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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 30, 2014 9:56:18 GMT -6
Here's my situation. I currently take a hybrid approach to mixing. I use a Midas VeniceF32 for i/o. When tracking, I use some external pres or my Midas pres, sometimes through some compression, into Pro Tools. On mixdown, I use a combination of plugins and hardware eq/compression, sum through the Midas, then record my summed mix back into Pro Tools. For drum buss compression, I either have to sum all my drum tracks in the box and output a stereo pair to the console or sum all the drum tracks to buss 1/2 on the console and use a piece of hardware. Because I prefer to do the majority of my mixing using the console and faders, I use a hardware buss comp on the drums. Right now, I'm using a Drawmer 1968 and it's fine. I like the fact that it has the high pass sidechain switch and I've been reasonably happy with it on acoustic guitars and drum buss, but it doesn't get me fired up. It just seems fine.
I don't want fine, at a minimum I want good. If I unload the 1968, I could get away with spending around the $2300 mark. Here are a few bits that I have on my radar.
BAE 10DC - I've been pretty interested in the 10dc for a while. Seems like a pretty cool color piece that a lot of cats are using on their drum buss. Seems like it could also get some use with guitars, individual drums, and vocals too if I want to fatten something up.
API 2500 - I have some experience with this on rock drum buss and master buss and think it rocks, but haven't used it anywhere else. Is this versatile enough to be able to track acoustic guitars through? Could I use it on the master buss for a folk tune? Is it too aggressive and rock and roll for softer stuff? Also, it can only go on one source at a time, no dual mono use that the 10dc would give me.
Thermionic Culture Phoenix - More money than I'm looking to spend, but it seems like a killer box. Could probably unload a few other items and grab a used one when they come around, but is it really worth the extra coin?
The other options are to keep the 1968 and grab another less expensive piece...
Elysia Xpressor - Lot's of people seem to dig this guy, but I feel like I want something that has more tone. I can use plugs for clean.
Alta Moda Hippo - Looks like a cool, not very well known comp.
Shadow Hills Dual Vandergraph - Looks awesome and is supposed to have a lot of tone, but not a lot of control.
Pair of Warm WA76's with Stereo Link - Never used stereo 1176's. I like them on kick, snare, bass, and vox, but I don't know how they would work on a buss.
Anything else that I should look at/think about? What are your thoughts on these comps? Thanks y'all!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 12:49:29 GMT -6
I would go with a pair of 76s or distressors. Definitely a pair of compressors either way.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 30, 2014 12:54:18 GMT -6
I would go with a pair of 76s or distressors. Definitely a pair of compressors either way. Pair over a stereo unit? I also have RJR buss comp, RNC, DBX163, JoeMeekVC1, Inward Connections Brute, Retro Doublewide, Schmidlin Fed+, and a ProVLA, plus a bunch of decent plugs. |
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Post by svart on Jan 30, 2014 13:46:54 GMT -6
I tend to change my mind about things all the time as I figure out ways of doing things.
Once it was the SSL bus compressor on the drums, but not overheads.
Then it was 2x 1176 on drums AND overheads bussed together.
Sometimes it's parallel compresssion on drums, maybe overheads too.
Now it's 2x 1176 on overheads POST EQ and then 1176 compression on snare and kick and automation on toms.
I guess what I'm saying is that 1176's are always there somewhere, you can't go wrong with them.
I do, however, always mix into an SSL bus compressor on the main outputs. That can get your sound a lot further than doing it more upstream.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 30, 2014 14:00:25 GMT -6
Right now I'm using 1176 plugs on kick and snare. Once I get to my board, I send all the drums to a drum buss and compress there, while also sending my kick and snare to the master buss where the SSL type sits. So basically my drum buss comp is parallel for kick and snare.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 14:38:56 GMT -6
I would go with a pair of 76s or distressors. Definitely a pair of compressors either way. Pair over a stereo unit? I also have RJR buss comp, RNC, DBX163, JoeMeekVC1, Inward Connections Brute, Retro Doublewide, Schmidlin Fed+, and a ProVLA, plus a bunch of decent plugs. Sell the RNC and ProVLA. The RJR is a killer mix bus compressor, I would definitely keep it there. Like I said, I would definitely go for a pair of compressors. If you went with a pair of distressors you could track your kick and snare through them and then pair them for drum buss duties. I would definitely go for that kind of functionality. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 30, 2014 15:17:34 GMT -6
Drums=API or 1176, I agree with Svart on the 2buss compressor using a kiss of SSL, check out the serpent 19" DIY version, with VCA upgrade, guys who havem lovem
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 1, 2014 7:26:35 GMT -6
drumrec, what do you use for buss compression?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2014 7:57:34 GMT -6
Serpent Audio SB4001 gets me all kinds of hot and bothered on whatever i use it on. It's a quadVCA, tho (SSL) which you might not wanna deal with and also only for 500 series.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 1, 2014 7:59:46 GMT -6
I already have an RJR SSL style buss comp on my master buss. I want something different that I can interchange with the ssl.
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Post by dandeurloo on Feb 1, 2014 8:02:06 GMT -6
Are you into DIY or foes it need to be pre built?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 1, 2014 8:08:26 GMT -6
Are you into DIY or foes it need to be pre built? Prefer pre built because I already have a couple diy projects on the bench, but what did you have in mind? |
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Post by dandeurloo on Feb 1, 2014 8:18:08 GMT -6
There are a number of great DIY options. Another SSL style like the SB4000 could be used on drums or mix the you could switch up the rjr. AC Sound has really great dbx 160 VU clones that sound great on snares and kicks and bass. I even like opto compression on drums. So a dual la2a could do the trick.
If you are into buying. You should consider all of the Serpent comps, they truly are awesome. Great Rivers PWM 501 is every bite as good as a distressor if not better. A pair of those are very handy. I've tracked drums with those (kick and snare), had them on every other instrument and used them on mix buss. They are very good comps.
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Post by drumrec on Feb 1, 2014 12:05:45 GMT -6
drumrec, what do you use for buss compression? Hi Jesse! What I use on the drum bus is an Audio Design F760X-RS (Helios). It is not compex model but the older model with the Helios cards. Then it goes to a stereo pair of Neve 33115 EQ. But sometimes I'm lazy and mixes itb. Had a vintage "ADR F760X-RS Compex" which I just loved. Then I came across the unusual older model with Helios cards. It was love at first moments. I really enjoyed my adr compex, but this old helios model knocks out compex in sound. Do you see such a treasure so buy it right away, it will serve you well. Saw that they have started to produce a new ADR Compex models, might be something!? What interesting tipps Dan Deurloo had. I had the old DBX 160VU, but traded it to a Tube-Tech CL1B. Since then I missed it a little. Saw DIY model AC Sound had, interesting! Can post the picture on my second love after my wife;)  |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 1, 2014 20:13:31 GMT -6
I've looked into that clx a bit. Seems cool, but I always like the 160 on kick/snare, never used it on a buss or other sources. Any standout uses elsewhere?
How about that ADR? Any uses other than drums?
Anyone use a 2500 on anything other than drums or master buss?
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Post by bentley on Feb 1, 2014 21:17:22 GMT -6
Another compressor that's sort of a "jack of all trades" is a Portico 5043. Had one for a while and it worked on pretty much everything I threw at it. Sounded damn fine as a master buss compressor as well even though my STC-8 always seemed to win out for that duty. Might be a touch on the clean side for your taste but is worth checking out. I did have it at the same time I had an Xpressor and I favored the 5043 on pretty much everything I tried the Xpressor on. Just sounded classier for lack of a better description. The only reason I don't still have mine around was the fact that I went back ITB.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 1, 2014 21:23:39 GMT -6
Another compressor that's sort of a "jack of all trades" is a Portico 5043. Had one for a while and it worked on pretty much everything I threw at it. Sounded damn fine as a master buss compressor as well even though my STC-8 always seemed to win out for that duty. Might be a touch on the clean side for your taste but is worth checking out. I did have it at the same time I had an Xpressor and I favored the 5043 on pretty much everything I tried the Xpressor on. Just sounded classier for lack of a better description. The only reason I don't still have mine around was the fact that I went back ITB. Yeah. I want something that has a sound. Not really dirty, just something with a sound to it. Not really sure if the 5043 would have it. Anyone used this Vandergraph? Supposedly sounds pretty thick. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 1, 2014 22:01:19 GMT -6
drumrec, what do you use for buss compression? Hi Jesse! What I use on the drum bus is an Audio Design F760X-RS (Helios). It is not compex model but the older model with the Helios cards. Then it goes to a stereo pair of Neve 33115 EQ. But sometimes I'm lazy and mixes itb. Had a vintage "ADR F760X-RS Compex" which I just loved. Then I came across the unusual older model with Helios cards. It was love at first moments. I really enjoyed my adr compex, but this old helios model knocks out compex in sound. Do you see such a treasure so buy it right away, it will serve you well. Saw that they have started to produce a new ADR Compex models, might be something!? What interesting tipps Dan Deurloo had. I had the old DBX 160VU, but traded it to a Tube-Tech CL1B. Since then I missed it a little. Saw DIY model AC Sound had, interesting! Can post the picture on my second love after my wife;) That's simply beautiful!!! |
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Post by dandeurloo on Feb 1, 2014 22:04:45 GMT -6
The CLX is a great comp. It is great on bass. I have often used it on sub groups as well. It is one of those compressors that always shocks me how cool it is. For the money it is really hard to beat!
I think Colin at AML has a ADR clone. I have always wanted to try it out.
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 1, 2014 22:10:47 GMT -6
The CLX is a great comp. It is great on bass. I have often used it on sub groups as well. It is one of those compressors that always shocks me how cool it is. For the money it is really hard to beat! I think Colin at AML has a ADR clone. I have always wanted to try it out. I've got almost all the parts for the EZF760, just got to get to it, I don't think it's going to be EZ...least not for me 8/ |
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Post by drumrec on Feb 2, 2014 6:57:46 GMT -6
How about that ADR? Any uses other than drums? You can use ADR to all possible sources. It's just about how much you feed the input to the beast. You could say that it is old 1176 with steroids! Cheers /H |
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Post by Randge on Apr 18, 2014 9:39:49 GMT -6
Another nod to a pair of the Great River PWM 501's. The most affordable option and they kick ass, too. Now that I have built 3 more RTZ Audio 10 slot racks, I will be getting more to fill them up.
R
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Post by delcampo on Apr 18, 2014 10:40:37 GMT -6
Anyone use a 2500 on anything other than drums or master buss? I love what the 2500 does for instruments / midrange info stuff maybe most. Vocs too. I do use it on some mix stuff too. Super loving a pair of 10dc's on drums, guitars etc. On a side nite, Last night I ran a piano sample (imperfect pianos) through wsw 811510b pres > 10 dc's > 2500 > retro 2a3. Barely moving meters but what came back via B2 was so freaking nice. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 18, 2014 11:29:12 GMT -6
I ended up picking up a pair of Tonelux TX5C's and should have an API 2500 coming in the mail next week.
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