Which of the UAD compressors to use: I could need some help

[Raindog]

So far I got three compressors to choose from with my UAD card: UAD 1176LN, UAD Fairchild and UAD LA2A. Could you give me some advice which of the compressors to choose in different mixing situations (e.g. on a single track with acoustic instruments, on a complete mix, on drumtracks?)? I must admit that my favourite plugin is the LA2A as there are so few knobs to turn and that makes adjustments rather easy

I have quite some problems to work with the fairchild compressor as I
don´t quite understand the concept though I read the manual a few times. Could anyone give me some advice or point me to a tutorial how to use the Fairchild. All the things I know from compressors are different with this beast and I could really need some knowledge based help from anyone of the community.

Thanks very much
Raindog

 

[Dan Duskin]

LA2A is best for:
- Vocals
- Bass Guitar
- Kick Drum
- Anything really

1176 is best for:
- Guitars
- Snare
- Effects

Fairchild is best for:
- Drum Groups
- Bass
- Mastering
- Various Groups

The LA2A can really be used on ANYTHING... so it should be your first.

 

[Giles117 DP]

LA2A is best for:
- Vocals
- Bass Guitar
- Kick Drum
- Anything really

1176 is best for:
- Guitars
- Snare
- Effects

Fairchild is best for:
- Drum Groups
- Bass
- Mastering
- Various Groups

The LA2A can really be used on ANYTHING... so it should be your first.

And...

1176 is Best for Vocals, Kick, Snare, Drum Groups, Anything really.....

LA2A is Best for All of the above and Piano, Synths, etc...

Fairchild is Best for Vocal Groups, Lead Vocal, etc...

As you can see the sound is what's most important. Dont limit your self to the "BEST" free yourself to what sounds best for you at that moment.....

I'll use a Fairchild on anything so long as I get the desired result, and so on with the other units.....twist the knobs, see what it does, leave the tech behind and use your ears. We all have tons of head knowledge but use is the turth...

 

[Raindog]

Thanks very much for your helpful replies. Actually, that´s what I´ve done so far but the Fairchild gives some trouble with theintuitive approach as there are many unusual knobs you can´t find on a conventional compressor.
Any suggestions for a good starting point with Fairchild? I´m mainly doing acoustic music (using samples but still acoustic) and I use only mild compression most of the time.
Thanks again for your help
regards
Raindog

 

[Big Harpe]

IMHO:

LA2A -Vocals (a MUST)
Bass
Anything that needs to sound sweet

1176LN - Drum Loops
Guitars
Groups

I can't comment son the Fairchild - I don't own a license for it.

 

[saemskin]

Thanks very much for your helpful replies. Actually, that´s what I´ve done so far but the Fairchild gives some trouble with theintuitive approach as there are many unusual knobs you can´t find on a conventional compressor.
Any suggestions for a good starting point with Fairchild? I´m mainly doing acoustic music (using samples but still acoustic) and I use only mild compression most of the time.
Thanks again for your help
regards
Raindog

If you read the manual it gives a rather comprehensive explanation on how to use the Fairchild, and the meaning behind the odd names of the knobbies.

 

[Paul Woodlock]

.....

The LA2A can really be used on ANYTHING... so it should be your first.

I'm glad we're all different

I maybe a rare breed but I everytime I try the LA-2A I always prefer the 1176. However I love the 1176 on vocals and drums. I love the Fairchild on various sources, but only in certain cases. I can't get on with the LA-2 at all.

The 1176 for ME beats EVERY software other software comp I've ever used. If I was forced at gunpoint to delete all UAD-1 plugs exacept one, I'd keep the 1176.


My advice is to try them ALL on as much stuff as you can. Only by doing taht will you eventually pic you're own favorites.

There really is no BEST for anything

 

[Giles117 DP]

Thanks very much for your helpful replies. Actually, that´s what I´ve done so far but the Fairchild gives some trouble with theintuitive approach as there are many unusual knobs you can´t find on a conventional compressor.
Any suggestions for a good starting point with Fairchild? I´m mainly doing acoustic music (using samples but still acoustic) and I use only mild compression most of the time.
Thanks again for your help
regards
Raindog

The biggest issue with the fairchild is learning the attack and release times of the presets......

Read the manual for what preset has what attck and release settings then find the one that best fits your material.....

 

[Suntower]

I want to take a slightly different tack because I have been (and still am) in your shoes. IMO, it is critical to develop an internal library of sounds that you have heard which use the various FX and then use that to guide you.

For example: Beatles records after 1965 that sound really 'in your face' (John's vocals, Ringo's drums, Paul's bass). All Fairchild. They evidently liked running -everything- through it. But personally, I think it's more because they got addicted to everything having a greater apparent loudness than it's actual wonderfulness.

Many many rock albums---1176. (See the very 1st webzine for info on Led Zeppelin guitars and drums.)

Once you have those kinds of sounds down in your mind it becomes easier to reach for the appropriate tool.

---JC

 

[Raindog]

Thanks very much for your useful suggestions. So it comes all down to trial and error and personal taste. At least that confirms my experience.
I really would like to dig deeper into the fairchild and I READ the manual though I find it quite difficult to understand (bearing in mind that I´m more a musician than an engineer ).
I must admit that I haven´t tried the presets so far . I think it may be a good starting point. Thanks for pointing this out.
Best regards
Raindog

 

[Dan Duskin]

the 1176 has a lot of color... it rounds off attacks and transients... it warms and darkens sonics... this is why i wouldn't recommend it as the first compressor... i.e., it's more of a \"taste\" thing... while the LA2A doesn't alter things too much, it mostly just compresses, and does the best job of any compressor i've ever heard (not altering the sound, just compressing and bringing things together in the mix). if you put the 1176 on everything it will greatly alter the sound of the mix... you might like it (like many here do), or you might not. what it isn't is a \"go-to-swiss-army-knife-compressor\"... you go to the 1176 when you want \"that 1176 SOUND\"

the other great thing about the LA2A is that it's hard to over-compress... so if you want to bounce it, it's very unlikely you'll wish you didn't hit it so hard later.

but keep in mind that i'm not the type that wants my mixes to sound like they came out of the 60's or 70's all the time... i like to mix it up... for example; maybe i want the drums crisp and hard, but the vocals dirty and old-school.

 

[saemskin]

Many many rock albums---1176. (See the very 1st webzine for info on Led Zeppelin guitars and drums.)

Was that the article where they talked about Page running his signal through 2 1176's simultaneously. Wow, smash-ola.

 

[Raindog]

the 1176 has a lot of color... it rounds off attacks and transients... it warms and darkens sonics... this is why i wouldn't recommend it as the first compressor... i.e., it's more of a "taste" thing... while the LA2A doesn't alter things too much, it mostly just compresses, and does the best job of any compressor i've ever heard (not altering the sound, just compressing and bringing things together in the mix). if you put the 1176 on everything it will greatly alter the sound of the mix... you might like it (like many here do), or you might not. what it isn't is a "go-to-swiss-army-knife-compressor"... you go to the 1176 when you want "that 1176 SOUND"

the other great thing about the LA2A is that it's hard to over-compress... so if you want to bounce it, it's very unlikely you'll wish you didn't hit it so hard later.

but keep in mind that i'm not the type that wants my mixes to sound like they came out of the 60's or 70's all the time... i like to mix it up... for example; maybe i want the drums crisp and hard, but the vocals dirty and old-school.

Thanks very much. This was very informative. Can you give me ad advice with the different modes of the Fairchild? I can read the manual up and down but have some difficulties to understand the lateral-vertikal (which seems to be historically based) and stereo mode. It´s quite difficult for me to understand why to compress the sum and the difference of 2 signals and then mix them together again. This is just outside my technical skills. Any idea how to explain it for dummies?

 

[cane creek]

the UAD 1176LN, UAD Fairchild and UAD LA2A are fantastic , however your making the same mistake as me until i read a post on this forum about how good the EX-1 is.

Basically the EX-1 gets overlooked because its bundled with the card folk think its not worth checking out , well it proved me wrong as what a superb compressor it is , try the EX-1 on your drums i love it.

 

[wishingwell]

[quote="Dan Duskin":2p19nx5c].....

The LA2A can really be used on ANYTHING... so it should be your first.

I'm glad we're all different

I maybe a rare breed but I everytime I try the LA-2A I always prefer the 1176. However I love the 1176 on vocals and drums. I love the Fairchild on various sources, but only in certain cases. I can't get on with the LA-2 at all.

The 1176 for ME beats EVERY software other software comp I've ever used. If I was forced at gunpoint to delete all UAD-1 plugs exacept one, I'd keep the 1176.


My advice is to try them ALL on as much stuff as you can. Only by doing taht will you eventually pic you're own favorites.

There really is no BEST for anything [/quote:2p19nx5c]

I agree with much of what you wrote, for me the 1176N is the most universal compressor i've heard. It sounds good on everything.But i would'nt say it's the best overall compressor for me (meaning it's not necessarily better then everything on the market in every way), to me it's just the best "general purpose" compressor, for i have many great compressors and some are like your good dressy pair of clothes you only wear them once in a blue moon for special occasions, but it does'nt mean your everyday clothes are better,for some may consider the special occassion clothes to be better. But each looks good on their own occasions, and each may be great in their own way. I've only had UAD-1 for a short while so i'm no expert but the two compressors that stand out the most to my ears from the uad collection are 1176n and fairchild, i've never tried precision.But i also have many outside the uad collection that are great aswell.

 

[Dan Duskin]

Yes... the EX-1 is a FANTASTIC compressor!!!

I'll say it again... the 1176 adds lots of color and warmth. If you want that, cool... but if you don't want it on everything (you might want clarity/purity or retained transients on some things), it's not going to be a swiss army knife.

 

[Ericcc]

another vote for the EX-1 !!!! Freakin awesome lil' thang...

 

[Raindog]

the UAD 1176LN, UAD Fairchild and UAD LA2A are fantastic , however your making the same mistake as me until i read a post on this forum about how good the EX-1 is.

Basically the EX-1 gets overlooked because its bundled with the card folk think its not worth checking out , well it proved me wrong as what a superb compressor it is , try the EX-1 on your drums i love it.

As you said, I overlooked this little compressor myself. I´ll give it a try with one of my current projects. Thanks for the suggestion.
Raindog

 

[Suntower]

Yeah, when Dan first brought this up it was a revelation!

If what you want is -really- just compression... this is (for me) always the way to go. No colour. Just level control that uses precious few resources on the card.

---JC

Yes... the EX-1 is a FANTASTIC compressor!!!

I'll say it again... the 1176 adds lots of color and warmth. If you want that, cool... but if you don't want it on everything (you might want clarity/purity or retained transients on some things), it's not going to be a swiss army knife.

 

[Dan Duskin]

That's right... it's just compression, no color (the EX-1)... but it's also \"smooth\"... i.e., no gritty zips pops or snaps like most simple compressor plugins when you set the attack/release/ratio too extreme (quick)... it's smooth 64bit dsp compression, which i suspect might even have just the slightest hair of a soft-knee. And oh yeah... it takes up virtually nothing