Stam 33609 mkII

I pre-ordered it too, but I have remorse. Because the BAE 10DCF exists.

I can't get both, I'm under the impression that it would be a bit overkill.

As I understand it, the BAE comp is a mix of 33609 and 2254. That makes total sense to me. I read the 2254 is coloured and edgy, when the 33609 is a bit more polite.

Thoughts on this ? I would love to get some guidance from guys here that might have used both Neve comps, or maybe someone that owns the 2254 or the Stam 33609. Stam wants me to pay 400 euros to pay for the transfos already, so I better make a decision soon.

Just to clarify, the second deposit for transformers is optional, not mandatory. It can also be paid before shipment.

Ha same 😂😂 I really need to unsubscribe to new product emails…

I get a bit bummed with all the MKII’s so soon after the MKI’s. I would have loved a mix knob on my MKI. I should probably skip MKI releases altogether.

Hasn't it been like 3 years?

Time goes fast! Yeah, more like 4 years since I ordered, but only a little over a year since I received it, and then I had to send it in for repair. It’s a great compressor, though! No doubt!!

I’ll have to give it another go.

I have a hardware SSL VCA style comp and a Thermionic Phoenix MP Vari-Mu comp on my mix bus currently,

Perhaps the 3306 will be good on my guitar or drum bus, I will re-evaluate it given it’s love on this thread.

I demoed the UAD API 2500 during their recent sale and it wasn’t my kind of thing. There are so many different flavours of compressors!

The ua neve on drum bus really works .

This is how I got into the 33609, and specifically from a Vance Powell video about using it on parallel drum compression.  He claims the UAD and the hardware are really close, at least with his hardware and his ears.  I like the stuff he works on, so I guess I may be a bit biased.  In any case, I'm eagerly awaiting my MKII Stam.  

I've not used the Stam 33609, but my studio has had both the more modern AMS Neve 33609 and a vintage 'metal knob' unit (for a minute we had both side by side!). And I personally own a pair of BAE 10DCFs, plus, I freelanced for a couple years at place with some really well-maintained vintage 2254s.

Here's my broad view:

- the modern 33609 is the most open-sounding, with an airiness to the compression that's really great on mix buss and on drums

- the metal knob 33609 is a bit thicker, and sounds more 'Neve': more colorful low mids, and a bit darker overall. compression is thick and similarly great on drums; I used it less on mix buss (though to be fair, in general I prefer VCA or mu compression on mix, in that order).

- the 10DCF is a bit more sonically in the class-a 2254 family. more 'box tone' than the newer 33609. adds a nice thickness, but not aggressively so. the compression itself feels more 'gooey' than a 33609. I really like it on drum busses, bass guitars, and vocals. the metering is pointless, btw. ignore it. I LOVE (LOVE!!!!) the sc hpf and especially the control of attack times. that adds MASSIVELY to its versatility.

- 2254 is the king of box tone. it just sounds awesome. the compression is gooey, like the 10DC, though to be honest, I never quite got along with the compression as well as I did with the above boxes. it's not as 'snappy' as I generally like. but the tone of the box is just so damn cool; I'd often find my best results just *barely* tickling the gain reduction, but using the box tone for some extra 'sauce'.

The Stam box is really cool looking. Love the option for the two 'knob' versions. I imagine you won't be disappointed in the least.

Gotta give a shout out to bgrotto, as a while ago, he hipped me to this perspective.  I grabbed a pair of the DCFs and love them, but also have the 609 incoming.  I felt like the explanation was detalied enough to at least take a dive into both and see how they work for me.  I've been supplementing with the UAD 33609 and so far, both seem useful for my needs on drums. 


I'm also quite happy to hear its not just me that sort of punted on the DCF metering.  I've been using my ears more on that piece of gear, and in retrospect, I think its actually helped me more than I had realized up front, and is probably the "correct" way of doing things haha.   

I think you're good haha. I've been pleasantly surprised how versatile the DCFs are, and at least in my limited experience with them so far, they can offer a wide variety of sounds and effect. I don't think they're ever going to be confused for a Distressor for instance, but those things always seemed to be quite versatile in their own way, and I find them a bit easier to dial in very specific settings, at least visually based on the metering, for instance.

However, that aesthetic would kill the DCF visual vibe for me. Its nice to have the VU on there, but I've sort of relegated them (for now, possibly) to just something cool to look at jumping and pumping around while I'm doing the actual critical listening and making my moves.  Same-ish concept with my old Overstayer FET, the little half rack one.  Sounds great, but the metering on that really is useless haha.  Mine has three lights, which is basically off/sort of on/nuked.