Two Channel Compressor Advice!!

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theodd

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Hey there,

I'm about to start a new project. We've been collecting gear for a while now and we are almost set to go. I'm only mising one thing. A really nice stereo compressor.

The pres we will be using are balanced (Great River, Dan Alexander, Brent Averill). The Great River has an insert so I got an RNC for that. It sounds mint. But the others are balanced and have no inserts. When I tried them with the RNC I didn't like the sound. Very thin. The cabling was correct (i.e. XRL to TS into the RNC then TS to TS into digi 002)

So I'm looking for a balanced 2 channel very musical, very warm compressor. Any suggestions? Budget = $1k

So far I'm looking at the Drawmer 241 or 251. What do you guys use? What do you "endorse"? Send me links and stuff so I can check it out.

These boards are absolutely amazing. I've learned so much in the past year it's not funny. I can't wait to have this support for our new project. Thanks!!!
 
That's funny, I was just reading about that one. Yeah, it does seem pretty cool. Color could be ok, but I'm thinking transparent might be better simply because I have some really nice pres and I want to hear them. I'll keep it in mind though.
 
What are you compressing?
What do you want to do that you can't now?
How much money do you want to spend?
 
You may want to look into the UAD-1 studio package,

includes 1176LN/SE, La2a, and Fairchild

and they all kick ass
 
Big Kenny said:
What are you compressing?
What do you want to do that you can't now?
How much money do you want to spend?
Click to expand...

I'll be compressing anything...if that helps. Hahah. I have one great river pre that has the RNC on it because it has an insert. Then I have a BA 312a and a Dan Alexander 1272 clone. Whatever sounds good with those pres and needs to be compressed...I'll be using the "new" compressor for.

Definitely kick, snare, bass, vox, guitar. That sort of thing. We're a loud indie rock band.

I want to be able to compress more then one thing at a time now. And I want a balanced comopressor to work with my balanced pres. I love the RNC, but I only have one and it's unbalanced.

I'm looking to spend no more then $1k.

Thanks!
 
$1K is really a precarious price point as far as compressors go.

On one hand, if you spend a little more, you could probably get something really kickass . . . whereas if you spend a good deal less, you can still get something very usable; possibly even great "for the money."

With a grand to spend . . . loud Indie Rock . . . I'd either get a couple of decent ones (an ART Pro VLA, dbx 160X, maybe a 2-channel Joemeek, RNC, etc.), or save my money for something like a distressor.
 
Yeah, I'd snake a Distresor in a hot minute if I could get two channels for the $1300 they cost. That would be very cool. But I'm going to have to turn that down for this project. I'm totally with you about that price point. I'm really leaning towards a Drawmer DL241 now. Maybe I can afford two or a Joe Meek. Hmmmm...
 
theodd said:
Definitely kick, snare, bass, vox, guitar. That sort of thing. We're a loud indie rock band.
Click to expand...

A pair of DBX 160X or 160XT compressors would work excellent on those. They go in the $200-250 range right now (used), so you'd have another $500 left over to buy something else.

Of course, the Distressor is a great choice, but unfortunately beyond your budget for two of them.

I agree with Chessrock, $1,000 is a kind of in between number for compressors. You are almost better off going used and getting a few "classic" units. Another that I see recommended as a "poor man's" Distressor is the Urei/JBL 7110.

If you want clean, the Aphex Expressor is an excellent compressor. I'd put it right there with anything you are considering in that price range. I have a few Expressors, and a few DBX 903 modules (same as 160XT), and I find them all very useful.
 
I have a Pro VLA. I like it on some things but it's definitely not for everything. That and the RNC are really the only compressors (hardware) I use.

BTW, I didn't understand your statement regarding using the RNC. The RNC is not balanced. Is the GR the only pre you have with an insert? You may want to try a transformer from your pre to the RNC, then to your converter.
 
i like the joemeek sound, but not everyone i talked to shares that opinion,
i'm not always looking after transparent compression, so i dig it

what i would do in your case...i'd go for a few nice compressors instead of ONE expensive one... if you're not really expierienced with the equipment it might be great to test a few brands, compare the sounds and stuff,
and well...there'll be a day that you'll need an extra compressor anyway i think... so i wouldn't be affraid to go for like a dbx160 and a joemeek twinqcs for example :)

but thats just me
 
You could spend the money on improving your room to the point that a compressor would be only used as an effect and not needed as sound control...

An Art VLA is not a compressor used for high energy indie rock whatever...it is a very good comp for many things...The RNC is very good for the money...A Joe Meek 'Green' is a good one...The Distressor is what you really want...save your cash and dont look back.
 
axeman69 said:
BTW, I didn't understand your statement regarding using the RNC. The RNC is not balanced. Is the GR the only pre you have with an insert? You may want to try a transformer from your pre to the RNC, then to your converter.
Click to expand...

Ya know... it really doesn't matter whether the RNC is balanced or not unless you're looking at a seriously long run or live in a very high "RF" environment... the transformer thing could work, or could suck... depends on the transformer.
 
Hey Fletcher, well this is what I did. I bought an RNC and every kind of cable (XLR-TRS, XLR-TS, TRS -TS, TS-TS) and I played around with them for a couple of hours. When I went XLR to TRS into the RNC and then TRS to TRS into the recorder it sounded HORRIBLE. It was all high end, there was no mid, everything was harsh, just really bad. Oh, I should mention that all the cable were Mogami except the TRS-TS. I couldn't find that in Mogami. So I know it's not the cables. So anyway, I tried all the cables and some of them sounded pretty good, but not as good as the pre just straight in. So what I determined is, I could keep the RNC's, but I don't think I dig the sound of them. I still have one, and I'm sure I'll use it, but I just bought a Drawmer DL241 and so far that thing sounds GREAT.

Thanks very much for your post Fletcher. I really appreciate it.
 
I would really reccomend saving up for a distressor.. Even if you have to just buy one channel at first. You won't regret it if you are doing any kind of rock music. Personally I would rather only have my one channel of distressor over any two channels of under 1k comps I have heard. I guess you could also look into a pair of Urei LA4's as well though.
 
theodd said:
When I went XLR to TRS into the RNC and then TRS to TRS into the recorder it sounded HORRIBLE. It was all high end, there was no mid, everything was harsh, just really bad.
Click to expand...

Yep... that's called a "one legged" connection. You're letting the Neutral hang wihtout a reference... reference it to ground and you should be all set.

Try going from an XLR to a "TS" connector with pins 1 and 3 tied on the XLR side, and TS to TS into the recorder [which if the recorder really does have a balanced input will tie the "ring and sleeve" making a proper connection]... you'll find that the response smooths right out.

It's a drag when equipment gets blamed for stuff it's not doing.
 
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