|
|
Post by ninworks on Nov 8, 2023 13:26:22 GMT -6
I had an SA4000-5, 500 series SSL clone, buss compressor on order from Stam for many months. I found another one locally for less money so I cancelled the order and got a refund for the deposit. I contacted the guy who has it the day before I cancelled my order and he said he still had it. All good. Now the guy that has/had the one locally isn't returning my emails. WTF? You know what? The Hell with it. I'm tired of the frustration of dicking with it.
I have many plugins that do the buss compressor job pretty well so I decided to spend that money on a power attenuator for my guitar amps. I'll use, and enjoy, it more than the compressor. So there! I have some great amps that I never use because they are too damn loud when turned up where they sound good. This solution should help with that somewhat. I am considerably more of a guitar player than I am recording enthusiast. I have played guitar like a maniac since I was 10 and still do. I didn't start recording until I was 19. I'm 66 now so I have been doing both for a minute or two.
|
|
|
|
Post by jacobamerritt on Nov 8, 2023 13:38:48 GMT -6
I have many plugins that do the buss compressor job pretty well so I decided to spend that money on a power attenuator for my guitar amps. I'll use, and enjoy, it more than the compressor. So there! I have some great amps that I never use because they are too damn loud when turned up where they sound good. This solution should help with that somewhat. I am considerably more of a guitar player than I am recording enthusiast. I have played guitar like a maniac since I was 10 and still do. I didn't start recording until I was 19. I'm 66 now so I have been doing both for a minute or two. I'm confused. Why not just find another SSL clone besides the Stam? It's far from the only SSL option out there. Unlike a Stam unit, you can order one new from somewhere and have it in a week. |
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,099 
|
Post by ericn on Nov 8, 2023 13:44:17 GMT -6
I had an SA4000-5, 500 series SSL clone, buss compressor on order from Stam for many months. I found another one locally for less money so I cancelled the order and got a refund for the deposit. I contacted the guy who has it the day before I cancelled my order and he said he still had it. All good. Now the guy that has/had the one locally isn't returning my emails. WTF? You know what? The Hell with it. I'm tired of the frustration of dicking with it. I have many plugins that do the buss compressor job pretty well so I decided to spend that money on a power attenuator for my guitar amps. I'll use, and enjoy, it more than the compressor. So there! I have some great amps that I never use because they are too damn loud when turned up where they sound good. This solution should help with that somewhat. I am considerably more of a guitar player than I am recording enthusiast. I have played guitar like a maniac since I was 10 and still do. I didn't start recording until I was 19. I'm 66 now so I have been doing both for a minute or two. Oh I get that pain, while as far as Stam in particular I have only sat on the sidelines and watched I get it. The factor you have always consider is the opportunity cost, what else could I do with that same $? I keep seeing deals on a bunch of other 500 and rack SSL clones. If you feel the itch PM me and I’ll let you know if I see something that will feed the itch used. |
|
|
|
Post by ab101 on Nov 8, 2023 13:51:12 GMT -6
I am really happy with the dramastic audio obsidian - transformerless - seems to have more clarity while doing some of that SSL thing.
Alan Smart units are also good.
TDR Kotelnikov is fabulous and I am able to get that "Smart" SSL effect on it!
|
|
|
|
Post by copperx on Nov 8, 2023 14:08:39 GMT -6
With all due respect to Stam, and as much as I love their stuff, I think they missed the mark with the SA4000-5; so in my opinion, you didn't lose much. The DBX can clones introduce the wrong kind of distortion to my ear. I'd rather have a Nekotronics Buss Cat, which is also the Gyraf design, but with no distortion (and fully variable attack and release!). Although to be honest, Gyraf clones and plugins aren't that far from each other.
I hope eventually Stam clones the real proprietary SSL circuit as found in the Smart compressors. It can't be _that_ hard (I hope).
|
|
|
|
Post by ab101 on Nov 8, 2023 14:26:56 GMT -6
With all due respect to Stam, and as much as I love their stuff, I think they missed the mark with the SA4000-5; so in my opinion, you didn't lose much. The DBX can clones introduce the wrong kind of distortion to my ear. I'd rather have a Nekotronics Buss Cat, which is also the Gyraf design, but with no distortion (and fully variable attack and release!). Although to be honest, Gyraf clones and plugins aren't that far from each other. I hope eventually Stam clones the real proprietary SSL circuit as found in the Smart compressors. It can't be _that_ hard (I hope). Thanks for the tip on the Neotronics. Great price for it too! |
|
|
|
Post by the other mark williams on Nov 8, 2023 14:59:24 GMT -6
You really can get the Audioscape version without it being too hard. I have a bunch of different plugin versions, but the Audioscape hardware is better to my ear.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2023 15:08:17 GMT -6
You can easily pick up a Smart compressor or Cytomic The Glue but they won't have the distortion. You can get a similar volume modulation to the SSL auto release (where it should be set 95% of the time to not pump around) from Sound Radix Powair and TDR Molot GE presets if you have either of those but the optional added distortion will be different.
|
|
|
|
Post by seawell on Nov 8, 2023 15:46:43 GMT -6
If you change your mind, the Smart C1LA is 500 series format & is the best SSL style bus comp I’ve found.
|
|
|
|
Post by phdamage on Nov 8, 2023 16:24:56 GMT -6
Also the used Stam SSL comps seem to come up often used - especially the 500 series ones
|
|
|
|
Post by notneeson on Nov 8, 2023 23:43:46 GMT -6
If you change your mind, the Smart C1LA is 500 series format & is the best SSL style bus comp I’ve found. No Crush mode on the 500 though, yeah? I was actually actively trying to sell my Stam, but it sounds so good on the insert of my Silver Bullet that I started using it again. (I didn't have space for a proper setup at home until this year and had been happy enough with plugins.) I also spent a bunch of time with a C2, 33609, and 2500 and found that the Stam is still a solid choice even with those options at the big studio I’ve been working at. Plugins are great. Hardware is a bit more fun though. |
|
|
|
Post by anders on Nov 9, 2023 0:34:57 GMT -6
Another vote for the Nekotronics
|
|
|
|
Post by the other mark williams on Nov 9, 2023 1:05:21 GMT -6
If you change your mind, the Smart C1LA is 500 series format & is the best SSL style bus comp I’ve found. No Crush mode on the 500 though, yeah? I was actually actively trying to sell my Stam, but it sounds so good on the insert of my Silver Bullet that I started using it again. (I didn't have space for a proper setup at home until this year and had been happy enough with plugins.) I also spent a bunch of time with a C2, 33609, and 2500 and found that the Stam is still a solid choice even with those options at the big studio I’ve been working at. Plugins are great. Hardware is a bit more fun though. I’ve got my Audioscape in the insert of my mkI SB, too. That is a really powerful combo on the 2-bus. |
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Nov 9, 2023 3:44:50 GMT -6
If you change your mind, the Smart C1LA is 500 series format & is the best SSL style bus comp I’ve found. +1 After my RMS755 (19” rack), my next favourite is the CL1A. It’s an absolutely excellent unit and the best 500 series SSL style comp I’ve heard. |
|
|
|
Post by stam on Nov 9, 2023 7:20:54 GMT -6
With all due respect to Stam, and as much as I love their stuff, I think they missed the mark with the SA4000-5; so in my opinion, you didn't lose much. The DBX can clones introduce the wrong kind of distortion to my ear. I'd rather have a Nekotronics Buss Cat, which is also the Gyraf design, but with no distortion (and fully variable attack and release!). Although to be honest, Gyraf clones and plugins aren't that far from each other. I hope eventually Stam clones the real proprietary SSL circuit as found in the Smart compressors. It can't be _that_ hard (I hope). The 4K-5 is the same as the 4K MK2 and MK3. There is no difference in the circuit and both use the original E series and G series SSL console schematic. Not the Gyraf which was used on the MK1. The DBX can clones can be set anywhere from 0.005% to 1.5% THD which is a HUGE range. If somebody finds my taste too colored (which has happened) I send them new cans set at a lower THD. I have had many original 202C VCA's here and measurements are all over the place. This has nothing to do with the rest of the circuit, I have found that the overwhelming majority like the color the DBX cans impart. That's why the E and G series consoles were so famous for. Glue and mojo. Specially the E. After making a couple of thousands of them the 0.05% area is growing more and more on me which is lower than I used to use, it has a bit of color but very defined and articulated sound and I am currently setting them up. If anybody want's their 4K cleaner or grittier they just need to email me and I'll happily send out cans The sound of these units are in the VCA's. |
|
|
|
Post by stam on Nov 9, 2023 7:25:30 GMT -6
I had an SA4000-5, 500 series SSL clone, buss compressor on order from Stam for many months. I found another one locally for less money so I cancelled the order and got a refund for the deposit. I contacted the guy who has it the day before I cancelled my order and he said he still had it. All good. Now the guy that has/had the one locally isn't returning my emails. WTF? You know what? The Hell with it. I'm tired of the frustration of dicking with it. I have many plugins that do the buss compressor job pretty well so I decided to spend that money on a power attenuator for my guitar amps. I'll use, and enjoy, it more than the compressor. So there! I have some great amps that I never use because they are too damn loud when turned up where they sound good. This solution should help with that somewhat. I am considerably more of a guitar player than I am recording enthusiast. I have played guitar like a maniac since I was 10 and still do. I didn't start recording until I was 19. I'm 66 now so I have been doing both for a minute or two. If you still would like to try it I am happy to send you one (no charge) to test. Just email me anytime |
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Nov 9, 2023 8:17:23 GMT -6
You really can get the Audioscape version without it being too hard. I have a bunch of different plugin versions, but the Audioscape hardware is better to my ear. I recently got an Audioscape Opto Comp, my first AS gear. And it not only sounds fantastic, it is beautifully made. Plus I like their business model, they only sell you pieces that are in stock, if it's there you can buy it, it's shipped and it arrives. Better system to my mind and why AS doesn't have a bad reputation for taking deposits and not delivering for ages (years!) I hope they stick with this system as they grow as a company. |
|
|
|
Post by ninworks on Nov 9, 2023 11:26:52 GMT -6
I had an SA4000-5, 500 series SSL clone, buss compressor on order from Stam for many months. I found another one locally for less money so I cancelled the order and got a refund for the deposit. I contacted the guy who has it the day before I cancelled my order and he said he still had it. All good. Now the guy that has/had the one locally isn't returning my emails. WTF? You know what? The Hell with it. I'm tired of the frustration of dicking with it. I have many plugins that do the buss compressor job pretty well so I decided to spend that money on a power attenuator for my guitar amps. I'll use, and enjoy, it more than the compressor. So there! I have some great amps that I never use because they are too damn loud when turned up where they sound good. This solution should help with that somewhat. I am considerably more of a guitar player than I am recording enthusiast. I have played guitar like a maniac since I was 10 and still do. I didn't start recording until I was 19. I'm 66 now so I have been doing both for a minute or two. If you still would like to try it I am happy to send you one (no charge) to test. Just email me anytime Thanks Josh. I'll do that at some point. |
|
|
|
Post by gwlee7 on Nov 9, 2023 15:51:15 GMT -6
No Crush mode on the 500 though, yeah? I was actually actively trying to sell my Stam, but it sounds so good on the insert of my Silver Bullet that I started using it again. (I didn't have space for a proper setup at home until this year and had been happy enough with plugins.) I also spent a bunch of time with a C2, 33609, and 2500 and found that the Stam is still a solid choice even with those options at the big studio I’ve been working at. Plugins are great. Hardware is a bit more fun though. I’ve got my Audioscape in the insert of my mkI SB, too. That is a really powerful combo on the 2-bus. You helped me to the same decision.  |
|
|
|
Post by honkeur on Nov 9, 2023 18:34:42 GMT -6
In case anyone is wondering about the name Nekotronics BussCat… “neko” is Japanese for “kitty”
|
|
