Distressor!

[twonky]

So I have an opportunity to borrow one of these for a couple of days to mix w/.

I am a bit itimidated....

Can some one give me some good uses and possible settings for it?

Thanks
Twonky

[Blue Bear Sound]

Turn the knobs until you get the sound you want....

[twonky]

Thanks BlueBear,

I've come really rely on your informative and non-condecending replies to peoples questions.

Kudos!

Anybody have anything helpful to share (the subtext behind that being "No Shit! Of course I will turn the knobs and mess w/ it but some may have some really good settings they have used")

Twonky

[Blue Bear Sound]

Well... since the settings will depend completely on what you send thru it, you really have no choice but to experiment, eh?

[twonky]

..........So....uh...you dont have any "recipes" for me?

[Son of Mixerman]

Experimentation is the key to unlocking any devices potnetial, but you already knew that right. What I would do is find an instrument that needs some minimal compression, then I turn the knob for compression ratio to that ratio I think will give me the amount of gain reduction I need. I then play with a quick attack time and slower release time to see if the slew rate punches or drags the track. If Its something that sounds good and helps add some character I leave it there. I wouldn't be intimidated, nearly all compressors work the same, but sound differently. Just like a drummer playing a different snare than what he/she is used to. Read this link for some info on what they think it should be used on and how..
http://www.empiricallabs.com/distress.htm


SoMm

[Rev E]

twonky,

Blue Bear's comment comes off as rude, but he's absolutely right. Without being there with you and the track(s) that you will put through the Distressor, there's no way to give you any guidelines to use the box. Just experiment. That box is supposed to be very forgiving...even at high compression ratios the effect is often pleasing. In Nike's words, "just do it."

[Light]

While there are some types of effects (such as reverb and other time based effects) for which it is quite possible to share settings, it is imposible t do so with dynamic effects such as compression. The settings will never be the same twice. If you understand the concepts behind compression, then you just need to use that knowledge. If you do not, then you should spend some time learning. This will be much more useful than any "settings" anyone could give you.


Light

"Cowards cannever be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[Blue Bear Sound]

...exactly where it was that I was being rude???????

Matter of fact, maybe -- but in no way was I rude in either of my posts in this thread!!!

[twonky]

Thanks fellers,

I certainly never used the word rude. BlBr any information you can provide is helpful and I appreciate it, I guess that was kind of a knee-jerk reaction to response. I have found that many times your post are a bit on the condecending side. That is neither here nor there.

Point taken on who knows what will work for me because the music I am mixing is unique unto itself.

Thanks for the time.

Twonky

[Son of Mixerman]

Did you go to Empiricle Labs website that I posted Twonky?

They tell you where to start for several types of instruments.its more than I can say about other mfg's pages.


SoMm

[twonky]

SoMM,

Yes I did, I forgot to thank you for that link. That was pretty much what I was lookng for. Just some helpful hints on suggested uses for it.

I am really looking forward to messing w/ this thing but not to giving it back and wishing I had $2000 to get one!

Thanks again
Twonky

[SonicAlbert]

If you want the Distressor to sound clean don't light up more than 3-4 of the gain reduction LED's and keep all distortion settings off. Also, use the lower ratios like 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1.

If you want distortion and some heavier crunch then light up the gain reduction LED's into the orange and red ones, use the distortion settings, and also use the higher ratios. Distortion on the Distressor is quite pleasing, a beautiful sound and what these are known for. They can do clean quite well, although they are not known for that.

The 10:1 ratio is an optical compressor, a seperate circuit from the rest of the box.

Also, you'd probably want to begin with all knobs set to 4 or 5 as a starting point and then work from there.

Hope some of this helps.

[twonky]

SonicAlbert,

You sir are a real peach thanks for the advice!

I will do just that!

Twonky

[jslator]

You might want to check out some of the conversations from last month on Gearslutz when Dave Derr (the creator of the Distressor and other goodies) was guest moderator.