Compression -- especially when used tastefully -- can add a really great character to your mix. It can make vocals sit in a mix more evenly, make drums "pop", and help the whole mix stay together better. But too much compression, and you end up with something unusable.
What's your favorite compressor, software or hardware? For me, it's got to be either a vintage DBX 160 or the Empirical Labs Distressor -- both great products. When mixing live, I love using Avid's Smack! on the Venue Profile console. What's your favorites?
What's your favorite compressor, software or hardware? For me, it's got to be either a vintage DBX 160 or the Empirical Labs Distressor -- both great products. When mixing live, I love using Avid's Smack! on the Venue Profile console. What's your favorites?
Comments
Compressors:
My very 1st Comp was the Presonus BlueMax, I purchased that comp because of the pre-sets I was totally new to compression and I figured presets would greatly assist. The manual listed all of the settings that were used and when I purchased the Alesis 3630 I spent countless hours recreating those presets and experimenting with them to develop my own sound. I used the BlueMax and 3630 for quite sometime in my analog setup, but when I went “In-The-Box” I didnt quite need those compressors anymore. I purchased the Focusrite Sapphire Pro 24 DSP with built in compression handled internally via DSP. This compressor sounds nice when used transparently with my Presonus Studio Channels Compressor. I only use the hardware compressors when recording vocals. And I still use my modified presets from Presonus. What has to be my fav compressor would be a VST plugin from Waves, I dont have the super exspensive professional studio Diamond Bundle, but I do have the basic VComp and needless to say this thing really helps crank up the volume.
Mine would have to be the infamous 1176…fortunate enough to have one
. Love it!
I recently purchased and REALLY like the JDK Audio R22. http://www.jdkaudio.com/index.html
AVALON VT-737-SP! Need i say more?