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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 24, 2022 16:21:39 GMT -6
Just bought one. Always heard how transparent they are. Anyone have any experience?
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,084 
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Aphex 651
Jul 24, 2022 16:44:51 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by ericn on Jul 24, 2022 16:44:51 GMT -6
I knew a guy who had 2 modded by JW, when he got them he was pissed because he swore they both were defective because he couldn’t hear them working, had him print the output so he could see they were doing there job. That’s the big issue you might find yourself really pushing them because they are so clean.
Loved finding them in drive racks and IEM racks before DSP found it’s way into everything.
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Post by notneeson on Jul 24, 2022 17:12:10 GMT -6
Just bought one. Always heard how transparent they are. Anyone have any experience? You can also get pretty non transparent with them and shape the envelope of a kick or snare quite aggressively (useful in parallel more than in line that way). |
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Post by Tbone81 on Jul 24, 2022 17:12:19 GMT -6
I’ve owned many, and still have one in my rack. It’s amazingly transparent, a freakishly good comp ime.
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Post by drbill on Jul 24, 2022 17:32:45 GMT -6
Just bought one. Always heard how transparent they are. Anyone have any experience? Congrats! Yup, I've got 4. Actually I have 661's but they are essentially the same. Have had them for years. If you want controllable, transparent compression, they are excellent. One of the biggest quality bargains out there. I've had musicians (usually bass players) that have completely changed their gain staging without mentioning it to me, and I've ended up compressing 20+ dB and I didn't "hear" it working that hard. The only reason I noticed is that they complained about not being able to get "louder" when they got louder. LOL |
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Post by drumsound on Jul 24, 2022 18:06:49 GMT -6
I'm trying to decide if I'm re-racking mine. It's really good on dynamic singers, I really should use it on bass again.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,084
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Post by ericn on Jul 24, 2022 18:14:33 GMT -6
Everybody should have a couple of ch of Aphex compression and dominator they jus solve problems without impacting the sound.
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Post by reddirt on Jul 24, 2022 20:09:01 GMT -6
The Compellor is fabulous also.
Cheers, Ross
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Post by wiz on Jul 24, 2022 21:44:12 GMT -6
The Compellor is fabulous also. Cheers, Ross I have one here if you want one Ross |
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Post by howie on Jul 24, 2022 23:19:31 GMT -6
Just bought one. Always heard how transparent they are. Anyone have any experience? I bought an Aphex 661 from someone on this site months ago - Could hardly tell it was working - except the gain reduction meter was being triggered big time - so yes - transparent - (though maybe I was not setting it right) but before I figured it out - I broke some bones in my hand, then someone stole the catalytic converter from my car - then aweek later I got Covid - then I got Covid+ then Covid triggered some other nastyness - an auto immune disease - So, I have not been recording for a while - but - eventually - I will put that compressor to the test again. How does the old blues go - "and the only reason I'm sticking around any longer is to see what is going to happen to me next" |
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Post by reddirt on Jul 25, 2022 2:48:03 GMT -6
I have one here if you want one Ross
Thanks wiz but i have a 651
Cheers
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Post by dok on Jul 25, 2022 10:00:46 GMT -6
Can anyone rate the auto/EasyRider feature on the 661? I'd love to be able to use it for quick tracking and just set the threshold and not worry about the rest. I have a 651 but the metering is not super precise, and by the time I end up triggering the LEDs I'm already into 4-5 dB of GR which is usually more than I want to shave off.
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Post by drbill on Jul 25, 2022 10:05:35 GMT -6
I like the auto on the 661's. I have a pair on fast, and another pair on slow.
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Post by popmann on Jul 25, 2022 14:50:45 GMT -6
I have a 661. Actually, only analog compressor left. "In case" something "needs" control on the way in. I've taken to using it on bass DI...particularly with the fretless, to give the fretless as little more attack. Subtle, but I think it makes a less subtle difference when you add mix compression.
I got it hoping to do both the bass DI and lead vocals...gentle slow always on squeeze on the way in--ITB limiter...but, every time I've tested such, I got better results with two serial plug ins on a not compressed track. YMMV. But, still--I CAN use it on vocals that go whisper to belt without the side effects the old La3a used to have. So, it's staying.
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Post by jmoose on Jul 25, 2022 16:17:39 GMT -6
I've had a pair of 651's for a long time... 1998 maybe? Some of the first outboard gear I ever bought. When I first hung out a shingle I couldn't afford vintage LA2A's but the Aphex? I had used those and liked them, and I could afford those!
Super clean. Maybe not "transparent" but you sure don't hear them working very often. Not a character piece. Like a few said you could knock 20dB off something and not get a ton of artifacts. By the time you DO hear it doing something? Whatever you put through it is likely destroyed.
At this point I've probably used them on anything you could think of and I still wouldn't hesitate to put a lead vocal through. Maybe not first choice but never a bad one. These days my pair is out of the main rack and in an SKB for easy travel... mostly because they work on everything. Rarely use them for mixing anymore but never say never!
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Aphex 651
Jul 25, 2022 18:34:25 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by OtisGreying on Jul 25, 2022 18:34:25 GMT -6
Was just researching these last night haha.
I have an RND 5043 and C1LA, would the Aphex cover the same ground or is it pretty different?
I hear it’s sort of similar to a dbx? But I’ve never really used a dbx I just know they work well on snare/kick.
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Post by drbill on Jul 25, 2022 22:49:10 GMT -6
IMO not similar to DBX. At least sonically.
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Post by plinker on Jul 25, 2022 23:05:24 GMT -6
I had a 651 many years ago -- Indeed, clean.
My super clean comps are now 2x Safe Sound Audio P1. A really ingenious approach with cascading side-chains; there used to be a whitepaper on it.
I've done serious A/B comparison against Tokyo Labs Kotelnikov, and the P1 sounds cleaner/better...believe it or not...not by a lot, but it's there.
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Post by jampa on Jul 26, 2022 3:25:11 GMT -6
Just bought one. Always heard how transparent they are. Anyone have any experience? I bought an Aphex 661 from someone on this site months ago - Could hardly tell it was working - except the gain reduction meter was being triggered big time - so yes - transparent - (though maybe I was not setting it right) but before I figured it out - I broke some bones in my hand, then someone stole the catalytic converter from my car - then aweek later I got Covid - then I got Covid+ then Covid triggered some other nastyness - an auto immune disease - So, I have not been recording for a while - but - eventually - I will put that compressor to the test again. How does the old blues go - "and the only reason I'm sticking around any longer is to see what is going to happen to me next" You're due for some good luck. Hang in there |
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Post by Quint on Jul 26, 2022 7:15:36 GMT -6
What about the CAPI FC526-xfmr? I've always read how clean (and fast) that thing is? How would that compare to the 651?
The CAPI and Aphex are different topologies, I realize, but I've just sort of been looking around at ideas for a relatively clean (tone and action) comp that could be used for vocals during tracking, and the CAPI has been on that short list for a while. This thread got me wondering how the two might compare.
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Post by jmoose on Jul 26, 2022 13:50:12 GMT -6
Was just researching these last night haha. I have an RND 5043 and C1LA, would the Aphex cover the same ground or is it pretty different? I hear it’s sort of similar to a dbx? But I’ve never really used a dbx I just know they work well on snare/kick. Nothing like a dbx not even close. Funny enough... when I bought the 651's the other "good" compressors I picked up were dbx 160VU's. Paid $600 for the pair of those... and of course we can all see what a pair of those are going for today. Over time I ended up launching the dbx and well, the Aphex are still here. Make of that what 'ya will. The only thing I could compare the 651's to would maybe be an RNC or one of those ultra linear compressor plugs. Its like there's a little gremlin dude in there who can ride a fader faster & better then anyone else. And it does that task without really altering tone. The bargain "dbx killer" would probably be an old Symetrix 501..? I have a pair of those, grey panel with the Valley People VCA's. Its not like a 160, has its own thing going but is way more in that direction. Was actually thinking of selling them when nick8801 stopped by last year saw them and said wow those are cool... And yeah, you know he's right. They are cool. And I remember when the 160VU's were just $300 compressors nobody really wanted... So the 501's got racked up & put back in rotation. Good call! Thanks Nick! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 26, 2022 16:48:18 GMT -6
What about the CAPI FC526-xfmr? I've always read how clean (and fast) that thing is? How would that compare to the 651? The CAPI and Aphex are different topologies, I realize, but I've just sort of been looking around at ideas for a relatively clean (tone and action) comp that could be used for vocals during tracking, and the CAPI has been on that short list for a while. This thread got me wondering how the two might compare. Well, they now have transformers...so they were really clean when I had one. And I loved it. Yet another piece of gear that suffered for my lust... I got this because it was $140... |
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Post by Quint on Jul 26, 2022 16:57:02 GMT -6
What about the CAPI FC526-xfmr? I've always read how clean (and fast) that thing is? How would that compare to the 651? The CAPI and Aphex are different topologies, I realize, but I've just sort of been looking around at ideas for a relatively clean (tone and action) comp that could be used for vocals during tracking, and the CAPI has been on that short list for a while. This thread got me wondering how the two might compare. Well, they now have transformers...so they were really clean when I had one. And I loved it. Yet another piece of gear that suffered for my lust... I got this because it was $140... Are the newer 526s with the transformer noticeably less clean than the originals? Or maybe you haven't had a chance to try the newer 526s? And, wait, you sold your 526? Yeah, you only ever had great things to say about it, which in no small part is what put it on my radar in the first place. The cheap price for the 651 is part of the appeal, but maybe I should just go with the 526, per origin plan? Thoughts? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 26, 2022 17:17:51 GMT -6
Well, they now have transformers...so they were really clean when I had one. And I loved it. Yet another piece of gear that suffered for my lust... I got this because it was $140... Are the newer 526s with the transformer noticeably less clean than the originals? Or maybe you haven't had a chance to try the newer 526s? And, wait, you sold your 526? Yeah, you only ever had great things to say about it, which in no small part is what put it on my radar in the first place. The cheap price for the 651 is part of the appeal, but maybe I should just go with the 526, per origin plan? Thoughts? Yeah - I loved it. At the time, I was getting out of the 500 series for some reason and sold all of it. It’s not dirty at all with the xformer. Just weightier…and I think it can get dirtier in ABM. |
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Post by ab101 on Jul 26, 2022 17:38:30 GMT -6
My recollection of the 651s was not that I was so impressed with it being clean, which it is and so are many other comps, but that it was really easy for dynamic shaping, especially on kick and snare as mentioned. Sort of like the SPL transient designer - in that direction, but not exactly. I had the Jim Williams mods FWIW.
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