hardware bus compression

[saemskin]

so, those that have them. What's your favorite:

-bus compressor
-drum bus compressor
-perc/synth element bus compressor

and why?

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

Depends on the sounds... But \"go to\" units would probably be...

- STC-8M or VariMu
- STC-8M or VariMu
- VariMu or SSL 4000E/G

 

[saemskin]

Hard hitting electronic (not techno!). Right now I'm using the Fairchild as the 2 bus and 1176 as the drum bus, and usually the LA2A for everything else. All in very small amounts. I want a better edge than that. I want to stand out and sound better than the other guy for obvious reasons. I know my mixing skills need to improve always, and this isnt going to be a magic solution by any means.

So, I'm going to re-finance my house the first part of the year, and my plan was to at the very least buy a hardware 2-bus, and a second bus compressor if I can afford it. I was thinking of trying to pick up the 2 units for 4k or so. I was thinking of going by Vintage King and see if I can demo some things while I'm there, but all those units are around 4 grand a piece. Any suggestions for 2500 or less per unit?

I was reading about The Neve 5xxx series compressor as being the ultimate bus compressor since it can emulate SSL sounds as well as the classic Neve sound (obviously) because it has both feedback as well as feedforward options. Do you have any experience with the Portico compressor.

Alan Smart C1/C2 also look pretty sexy by the descriptions.
How about the RMS755?

 

[Plec]

For hard hitting electronic, what has worked for me is the Smart C2 and in some cases the Vari-MU. The C2 really is something you'd want to get IMO.

 

[Guest]

I use a Tubetech SMC 2A on the masterbus. Slight compressing, but mostly use the 3 bands to EQ the total overallsound.
On drum, it depends on the music-style. Just use what sounds good to your ears, no real 'magic' here 8)

 

[brian]

Definitely take a look at the Portico compressor. So far I have tried it on drums (overheads, kick, snare), acoustic guitars, and vocals. It sounded great every time.

I have had good results using the Summit DCL as a subgroup compressor.

The only master bus compressors I have mixed through are the SSL ones on their 6k/9k boards. I really wish they had a HPF in the detector sidechain sometimes. If I remember correctly that is just what that RMS755 compressor is supposed to be like.

 

[BTLG]

I'd think you'd probably want something similar to an SSL compressor for what you're doing. The Alan Smart maybe?

 

[saemskin]

Excellent choice btlg, so I decided to do things the hard way and start building my own clones. Hell, if I can build a dozen stompboxes that work, I can build audio equipment right?

So I finally completed the Gyraf SSL 4000E series clone, and it works great (for 400$ too). It took me 3 months of part time evenings to complete and be comfortable enough to turn it on and jump up and down when I saw the GR meter showing GR as well as hearing it. I still need to sex up the case, as its rather plain, but yup yup yup she's the one. I buss everything except my other hardware sends out to it and I can say it sounds..... well different than the 33609 or Fairchild that I had been using for this. I haven't used it a whole lot because I now have a problem. I CANT STOP!

I finished building the G9 tube pre, and it sort of works. I have a few bugs to work out yet. I think the power tranny is wired incorrectly or one of the power IC's are wrong. Anyhow, I'm also in the middle of building a 2-1176 as well as 4 channels of SuperGreen mic pre. In the interim I banged out a Paia Quadrafuzz and Hot Springs Reverb really quick.

Thanks for all the advice though!

And Brian, there's a Sidechain mod for the GSSL.

 

[BTLG]

Yeah,

I've got one of the tech guys here at work building me a buss comp clone as well.

I mostly use the 33609 plug til then.

Coolest buss comp I've EVER used though, is that API 2500. That thing is nuts.

 

[T-Dogg]

Saemskin -- how much $$$ are you into the 1176 for (minus case)? I'm awaiting transformers so I can finally square away 4 channels of API 312 clonage, and was considering that next...

Did the GSSL as well -- sounds good, but as my first project I wound up over-investing in it a bit... For example, I got the OEM SiFam meter cause I thought it looked cool... And it does, but that little f'cker alone cost something rediculous, like $140!!! I wanna keep the next few projects functional, but light on the wallet.

 

[saemskin]

tranny's for the 1176 are going to cost about 250 for input and output, parts and pcb's were about 100$, I decided to buy the case from Purusha (soon hopefully) so that's another 140 euros ($?) and then the meter I dunno. If I buy a Sifam its going to be 150 for the pair, I doubt I'll do that. So under 700 for a 2-1176.

I bought a used meter from Apex for about 10$ for my GSSL.
http://www.apexelectronic.com/products.htm
They have alot of decent used crap.

Sifam have a US distributor where you can get meters cheaper than directly from Sifam.

 

[T-Dogg]

Thanks, and cool link! I've actually been whoring away 4 of these gigantic Sifam meters with the black face and 7-notch BBC scale.

Got them on ebay as part of a liquidated Rotronics 4-track BBC editing system that I raided for parts... Imagine two of these in a dual 1176!!! Or La-2a!!!

 

[saemskin]

are you selling them?

 

[T-Dogg]

I was gonna hold onto them, but i dunno... I haven't had much time to build lately, guess I could let a pair go... PM me when you're ready. I'll take em' outta the rack cases and get the exact model number just to be sure they'll be a good fit for the 1176 project...

 

[saemskin]

They look to be AL-29WF's which are the exact meter I would want with the front bezel and inside mounting. I can get them for 59.95 each from http://www.metersales.com, so if you would let them go for a reasonable price knowing they would get a good home, sunshine would smile on you. :wink:

Anywho, pm me here or email me at jconley

at

buckeye-express
dot
com