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Post by ragan on Apr 6, 2023 10:57:41 GMT -6
I’m super interested in them (the Empress comps)
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 6, 2023 12:13:36 GMT -6
I’m super interested in them (the Empress comps) If i had a 500 chassis, i’d be buying 2! |
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Post by ragan on Apr 6, 2023 12:30:15 GMT -6
I have Empress Nebulus and Empress ParaEQ pedals that I love. Staples for me.
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Post by gwlee7 on Apr 6, 2023 15:13:48 GMT -6
I’m super interested in them (the Empress comps) Me too. I Almost always have an acoustic guitar track in my songs and those clips sounded really good. |
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Post by christophert on Apr 6, 2023 20:21:46 GMT -6
Loving the Buzz SOC on the front end, then a Pom Fairchild - or BG2 after that.
Sometimes the Chandler Zener is the ticket.
I used to use my Distressor a lot as an acoustic comp front end, it compresses beautifully, but I can't cope with the frequency loss and smearing.
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Post by Ward on Apr 7, 2023 18:32:04 GMT -6
Here's a demo of an acoustic compressed by the Empressor ECM 512: Thanks for sharing. That's one of the nicest sounding comps on acoustics guitar, that I have heard in recent memory. It instantly does "more everything" |
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Post by guitfiddler on Apr 8, 2023 5:21:14 GMT -6
Cool question! One of the best acoustic guitar sounds I ever got was a flat picked arpeggio thing through an RND Portico 5012 finished by a Distrssor in Opto mode. It didn't happen a lot - I gave the specifics due to the rarity - but it was really nice capture. Otherwise, just kissing an LA3A was very reliable and finished sounding (I only had the reissues, no experience with the vintage ones). JMH What microphone did you use? |
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Post by EmRR on Apr 8, 2023 7:49:34 GMT -6
Ok, the Empressor ECM 512 is a FET. Comparison against an FC526 might be in order, 2 modern FET approaches.
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Post by copperx on Apr 8, 2023 11:30:30 GMT -6
Ok, the Empressor ECM 512 is a FET. Comparison against an FC526 might be in order, 2 modern FET approaches. There's also the FET-based Pete's Place BAC500, and the Daking and Drawmer stereo ones. Although I think there's a lot of magic in the auto attack and auto release settings of the ECM 519. |
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Post by robo on Apr 8, 2023 11:37:39 GMT -6
Ok, the Empressor ECM 512 is a FET. Comparison against an FC526 might be in order, 2 modern FET approaches. My understanding is that the FC526 is basically an 1176 with an API vibe. To me, the main differences with the ECM 512 and other fet comps are the greater range of attack/release and the 3:1 ratio - which IMO is the sweet spot for a lot of things. A slightly softer knee and less obvious action. The compressor I have which is most similar is my old Alta Moda AM10. It can do similar things. Both are great, underrated compressors. I love 1176’s, but most folks think that is the only fet design. |
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Post by EmRR on Apr 8, 2023 15:42:06 GMT -6
Ok, the Empressor ECM 512 is a FET. Comparison against an FC526 might be in order, 2 modern FET approaches. My understanding is that the FC526 is basically an 1176 with an API vibe. Doesn't sound like 1176 compression though |
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Post by mjheck on Apr 12, 2023 8:57:42 GMT -6
Cool question! One of the best acoustic guitar sounds I ever got was a flat picked arpeggio thing through an RND Portico 5012 finished by a Distrssor in Opto mode. It didn't happen a lot - I gave the specifics due to the rarity - but it was really nice capture. Otherwise, just kissing an LA3A was very reliable and finished sounding (I only had the reissues, no experience with the vintage ones). JMH What microphone did you use? I believe it was an SM7B, which was really uncommon for me and acoustic guitar (the player tended to be on the energetic side). I'm normally a KM84 guy by default, but in this case it did the job perfectly. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 12, 2023 15:46:24 GMT -6
Don’t know if it was mentioned, but I always heard the Great River PWM 501 - 500 was excellent.
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Post by sentientsound on Apr 26, 2023 15:16:55 GMT -6
I'm alternating between a POM PYE and Buzz SOC-M most of the time.
Another good option for mono sources is the Chandler TG Opto. I often follow that up with the DerrEsser in HF limit mode.
If I stay ITB I found Tokyo Dawn's Limiter No 6 is awesome on rhythm acoustics - the compressor section can grab and hold a bit like a 33609, the HF limiter takes care of squeaky / peaky stuff, the final limiter catches anything that pops out.
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Post by plinker on Jul 26, 2023 20:58:21 GMT -6
Empress ECM-519 can do the fet thing with slower attack. Also parallel if you want to dig in and blend. I don't have one, but that thing sounds fantastic on the demo videos using the autorelease options. I've been tempted to get one just because of the that. Do you use the autoreleases for acoustics? This thread inspired me to buy, what appears to be, the last new ECM-519 available online. I've put acoustic guitar and bass through it, and like it. The second (slower attack) automatic timing sounds great -- set and forget, and get a better sounding track. It's a bit like a refined Dr. Pepper setting on a 76. The manual describes the auto settings as each having 2 parallel side-chains, one with slower attack and one with a faster attack. Now, that's 2 side-chains per auto setting. So, it basically has a 2-stage clamp down on the signal. The Safe Sound Audio P1 (VCA) compressor (I have two of them) has a triple side-chain that does the same type of progressive clamp down on the signal. So, I compared the two on a gypsy-jazz "la pompe" style acoustic guitar track: - at ~6 dB of reduction they sounded identical. I really couldn't tell them apart visually (meter) or sonically. - at ~10 dB of reduction the P1 continued to cleanly reduce gain. However, the Empress reduced gain while really emphasizing the attack and "pompe" of the guitar. Boom-chick, Boom-chick...
I'm mixing right now with the Empress on the same auto setting for an acoustic bass and it sounds great, increasing the punch while not sounding obviously compressed. For acoustic instruments, the second auto-setting (auto2) is a no-brainer, mo-betterizer.
I wish I had a couple more of these boxes.
Also, I opened it up and took a look. Of note, the FET is installed in a socket for easy replacement, and there are three OPA4134 op-amps along with several small amps that I couldn't identify. |
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Post by robo on Jul 27, 2023 9:52:15 GMT -6
I don't have one, but that thing sounds fantastic on the demo videos using the autorelease options. I've been tempted to get one just because of the that. Do you use the autoreleases for acoustics? This thread inspired me to buy, what appears to be, the last new ECM-519 available online. I've put acoustic guitar and bass through it, and like it. The second (slower attack) automatic timing sounds great -- set and forget, and get a better sounding track. It's a bit like a refined Dr. Pepper setting on a 76. The manual describes the auto settings as each having 2 parallel side-chains, one with slower attack and one with a faster attack. Now, that's 2 side-chains per auto setting. So, it basically has a 2-stage clamp down on the signal. The Safe Sound Audio P1 (VCA) compressor (I have two of them) has a triple side-chain that does the same type of progressive clamp down on the signal. So, I compared the two on a gypsy-jazz "la pompe" style acoustic guitar track: - at ~6 dB of reduction they sounded identical. I really couldn't tell them apart visually or sonically. - at ~10 dB of reduction the P1 continued to cleanly reduce gain. However, the Empress reduced gain while really emphasizing the attack and "pompe" of the guitar. Boom-chick, Boom-chick...
I'm mixing right now with the Empress on the same auto setting for an acoustic bass and it sounds great, increasing the punch while not sounding obviously compressed. For acoustic instruments, the second auto-setting (auto2) is a no-brainer, mo-betterizer.
I wish I had a couple more of these boxes.
Also, I opened it up and took a look. Of note, the FET is installed in a socket for easy replacement, and there are three OPA4134 op-amps along with several small amps that I couldn't identify.Glad you are digging it. Such an underrated compressor! At one point I was looking into getting a pair. The nice guy at Empress (can’t remember his name offhand) offered to send me a matched pair of fets to swap out myself. They might still have some around if anyone decides to make a pair. |
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Post by ragan on Jul 27, 2023 10:32:15 GMT -6
Wait, are they not making these anymore? I was planning on a pair
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Post by plinker on Jul 27, 2023 14:00:37 GMT -6
Wait, are they not making these anymore? I was planning on a pair All gone -- big-time gone. I called Empress to confirm. They said they had stopped making them, so I quickly bought the last one I could get my grubby, fried-chicken-covered hands on. He did say that they had a few additional parts that they might use to make some additional units in the future, but they had no plans at this time. He said that they just didn't sell like expected, so they discontinued. On a side note, I just used both the Auto1 and Loaded Transformer settings on a female backing vox to get it to perfectly sit behind the male lead vox. It quickly got rid of the barber-shop-duet vibe that was going on. The Loaded Transformer setting does a saturated, band-pass filter thing. Pretty cool! |
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Post by Ward on Jul 28, 2023 11:12:45 GMT -6
Wait, are they not making these anymore? I was planning on a pair All gone -- big-time gone. I called Empress to confirm. They said they had stopped making them, so I quickly bought the last one I could get my grubby, fried-chicken-covered hands on. He did say that they had a few additional parts that they might use to make some additional units in the future, but they had no plans at this time. He said that they just didn't sell like expected, so they discontinued. On a side note, I just used both the Auto1 and Loaded Transformer settings on a female backing vox to get it to perfectly sit behind the male lead vox. It quickly got rid of the barber-shop-duet vibe that was going on. The Loaded Transformer setting does a saturated, band-pass filter thing. Pretty cool! sad but true. I've been trying EVERYWHERE to get one or a pair for the past 3 months. Clearly, they did a very poor job marketing it. I've seen this before. And it doesn't require special voodoo marketing skills. I've worked with a number of manufacturers now to improve their reach to the marketplace and ONLY tell the truth. Sometimes they even appreciate it and see what's happening. Not often, but some times.  |
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Post by plinker on Jul 28, 2023 12:02:26 GMT -6
All gone -- big-time gone. I called Empress to confirm. They said they had stopped making them, so I quickly bought the last one I could get my grubby, fried-chicken-covered hands on. He did say that they had a few additional parts that they might use to make some additional units in the future, but they had no plans at this time. He said that they just didn't sell like expected, so they discontinued. On a side note, I just used both the Auto1 and Loaded Transformer settings on a female backing vox to get it to perfectly sit behind the male lead vox. It quickly got rid of the barber-shop-duet vibe that was going on. The Loaded Transformer setting does a saturated, band-pass filter thing. Pretty cool! sad but true. I've been trying EVERYWHERE to get one or a pair for the past 3 months. Clearly, they did a very poor job marketing it. I've seen this before. And it doesn't require special voodoo marketing skills. I've worked with a number of manufacturers now to improve their reach to the marketplace and ONLY tell the truth. Sometimes they even appreciate it and see what's happening. Not often, but some times. I also wonder if consumers had a bias against a pedal company putting out "pro audio" gear. |
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Post by Ward on Jul 28, 2023 12:04:51 GMT -6
SNIP I also wonder if consumers had a bias against a pedal company putting out "pro audio" gear. Chandler and Audioscape both started out as pedal companies. Pedals are a gateway drug to Pro Audio gear! |
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Post by plinker on Jul 28, 2023 12:14:54 GMT -6
Hah! I had no idea.
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Post by Ward on Jul 28, 2023 12:25:21 GMT -6
guitar players are tone junkies and that leads them to modding their guitars then amps and then building their own pedals. And that leads to more gear! Glad those types exist.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2023 14:27:51 GMT -6
People would rather buy clones of highly flawed, inconsistent ancient designs built to get something somewhat usable of what they had in the parts bin rather than modern designs that solve most of their issues or even clones or reissues of gear from a few years later that solved most of the issues. Then the better gear disappears and we’re left with poorly performing, unmaintained noisy toys 😔 as somehow the epitome of sound in expensive studio vocal chains
At least a couple of the better ancient plugins are still maintained for modern computers unlike digital hardware but so many useful tools have disappeared in both hardware and software
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2023 15:02:49 GMT -6
People would rather buy clones of highly flawed, inconsistent ancient designs built to get something somewhat usable of what they had in the parts bin rather than modern designs that solve most of their issues or even clones or reissues of gear from a few years later that solved most of the issues. Then the better gear disappears and we’re left with poorly performing, unmaintained noisy toys 😔 as somehow the epitome of sound in expensive studio vocal chains At least a couple of the better ancient plugins are still maintained for modern computers unlike digital hardware but so many useful tools have disappeared in both hardware and software You know what I'm going to be blunt for once (instead of modifying or removing posts) and agree, since I got the Core 59's it really has opened my eye's and I've tried to write a review about them on several occasions but I feel like I almost have to be apologetic. The best (and I mean best) modern (like last 20 years) recordings sound euphoric on said Core's, although they represent the past like a lot of engineers fighting against equipment.
So, most music from the 50's to 80's will sound pretty lo-fi (not all of them but more than you'd think). That doesn't mean the song isn't enjoyable, or that on a lot of medium's I listen to they don't sound good. The Core 59's are pretty brutal at times and nothing but the best satisfy's them but I can hear issues with equipment of yesteryore, in short those Core 59's tell me one thing. In terms of recording today, we've got it damn good..
P.S this isn't just Core 59 worship because some much more expensive monitors have lead me down the exact same path, some of them were even worse.
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