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Post by craigmorris74 on Jun 5, 2023 9:16:31 GMT -6
I’ve been listening to clips of VCA buss compressors over the last two weeks, and when doing blind A/B comparisons I pick the Smart and Serpent units almost ever time. I’ll most likely be using these exclusively on the mix bus. Does anyone here own both, and notice any substantial differences between their tones and compression behavior?
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Post by drbill on Jun 5, 2023 9:54:56 GMT -6
Don't own and have never heard first hand the Smart, but I own and really like the Serpent. Good luck with your choice. I suspect you can't go wrong with either.
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Post by seawell on Jun 5, 2023 14:34:01 GMT -6
I’ve owned them both. Kept the Smart. I much prefer it on 2 buss. It has that glue that works so well there. The serpent always felt snappier/more forward but not in a way that I like on 2 buss.
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Post by thehightenor on Jun 5, 2023 16:42:11 GMT -6
For my taste out of these two I'd go with the Smart.
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Post by craigmorris74 on Jun 5, 2023 17:43:22 GMT -6
For my taste out of these two I'd go with the Smart. What differences could you hear between the units? |
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Post by notneeson on Jun 5, 2023 18:59:54 GMT -6
For my taste out of these two I'd go with the Smart. What differences could you hear between the units? Going on memory, the Smart had an expensive sheen to it and the 500 series Serpent was more neutral, with less snap. That said, different projects, different studios, different years. |
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Post by svart on Jun 8, 2023 7:46:45 GMT -6
It's all about how they are calibrated. You can make any of the SSL clones sound the same if you calibrate them similarly.
However, a sidechain filter is necessary. I don't know how I worked without one once I finally used one.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2023 13:41:06 GMT -6
It's all about how they are calibrated. You can make any of the SSL clones sound the same if you calibrate them similarly. However, a sidechain filter is necessary. I don't know how I worked without one once I finally used one. that’s not true. They have different side chain capacitor values, parts binning, power supplies, and circuitry and will often react totally differently to the same material. Especially distorted material where favorable tonal shift or complimentary distortion is king. Not everything is a GSSL. Some ssl inspired compressors even have different attack filters that reduce distortion and peak limiting. Some have mild almost inconspicuous first order built in sidechain high pass filters. The one thing that is true is they are not the same and calibrating the VCA to increase or decrease distortion will not make them behave the same. Many pro productions have their low end controlled and their faders automated to not offensively pump the bus compressor. So much of the golden age sound is the music pumping and breathing slightly with the beat. A steep high side chain high pass filter just means things other than the bass, usually the snare or chorus, can modulate the entire production (including the bass) and requires automating different faders to avoid offensive pump. |
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Post by smashlord on Jun 8, 2023 20:42:25 GMT -6
SB4001 owner here. I agree with previous posters saying it's very neutral, which can be a positive or a negative. Positive is you can stick it on any mix pretty much and it will work, unlike the API 2500 or Compex I have sitting next to it. Negative I guess is its not oozing in vibe. I have shot it out side by side with an SSL 500 series and 19" Dramastic in two other rooms I work in and I found both of those units to have more of "that sound" than the Serpent. They had more of the sheen/gooeyness, where the Serpent was relatively transparent in comparison. If you don't use the side chains and set it with the old 4:1/10ms/A1 release, it will sound very classic SSL, though (to me anyways).
I've personally been very interested in the Smart as well because even though I like the Serpent, my feelings towards it have always been like "its fine". It definitely does not bring a huge smile to my face like the Splices do... those on the other hand are A+++++
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Post by EmRR on Jun 9, 2023 7:29:56 GMT -6
Even with the side chain and a really low ratio on the SB4001, it does a smushy mash that primarily frames up the kick drum space. It's got a more pillowy soft focus thing than anything else I use for mix outside of ancient tube comps. As usual, I'm all color up front so YMMV, I'm not looking to add a lot at mix bus unless it's someone else's sterile tracks.
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Post by progear on Jun 9, 2023 7:56:23 GMT -6
I use the smart and api2500.. depending on material
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