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Post by sentientsound on Apr 28, 2023 20:41:08 GMT -6
FC526 level-Ors BAC-500 Old big meter 525's Alan Smart 500 comp I love what the Devil-loc plug does to drums - but also love the mix knob on it. Level-or a similar thing? The Mk2 have lower noise than the first edition and a 3-way toggle for slow/med/fast speeds in Level and 3 different LPF frequencies in the distortion mode. The new Level-Or Dual (1U rackmount only) now has a mix blend and also stereo link or dual-mono cascade routing. I'd say it's a must in 500 land, only sold mine to pre-order a Dual. |
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Post by robschnapf on Apr 28, 2023 21:45:35 GMT -6
FC526 level-Ors BAC-500 Old big meter 525's Alan Smart 500 comp Hi Rob, Old post but can you comment a bit more on the BAC 500? Been thinking about one for a while but no possibility of a demo here. I like the idea of 1176-ish control at 2:1, that sounded great on the UA 1176AE with vocals. Most comments online mentioned the BAC as a go-to for bass though, and with a different color. I been using the BACs for stereo BGVs. They sound great. They really sort of finish them off. I usually have them at 4:1 medium attack fast release. I don’t see why they wouldn’t sound good for your use. |
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Post by sentientsound on Apr 29, 2023 10:27:46 GMT -6
Hi Rob, Old post but can you comment a bit more on the BAC 500? Been thinking about one for a while but no possibility of a demo here. I like the idea of 1176-ish control at 2:1, that sounded great on the UA 1176AE with vocals. Most comments online mentioned the BAC as a go-to for bass though, and with a different color. I been using the BACs for stereo BGVs. They sound great. They really sort of finish them off. I usually have them at 4:1 medium attack fast release. I don’t see why they wouldn’t sound good for your use. Thanks! Have you used the Serpent Audio Splice 500? In 500 land the only other 1176/FET type limiter I've tested is the WesAudio _Mimas. Those are awesome, just a bit more modern sounding. |
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Post by drumsound on Apr 29, 2023 11:48:53 GMT -6
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Purple Action. It was my first 500 comp and I still love it.
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Post by robschnapf on Apr 29, 2023 12:08:28 GMT -6
Never tried the serpent or WesAudio.
Is the purple action FET?
Similiar to the purple 1176?
There is also the hairball 500 series 76.
Never tried those either.
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Post by smashlord on Apr 29, 2023 15:07:34 GMT -6
Thanks! Have you used the Serpent Audio Splice 500? In 500 land the only other 1176/FET type limiter I've tested is the WesAudio _Mimas. Those are awesome, just a bit more modern sounding. Got 2x Splice 500s. Absolutely fantastic! I have A/Bed them against Rev D UREIs and liked them better. Feature set is icing on the cake. |
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Post by sentientsound on Apr 29, 2023 16:53:32 GMT -6
Never tried the serpent or WesAudio. Is the purple action FET? Similiar to the purple 1176? There is also the hairball 500 series 76. Never tried those either. Yea the Action is really similar to their 19" 1176 but feels more aggressive both in terms of speed and saturation. If you need to slam percussion or ambience mics it's a killer sound. It adda a brighter sounding grainy grind than other FETs I've used. I found it a bit too intense to be useful on most vocals and guitars though. |
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Post by sentientsound on Apr 29, 2023 16:59:24 GMT -6
Thanks! Have you used the Serpent Audio Splice 500? In 500 land the only other 1176/FET type limiter I've tested is the WesAudio _Mimas. Those are awesome, just a bit more modern sounding. Got 2x Splice 500s. Absolutely fantastic! I have A/Bed them against Rev D UREIs and liked them better. Feature set is icing on the cake. Good to know! They really managed to pack a lot into a single 500 slot. RE: other 1176-style options I have a rackmount BLA Bluey which surprised me - sounds better than I expected at a great price. They announced a double-slot 500 version recently If it sounds the same, I'd add it to my shortlist (if you don't have their 19" version or want an extra aggressive Rev A variation). |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Apr 29, 2023 18:29:31 GMT -6
Never tried the serpent or WesAudio. Is the purple action FET? Similiar to the purple 1176? There is also the hairball 500 series 76. Never tried those either. Action is a descendant of the MC77, not the MC76 which is more of a 76 clone. It’s definitely more aggressive, it was one of the first 76 inspired 500 comps. My hunch Rob is you probably would like it as long as you don’t expect a true 76 clone. That was the thing people expected the action to be a MC76 in a 500 and got more of a MC77. Even if everyone who was involved said it was more 77 like the internet wanted it to be a 76. |
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Post by drbill on Apr 29, 2023 18:53:52 GMT -6
For me in 500 series it would have to be :
Serpent Splices
AudioScape LA3a's (I am already loaded with 3a's, but if I needed 500's these would be it)
Splice SB4001
Kush Tweezer
Honerable mention to JLM LA500A's
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Post by drumsound on Apr 29, 2023 20:12:43 GMT -6
Never tried the serpent or WesAudio. Is the purple action FET? Similiar to the purple 1176? There is also the hairball 500 series 76. Never tried those either. Yep, the Action is FET and fast like a one would expect from a '76 type compressor. The transformer is smaller because space, but it doesn't sound thin or whimpy. Never tried the serpent or WesAudio. Is the purple action FET? Similiar to the purple 1176? There is also the hairball 500 series 76. Never tried those either. Yea the Action is really similar to their 19" 1176 but feels more aggressive both in terms of speed and saturation. If you need to slam percussion or ambience mics it's a killer sound. It adda a brighter sounding grainy grind than other FETs I've used. I found it a bit too intense to be useful on most vocals and guitars though. I've used the Action on a lot of vocals, and bass most of the time. I can't remember the last time I used it on guitar... When I still lived in analog land I'd often plan to use in on BD or SD so when I mixed it could use it on the other. I meant to quote ericn and didn't. Seems he had a little more info than I did on the MC76/MC77 comparison. |
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Post by thehightenor on Apr 30, 2023 1:12:13 GMT -6
Thanks! Have you used the Serpent Audio Splice 500? In 500 land the only other 1176/FET type limiter I've tested is the WesAudio _Mimas. Those are awesome, just a bit more modern sounding. Got 2x Splice 500s. Absolutely fantastic! I have A/Bed them against Rev D UREIs and liked them better. Feature set is icing on the cake. How’s the Splice 500 tracking vocals? Or do you keep them purely for mixing? |
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Post by javamad on Apr 30, 2023 2:49:39 GMT -6
I have the Chandller Limited TG OPTO and I love it in combination with a distressor on vocals or on its own for DI bass
The needle can be showing large amounts of GR but you don’t notice it.
There is a nice vibe from it too. Its not squeaky clean.
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 30, 2023 4:16:45 GMT -6
Leviathan’s, Level-Or 1&2’s, JLA 500’s and Great River PWM - 501. Serpent Splice and Wes Rhea!
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Post by thehightenor on Apr 30, 2023 6:22:06 GMT -6
I have the Chandller Limited TG OPTO and I love it in combination with a distressor on vocals or on its own for DI bass The needle can be showing large amounts of GR but you don’t notice it. There is a nice vibe from it too. Its not sueaky clean. I’ve always been intrigued by the Chandler opto. I’d like to get an opto and I don’t need a tube opto like an LA2A as I have a couple of great vari mu’s for tracking (Retro STA - Thermionic Phoenix MP) so I’d like a clean opto. It’s a toss between the Chandler and the Buzz Essence. |
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Post by copperx on Apr 30, 2023 10:04:12 GMT -6
It hasn't even been released, but I bet the Empirical Labs' Pump will be a must-have for anyone that likes the Distressor.
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Post by sentientsound on Apr 30, 2023 10:41:22 GMT -6
Leviathan’s, Level-Or 1&2’s, JLA 500’s and Great River PWM - 501. Serpent Splice and Wes Rhea! Paul what did you most like the Rhea on? I'll suggest Standard Audio's Stretch too. Got a pair and they sound fantastic blended in a bit on drums, pianos, strings, backing vocals for Dolby style air, on bass for stable deep lows, on kick for extra thump and click, etc. |
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 30, 2023 11:06:23 GMT -6
The Rhea like all Wes gear is great. It makes drums and bass etc sound huge. Just magic.
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Post by copperx on Apr 30, 2023 11:13:43 GMT -6
The Rhea like all Wes gear is great. It makes drums and bass etc sound huge. Just magic. Wow, they have an exceptionally great price point for a stereo unit with digital recall. |
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 30, 2023 11:20:55 GMT -6
I bought 2 because they even work on stereo bus, they’re so good.
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Post by ab101 on Apr 30, 2023 11:50:21 GMT -6
Wes Audio Dione is also great. I have not tried the Wes Audio Rhea but would love to try it!
And by the way, Wes Audio's racks are super. (At least the Titan is, which I have.)
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Post by spock on Apr 30, 2023 13:40:36 GMT -6
I have the Chandller Limited TG OPTO and I love it in combination with a distressor on vocals or on its own for DI bass The needle can be showing large amounts of GR but you don’t notice it. There is a nice vibe from it too. Its not sueaky clean. I’ve always been intrigued by the Chandler opto. I’d like to get an opto and I don’t need a tube opto like an LA2A as I have a couple of great vari mu’s for tracking (Retro STA - Thermionic Phoenix MP) so I’d like a clean opto. It’s a toss between the Chandler and the Buzz Essence. FWIW, The TG Opto is a dark horse/sleeper. "Sharp" Knee is tantamount to "Limit" on the TG1 however with the opto it gives a little different flavor; you can definitely cli and crush drums with it. Or in "Rounded" Knee, you squash just as much, however without hearing the act of compression working upon the source. When you switch from Sharp to Rounded with the same settings, it's like things jump out of the speakers, while controlled. ...anyway happy hunting for whatever gets you to there; so many good pieces out there today. |
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