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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 13, 2021 21:17:15 GMT -6
jmoose , just to be clear, your three friends had the option of cancelling and getting a full refund but chose other products, which they received ? They didn’t receive items they had not ordered ? Feel I was pretty clear... have nothing else to say on the matter. Anything further is a waste of time. Not what I came here for. I agree
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 13, 2021 21:21:39 GMT -6
Bruv, sometimes I can't gel with a piece of gear and the Vari-Mu was one. I had mine for a few years. A few years of trying to make it work. Patching it in, patching it out, so it just occupied a lot of space and tied up capital. Much MUCH happier with the audioscape V-Comp. It Mu-ves me. Attempting to get back on target here... I'm looking to add a compressor for the 2 mix with obvious color. Clean? Transparent? Nah. Have that already. And fwiw I also have an SSL type... RMS 755 super stereo. And it's great, has gotten used somewhere on nearly every mix for the last decade plus. But i also dont really love it. Main reason I have it is because there are plenty of times a project comes in for mixing and I need that particular sound. Obvious color for me can be desired because I want a heavy tonal stamp. Sometimes that's what the music needs... In a world where some artists are tracking at home, sending things out for mix... Often I get things that are squeaky clean and input like... Our mixes sound ok but they don't pop like our favorite famous album. Many of those albums were mixed to tape and with transformer coupled consoles & outboard. Theres a certain tone to that. So my thinking is why not get a Manley or 33609? Tube Tech LCA etc that can throw on some color? Owned & mixed to an A80 years ago & I'm happy to be free of actual tape machines... but... that tone? Sometimes lacking. Last year I did a lot of ITB mixing. More then like, the previous 5 years combined. Obvious differences between hard & software aside... I found myself gravitating towards things like the UAD vari mu & Fairchild across the stereo bus. So that got me thinking..? Either the Stam or Audioscape would be great for what you’re talking about, but how about the RND 535 Diode Bridge comp 500 series? Those looks really good.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 13, 2021 21:23:43 GMT -6
Bruv, sometimes I can't gel with a piece of gear and the Vari-Mu was one. I had mine for a few years. A few years of trying to make it work. Patching it in, patching it out, so it just occupied a lot of space and tied up capital. Much MUCH happier with the audioscape V-Comp. It Mu-ves me. Attempting to get back on target here... I'm looking to add a compressor for the 2 mix with obvious color. Clean? Transparent? Nah. Have that already. And fwiw I also have an SSL type... RMS 755 super stereo. And it's great, has gotten used somewhere on nearly every mix for the last decade plus. But i also dont really love it. Main reason I have it is because there are plenty of times a project comes in for mixing and I need that particular sound. Obvious color for me can be desired because I want a heavy tonal stamp. Sometimes that's what the music needs... In a world where some artists are tracking at home, sending things out for mix... Often I get things that are squeaky clean and input like... Our mixes sound ok but they don't pop like our favorite famous album. Many of those albums were mixed to tape and with transformer coupled consoles & outboard. Theres a certain tone to that. So my thinking is why not get a Manley or 33609? Tube Tech LCA etc that can throw on some color? Owned & mixed to an A80 years ago & I'm happy to be free of actual tape machines... but... that tone? Sometimes lacking. Last year I did a lot of ITB mixing. More then like, the previous 5 years combined. Obvious differences between hard & software aside... I found myself gravitating towards things like the UAD vari mu & Fairchild across the stereo bus. So that got me thinking..? Sorry - I replied before I read the entire post - but yeah, I use the UAD Manley on the 2 Bus of every mix. In M/S to be able to widen the mix a little and to add a little brightness.
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Post by jmoose on Jun 14, 2021 14:30:24 GMT -6
Sorry - I replied before I read the entire post - but yeah, I use the UAD Manley on the 2 Bus of every mix. In M/S to be able to widen the mix a little and to add a little brightness. All good. Vast majority of mixing is with the SSL X Desk which is why I'm looking at hardware. Last year was nearly all ITB for a variety of reasons. Mostly that when the lockdown hit & everything stopped I figured it was a great time to make some changes I had been thinking about for a long time... then all of a sudden I got really busy with mix work and a room that was totally ripped apart. Been a couple times in the last year that I wondered if I shouldn't have just gone all in with ITB... if it'd be a helluva lot easier? Less expensive for sure... For the vast majority of those projects I'd pop the UAD SSL across the stereo mix and think nahhh... this isn't doing it. Yes I have dynamic control but there's no tone or excitement there. Then realized I've always felt the same way sitting in front of an actual 4000... quad comp works but leaves me flat. At the same time maybe I'm just bored with it, the SSL style? But it doesn't sound unique or creative to me anymore.
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Post by jmoose on Jun 14, 2021 14:45:04 GMT -6
I haven't really liked the Tube Tech when I've used it at studios. I wouldn't personally consider buying one. I owned a TG1 a couple years back and thought it was a really cool compressor with some serious tone and the build felt like a million bucks. Haven't used the Manley. How about a 2500? That's got some cool vibe for rock music, especially when you drive that makeup. Or, if you wanna get wild, check out a Thermionic Culture Rooster. I used that on my drum bus for a bit and it could do some awesome stuff. The eq was nice, but that attitude was KILLER! Rad, getting somewhere now! Been a while since I had a Tube Tech LCA 2A around. Shop I worked out of years ago, that was the go-to over things like Alan Smart and a Compex. Used it on lots of tracking dates too. Its unique for sure, and snappy fast since its VCA. Fond memories. Only got to use the Chandler TG1 in battle once. Was on a tracking date where the producer wanted to keep it on drum room. The rooms were a big part of the drum sound, and it sounded great... but it was also hard to get an actual feel for since we probably could've used anything to smush up drum room mics. Never had a chance to try it on something else, they didn't want to strike drums until the last day of tracking. Know I dig the Chandler LTD2 but that's getting back into the 2254/33609 thing. Manley Vari Mu is something that I know will also get used for tracking. Vocals, bass, guitars... all sorts of stuff. Have used it for electric guitars where its more of a line amp/tone box then anything else. Really not doing much but take it out and you know somethings missing. API 2500 is nice but probably a little too close to the SSL thing? Its got a different color for sure but maybe not different enough? Dunno. Going through the big dog 2 bus comps, one that I've never had a chance to try is the Focusrite red. Probably not what I'm looking for, maybe again too similar to the SSL but its got such a history with guys like CLA and Brauer that I've been curious. Of course, Michael Brauer's actual Red 3 that he used on a zillion records is for sale at Alto music with the rest of his gear. They keep dropping the price with no takers... think it was at $4k to start with which IMO is absurd but now its down to like $2500? lol That might tell me everything I need to know!
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jun 14, 2021 15:05:02 GMT -6
I haven't really liked the Tube Tech when I've used it at studios. I wouldn't personally consider buying one. I owned a TG1 a couple years back and thought it was a really cool compressor with some serious tone and the build felt like a million bucks. Haven't used the Manley. How about a 2500? That's got some cool vibe for rock music, especially when you drive that makeup. Or, if you wanna get wild, check out a Thermionic Culture Rooster. I used that on my drum bus for a bit and it could do some awesome stuff. The eq was nice, but that attitude was KILLER! Rad, getting somewhere now! Been a while since I had a Tube Tech LCA 2A around. Shop I worked out of years ago, that was the go-to over things like Alan Smart and a Compex. Used it on lots of tracking dates too. Its unique for sure, and snappy fast since its VCA. Fond memories. Only got to use the Chandler TG1 in battle once. Was on a tracking date where the producer wanted to keep it on drum room. The rooms were a big part of the drum sound, and it sounded great... but it was also hard to get an actual feel for since we probably could've used anything to smush up drum room mics. Never had a chance to try it on something else, they didn't want to strike drums until the last day of tracking. Know I dig the Chandler LTD2 but that's getting back into the 2254/33609 thing. Manley Vari Mu is something that I know will also get used for tracking. Vocals, bass, guitars... all sorts of stuff. Have used it for electric guitars where its more of a line amp/tone box then anything else. Really not doing much but take it out and you know somethings missing. API 2500 is nice but probably a little too close to the SSL thing? Its got a different color for sure but maybe not different enough? Dunno. Going through the big dog 2 bus comps, one that I've never had a chance to try is the Focusrite red. Probably not what I'm looking for, maybe again too similar to the SSL but its got such a history with guys like CLA and Brauer that I've been curious. Of course, Michael Brauer's actual Red 3 that he used on a zillion records is for sale at Alto music with the rest of his gear. They keep dropping the price with no takers... think it was at $4k to start with which IMO is absurd but now its down to like $2500? lol That might tell me everything I need to know! I use the Red3 on guitars. Never used it on the 2-buss though. I owned a Thermionic Phoenix a few years back and it was great if you're looking for smooth, but sounds like you're looking for more tone.
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Post by ab101 on Jun 14, 2021 16:46:00 GMT -6
Well - if we look at Benny's post, the TG1 and D-comp have something in common. So maybe it makes the most sense to start with the Audioscape d-comp. You can pretend you paid a couple thousand dollars more for it.
When I started this thread I was debating the D-comp, the Buzz DBC and the Heritage Ha-609a (sorry for the typo in the thread name). So, I received the D-comp and compared it to the other two, and I determined that the D-comp was a keeper - it just had this incredible special tone that I did not have in the two other wonderful comps.
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Post by guitfiddler on Jun 14, 2021 20:05:31 GMT -6
Rad, getting somewhere now! Been a while since I had a Tube Tech LCA 2A around. Shop I worked out of years ago, that was the go-to over things like Alan Smart and a Compex. Used it on lots of tracking dates too. Its unique for sure, and snappy fast since its VCA. Fond memories. Only got to use the Chandler TG1 in battle once. Was on a tracking date where the producer wanted to keep it on drum room. The rooms were a big part of the drum sound, and it sounded great... but it was also hard to get an actual feel for since we probably could've used anything to smush up drum room mics. Never had a chance to try it on something else, they didn't want to strike drums until the last day of tracking. Know I dig the Chandler LTD2 but that's getting back into the 2254/33609 thing. Manley Vari Mu is something that I know will also get used for tracking. Vocals, bass, guitars... all sorts of stuff. Have used it for electric guitars where its more of a line amp/tone box then anything else. Really not doing much but take it out and you know somethings missing. API 2500 is nice but probably a little too close to the SSL thing? Its got a different color for sure but maybe not different enough? Dunno. Going through the big dog 2 bus comps, one that I've never had a chance to try is the Focusrite red. Probably not what I'm looking for, maybe again too similar to the SSL but its got such a history with guys like CLA and Brauer that I've been curious. Of course, Michael Brauer's actual Red 3 that he used on a zillion records is for sale at Alto music with the rest of his gear. They keep dropping the price with no takers... think it was at $4k to start with which IMO is absurd but now its down to like $2500? lol That might tell me everything I need to know! I use the Red3 on guitars. Never used it on the 2-buss though. I owned a Thermionic Phoenix a few years back and it was great if you're looking for smooth, but sounds like you're looking for more tone. That's a nice rack! Where's the D-COMP? LOL
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jun 14, 2021 21:11:31 GMT -6
I use the Red3 on guitars. Never used it on the 2-buss though. I owned a Thermionic Phoenix a few years back and it was great if you're looking for smooth, but sounds like you're looking for more tone. That's a nice rack! Where's the D-COMP? LOL My only D is in my pants. I got a V-Comp though.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 14, 2021 22:07:32 GMT -6
I use the Red3 on guitars. Never used it on the 2-buss though. I owned a Thermionic Phoenix a few years back and it was great if you're looking for smooth, but sounds like you're looking for more tone. That's a nice rack! That’s What She Said
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 14, 2021 22:07:47 GMT -6
Wait. That’s what he said.
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Post by Blackdawg on Jun 14, 2021 22:10:33 GMT -6
That's a nice rack! Where's the D-COMP? LOL My only D is in my pants. I got a V-Comp though. post of the year
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Post by jmoose on Jun 15, 2021 9:42:51 GMT -6
I use the Red3 on guitars. Never used it on the 2-buss though. I owned a Thermionic Phoenix a few years back and it was great if you're looking for smooth, but sounds like you're looking for more tone. Really? You have that and never popped it across the mix? That seems so strange to me... But think you said your an ITB mixer yes no? Yes. Looking for tone...Talked to JJP at the 2019 AES show, felt like I cornered him but was a total gentleman... highly approachable. Great guy. Got me reset on the idea of chasing tone... He described it thinking as a guitar player. All that stupid stuff we do... batteries vs power supply for the pedals, swapping pickups, trying different cables to see what sounds "best" in the rig... then in the studio do you use the speaker patches built into the walls or do they suck and you run cables under the door? For him it all starts with the 2 mix. Makes total sense, everything flows through that pipe. Since I "downgraded" to the SSL X desk w/less inputs I'm doing more ITB then I used to so everything that happens out of the box really needs to earn its place. For some reason I never think of Thermionic... Only piece I've tried was the Culture Vulture and I just didn't get it at all.
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Post by notneeson on Jun 16, 2021 9:23:19 GMT -6
I haven't really liked the Tube Tech when I've used it at studios. I wouldn't personally consider buying one. I owned a TG1 a couple years back and thought it was a really cool compressor with some serious tone and the build felt like a million bucks. Haven't used the Manley. How about a 2500? That's got some cool vibe for rock music, especially when you drive that makeup. Or, if you wanna get wild, check out a Thermionic Culture Rooster. I used that on my drum bus for a bit and it could do some awesome stuff. The eq was nice, but that attitude was KILLER! Rad, getting somewhere now! Been a while since I had a Tube Tech LCA 2A around. Shop I worked out of years ago, that was the go-to over things like Alan Smart and a Compex. Used it on lots of tracking dates too. Its unique for sure, and snappy fast since its VCA. Fond memories. Only got to use the Chandler TG1 in battle once. Was on a tracking date where the producer wanted to keep it on drum room. The rooms were a big part of the drum sound, and it sounded great... but it was also hard to get an actual feel for since we probably could've used anything to smush up drum room mics. Never had a chance to try it on something else, they didn't want to strike drums until the last day of tracking. Know I dig the Chandler LTD2 but that's getting back into the 2254/33609 thing. Manley Vari Mu is something that I know will also get used for tracking. Vocals, bass, guitars... all sorts of stuff. Have used it for electric guitars where its more of a line amp/tone box then anything else. Really not doing much but take it out and you know somethings missing. API 2500 is nice but probably a little too close to the SSL thing? Its got a different color for sure but maybe not different enough? Dunno. Going through the big dog 2 bus comps, one that I've never had a chance to try is the Focusrite red. Probably not what I'm looking for, maybe again too similar to the SSL but its got such a history with guys like CLA and Brauer that I've been curious. Of course, Michael Brauer's actual Red 3 that he used on a zillion records is for sale at Alto music with the rest of his gear. They keep dropping the price with no takers... think it was at $4k to start with which IMO is absurd but now its down to like $2500? lol That might tell me everything I need to know! I cohabitated with a Tube Tech LCA for many years and was very fond of the sound. Got a lot done with just that and an Alach modded LA4A. But, my partner felt the Tube Tech was a bit of a maintenance hog. He later worked under John Nowland as a Second AE and tech looking after all kinds of tube gear, which I only mention to show that my guy is pretty savvy about maintaining tube gear. Just one opinion, of course.
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Post by jmoose on Jun 16, 2021 13:14:56 GMT -6
I cohabitated with a Tube Tech LCA for many years and was very fond of the sound. Got a lot done with just that and an Alach modded LA4A. But, my partner felt the Tube Tech was a bit of a maintenance hog. He later worked under John Nowland as a Second AE and tech looking after all kinds of tube gear, which I only mention to show that my guy is pretty savvy about maintaining tube gear. Just one opinion, of course. The one I'm most familiar with (have used a few of the LCA) ran super hot and yeah, created some problems. Their lo tech solution was to pull the cover off for increased heat dissipation & airflow. Granted that's not the safest thing in the world but it worked. Just don't stick your hand in the guts! It was like an AC30, tube based easy bake oven that could cook itself to death.
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Post by OtisGreying on Aug 6, 2021 1:52:36 GMT -6
Anyone have any thoughts on how the RND 535 or 5254 matches up to the already mentioned diode compressors?
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 6, 2021 8:08:02 GMT -6
Anyone have any thoughts on how the RND 535 or 5254 matches up to the already mentioned diode compressors? I don’t know but it looks badass.
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