Old 07-11-2017, 11:47 AM   #1
grinder
Human being with feelings
 
grinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,905
Default Buss/Mix/Mastering Hardware Compressor

Anyone out there who does audio for a living have a favourite
hardware compressor they like on the buss for Blues to Rock....
No I can not afford a Manley but feel free to give what you have on your mind even if it is a Manley!

Many thanks in anticipation...

Grinder
grinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 01:02 PM   #2
MRMJP
Human being with feelings
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,065
Default

I have the Manley Vari Mu and it's great but sometimes a little creamy and slow for certain kinds of music. I recently added the Dangerous Compressor is very great and flexible. I've also had an API 2500 for a long time now and it's pretty good sometimes too pumpy or grabby for certain styles.

If I could have just one it'd be the Dangerous Compressor for sure.

The other thing to consider is if your D/A and A/D converters sound good enough to make the trip to analog and back worth while. Poor converters can do more harm than good.
__________________
REAPER, just script it bro.
MRMJP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 01:08 PM   #3
mlprod
Human being with feelings
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,343
Default

Id say go for an SSL style comp. My fav is TK Audio BC2-ME, which I also happen to own.
mlprod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 02:05 PM   #4
grinder
Human being with feelings
 
grinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,905
Default

Many thanks guys
I will study them all I have never heard of some this will be interesting thanks for the heads up on the Manley esp and the ssl type.

Grinder
grinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 02:21 PM   #5
Philbo King
Human being with feelings
 
Philbo King's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3,201
Default

Classic Master Limiter by Kjaerhus Audio

Works best at around 3 dB or so.
Philbo King is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 02:31 PM   #6
MRMJP
Human being with feelings
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,065
Default

I recently heard the Manley NuMu and it was pretty nice. Less of the colored creamy sound of the Vari Mu and about half the price tag I think.
__________________
REAPER, just script it bro.
MRMJP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 05:10 PM   #7
grinder
Human being with feelings
 
grinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,905
Default

MRMJP thanks for that tit bit I sent away a query on the MU they don't send overseas normally however I have not had a reply yet so who knows there is a demo one available at present!
I looked at every compressor here and I must admit the Dangerous looks the ticket too I can give my music the vintage vibe in the box and put the gloss on after...

Many thanks
Grinder
grinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2017, 06:59 PM   #8
MRMJP
Human being with feelings
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,065
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by grinder View Post
MRMJP thanks for that tit bit I sent away a query on the MU they don't send overseas normally however I have not had a reply yet so who knows there is a demo one available at present!
I looked at every compressor here and I must admit the Dangerous looks the ticket too I can give my music the vintage vibe in the box and put the gloss on after...

Many thanks
Grinder
No problem. The Dangerous is definitely the most flexible. People also like the Pendulum OCL2 which is a tube unit but not nearly as colored and slow as the Vari Mu.

There's no shortage of options, you just have to find what's right for your workflow, music, and budget.
__________________
REAPER, just script it bro.
MRMJP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2017, 02:11 AM   #9
bls
Human being with feelings
 
bls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tx
Posts: 707
Default

I recently got the Stam audio SSL clone

I don't have a ton of experience with bus comps, but its definitely a budget-friendly experiment. I've kept it on my master inserts for the last month and I've definitely never heard it ruin anything.
bls is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2017, 02:53 AM   #10
grinder
Human being with feelings
 
grinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,905
Default

Thanks Bls sorry I am late
Yes a lot to investigate some of these new on the block manufacturers may be the go.
I did visit their web and the audio samples sounded really good in a musical sense.

Grinder

Last edited by grinder; 07-22-2017 at 02:54 AM. Reason: xtra
grinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2017, 07:50 AM   #11
DBMusic
Human being with feelings
 
DBMusic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,203
Default

I have a Manley Vari-Mu, Portico 5043, and a Pendulum OCL-2. The first two are beautiful when needed, but nothing gets out of my studio without going through the OCL-2. Simply an amazing compressor. Not a coloring unit, but you can go from gooey to sublimely sweet glue and still sound amazing. Almost impossible to get this compressor to sound bad.
__________________
My Stuff
DBMusic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2017, 01:13 PM   #12
grinder
Human being with feelings
 
grinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,905
Default

Funny I have the Portico 5043 I use it mainly for my Bass (out of a Groove tubes Vipre) I will investigate the OCL-2 I probably do not need an SSL style comp as I do not generally speaking do heavy music.
Thanks for the review DBMusic

Grinder
grinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.