M
MOFO Pro
Opinions are like SM-57s
That old thing... it's probably worthless now... I hope you didn't pay a lot for itThat would be my 1948 D28Paul
S
signman
New member
Actually no I did'nt....it has some issues including a few reapired back cracks
but it'sthe one that speaks to me.. that an an old 1939 00-18.
Tried the new Martins but they soon went once I disscovered old wood
Vintage Martin's and 50's Deluxe Tweeds 5E3..bleed me dry
Paul
J
jarrydee
Audiobay productions
I just bought a used dbx 1066 on ebay.
I'm already wondering if I've done the right thing.
BTW..the 1066 cost me way to much.. £ 165.00
I'm reading the 1066 is very aggresive, umm...Not was I'm after really.
Vocal's and acoustic guitar.. Think I've f**ked up..
I'm reading very conflicting reviews on the
DBX 1066.....
Paul
WTF..why the hell are you still reading?
Plug it in and use your ears..If you like it great..do you NEED someone to tell you if you like it or not
? you already have it..See for yourself!!!
M
MOFO Pro
Opinions are like SM-57s
My sister has an old D-28 that she bought new in the 70's... it's gather dust (and twists) in her closet... but she kows what it's worth... and keeps threatening to bring it out and get it serviced any time I bring it up... it's a damn shameVintage Martin's and 50's Deluxe Tweeds 5E3..bleed me dry
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signman
New member
WTF..why the hell are you still reading?
Plug it in and use your ears..If you like it great..do you NEED someone to tell you if you like it or not
I asked the qestion before I'd been to collect it.......
Read it is a very aggresive compressor, that worried me...OK
Paul
M
MCI2424
New member
I just bought a used dbx 1066 on ebay.
I'm already wondering if I've done the right thing.
BTW..the 1066 cost me way to much.. £ 165.00
I'm reading the 1066 is very aggresive, umm...Not was I'm after really.
Vocal's and acoustic guitar.. Think I've f**ked up..
I'm reading very conflicting reviews on the
DBX 1066.....
Paul
DBX has not made anything worth a damn since 1982.
M
MOFO Pro
Opinions are like SM-57s
+1 on that... yeah... what happened. How do you go from "the name" in dynamics, to a company living on an ancient reputation?
darrin_h2000
Banned
What...the dbx 160 is the best compresser Ive got...I have one from the 1970's that has been in my rack for years...you must be mistaken
pohaku
New member
For a relatively inexpensive comp, the DBX 160 (x, xt, a) is perfectly usable and actually pretty decent on instruments and especially drums. Not my first choice for vocals. I have two 160xts.
For vocals, the FMR RNC is a better choice than the DBX IMHO. I haven't used the other FMR comps, but I expect they are also pretty good for the money. I have 2 RNCs.
Another good inexpensive comp is the Symetrix 501. Discontinued but very good on bass. Arguably the older model with the Valley VCAs and the metal toggle power switch is preferable. Some of the other older Symetrix SX206 and SX208 units are also quite usable and cheap.
For transparent compression the Aphex Compellor is very good and used ones are plentiful and pretty cheap.
IMHO, any of these is far better than a 3630.
Once you get past these models, things get pricier for better comps. I think the discontinued Peavey AMR VC/L-2 is a great comp for a less expensive LA2A type tube comp/limiter at @$500 street per channel (they are two channel units). The Drawmer 1968 is also a relative bargain @$750 street per channel (again a two channel unit) and used ones are sometimes several hundred dollars cheaper. And of course if you have a lunchbox, Purple Audio now has a good 500 series comp for @$725 a channel. I've seen used ones go for $600 or so. These are all more expensive than an RNC or DBX 160xt of course, but still cheaper per channel than the ubiquitous Distressor, for which I've yet to see a truly good cheaper alternative.
Edit: It occurs to me that I should mention the ART VLA as well. I've not used one, but many here have with apparently good results. Perhaps someone with more experience with that unit can chime in.
For vocals, the FMR RNC is a better choice than the DBX IMHO. I haven't used the other FMR comps, but I expect they are also pretty good for the money. I have 2 RNCs.
Another good inexpensive comp is the Symetrix 501. Discontinued but very good on bass. Arguably the older model with the Valley VCAs and the metal toggle power switch is preferable. Some of the other older Symetrix SX206 and SX208 units are also quite usable and cheap.
For transparent compression the Aphex Compellor is very good and used ones are plentiful and pretty cheap.
IMHO, any of these is far better than a 3630.
Once you get past these models, things get pricier for better comps. I think the discontinued Peavey AMR VC/L-2 is a great comp for a less expensive LA2A type tube comp/limiter at @$500 street per channel (they are two channel units). The Drawmer 1968 is also a relative bargain @$750 street per channel (again a two channel unit) and used ones are sometimes several hundred dollars cheaper. And of course if you have a lunchbox, Purple Audio now has a good 500 series comp for @$725 a channel. I've seen used ones go for $600 or so. These are all more expensive than an RNC or DBX 160xt of course, but still cheaper per channel than the ubiquitous Distressor, for which I've yet to see a truly good cheaper alternative.
Edit: It occurs to me that I should mention the ART VLA as well. I've not used one, but many here have with apparently good results. Perhaps someone with more experience with that unit can chime in.
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M
MCI2424
New member
Easy, you sellout to Harmon Group. I worked right out of college for David Blackmer in 1979-81 timeframe. DBX were popular, but nowhere near as popular as Dolby (for noise reduction). The early DBX compressor/expanders were anything from off-the shelf to totally custom units. There are alot of custom units floating around out there somewhere.
The sale of DBX to Harmon ended any useable products.
cavedog101
Well-known member
The use of the VLA has been discussed to death around here for ages. I've owned three of em and still have my original made in america one. It just sounds better than the later models that were farmed out for assembly. Across a drum buss this thing has a little grit to it while its hard to make it pump, for a cheap alternative that simply sounds better than most of the other budget lines mentioned in this thread, you just cant go wrong.
As I mentioned earlier, and Pohaku embelished, the Aphex stuff is really really good if you like frequency dependant compression that never sounds like its really in the way. The Compellor and the Expressor are brilliant pieces. In fact most of the Aphex line are really underrated pieces you dont hear much about. The 612 is one of the best expander/gates on the planet and the 1100 mic pre is real nice.
One company no one around here seems to mention much is the Klark-Tekniks stuff. The DN500 is a great tool for any studio and can be found realitively cheap these days. That whole series is pretty good gear.
As I mentioned earlier, and Pohaku embelished, the Aphex stuff is really really good if you like frequency dependant compression that never sounds like its really in the way. The Compellor and the Expressor are brilliant pieces. In fact most of the Aphex line are really underrated pieces you dont hear much about. The 612 is one of the best expander/gates on the planet and the 1100 mic pre is real nice.
One company no one around here seems to mention much is the Klark-Tekniks stuff. The DN500 is a great tool for any studio and can be found realitively cheap these days. That whole series is pretty good gear.
S
signman
New member
Dbx
so you think my 1066 is a piece of shit then....
so you think my 1066 is a piece of shit then....
pohaku
New member
so you think my 1066 is a piece of shit then....
It's on the low end of DBX compressors, which is to say that it is not unusable, but there are better. I've mostly seen them used for live work rather than recording, and then more typically for drums. It's a fairly aggressive comp and depending what you are doing, some people like it as an effect.