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Post by deehope on Nov 15, 2014 14:24:36 GMT -6
What would you guys recommend as the biggest sounding compressor out there. Something that everything you run thru it comes out sounding bigger on the other end? It would have to be versatile so it cant have a really strong signature. I'm moving more and more itb and would like to have a select few money pieces of outboard that I can use on pretty much everything. Pretty much something that has a similar effect to a vc528. Thanks
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Post by Ward on Nov 15, 2014 16:19:01 GMT -6
On the hardware side, a chain of an optical and an FET is hard to beat. I.E. and LA2a or CL1b followed by an 1176.
On the plug in side, the combination of the SSL Buss comp followed by the Waves L1+Ultramaximizer is difficult to beat.
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Post by bluenoise on Nov 15, 2014 16:38:39 GMT -6
From my experience, the tube tech cl1b would fit the bill. I've never heard anything by retro but the sta level has also such reputation. Ever tried any of those?
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 15, 2014 16:40:13 GMT -6
when i think "big sounding" i generally think tube's because the added punch makes it feel bigger, i want to build a drip Sta- as i feel in my mind that besides a great vox comp, it would serve as a great kick compressor for that reason, but i have 0 experience with one...so i can't say? I can very highly recommend the original DBX 166 with the jim williams mods which includes the great That corp 2180A vca (the unmodded one is pretty bad, Jim actually discovered a mistake in the circuit design and notified dbx, and they fixed it moving forward). Modded, it's pretty damn fat, and very cool for drums and bass, and they can be had for peanut$.  drbill |
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Post by drbill on Nov 15, 2014 16:51:39 GMT -6
LA2A or Tubetech CL1b. And if going parallel FET, I do it the opposite of Ward - I put the 1176 up front.
As for the 166 Tony..... haha. It's the smallerizer. Don't know about Jims mods, but if it gets big after he's done with it, he must do a miracle that borders on Biblical..... I threw mine in the trash.
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Post by jimwilliams on Nov 15, 2014 19:26:54 GMT -6
Those old fairchild 660's were quite a fad, but they are very pricy.
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Post by deehope on Nov 15, 2014 19:39:16 GMT -6
Thanks for all the recomendations guys. I have Jim Williams modded aphexs and they're perfect for artists and instruments that are already perfect and need no enhancement/flattering.
That's y I need the other main compressor for sources I want to thicken and smooth out. I'm thinking a vari mu is what I'm looking for. I've used nebula's version of the Phoenix and that subtle gloss and air sounds good on everything. I want that with some analog bigness on my front end. Problem is a phoenix is like 5k? So I'm looking for something good in that vein. Sta level has a similar reputation but doesn't it have a heavy sonic imprint? The way people describe the jlm la500 is similar to what I'm looking for as well..
Keep the recomendations coming guys.really appreciate it.
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 15, 2014 19:45:17 GMT -6
well, imo, the LA3A(SA3A) ends it all 8) Mine is broken down right now though, i did something wrong in there and slow burned a resistor....on both channels....in the same position..?  |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 15, 2014 21:30:53 GMT -6
Thanks for all the recomendations guys. I have Jim Williams modded aphexs and they're perfect for artists and instruments that are already perfect and need no enhancement/flattering. That's y I need the other main compressor for sources I want to thicken and smooth out. I'm thinking a vari mu is what I'm looking for. I've used nebula's version of the Phoenix and that subtle gloss and air sounds good on everything. I want that with some analog bigness on my front end. Problem is a phoenix is like 5k? So I'm looking for something good in that vein. Sta level has a similar reputation but doesn't it have a heavy sonic imprint? The way people describe the jlm la500 is similar to what I'm looking for as well.. Keep the recomendations coming guys.really appreciate it. The Phoenix is awesome.  They seem to go for $3-3.5k used. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 15, 2014 21:38:25 GMT -6
No doubt - the Sta-Level. Don't know where you heard that it didn't have a heavy sonic imprint. It does...
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 15, 2014 21:39:36 GMT -6
No doubt - the Sta-Level. Don't know where you heard that it didn't have a heavy sonic imprint. It does... He said it does and he doesn't want that. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 15, 2014 21:40:23 GMT -6
Ah - read it wrong...My suggestion would be to try one. Makes everything that goes through it sound better. cowboycoalminer you wanna take a swing? |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Nov 15, 2014 22:02:52 GMT -6
Well anything that sounds "big" is gonna leave it's footprint. When I think of big, I think of an La3a. Nothing runs through one without sounding expensive but it has a big footprint, edgy. And they aint cheap.
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 15, 2014 22:11:34 GMT -6
So, you ever get your Sta problems sorted out?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 15, 2014 22:21:04 GMT -6
So, you ever get your Sta problems sorted out? Picked it up today. Hopefully it's tip top. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 15, 2014 22:23:36 GMT -6
Oh cool - Jcoutu...didn't know you got one...was talking about Cowboys...
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 15, 2014 22:24:59 GMT -6
Oh cool - Jcoutu...didn't know you got one...was talking about Cowboys... Yep. Grabbed a Drip and it got crushed shipping. Should be sorted now though. |
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Post by drbill on Nov 15, 2014 22:37:14 GMT -6
well, imo, the LA3A(SA3A) ends it all 8) Mine is broken down right now though, i did something wrong in there and slow burned a resistor....on both channels....in the same position..? I'll second that. Tony - sorry to hear the 3A fried. Bummer..... :-( Get r fixed!!! One of the best of the besets. |
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Post by littlesicily on Nov 15, 2014 23:48:21 GMT -6
Those old fairchild 660's were quite a fad, but they are very pricy. ha…i'd love to keep that "fad" going but too rich for my blood |
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Post by littlesicily on Nov 15, 2014 23:49:39 GMT -6
STA might be biggest sounding comp I've used.
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Post by littlesicily on Nov 15, 2014 23:50:24 GMT -6
La3a's are great…if UREI… didn't care for the UA reissue as much… kinda spongy. Maybe the release was wrong??
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Nov 16, 2014 0:14:59 GMT -6
Oh cool - Jcoutu...didn't know you got one...was talking about Cowboys... Yeah got mine back a month ago. Good as new. Phil's is good people. |
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Post by deehope on Nov 23, 2014 12:24:57 GMT -6
STA might be biggest sounding comp I've used. yup have the drip version right? And it's equally as big sounding as the retro? I'm leaning to this route. Maybe some cleaner components/tubes? |
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Post by littlesicily on Nov 23, 2014 13:04:27 GMT -6
STA might be biggest sounding comp I've used. yup have the drip version right? And it's equally as big sounding as the retro? I'm leaning to this route. Maybe some cleaner components/tubes? I think the Drip STA is a little thicker actually than the Retro. The Retro I had didn't have a 6386 tube, so that may be one of the differences. But overall, the Retro was slightly cleaner than the Drip… which Johnkenn and I thought was a slight bit wooly. |
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Post by wiz on Nov 23, 2014 18:35:32 GMT -6
littlesicily Johnkennhow close were the drip and the retro in compression action and output level? cheers Wiz
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They seem to go for $3-3.5k used.
