Compressor Suggestions?

[bigtoe]

you may want to check into the 161...cheaper than the 160 - unbalanced.

i had a couple 165's - i really thought them kinda 'eh'...i suppose i was looking more for the 160 thing - that harder knee for kick and snare. that said, the 165 is way more versitle than the 160's for me due to the overeasy thing... but it's no 1176 in those terms...the 1176 is just an amazing comp as far as doing a bunch of stuff really well.

since the distressor is an 1176-type circuit with digital control from what i understand - i'd scope that out.

the plugs i've heard are quite cool too!

Pax,
Mike

 

[homestudioguy]

Try the Art Pro VLA. It exhibits some subtle coloration that works on a variety of sources.

I'm selling my ART Pro VLA!!!!
It has like minimal use and was handpicked by Thom Davis at ART in NY to replace a not so nice unit sold to me by Musicians Friend.
HSG

 

[petermiller]

As Xstatic said, The distressor is a kick #$% comp. If you can afford one by all means at least check one out. On a budget I would also look at the ashly stuff, SC50 or even the new ones, They are real solid.

 

[chessrock]

If you can afford it ... the Cranesong Trakker would actually be an outstanding investment when it comes to the whole versatility and amazing sound thing. It can probably do whatever the distressor can do, only better.

It is a little more expensive, though, and of course there's nothing at all wrong with the distressor, if that's a little more in your budget. But to me, at least, the Trakker would be sort of like a holy grail type piece or equip.
.

 

[MOFO Pro]

the Cranesong Trakker

Damn... I knew I shouldn't have looked...was just getting ready to pull the trigger on a distressor...

 

[classicrockman7]

The RNC is a very good compressor, almost every studio of any merit is using it now a days just becuase its cheap and really nice.

 

[xstatic]

Nothing against the RNC, but "the studios of merit" most likely do not use them even near as often as people around here do.

 

[Phosphene]

I guess I'll post this here. I rented a Distressor tonight and messed around with it for about 5 or 6 hours. I have exposed to myself that my ears really aren't trained well, because I could NOT tell any difference when the 2nd and 3rd distortion modes were in effect. Maybe it just didn't like me or my girlfriend's voices. I tried it on acousitc too.

As far as the compressor, I guess I expected rocket sauce or something. It did some nice stuff, but I A/B'd it a ton on vocals and acoustic guitar and some percussives, and it didn't really make me want to spend $1100 or whatever on it. I would guess over more time and sources and different situations, I would grow to love it? I don't know....I found this place a few miles from my house that rents out some serious shit. Name it and they probably have it. I rented the Distressor for $25. Anyway....nice compressor, but I think I'm gonna look for something cheaper. DBX 160a is next on my list to try, but they only carry the 160SL and those older 160(?)s.

 

[MOFO Pro]

I have exposed to myself that my ears really aren't trained well, because I could NOT tell any difference when the 2nd and 3rd distortion modes were in effect. Maybe it just didn't like me or my girlfriend's voices. I tried it on acousitc too.

Might not be your ears... could be the rest of the signal chain... or your monitoring... or... your room...

 

[pohaku]

Try a DBX 160xt or 160x if they have one. They will be close to the 160a in sound (actually a bit better than the "a", but that is subject to some argument). The xt is nice because it has xlr connectors rather than a barrier strip. If you buy used, the x, xt and a all go for about the same money on e-bay -- @$225-250. Otherwise the "a" is the only current model. The 160sl or 160vu are a completely different (and more expensive) deal.

I guess I'll post this here. I rented a Distressor tonight and messed around with it for about 5 or 6 hours. I have exposed to myself that my ears really aren't trained well, because I could NOT tell any difference when the 2nd and 3rd distortion modes were in effect. Maybe it just didn't like me or my girlfriend's voices. I tried it on acousitc too.

As far as the compressor, I guess I expected rocket sauce or something. It did some nice stuff, but I A/B'd it a ton on vocals and acoustic guitar and some percussives, and it didn't really make me want to spend $1100 or whatever on it. I would guess over more time and sources and different situations, I would grow to love it? I don't know....I found this place a few miles from my house that rents out some serious shit. Name it and they probably have it. I rented the Distressor for $25. Anyway....nice compressor, but I think I'm gonna look for something cheaper. DBX 160a is next on my list to try, but they only carry the 160SL and those older 160(?)s.