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Post by guitargod414 on Jul 8, 2024 13:56:29 GMT -6
Hi there, long time lurker, first time poster.
I am looking to add a stereo pair of compressors to my 500 series racks. I currently have an AudioScape Gbuss that I use on my 2bus, a Audioscape Opto-comp, a Hairball 500 A, and a Sound Skulptor LA502. I tend to mix in a hybrid style.
The potential uses of the new compressors would be drum bus, drum room, bass, and acoustic and electric guitars. I am always looking for at least a little bit of color/mojo/uniqueness from outboard gear that I can’t quite get from plugins. That last ‘5-10%’ so to speak. For example, I have not found a SSL style bus comp plug-in that can match the AS Gbuss or an LA2A plugin to match the Opto-Comp.
Originally thought some Hairball 1176 rev Ds would be great since they are classic, reasonably flexible for said sources, would complement my rev A, and add some color. I also enjoy the DIY aspect.
The Tweeker looks very promising and very flexible but with no opamps/ transformers, I would if they have enough color for my liking. I like the layout and the drive option. Also, there does not seem to be a lot of user info on them so I feel like I would be buying a little bit blind. They are on sale through today!
I have been eyeballing some LTL gear for a long time (Chroma, SB) and almost forgot about the Mister Focus line, in particular the COMP. It seems to check a lot of boxes for tracking and mixing; blend-able compression, saturation and a simple ‘better or worse’ tilt eq. Seems simple to use, well thought out, and has the option to swap out color cards.
Any experience and/ or thoughts on these units would be very appreciated!
Cheers,
Dean
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Post by robo on Jul 8, 2024 17:59:22 GMT -6
Kush Tweezer (500-series slimmed down Tweaker) is great, particularly for the uses you mention. Plenty of color and drive but can be transparent too. Much more flexible than your other options in terms of compression action.
I’ve had a few 1176 variations, and own a few fet comps, but the only stereo one I have is a Daking Fet III, which is fairly transparent.
You might also consider some diode bridge comps, which can be great on drums and guitars. I can vouch for the Buzz DBC (oh so nice) and Heritage Successor (can’t do split mono, which can be a bummer).
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Post by Dan on Jul 8, 2024 22:03:36 GMT -6
A stereo pair is not a good idea. You’re going to want a vca compressor or a really flexible fet for something that flexible and stereo. Buy a rack mount stereo comp or a smart c1a. You can get the smart for 1300 or something like a daking fet iii for about the Same or crane song stc-8 for under 2k. Drawmer 1978 if you don’t want the possibility of two channels.
If you want a shitbox, it’s usually better to separate it from the compression. Even the compression on a Fatso is very limiting.
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Post by guitargod414 on Jul 9, 2024 9:59:27 GMT -6
Thank you for the replies! They are appreciated! Also, I should have mentioned I am trying to keep the budget around $1K.
I really want to stay in the 500 format mainly for space (need to fill the remaining slots), power purposes, and the relatively easy ability to pull the 500 chassis and move all the units up to my other studio space. I am planing on buying a bunch of DB25 snakes for easy connections from studio to studio.
I definitely want the option of dual mono as these will frequently be used singularly, maybe more so than a stereo pair. I so like that the Tweezers have stepped controls for easier alignment as a stereo pair when needed.
I have kind of narrowed it down between the Tweezers and the LTL MF COMP. Both seem to have their pros/ cons but also seem to fit the bill of what I am going for.
Anyone else have opinions on the Tweezer vs MF COMP?
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Post by copperx on Jul 9, 2024 12:19:47 GMT -6
Similar to the Tweeker is the Tonelux TX5C in that it is a VCA compressor, has a tilt sidechain, and versatile, but it has a transformer and is Paul Wolff designed.
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Post by Dan on Jul 9, 2024 19:16:11 GMT -6
You won’t be able to stereo match them without test tones. JFET compressors not factory matched? No way.
Why not just get a pair of dbx 560a if budget is an issue? Pocket the rest.
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Post by paulcheeba on Jul 9, 2024 20:19:09 GMT -6
The Wes Rhea is amazing in the500 domain as is the Great River or the Chandler Opto. If you want mojo I would often run one in parallel and crush it and blend back in. I’d also rather get a 19” rack POM Pye, a Compex (Led Zeppelin) or a Chandler Zener or any of Wades work or a Stam SA609. All the Overstayer compressors are wild too.
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Post by copperx on Jul 9, 2024 21:36:59 GMT -6
You won’t be able to stereo match them without test tones. JFET compressors not factory matched? No way. Why not just get a pair of dbx 560a if budget is an issue? Pocket the rest. True, however a stereo FET option is the Lindell 77x-500. |
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Post by guitargod414 on Jul 13, 2024 19:33:14 GMT -6
Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I have been traveling/ busy so I am late getting back.
I have used the dbx 560a's and its not really what I am after. Also, budget is not exactly an issue, but I am trying to be responsible in my spending vs personal use vs commercial use. I just can't justity a $2k+ type of thing, at least not right now.
There are a lot of mentions about stereo matching. I am not overly concerned about that; I think I will mainly use each of these in mono. With that said, there will be some stereo use, but I don't mind dual mono, in fact, I often prefer it as the little idiosyncracies between the left and right channels often have a widening type of effect. I do test tone match my MA5s as I like to use them on the master bus so doing so it not an issue, but at the end of the day, I just trust my ears. The Tweekers have a link function so that is a bonus.
I am leaning towards the Tweekers or MF Comp. The Implode module combined with the transformer is appealing to me. A simple 'better or worse' compressor and some saturation might just be the ticket for what I have in mind, but man, those Tweekers have my attention!
Part of me wants to spring for the Audioscape D-Comp but I want to finish filing my 500 racks first before I go down the D-Comp road. Plus, space (room) and rack space are an issue of sorts.
Again, thanks for the responses and if anyone else has info the the three options in the title, I am all ears!
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Post by Dan on Jul 14, 2024 16:48:25 GMT -6
Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I have been traveling/ busy so I am late getting back. I have used the dbx 560a's and its not really what I am after. Also, budget is not exactly an issue, but I am trying to be responsible in my spending vs personal use vs commercial use. I just can't justity a $2k+ type of thing, at least not right now. There are a lot of mentions about stereo matching. I am not overly concerned about that; I think I will mainly use each of these in mono. With that said, there will be some stereo use, but I don't mind dual mono, in fact, I often prefer it as the little idiosyncracies between the left and right channels often have a widening type of effect. I do test tone match my MA5s as I like to use them on the master bus so doing so it not an issue, but at the end of the day, I just trust my ears. The Tweekers have a link function so that is a bonus. I am leaning towards the Tweekers or MF Comp. The Implode module combined with the transformer is appealing to me. A simple 'better or worse' compressor and some saturation might just be the ticket for what I have in mind, but man, those Tweekers have my attention! Part of me wants to spring for the Audioscape D-Comp but I want to finish filing my 500 racks first before I go down the D-Comp road. Plus, space (room) and rack space are an issue of sorts. Again, thanks for the responses and if anyone else has info the the three options in the title, I am all ears! You don't need any of this stuff. If you have problems with your guitar tone, it is probably with your guitar gear. If you want a lot of distortion from compression, most decent compressors do not give you that much distortion except for stuff that will often make your tone or vocals worse. This includes the 1176 and the Distressor. The one knob compressors not things with a fair amount of program dependency like an LA whatever or a dbx 160 variant or the various things based on THAT design notes tend to hurt your audio more than help. They usually sound rather stupid. Some flexible VCA compressor you might appreciate for mixing might drive you nuts for tracking.
Why not just build a color module rack? There's a lot of random distortion stuff they make. If you cannot justify something like a Fatso, really hard to justify anything not dirt cheap for distortion. You're not going to get this money back and it's all a toy anyway. Get cheap toys.
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