Not great results from Fairchild plugin, and wondering why

[roadstar]

I am a new Apollo user with several questions when I get the time, but here is one of them, a problem.
I've been using UAD2 plugins (on cards) with my DAW for 15+ years with great results. When my studio computer went down recently, I got an Apollo/Windows 10 rig to cover myself for a job.
I'm using a compressor on the master (in this case the Fairchild 670) which I have done a million times (same DAW/plugin), but on this new Apollo system, I am not getting a good result when bouncing the master to track using the Fairchild. The result most often sounds very little like the session so getting a bounce that sounds like the session has been pretty much impossible, a crap shoot. I've had excellent results doing that with Fairchild plugin I'm used to using, but not this one.
Thanks for any ideas.

 

[JamesNorth]

What’s the DAW in question?

The routing / export settings will be what’s causing it.

 

[chrisharbin]

I am a new Apollo user with several questions when I get the time, but here is one of them, a problem.
I've been using UAD2 plugins (on cards) with my DAW for 15+ years with great results. When my studio computer went down recently, I got an Apollo/Windows 10 rig to cover myself for a job.
I'm using a compressor on the master (in this case the Fairchild 670) which I have done a million times (same DAW/plugin), but on this new Apollo system, I am not getting a good result when bouncing the master to track using the Fairchild. The result most often sounds very little like the session so getting a bounce that sounds like the session has been pretty much impossible, a crap shoot. I've had excellent results doing that with Fairchild plugin I'm used to using, but not this one.
Thanks for any ideas.

I have mixed feelings about it, but I don't use it. I have "other" comps that I like using more. Also, Fairchild's are all very different depending on which plug you use. I won't EVER touch IK again, but I remember really liking their version. I agree (sorry Drew) that this one isn't really my bag. BUT, there are so many excellent alternatives. I have Spark, and the one I use the most is the Capitol Mastering. "Mastering" is misleading to me, because it seems to add a very desirable flavor imo.

 

[roadstar]

What’s the DAW in question?

The routing / export settings will be what’s causing it.

Thanks. What routing/export settings? This Fairchild has more controls at the bottom which I have left alone (using the Mix at 100 generally), but the bottom line is that the bounced file should sound *exactly* like what I hear in the session but it doesn't.
The DAW is Adobe Audition (love it!), and as mentioned, been using that flawlessly with UAD for years and years.
Thanks again.

 

[Long John]

do you use dsp or uadx version?

 

[chrisso]

I can't answer your specific question - but the Fairchild is a character compressor, most famously used on those Beatles drums - which pump and suck.
I wouldn't personally use it over a mix, far better UAD compressors for that.

 

[rjjuly]

... but the bottom line is that the bounced file should sound *exactly* like what I hear in the session but it doesn't...

Yes indeed - the plugin you are using with the Apollo is the exact same as that you have used with your UAD-2 cards - identical algorythm and works the same way as with the cards, except that the dsp processors are inside the Apollo. In any case, if you are hearing it right when playing back, then the plugin is working, and if it appears to give you differing results when you export, that is likely to be due to some sort of issue with the export process, or potentially an issue with the the apollo software install or it's compatibility with Audition etc...

Have you tried testing with a simple Audition session, with perhaps just a single track exported with just the comp in the master bus?

Also, you may want to try recreating the issue on another DAW. Reaper is a good choice as it can used free temporarily, and installed as a 'portable' install which doesn't create any registry entries or dependencies to clog up your system.

- Richard