Do I need the Fairchild Comp?

[Klauser]

Pardon me if this has been covered, but...

I currently have the LA-2A, the 1176, and the Precision Multiband compressors. I'm wondering if I should also get the Fairchild. What does it do that the others don't? Or am I covered with what I've got? If I understand correctly, the Fairchild is especially useful for mastering. But I've been using the mastermind bundle (so the PMB comp).
Can someone please enlighten me....
Thanks for your help!
Klaus

 

[Akis]

The Fairchild is great as a track compressor, if you want that particular colour. I've used it on piano (I love compressing piano tracks to death with the FC), vocals, electric guitar etc. and I think it shines, but only when you want that colour; 1176LN and LA2A are used more often here (as well as Voxengo Crunchessor and Sony Dynamics for Powercore; I also use the Sonalksis SV-317, but almost as often as the Fairchild).

 

[Cubaselizer]

Activate the demo, listen and decide for yourself :wink:

I personally couldn't imagine doing a mix without it - it's gorgeous on vocals e.g. and definitley can do things that the 1176LN and the LA2A can't, which is also true vice versa of course :twisted:

The Fairchild can sound very inconspicuous yet desirably colorful and smooth. It's one of my favourite UAD plugins beside the Plate, the 1176LN and the Pultec!

 

[wishingwell]

Pardon me if this has been covered, but...

I currently have the LA-2A, the 1176, and the Precision Multiband compressors. I'm wondering if I should also get the Fairchild. What does it do that the others don't? Or am I covered with what I've got? If I understand correctly, the Fairchild is especially useful for mastering. But I've been using the mastermind bundle (so the PMB comp).
Can someone please enlighten me....
Thanks for your help!
Klaus

I believe in different tool combinations for different mixes. there is no one plug for every track or set combination, but a well rounded arsenal for all projects is my belief.you may want to experiment at times with plugs other then mastermind bundle for mastering to see if you like diversity because this is what your 'buy it or not' decision henges on. So it boils down to how diverse you want your arsenal wich is proportional to music needs/wants and creative ability.how much do your music needs more diverse tools or not (all music don't need it, many artists do just fine without alot of plugs),Its difficult for any of us other then you to know what the magic number for your arsenals completeness is (magic number is different for each musician, so the degree of diversity varies from artist to artist who needs it).
But as for fairchild if you demo it and like it and feel you need or can really use it i'd say go for it. If you try it on a few mixes and don't care for it or feel it offers you little then i'd say don't get it. If your unable to demo it and your arsenal seems to be needing something else special i'd say pick it up its very special.If you don't have alot of money and since you already have nice compressors i'd say don't worry about it.the variables go on and on, but it all boils down to you and your personal wants/needs wich no one of us fully knows.All i know is the fairchild is a great sounding plug .

 

[ed_mcg]

As suggested, give it a try. I put in on a bass track about 99% of the time. It warms up and \"opens up\" the sound of both a bass guitar and an upright. So, I'd suggest you try it with that while evaluating.

There is a specialized tool aspect to these plugins. LA2A really shines with vox, but is perhaps the most flexible. 1167 really gets thing dirty and usually on put it on drums. Fairchild is nice on acoustic instruments: bass, guitar and piano.

I use the Fairchild more often than any other UAD plug.

 

[Staccato]

Yeah Ed, you make good use of it. How much of your \"crunchy bass\" sound from the Eminence is due to the FC?

 

[bitman]

Yea,

Just don't take the last one! I need to get mine before June.

 

[ed_mcg]

Yeah Ed, you make good use of it. How much of your "crunchy bass" sound from the Eminence is due to the FC?

Actually, most of that crunch came from the fresh strings on the Eminence. I tracked a couple of those tunes when the strings and the instrument where just a month old! Now it's starting to settle in and a little less crunchy. (I think I miss some of the crunch!)

Anyway the FC just adds a sense of warm and "naturalness," otherwise the track sounds more sterile.

 

[PodBoy]

I'm also in the demo phase ( trying to decide how to spend my flexi-bucks) . The consensus so far seems to be that FC is better on individual tracks, whereas I thought it was designed for Mastering.
what do you use for mastering?

 

[bitman]

I've got mine.
And the LA-2A just got relieved of it's duties as a bass compressor and is now only going to be used for what it is best for and that is vocals.

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

The consensus so far seems to be that FC is better on individual tracks, whereas I thought it was designed for Mastering.

Maybe in 1965... \/

Zing! I've got a million of 'em!

 

[Guest]

yes the FC kicks all kinds of ass on bass!

 

[PodBoy]

The consensus so far seems to be that FC is better on individual tracks, whereas I thought it was designed for Mastering.

Maybe in 1965... \/

Zing! I've got a million of 'em!

Hey Massive - so what are your Mastering plug-in secret weapons?

 

[Big Harpe]

The consensus so far seems to be that FC is better on individual tracks, whereas I thought it was designed for Mastering.

Maybe in 1965... \/

Zing! I've got a million of 'em!

Hey Massive - so what are your Mastering plug-in secret weapons?

Massive does this for a living. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing with a few people, but I think it is not unfair of him to NOT share his ancient Chinese secrets with the whole world. Let the man EARN!!

 

[polygen]

Post subject: Do I need the Fairchild Comp?

yes, you need it.

 

[PodBoy]

[quote="MASSIVE Mastering":3huhc2sc]

The consensus so far seems to be that FC is better on individual tracks, whereas I thought it was designed for Mastering.

Maybe in 1965... \/

Zing! I've got a million of 'em!

Hey Massive - so what are your Mastering plug-in secret weapons?

Massive does this for a living. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing with a few people, but I think it is not unfair of him to NOT share his ancient Chinese secrets with the whole world. Let the man EARN!![/quote:3huhc2sc]


With no disrespect to anyone intended, if Edie F-in Van Halen told me what guitar strings he uses, it doesn't mean I'll ever play like him. To be honest, I have no idea of Mr Massive's background; I just assume everyone on this forum is willing to contribute whatever pearls of wisdom they can, mixed in with the zingers.

So to repose the question:
Since we no longer have to worry about a stylus popping out of vinyl grooves due to overmodulated bass, which of the UAD plugs are really well-suited for mastering stereo mixes?
As an alternative, what Native plugs in this price range might be recommended?

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Check out the Massive Mastering website. There you'll see the tens of thousands of dollars worth of outboard gear that seems (judging by possibly outdated statements John's made in the past) to keep him from using UAD plug-ins for mastering duties.