Colored Compressor

[pdadda]

I record at 24bit, so I don't really have a need for a compressor to avoid clipping while recording. But I am looking for a compressor that adds an interesting color to the sound. I have heard that the vocals for Coldplay are recorded through several compressors in series. But they add an interesting sound. Any recommendations for a compressor in the $200-$500 range that wold be good for this? I have heard good things about the RNC, but I have heard that is "colorless."

 

[Teacher]

I record at 24bit, so I don't really have a need for a compressor to avoid clipping while recording. But I am looking for a compressor that adds an interesting color to the sound. I have heard that the vocals for Coldplay are recorded through several compressors in series. But they add an interesting sound. Any recommendations for a compressor in the $200-$500 range that wold be good for this? I have heard good things about the RNC, but I have heard that is "colorless."

for color on vox your gonna have to spend 1K+(if your actually serious about this and not someone who does it just to pass the time), I'd suggest a Distressor.

 

[chessrock]

When people talk about a colored compressor, they're mostly refering to those that you can kinda' hear working and doing their thing ... and that hopefully what you're hearing is a positive.

As for some colored comps in the budget range, I can think of a few ...

* dbx 117 / 118 / 119 (Used - Ebay) ; a pretty obvious-sounding compressor based on the old dbx 160's. Somewhat slow attack time and quick release make the older dbx's a favorite on snare. Some like them on kick, also.

They'd probably be interesting on vocals, too, but I'm merely guessing as I have no direct experience.

* ART Pro VLA ; or dual or single levelar. ART makes some pretty decent and musical opto compressors. Very obvious to the ear. They're a favorite of many as a quote-unquote secret weapon for a lot of things. I don't particularly like them, but that's merely a personal preference.

* JBL / UREI (Used - Ebay) ; just a really good and functional comp that can go from transparent to obvious, depending on how you set it. Really useful and underrated.

 

[pdadda]

Yeah, I don't do recording for a living right now. I sure wouldn't mind doing it down the road though. I am honing my skills recording my band and a few others. I think 1K is more than I want to spend right now, although I appreciate the input.

 

[xstatic]

DBX 160 is a good place to start.

 

[Fab4ever]

What about an older, pre-PMI Joemeek? They are very obvious and colored, and sometimes quite pleasant. But DON'T try to use it limiting a vocal. I tried that once with bad results. (Though I'm sure more experienced hands could pull it off...)

 

[chessrock]

... DON'T try to use it limiting a vocal. I tried that once with bad results. (Though I'm sure more experienced hands could pull it off...)

Not really. It's not fast enough to serve as a peak limiter, nor was it even designed as such. Opto-compressors are more of an effect than they are functional controllers of dynamics.

 

[RHfactor]

Check out the Art Pro VLA. Also I would check out the Joemeek half rack stereo compressor. I love the Pro VLA. I've never used the Joemeeks but I've heard good tings from others.

 

[pdadda]

When you say dbx160, do you mean one of the older models or the 160A?

 

[Marcellovalerio]

I should think that some of the Compressor Plug In's, like Universal Audio's Fairchild will give you a VERY coloured sound...but I haven't tried it so...I have a Joe Meek VC3, and I wouldn't really say It's given me much of a couloured sound from what I've heard uptil now, or at least what i think ive heard...

 

[xstatic]

I was referring to the DBX 160a for cost reasons.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

The Joemeek suggestion is not a bad one. I picked up a copy of Mix or EQ, can't remember which, and read an article where Jack Joseph Puig talked about how he got the Gwen Stefani vocal sound (not that that's what you're going for) but he said it was a Joemeek with some Enhancer function used as a sidechain.

Found the link...here's the quote:

"Once when Puig mixed a record for No Doubt, Gwen Stefani came to him and asked him how they could create a vocal sound she heard in her head. “I sat and I listened to her talk about it and I imagined how I would get it,” says Puig. “And it ended up being that I got it using a Joe Meek compressor I had, which has a function called ‘Enhance’ that creates this very, very hyper top end that — for the most part — is pretty useless, but lots of times can also be great. It’s almost an aphex built into a compressor.

“When she went through the description about the vocal sound, I thought, ‘Maybe if I take the Joe Meek and actually use it wrong and way enhance the track in a way that you’d never want to use, then add it in as a side chain to the voice, then maybe I’ll get this top end presence thing she hears in her head,’” he says. “So then I did it, and it was great. Since then, it’s lived on my console, and on my console it says, ‘The Gwen Sound.’”

And the link if you're interested: http://www.eqmag.com/story.asp?sectioncode=36&storycode=5285

 

[xstatic]

I am not sure that I would use that quote as a reason to go buy a Joe Meek. He says right on there that in general its pretty useless, but happened to be the the magic item for THAT SPECIFIC task. Then again, I am not sure how "useless" it would be to others since JJP has constant access to some really killer stuff

 

[chessrock]

It’s almost an aphex built into a compressor.

That's funny, because Aphex actually have a function just like that in some of their earlier Expressors. I remember a discussion we had on another board about that sound he's describing. I believe someone described it as a "Lita Ford accoustic guitar" sound.

 

[acorec]

What about an older, pre-PMI Joemeek? They are very obvious and colored, and sometimes quite pleasant. But DON'T try to use it limiting a vocal. I tried that once with bad results. (Though I'm sure more experienced hands could pull it off...)

I have an pre-PMI JM VC-1 that is my secret weapon for some hard to capture vocals. They are certainly colored but the opto-compressor has some characteristics that I cannot duplicate with any other opo-compressors. It works very well with the more raspy and nasally crowd. This type of voice sits nicely in the mix. The powerful "Ronnie James Dio" type of voice needs an Avalon M5 or equiv.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

I am not sure that I would use that quote as a reason to go buy a Joe Meek. He says right on there that in general its pretty useless, but happened to be the the magic item for THAT SPECIFIC task. Then again, I am not sure how "useless" it would be to others since JJP has constant access to some really killer stuff

Good points. JJP is a weird dude as it is, I just saw the discussion and it reminded me of that article.

On note unrelated to this thread, but related to JJP...he absolutely raped John Mayer's songs on John's first full length that he produced and mixed. If anyone has heard the original acoustic EP, it's some of the same songs, much better sound, sans JJP. I think he's all about the radio sound. He has a car up on blocks in the studio so he can preview his mixes through the radio and what they'll sound like in a car. That's taking it a little too far.

 

[pdadda]

I am looking more into the ART Pro VLA. Does anyone have a before and after clip using this compressor on a male vocal track? I realize that's a steep request. For that matter, does anyone have a before and after using any of these compressors mentioned?

 

[SonicAlbert]

PRO VLA is a good suggestion. Another one to look at is the DBX 160, as has been mentioned. However, I would suggest finding one of the older units, the 160X or 160XT. That would probably run you around $200 or so. You could actually fit both the PRO VLA and 160X/XT in your budget, which would be nice.

 

[jtienhaara]

DBX 160 is a good place to start.

Ditto that.

Used 160Xs / 160XTs (tonally the same as 160A) run less than $250 on EBay etc. They're great for drums too.

 

[Big Kenny]

Aphex compellor, use it on the way in as a limiter or push through it after as an effect