Vintage Compressors ??

[cjacek]

What are some of the vintage compressors, from the 60's, 70's and 80's, that you would recommend that can be found on eBay often ? I'm talking about an all purpose compressor that sounds "vintage". I'm not particularly looking at the most expensive units though .

Btw, and please disregard if these questions sound silly but ..

(1) does every compressor operate in "analog" style or has "analog" circuits ?

(2) why, technically speaking, do many things "analog" sound "nicer". I know they do but WHY ???

(3) when someone says a particular gear is "warm" sounding what do they mean ?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[regebro]

1. No. There are digital compressors. I doubt you'll find any from the 60's and 70's though. And most digital compressors are multi-effects units, since it doesn't make much economic sense to have a digital compressor. The RNC is semi-digital, btw.

2. They don't, it's a myth. Things sound either good or not good. If they are digital or analog is a very minor part of it. If you listen to homerecording.comp vol II the best sounding things are typically recorded mixed and mastered completely in the digital domain, and they sound great.

3. It usually has to do with the higher treble. Something that is warm usually has a weak frequency responce in the treble. This is often desirable, especially on voice. Cheap digital equipment can also often create distortion that results in an unpleasant emphasizing of the same treble, resulting in a cold or harsh sound.

The usual vintage compressors are typically expensive, or in bad shape or without powersupply and the like.

Compressors like the 1176LN and the LA-2A might pop up on eBay, but expect some $1000-$2000 each... You may wanna go with a reissue instead...

For cheaper stuff dbx makes tons of compressors. Most of them are based on similar designs and sound similar, and you can't really go very wrong with any of them, although you'll pay extra for them being "vintage". The 163 goes for like 4 times of what the 163x does, although it's basically the same compressor. It's the wooden sides, I imagine. I got a 163X btw, they sound great, but are not very versatile.

But before I got a vintage dbx I would get an RNC, even though it's not vintage. But then again, I'm not obsessed with things being vintage, as you are, I'd rather they sound good.

 

[cjacek]

1. No. There are digital compressors. I doubt you'll find any from the 60's and 70's though. And most digital compressors are multi-effects units, since it doesn't make much economic sense to have a digital compressor. The RNC is semi-digital, btw.

2. They don't, it's a myth. Things sound either good or not good. If they are digital or analog is a very minor part of it. If you listen to homerecording.comp vol II the best sounding things are typically recorded mixed and mastered completely in the digital domain, and they sound great.

3. It usually has to do with the higher treble. Something that is warm usually has a weak frequency responce in the treble. This is often desirable, especially on voice. Cheap digital equipment can also often create distortion that results in an unpleasant emphasizing of the same treble, resulting in a cold or harsh sound.

The usual vintage compressors are typically expensive, or in bad shape or without powersupply and the like.

Compressors like the 1176LN and the LA-2A might pop up on eBay, but expect some $1000-$2000 each... You may wanna go with a reissue instead...

For cheaper stuff dbx makes tons of compressors. Most of them are based on similar designs and sound similar, and you can't really go very wrong with any of them, although you'll pay extra for them being "vintage". The 163 goes for like 4 times of what the 163x does, although it's basically the same compressor. It's the wooden sides, I imagine. I got a 163X btw, they sound great, but are not very versatile.

But before I got a vintage dbx I would get an RNC, even though it's not vintage. But then again, I'm not obsessed with things being vintage, as you are, I'd rather they sound good.

Thanks regebro!

Yeah, I've got meself a 163x as well for like $30 bucks and it sounds very smooth and sometimes I don't even hear it working, and I use it on vocals, if you can imagine. Personally I like "color" to my sound, as long as it's "nice" tho. So would you say that the MAIN difference between the dbx compressors is that they have more or less "tweakability" ?? Other than that, they sound similar, right ? Other thing I don't get is that some say that this compressor or that compressor are best for voice or other instrument etc ... but even though some say the 163x is best suited to drums and such, I found it to be great on voice. What gives ? Btw, my 163x is pretty beat up and scrached but sounds as if new

Also, by your definition, "warm" would be sounding kinda like a cassette ? It lacks some treble and has a predominance of lows. So "warm" means basically lower frequencies predominant, right ? On the other hand, my 34B running at 7 1/2" / sec sounds as if someone bumped up the treble and has reduced the "lows". It sounds "brighter" .. but does it mean it's not "warm" sounding ?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[regebro]

Also, by your definition, "warm" would be sounding kinda like a cassette ? [/quotes]

Yup.

It lacks some treble and has a predominance of lows. So "warm" means basically lower frequencies predominant, right ? On the other hand, my 34B running at 7 1/2" / sec sounds as if someone bumped up the treble and has reduced the "lows". It sounds "brighter" .. but does it mean it's not "warm" sounding ?

Well, that up to you to decide.

 

[Recording Engineer]

3. It usually has to do with the higher treble. Something that is warm usually has a weak frequency responce in the treble. This is often desirable, especially on voice. Cheap digital equipment can also often create distortion that results in an unpleasant emphasizing of the same treble, resulting in a cold or harsh sound.

I wouldn't say something that has a "weak" frequency response in the treble. I'd say more of am nice & smooth and almost compressed-type of hi-end response. Also, "warm" would probably have a nice & smooth midrange and a tight, round, smooth, and full bottom. Actually, "warm" usually = "Everything just right." having to with frequency response.

But when talking about "Analog vs. Digital", "warm" is usually a word to describe the results of Total Harmonic Distortion and natural tape compression, on an analog reel-to-reel tape machine.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

The whole problem with using the word warm to describe a quality of sound is that it isn't good english to use a word that describes temperature to try to make it describe a quality of sound, excuse the "Verneresque" manner of my writings on this one!

Words or phrases like, well rounded, rich, full bodied, thick and fat are far less controversial to use, I have found.

Cheers!

 

[Herm]

Ghost it sounds like you are discribing some women I know.

 

[acorec]

........."Also, "warm" would probably have a nice & smooth midrange and a tight, round, smooth, and full bottom. Actually, "warm" usually = "Everything just right." having to with frequency response.

You had me up until you said "having to do with frequency response"


I thought you were referring to a woman with a" tight, round, smooth bottom"!

Great writing style in the wrong discussion.

 

[Mark7]

Ghost. I'm going to have to do a Derek on you...


It's MANNER. Not Manor.


Make a note of it for future reference.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Ghost. I'm going to have to do a Derek on you...


It's MANNER. Not Manor.


Make a note of it for future reference.

Noted!

Thanks as always, for the english assistance. Coming from a decent British subject, I welcome the help.

Cheers!

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Ghost it sounds like you are discribing some women I know.

You are lucky!

Those terms described every women I've known.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Ghost:

Tell "HERM" it's DESCRIBING, NOT "discribing."

Green Hornet

Former Teacher of English Composition and happy to be out of it.

Happy New Year

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Yo Ghost:
Happy New Year

Happy New year to you too you too GH May the grass always be greener on your side.

As for telling Herm or anyone else here how to spell, I will leave that chore to those best qualified and bored enough to do so.

Beside, I like Herm!

Happy New Year to Herm and Billy and Dave and Derek, and Rick, and Cjacek, and Mark and everybody else on Analog Island!

Cheers!

 

[cjacek]

Happy New Year to Herm and Billy and Dave and Derek, and Rick, and Cjacek, and Mark and everybody else on Analog Island!

Cheers!

Thank YOU Ghost! ... And thank you all!

Daniel

 

[Mark7]

And a Happy New Year to you too Ghost....



And Dan
And Dave
And Bill
And Rick
And Derek.

 

[cjacek]

And a Happy New Year to you too Ghost....



And Dan
And Dave
And Bill
And Rick
And Derek.

.... and to all a good-night ...

~Daniel (Dan)

 

[Herm]

Thank you Green Hornet. And after all these years I never realized that the word DESCRIBING was all capitalized.

 

[BillyFurnett]

Happy New Year to all of you guys too.

 

[mault]

vintage compressors

Aren't some of the older compressor's with transformer's considered better because when you saturate them a little they have a different effect and usable instead of say the 160a's that have less components insdie the box.
Thanks,
-newbe

 

[pianodano]

What are some of the vintage compressors, from the 60's, 70's and 80's, that you would recommend that can be found on eBay often ? I'm talking about an all purpose compressor that sounds "vintage". I'm not particularly looking at the most expensive units though .

Btw, and please disregard if these questions sound silly but ..

(1) does every compressor operate in "analog" style or has "analog" circuits ?

(2) why, technically speaking, do many things "analog" sound "nicer". I know they do but WHY ???

(3) when someone says a particular gear is "warm" sounding what do they mean ?

Thanks,

Daniel

Hi Daniel.

Symetrix 525. I still have one that I bought new in 1985. Valley People and Compellor are also pretty reasonable and were used everywhere in the day.

Or you could just go for the gold and get a pair of 1vintange 1176's or a 2-1176 of today. I have not used one yet but the new Neve Portico has received tons of great remarks.

Danny