What's a super-strong compressor?

[Rev E]

i primarily do rap as well and i use super nice mode...i always felt/heard super nice mode off would add to much compression artifacts for my taste....but with supernice mode on i'll have the threshold inbetween -10 to -20 (depending how loud the rapper is) db ratio between 4:1 and 6:1...attack at like 2 ms or less 'to catch the 'plosives' and sssss's and a release of .5

Differences of approach I guess. My aim is not so much to hear the compression but to have the compressor make the track punchy and smooth out variation in volume. So I use longer attack times, permitting the first accents of words get through without the compressor jumping in. Teach, you seem to use the compressor in this case as an effect and "want" the sound of the compressor to be heard.... It's all good. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Teacher]

nah i don't want the compressor to be heard thats y i use super nice...I thought reg mode you heard to much of the compressor it would cut off to much of the high frequencies for my taste/mic...the fast attack helps get rid of the 'plosives' (Bees and pees) as well as the shhhhhhh s's...I 'd rather have those things not get on tape instead of having to remove them from tape... it prolly has something to do with the type of mics being used as well i guess...

Teach, you seem to use the compressor in this case as an effect and "want" the sound of the compressor to be heard.... It's all good. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Rev E]

In my experience, plosives have more to do with the performer than anything. The main rapper that I work with has brilliant mic technique. I've never heard a plosive with him. Pop filter... good technique... a little compression... done.

 

[Teacher]

you are absolutely correct...but if the said artist has a plosive or ssss problem a faster attack helps...on super nice mode i'm hard press to hear it working at like 8 db gain reduction...that when you start really hearing the high being cut off...

i'ma try compressing wit just the regular mode....it was fun chatting about different compression techniques...

In my experience, plosives have more to do with the performer than anything. The main rapper that I work with has brilliant mic technique. I've never heard a plosive with him. Pop filter... good technique... a little compression... done.

 

[hrn]

Why not get some of the originals instead of saving to (one?) Distressor. I think it's better to have different flavours available.

You can still find great units for sale everywhere. Think you can get ....hmmm...at least three nice pieces for the price of two channels of Distressor.

Maybe I'm conservative...but it's like art to me. It's like with my basses. I know Ibanez and Yamaha and others make fantastic instruments, copies more or less and some times "better".

But I don't touch anything else than the originals. In my case it's Fender and Rickenbacker.

I just prefer the "love" I get back from the originals.

...Hmmm...kind of deep wasn't it

Hans,
www.hagen.nu

 

[Teacher]

FYI the Distressor is supposed to be EXTREMELY flexible...this is thru word of mouth...and it also has distortion button and prolly others that can change the color of the sound..

 

[hrn]

I must say I've never tried the Distressor. At the same time it's hard to believe that it sounds and feels like the real thing because it emulates it. It isn't the real thing. Probably it's a great unit if you want them all in a box almost like the real thing. We all know that you need more than one compressor to get the job done and therefor I recommend buying the originals which still can be bought for "decent" money. They will go up, and the Distressor will go down. And the reason is, they are the originals!

Hans

 

[chessrock]

Huh? ?

>>Confused<<

 

[TexRoadkill]

I must say I've never tried the Distressor. At the same time it's hard to believe that it sounds and feels like the real thing because it emulates it. It isn't the real thing. Probably it's a great unit if you want them all in a box almost like the real thing. We all know that you need more than one compressor to get the job done and therefor I recommend buying the originals which still can be bought for "decent" money. They will go up, and the Distressor will go down. And the reason is, they are the originals!

Hans

What are you talking about? What originals? If you are referring to the classive valve limiters they are still more expensive than a Distressor.

The X model of Distressor has a 'british mode' that is similar to a funchion of the old UREI LN1176 limiter but the Distressor is very much it's own piece of hardware. It doesn't claim to be and I've never heard it touted as a copy of anything.

 

[hrn]

From ScienceOne the starter of the thread:

Hmm, ill just save for a distressor then, i've heard no complaints about it (except for everyone getting annoyed with the over-compressing novices, like me).

If he will start saving for a Distressor I think it's better to go for, for example a piece of AD&R Compex, I think that could be a classic piece of gear to start with and then look around for Valley People Gainbrains with rack or Urei LA4's.....for example. You can also find Focusrite red's for a good price...or Drawmers, and so on.

Why not saving for a UREI LN1176 instead? And get the real life time stuff.

Hans

 

[chessrock]

It's an interesting and valid idea/suggestion . . .

But I still don't think you really get it yet.

 

[Teacher]

.

Why not saving for a UREI LN1176 instead? And get the real life time stuff.

Hans

the reissued 1176's cost 1200

distressor can do 1176 and THEN SOME...i don't think i would be too forward in saying the distressor would be considered a modern classic by pros ...especially in this digital era....

 

[chessrock]

i don't think i would be too forward in saying the distressor would be considered a modern classic by pros

Exactly.

It's only going to go up in value, and one day, they won't make them anymore (or they'll change drastically for the worse) and people will be paying $5-10K for the vintage distressors.