some of those the more and more I look at them. I just with the pin out was VPR standard. Was a bit disappointed to find out its Purple Sweet 10 pinout which means my "console" im building they can't be used as easily. Won't likely stop me from getting a few. But would have ended up with likely 8-12 of them if they were VPR.
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Post by drbill on Nov 10, 2019 17:29:28 GMT -6
OR....drop a Mr. Focus after it for both API and/or Tube circuits. That's what I'm doing quite often.... that sounds like it would work quite well! I am going to have to get some of those the more and more I look at them. I just with the pin out was VPR standard. Was a bit disappointed to find out its Purple Sweet 10 pinout which means my "console" im building they can't be used as easily. Won't likely stop me from getting a few. But would have ended up with likely 8-12 of them if they were VPR. Huh? I'm pretty sure they are VPR standard on the pinouts. Capable of working in CAPI, Purple or Radial racks. Are you sure? Maybe touch base with Brad on the LTL website. If your "console" is non standardized, then I don't know. All bets are off on that. But we've never had anyone with a pinout problem.
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Post by ragan on Nov 10, 2019 17:35:18 GMT -6
I'm keen on trying an SB4001. I use a pair of WA76 and they are good but I don't always want 1176 smash.
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Post by timcampbell on Nov 10, 2019 18:19:07 GMT -6
I use A Gyraf Audio G3. It's a stereo, tube opto-compressor. A much better sounding La2a.
To each their own, but I find LA-2As just fine as they are
Have you tried a Gyraf G3? I have used plenty of LA2A's and this sounds a little better to my ears and it is stereo since we are talking buss compression. Perhaps it's Jakob's choice of tubes or transformers.
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Post by BradM on Nov 10, 2019 18:29:34 GMT -6
I am going to have to get some of those the more and more I look at them. I just with the pin out was VPR standard. Was a bit disappointed to find out its Purple Sweet 10 pinout which means my "console" im building they can't be used as easily. Won't likely stop me from getting a few. But would have ended up with likely 8-12 of them if they were VPR. The pinout for Mister Focus conforms to the API spec last I checked: Mister Focus Pinout: 1. CHASSIS GND 2. OUT+ 3. not connected 4. OUT- 5. AGND 6. STEREO LINK (not connected) 7. IN- 8. IN- 9. IN+ 10. IN+ 11. Radial Mix Bus (can be disabled by removing 4.7k resistor) 12. +16V 13. PGND 14. -16V 15. +48V (not connected) For reference here's the API VPR Pinout: 1. CHASSIS GND 2. OUT+ (+4 level) 3. OUT+ (-2 level) 4. OUT- 5. AGND 6. STEREO LINK 7. IN- (-2 level) 8. IN- (+4 level) 9. IN+ (-2 level) 10. IN+ (+4 level) 11. Gain Trim resistor 12. +16V 13. PGND 14. -16V 15. +48V Mister Focus also is compatible with the Purple racks and the Radial Racks. If you have questions about this feel free to call me at the number on my website. I'd be happy to clarify any technical concerns you may have. For fun here's 16 Mister Focus loaded into a vintage custom API console (works just fine): cheers, Brad
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Post by wiz on Nov 10, 2019 19:17:31 GMT -6
I actually don't compress the drums as a group.... I feel like the lone guy in the desert 8)
I compress my kick with a modded dbx 163X, snare with a dbx 160VU, Golden Age comp 54s on toms, and a modded aphex 320a on overheads
So VCA on snare and kick, Diode bridge on Toms and who knows how the compeller works 8)
cheers
WIz
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Post by timcampbell on Nov 10, 2019 19:29:45 GMT -6
I actually don't compress the drums as a group.... I feel like the lone guy in the desert 8) I don't actually run the whole drums as a group through the compressor. Each drum is usually recorded with some kind of compression. Then I use the G3 a bit like you would a reverb. I listen to the drums as a group and any drums that I feel would benefit some thickening I send to the compressor and really squash them for effect and bring that signal up slowly parallel to the drums until it sounds as I desire.
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Post by drsax on Nov 10, 2019 20:22:46 GMT -6
In 500 Series the Wes Audio Dione is a winner. SSL style with digital recall. Pretty amazing.
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Post by matt@IAA on Nov 10, 2019 21:23:15 GMT -6
I am going to have to get some of those the more and more I look at them. I just with the pin out was VPR standard. Was a bit disappointed to find out its Purple Sweet 10 pinout which means my "console" im building they can't be used as easily. Won't likely stop me from getting a few. But would have ended up with likely 8-12 of them if they were VPR. The pinout for Mister Focus conforms to the API spec last I checked: Mister Focus Pinout: 1. CHASSIS GND 2. OUT+ 3. not connected 4. OUT- 5. AGND 6. STEREO LINK (not connected) 7. IN- 8. IN- 9. IN+ 10. IN+ 11. Radial Mix Bus (can be disabled by removing 4.7k resistor) 12. +16V 13. PGND 14. -16V 15. +48V (not connected) For reference here's the API VPR Pinout: 1. CHASSIS GND 2. OUT+ (+4 level) 3. OUT+ (-2 level) 4. OUT- 5. AGND 6. STEREO LINK 7. IN- (-2 level) 8. IN- (+4 level) 9. IN+ (-2 level) 10. IN+ (+4 level) 11. Gain Trim resistor 12. +16V 13. PGND 14. -16V 15. +48V Mister Focus also is compatible with the Purple racks and the Radial Racks. If you have questions about this feel free to call me at the number on my website. I'd be happy to clarify any technical concerns you may have. For fun here's 16 Mister Focus loaded into a vintage custom API console (works just fine): cheers, Brad Ha I recognize that console
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