TC Triple C......please help.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alf Jetzer
  • Start date Start date
Alf Jetzer

Alf Jetzer

XX
Hi friends,

i'm looking for a simple, but good quality- mastering-device.
I would like to have a Finalizer Express, but it's to expensive for me. Now, i found a store which sells a few pieces of brandnew stereo-Triple C, 3 Band-compressors for just 1/3 of the normal price.
Could someone tell me if this tool is a good supposition for making powerful (volume), but as natural as possible sounding masters. I work with acoustic instruments (world-music).

Who knows this machine ?


Thanx for your answers,
A.J.
 
They have been blowing those out for about a year now. I've never used one but did some research and I couldn't really find any glowing reviews from experienced engineers. Selling new ones for so cheap usually isn't a good sign.
 
ooohh, that sounds bad.
I will call TC- Hotline and ask for the reason.
Maybe they want to release a new model ?

A.J.
 
No, then they wouldn't seel it for that cheap for that long. It's that cheap because nobody bought it. And that probably is because it ain't that great. and TC Hotline will surely not say that... :rolleyes:
 
i have one of these. it's a pretty good bang for the buck. go to this address:

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/search/query.asp

in the search column type: Triple c

you'll find a positive review on the unit there. i find it very easy to use. it can be used as a normal compressor (with adjustable parameters) and also as a multi-band compressor (which is primarily what i use it for). with a little tweaking you can get some very nice results. as with any unit (of this type), a little can go a long way and it is just as easy to DESTROY your mix as it is to "liven it up" or "sweeten" it. i like the unit alot. it's alot cheaper than a Finalizer Express (at least it is NOW), and does a very similar job. the metering is very nice. check out these reviews also:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/TC_Electronic/Triple_C-01.html

i think that perhaps the unit got discontinued (and sold for VERY low prices) because TC really didn't know how to market it. was it a DEDICATED compressor?? was it a MASTERING processor? maybe it was intially just TOO expensive to be a standalone compressor or lacked all the extra BELLS & WHISTLES that the Finalizer series offered. i think it just sorta fell through the cracks. for the money I THINK it is hard to beat. cheers.



p.s. if you get one make sure it is the STEREO version.
 
Cratinus, thank you a lot !

This is an essential reply, i like it a lot. Good points !
I've read those reviews as well.
I believe in TC-quality. Bad marketing does not mean bad products. They are sincere people there, very nice hotline.
I have 3 extremely old TC dual parametric-eq's and a stereo-Chorus/Flanger, and still like them a lot.
But as always: the man behind the equipment is the main part.

Best,
A.J.
 
Cratinus
So can you adjust the threshold on 3 bands separately or are the ganged?
Thanks

T
 
Tonio said:
Cratinus
So can you adjust the threshold on 3 bands separately or are the ganged?
Thanks

T
Click to expand...

you can tweak them simulteously OR seperately. only the HIGH and LOW bands have dedicated knobs (which had me a bit perplexed when i first took it out of the box....i was expecting 3 SEPERATE knobs for High, Mid AND Low). BUT,.. by tweaking BOTH the "Input" & "Make-up" gain AND jockeying the HI & LO BAND controls ALL THREE bands can be set to the desired levels. hope this helps. TC Electronics' website still has lots of info available on the unit. there are some impressive features packed into the Triple C,...and for "less than $300" it's tough to complain!! hope this helps. cheers.
 
Cratinus thanks for the info, not to bash what you purchased but....
I think this is why its on sale. Their ad says you can adjust all 3 bands' threshold-which is what a multiband compressor is supposed to do. Looks like you can't???? Doesn't it defeat the purpose. (directed at TC not you)

T
Otherwise I'm sure it useful.
Cratinus said:
you can tweak them simulteously OR seperately. only the HIGH and LOW bands have dedicated knobs (which had me a bit perplexed when i first took it out of the box....i was expecting 3 SEPERATE knobs for High, Mid AND Low). BUT,.. by tweaking BOTH the "Input" & "Make-up" gain AND jockeying the HI & LO BAND controls ALL THREE bands can be set to the desired levels. hope this helps. TC Electronics' website still has lots of info available on the unit. there are some impressive features packed into the Triple C,...and for "less than $300" it's tough to complain!! hope this helps. cheers.
Click to expand...
 
Tonio said:
Their ad says you can adjust all 3 bands' threshold-which is what a multiband compressor is supposed to do. Looks like you can't????
Click to expand...

my bad on that one. i believe you are correct in that (although the compression IS split into the THREE bands) the THRESHOLD is a "ganged" adjustment. the LO and HI band controls adjust the output level of those selected bands (high and low). the CROSSOVER points of the low and high bands CAN be adjusted in the menu. (pardon my error, i'm posting during brief "breaks" at work and NOT sitting in my bedroom studio.)


Doesn't it defeat the purpose?
Click to expand...

not for me. i was looking for something that would "smooth" out my mixes and add "fullness" and "definition" to my humble recordings. a FULL-FLEDGED "Finalizer" was financially COMPLETELY out of the question. i had considered a Finalizer Express and a Focusrite Mixmaster. then somebody told me to look at the Triple C. $229 later i had a very MUSICAL sounding "finishing-touch" processor in my studio. is it the PERFECT "mastering processor"?? of course not. does it offer a nice (and inexpensive) alternative to a STANDARD 2-channel compressor? of course it does. ALL I CAN TELL YOU is that it really "sweetens" my mixes...adding "oomph", "sheen" and "definition" to any desired degree. i have never used a $2000 Finalizer so i really can't compare. i CAN say that it is one OF THE FEW pieces of gear that i own that has NEVER failed to impress. it's solidly built and sounds great to my ear. maybe it's the "results per dollar" ratio that impresses me. maybe if i'd forked over $700 for the thing i'd be less impressed. who knows.
hey,..i like my Triple C. if you can pick one up with a RETURN policy,..give it a try. cheers.

p.s. i looked at the website literature and didn't find anything "deliberately" misleading. it IS a multiband compressor. it DOES make a few "cost-prohibitive" compromises. i'd buy it again in a second.
p.s.s. Alf,..my PRIMARY interests (and projects) involve ORGANIC sounds like acoustic guitar (and similar instruments) and world/ethnic percussion and winds.

cheers and goodnight.
:D
 
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In my very limited experience, it's easier to make HEAVY compression if you have a multi-band compressor. It could also be good if you have music that is very 'sparse', with a lot of acoustic instruments that doesn't cross between the 'bands'. So for that, this could be a good choice.

For just upping the level a bit to make your demos a bit louder a good single-band compressor should do just as well. Also, to get really heavy in-your face pumping compression, a single-band is definitely more suited. ;)

I guess the best budget choice is an FMR RNC + the Triple-C. :D

One three-band compressor I have used is a Clavia Nord Modular, whith a three band compression-limiting patch.
 
no way back....i purchased one. (Stereo, for 250 bucks)
in a couple of days i will see (and hear).

Thank you friends, for the mental support.


A.J.
 
Take the time to play around with it... I like it very much... Though I found that something like Waves C4 is a little sweeter...

aXel
 
Hmmm. I always had a interes in the Triple C.
C4.. I guess it requires alot of tweeking??
T
volltreffer said:
Take the time to play around with it... I like it very much... Though I found that something like Waves C4 is a little sweeter...

aXel
Click to expand...
 
Well... I was in a friend's studio and it seemed really easy to me. You have to understand compresseion and the multiband stuff or you'll have3 some problems, but that may end up similar with the triple (though maybe a little easier through the 'style' setting that does your attack and release...)


aXel
 
i have three of them. i find them pretty good for this and that. i sometimes run a load of backing vocals through them and mix them back in. depending on what you're doing, they're pretty good. but, i dont like it on a mix.i did try it just to see what it sounded like, and i didin't like it. it's got a great envelope mode on it too where you can accent snare attack areas or make thigns sustain longer, etc. quite handy. plus they are MIDI recallable. i dont use it on anything upfront in the mix, but they are pretty cool and handy sometimes.
 
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