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Post by zonkola on Feb 12, 2022 15:26:01 GMT -6
Say you wanted to get a 500-series comp/limiter with the ballpark sound of an LA-2A. Assuming that either a single or doublewide unit would fit your rack, the primary source was vocals, and your priority was sound & vibe, which would you choose? - IGS One LA 500
- ACME Opticom XLA-500
- Crane Song Falcon
- Other?
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 12, 2022 16:24:55 GMT -6
Chandler Opto is great.
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Post by michaelcleary on Feb 12, 2022 17:46:56 GMT -6
the only one I own is The Cranesong Falcon. Lovely unit that sounds great on everything.
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Post by bricejchandler on Feb 13, 2022 5:38:33 GMT -6
I've used 4 500 series optos.
I've owned the IGS and a JLM.
The compression of the IGS is definitely similar to the LA2A, the actual tone is not.
It really tames the upper mids, but not in a smooth way, it tends to dull the sound a bit too much for my taste. It's definitely usable on some sources but I wouldn't want it to be my only comp.
The Jlm sounds really big, on the darker side.
I've used the Inward Brute. Sounds more modern than the others. Cool on vocals and bass. It sounds pretty bright. Great to add some excitement.
The Acme is amazing, sounds huge but has a really really colored sound. It's probably my favorite of these 4 comps. Not something you will use on every track but when it works, it can be perfect. The pluginalliance plugin, though not as good, will at least give you some idea of the sound if you can demo it. If you don't like the Plugin at all, you probably won't like the real thing.
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Post by anders on Feb 13, 2022 9:26:45 GMT -6
JLM LA-500 seconded. Very nice on vocals, but also bass and electric guitar.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 13, 2022 9:29:59 GMT -6
Yeah - you’ll never get the tone from a 500 series comp like a regular size just because of transformer size. At least with my experience.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 13, 2022 9:31:08 GMT -6
But as far as like nice gain reduction, the TG Opto and CAPI FC526 are the best 500 series I’ve used.
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Post by mitchkricun on Feb 13, 2022 10:19:41 GMT -6
I’m a fan of the Brute by Inward Connections. I just really connect with the tone of that company and I often track with it because I get the tone and subtle control without ever have to hear any compression artifacts. For some reason, I have a hard time doing that with a La2.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 13, 2022 10:40:29 GMT -6
I’m a fan of the Brute by Inward Connections. I just really connect with the tone of that company and I often track with it because I get the tone and subtle control without ever have to hear any compression artifacts. For some reason, I have a hard time doing that with a La2. Totally forgot about the Brute. It’s awesome. |
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Post by zonkola on Feb 13, 2022 11:15:08 GMT -6
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check out the Chandler for sure, and it'd be fun to build the JLM and CAPI modules. I didn't know about the Opticom plugin demo, thanks for the tip.
I have a pair of Serpent Chimera (LA-3A inspired) comps that I like on guitars but aren't my first choice for vocals. Is the Brute (now the Tree Audio LC/1?) similar to the Chimera, or does it do something different?
@johnkenn How would you describe the FC526?
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Post by superwack on Feb 13, 2022 12:00:46 GMT -6
You may want to check out the Buzz Essence it’s more often compared to the CL1B than the LA2A but it’s a really great sounding, full featured 500 series compressor
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Post by srb on Feb 13, 2022 12:39:17 GMT -6
Another vote for the Crane Song Falcon.
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Post by ml on Feb 13, 2022 12:43:19 GMT -6
You may want to check out the Buzz Essence it’s more often compared to the CL1B than the LA2A but it’s a really great sounding, full featured 500 series compressor I've always wanted to try one of these on vocals. Do you consider it transparent? or does it have a vibe to it? |
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Post by nnajar on Feb 13, 2022 13:56:44 GMT -6
atlas leviathan
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Post by superwack on Feb 13, 2022 15:22:55 GMT -6
You may want to check out the Buzz Essence it’s more often compared to the CL1B than the LA2A but it’s a really great sounding, full featured 500 series compressor I've always wanted to try one of these on vocals. Do you consider it transparent? or does it have a vibe to it? It’s got a bit of vibe because of the transformers on the input and output but they’re Lundhal so it’s not a gritty/dirty vibe |
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Post by keymod on Feb 14, 2022 6:41:18 GMT -6
SoundSkulptor make an LA502
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Post by jhsmastering on Feb 14, 2022 7:23:44 GMT -6
Anyone tried Rolls Valvop?
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Post by enlav on Feb 14, 2022 8:32:38 GMT -6
I've always wanted to try one of these on vocals. Do you consider it transparent? or does it have a vibe to it? It’s got a bit of vibe because of the transformers on the input and output but they’re Lundhal so it’s not a gritty/dirty vibe In terms of compression characteristics, the Essence is so flexible you can basically dial in whatever artifacts you want too (within reason). The natural character of running audio through isn't going to be in the same ball park as... a 2A or Sta-level (AS Opto/V-COMP+ in my case/experience) in terms of how perceivable the difference will be...
...but for lack of a better explanation, whatever I run through the Essence, it tends to end up sounding tonally smoother as well as having smoother dynamics.
Though I'll note, I've never just run signal through the Essence without compression to see if it's happening as a result of going through the unit+output stage.
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Post by nobtwiddler on Feb 14, 2022 8:42:15 GMT -6
Shadow Hills Mono Optograph, is amazing on vocals~!
(as well as bass, & guitars,)
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Post by ml on Feb 15, 2022 16:27:43 GMT -6
It’s got a bit of vibe because of the transformers on the input and output but they’re Lundhal so it’s not a gritty/dirty vibe In terms of compression characteristics, the Essence is so flexible you can basically dial in whatever artifacts you want too (within reason). The natural character of running audio through isn't going to be in the same ball park as... a 2A or Sta-level (AS Opto/V-COMP+ in my case/experience) in terms of how perceivable the difference will be...
...but for lack of a better explanation, whatever I run through the Essence, it tends to end up sounding tonally smoother as well as having smoother dynamics.
Though I'll note, I've never just run signal through the Essence without compression to see if it's happening as a result of going through the unit+output stage.
That sounds really nice. what are you mainly using yours on? |
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Post by enlav on Feb 15, 2022 16:59:07 GMT -6
That sounds really nice. what are you mainly using yours on? Almost entirely voice-over - but for my passion projects and personal work, I was honestly keeping it at the end of my input analog chain for the longest time (MP-2NV>LH95>Essence>interface) for acoustic, vocals, DI and amps.
In some cases, it would just keep the threshold at a point where an erratic note or something wouldn't clip the interface (fast attack for an opto).
I'm in the honey-moon phase with some other pieces right now, so it's not seeing as much music work.
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Post by Ward on Feb 15, 2022 18:30:23 GMT -6
audioscape V3a is absolutely unbelievably good. yes I'm biased, but I'm also telling the truth.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,099 
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Post by ericn on Feb 16, 2022 11:39:07 GMT -6
Get weird get either of the standard audio units.
Seriously this when you buy something you normally wouldn’t consider.
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Post by zonkola on Feb 16, 2022 13:14:34 GMT -6
Get weird get either of the standard audio units. Seriously this when you buy something you normally wouldn’t consider. Can you expand on this, please? Are you referring to the Level-Or and Stretch comps? |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,099
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Post by ericn on Feb 16, 2022 13:55:17 GMT -6
Get weird get either of the standard audio units. Seriously this when you buy something you normally wouldn’t consider. Can you expand on this, please? Are you referring to the Level-Or and Stretch comps? Both. ! The Levelor is a fun comp, it’s not clean but fun, the stretch doing that modded Dolby thing just works some times depending on the voice. |
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