Different compressors and sound.

[FrankD77]

Love working in a hybrid setup and using cheap vintage gear. It actually surprised me how much i liked them above plugins.

This week i added 3 compressors
Rane mc22
Sounds very warm and seems to enhance the lower spectrum.

Mdx1000 similar but more defined

Symetrix 425 sounds almost "cool" and detailed.

I knew there would be differences but didn't expect it to be this much. Anyone familiar with these compressors and your favorite application?

Also I read the mdx1000 is based on a dbx, anyone an idea on which one ?

 

[CoolCat]

Interesting topic and I agree, the different designs of compression and tones make them worth checking out.
FMR RNC comp was $80 used, and highly recommended, ALesis 3630 were the most common but soon known as a bad and found for $36, as I recall it.
The Behringer buying KT lead to the LA2A and 1176 "clonerish" models that are really nice for those classics....but there's many more.
Behringers others are probably an evolution less docuemented what they were copying or attempting in compression.

Symetrix gear has always been a pro-feeling piece, but they seemed to be more familiar in the industry large venue buildings.
Aphex, now owned by Rode, I think is another in this "well designed" but unknown gear pile.

All optic compressors aren't the same , as someone said. Art VLA and MPA set made people take notice as I recall, kind of like KT2A and KT76 grabbed some respect.
I read FMR is retiring as a business, will those prices go up or down? FMR RNC was a soft, pleasant compressor.

DBX family, for some reason the hype is the 160, but DBX is another line.

I agree real hardware is a vibe, a working environment different than the amazing-plugins, like playing a guitar through a amplifiier instead of a plugin-+headphone.

Compressors are maybe the most interesting "piece" in a vocal/mic chain, outside the mic.
I went through a long bit of preamps using PayPal and return shipping, and didn't hear huge differences with a DMP3 hanging fine, the interface pre can be good, but the Compressors was were it was at, imo. They offered that "studio" sound, smooth, punchy, or maybe some subtle breakup. Although a lot of Compressors are just invisible, precise, and work without coloring, some call boring, some call that the best.

Enjoy! agree the hardware is more "fun' to me too. the plugins are amazing but getting a good Track going in without plugins is Golden...