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Post by mcirish on Apr 27, 2023 12:43:04 GMT -6
I've got a couple 1176's and a LA-2A. I've been thinking about getting something fairly transparent for acoustic instruments, just to shave off a few dB on the way in. I have a Daking MicPre IV and it's pretty great on many things, so I looked at some of their compressors. I'm not sure if I'd want their FET compressors since I already have a couple 1176's. I'm kind of looking for two channels of cleanish compression that's super quick to get good results. I don't need a lot of knobs. Just good sound, and quick. I've a got a couple rebuilt Symetrix CL150 comps. Maybe I should just put those into action more and save money for another mic...
Anyone have any experience with the Comp IIT or even the non-transformer version?
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 27, 2023 14:13:41 GMT -6
I have the FET II's and love them. Not sure they are the same as the Comp II really though. They are a fet compressor and are pretty damn clean.
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Post by robo on Apr 27, 2023 14:17:27 GMT -6
I’ve had the original, transformerless version for a couple of months now. I’ve mostly used it on overheads, but also some vocals and strings. I was also looking for a cleanish, simple but versatile, stereo/dual mono comp. I couldn’t be happier so far. The attack and release options are well chosen, and I haven’t yet wished for more options during tracking. It replaced an API2500, and at least for tracking I much prefer it.
I’m eager to use it on busses and maybe mixes too, but I haven’t done much mixing recently. If you’ve got something you’d like me to process feel free to send me a file.
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Post by jacobamerritt on Apr 27, 2023 14:44:18 GMT -6
I've got a couple 1176's and a LA-2A. I've been thinking about getting something fairly transparent for acoustic instruments, just to shave off a few dB on the way in. I have a Daking MicPre IV and it's pretty great on many things, so I looked at some of their compressors. I'm not sure if I'd want their FET compressors since I already have a couple 1176's. I'm kind of looking for two channels of cleanish compression that's super quick to get good results. I don't need a lot of knobs. Just good sound, and quick. I've a got a couple rebuilt Symetrix CL150 comps. Maybe I should just put those into action more and save money for another mic... Anyone have any experience with the Comp IIT or even the non-transformer version? JDK R22 would be an excellent choice. Mine has been very solid for this type of thing. Use it all the time! Stereo and can be linked. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 27, 2023 17:41:03 GMT -6
I love my daking pre and would love to try their comps but don’t forget Audioscape is just about to drop its 1178 for $1500.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2023 17:46:19 GMT -6
I love my daking pre and would love to try their comps but don’t forget Audioscape is just about to drop its 1178 for $1500. Daking is much lower distortion and smoother than any Urei design. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 27, 2023 17:55:02 GMT -6
understood, but it might be good to hear the new AS 78 first.
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Post by mcirish on Apr 27, 2023 21:50:49 GMT -6
I've got a AS 76d already so I'm not too interested in another FET flavor, though I'm sure it will be great.
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 27, 2023 23:57:26 GMT -6
Buzz Audio SOC M blew my mind for a transparent but super cool compressor for tracking and mixing.
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 28, 2023 2:48:28 GMT -6
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Post by ragan on Apr 28, 2023 9:30:58 GMT -6
Buzz Audio SOC M blew my mind for a transparent but super cool compressor for tracking and mixing. About every demo I've heard of any Buzz Audio piece has always perked my ears up. |
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Post by parasitk on Apr 28, 2023 11:37:04 GMT -6
Very curious about the Comp IIT as well…
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2023 12:23:08 GMT -6
I've got a AS 76d already so I'm not too interested in another FET flavor, though I'm sure it will be great. The Daking FETs are discontinued. The Comp II is VCA for less for less distortion and better thermal stability according to the manual. |
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Post by mcirish on Apr 28, 2023 12:40:48 GMT -6
Dan, I was referring to the comment to get the AS1178 when it comes out. I knew the Comp II is VCA. I was thinking of using it on acoustic instruments, where I am looking mostly for clean compression to just tame it a few dB coming in. Super simple and fast to work with is very important to me. I hate too many features.
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Post by robo on Apr 28, 2023 14:17:59 GMT -6
Very curious about the Comp IIT as well… It’s $700 more and the only difference is a pair of relatively transparent transformers not included in the original design. Seemed silly to me when I was shopping. IMO the amp circuit is the secret sauce in Daking gear, though I understand there is some nice stuff in the way the VCA works - I can say I’ve never liked fast VCA compression, but the CompII sounds really good knocking down peaks, like an 1178 if you use fast release. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 28, 2023 15:38:37 GMT -6
So, which is the less expensive, just the mkii, no T, for transformers ?
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Post by RealNoob on Apr 28, 2023 17:36:33 GMT -6
I had the Daking FET III which I believe was transformerless. I have seen it in mastering racks. I had it on mixbuss. Wish I still had it. It is clean but with smack. I believe the new one wouldn't be far removed - maybe the T version would be like the FET II and the non-T like the FET III? I think the 2's had a bit of transformer goodness. If I was buying right now, I would grab the T version because as Blackdawg said, the original FETs are likely still very clean, comparably. |
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Post by WKG on Apr 28, 2023 21:09:18 GMT -6
I've got an FET III here. The III is transformeless whereas the FET II has Jensens. No experience with the newer Comp IIT but I'd have no problem buying the III again.
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Post by plinker on Apr 28, 2023 21:52:01 GMT -6
The cleanest compressor I've heard, and purposely designed for reduce dynamics during tracking, is the Safe Sound Audio P1. I have three and use them primarily for acoustic tracking. The P1 is a channel strip laden with high-end THAT chips (preamp and VCA). They also made the Dynamics Toolbox and a 500 series unit (I forget the name). I've owned a modified Aphex Expressor, and the Safe Sound compression is cleaner -- especially useful for acoustic instruments. The cleanest plugins aren't as clean as the P1. The compressor in the P1 has a triple side chain that shrinks the dynamic range in increments -- it's like 3 little compressors running in series with increasing attack times. It's an absolutely brilliant design and unlike anything else. Here's Andy Hong's take: tapeop.com/reviews/gear/53/p1-audio-processor/You can sometimes find used P1s for about $300. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2023 22:32:59 GMT -6
I had the Daking FET III which I believe was transformerless. I have seen it in mastering racks. I had it on mixbuss. Wish I still had it. It is clean but with smack. I believe the new one wouldn't be far removed - maybe the T version would be like the FET II and the non-T like the FET III? I think the 2's had a bit of transformer goodness. If I was buying right now, I would grab the T version because as Blackdawg said, the original FETs are likely still very clean, comparably. You’re also putting the opamp in the that buffer ahead of the class a daking circuitry and trading slight all over distortion for the slight transformer bass distortion and high end sheen. The slight hysteresis from the transformers also means the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard so less distortion from the gain reduction. Of course it’s not an 1176 or even the much cleaner daking fet, where the transients are still distorting by driving the gain of the fet up like an 1176 even with the better distortion cancellation and cleaner everything vs the 1176. That’s just the nature of using jfets as a gain control device. Daking also doesn’t let you fart up bass like an 1176 with too fast release. Just the design and now it uses vcas and eliminates the too slow releases between .5 ms and compex auto and the “pure distortion” attacks that I still find useful for taking out fast artifacts that are transients in recordings but I use Kotelnikov for that now. |
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Post by drsax on Apr 29, 2023 8:44:05 GMT -6
My pair of Daking FET II’s are bread and butter comps in my studio. They are amazing tools. One of the most overlooked pieces in the audio world as far as I am concerned.
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