Can someone breakdown when to use la2a, 1176, fairchild, dbx160 (vst links inside)

slops · 05-31-2011, 06:24 PM

I usually rely on reacomp for most of my basic compression needs, but lately I have become interested in experimenting more with vsts that are modeled after famous compressors. I've found some basic info about what these compressors are known for, but can anyone explain what they personally find each one to work best at? I've been experimenting on my own but I am interested to get an idea of what these are generally being used for and when probably not to use them (i.e. using a la2a on the masterbus is probalbly not gonna sound good, but on vocals it can work great, etc....).

The overall basic info I have found is that la2a are great on vocals and bass, dbx160 is good for kick/snare/guitar, and fairchild works well on the master bus? 1176 and dbx160 good for taming fast peaks and parallel compression duties? Any info, tips or knowledge in general you people could share would be great.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Here is a short list of the better vst emulations of these compressors I have found that are all free.
(* except for majortom and the rocket which are unrestricted evaluation copies *)
----------------------------------

LA-2A
TLs-2095-LA - http://hem.bredband.net/tbtaudio/arc...vstplugins.htm
optron 3a - http://phoenixinflightaudio.blogspot.com/
dream vortex leveling amp - http://www.dreamvortex.co.uk/effects/

dbx160
*majortom - http://www.stillwellaudio.com/?page_id=13

1176
audiocation AC1 - https://www.audiocation.de/en/plugin
*rocket - http://www.stillwellaudio.com/?page_id=68

fairchild
density mkII - http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/vst-effects/

camerondye · 05-31-2011, 07:44 PM

LA2A - vocals and decent on just about everything else, hence it's in almost all major studios. Easy to use and easy to get to sound good. I think it kind of softens the sound a touch.

1176 - It's good on everything. This is the best compressor ever IMO. It makes things just sound better hence some using it with no compression just for the sound. Vocals, bass, guitar, drums can all be done with these. I just got a real one the other day and still messing around with it. It keeps the highend intact and probably adds a touch of highend also which is super cool because most compressors rob the highend a little too much. The thing about the 1176 is it adds just a touch of attitude which is so cool almost always. The thing I would say I don't use 1176 type compressor on is acoustic, I have a Taylor and adding highend isn't necessary.

DBX 160 - When I think of any DBX unit I think bass and drums. This is going to have the effect of accenting the transient on anything and add punch...it's the only reason to use a DBX...add punch. They can clamp down a little too much but just watch it.

Fairchild - I'm not a huge fan of the Fairchild models I've used. It makes things almost too soft. If I use it its on acoustic guitar and then maybe drum buss and vocals but not often does it beat out something else.

Distressor - This is the swiss army knife compressor. Now that I have a 1176, the distressor sounds like it robs high end. If you want a compressor that can soften a touch, add punch, add grind...this is the one to get. I don't think you can use it on everything on a mix because it definitely imparts it's sound on anything you use it on but if you use it correctly...it is amazing. Works really well on my Taylor acoustic guitar...good stuff. This is also an awesome bass compressor but it's great on just about everything though.

SSL G-Comp - This is the ultimate buss compressor, the term Glue is permanently attached to the SSL Buss Comp. I use it on 2:1 and just get a couple db's of reduction and it does it's job making your music sound like a record. I also use this occasionally on drum busses on 4:1 to get a little bit of punch and glue.

LA3A - I honestly consider this the mix of a LA2A and an 1176. It keeps the high end like the 1176 but is an opto. It works on bass for me more often than an LA2A. It's not as soft as an LA2A but is pretty versatile. This is more of an invisible compressor than the other Universal Audio stuff IMO.

cam

ObiK · 06-01-2011, 06:03 PM

We just released the new LA2A and 1176 comps in the new T-Racks 3.5 update.... something your going to want to check out plus tons of cool info on those two comps too!

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/black76.php

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/white2a.php

BenK-msx · 06-01-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObiK

We just released the new LA2A and 1176 comps in the new T-Racks 3.5 update.... something your going to want to check out plus tons of cool info on those two comps too!

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/black76.php

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/white2a.php

ooh... i underestimated you guys for a second* and thought i'd have to pay for these, but no...

(I got t-racks and the reverbs bundled when i got ARC.)

*EDIT* : I take that back, you do have to buy them seperately.. how foolish of me, and everyone else it seems.
the 3.5 update makes the two processors 'available' i.e TO BUY. not available to use.

VERY dubious wording and descriptions not just here/above but on the IK website too. damn cheeky i'd say.
loads of users have updated on the basis on getting 2 new comps to plays with, when in fact it is "WITH THIS FREE UPDATE YOU CAN NOW 'INTEGRATE' OUR 2 NEW PRODUCTS.... when you buy them.".

theres not even a discount.

negative 'jam points' for you lot.

edit: interesting info too btw Cam'

ObiK · 06-02-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenK-msx

ooh... i underestimated you guys for a second* and thought i'd have to pay for these, but no...

(I got t-racks and the reverbs bundled when i got ARC.)

*EDIT* : I take that back, you do have to buy them seperately.. how foolish of me, and everyone else it seems.
the 3.5 update makes the two processors 'available' i.e TO BUY. not available to use.

VERY dubious wording and descriptions not just here/above but on the IK website too. damn cheeky i'd say.
loads of users have updated on the basis on getting 2 new comps to plays with, when in fact it is "WITH THIS FREE UPDATE YOU CAN NOW 'INTEGRATE' OUR 2 NEW PRODUCTS.... when you buy them.".

theres not even a discount.

negative 'jam points' for you lot.

edit: interesting info too btw Cam'

Yes that is right. We updated T-Racks 3 to 64 bit and also released two new singles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenK-msx

stop the bus: no you didn't -
you meant to say you've made them available to integrate into tracks 3.5 when you've bought them for £132!

funny how everyone finds that out only after downloading the update and asking "so where are the 2 new processors?".

none of the release info/blurb mentions this and clearly positively MISLEADS users into thinking they come bundled free with the upgrade.

to quote the 3.5 release notes:
2 new processors, 64-bit support and Authorization Manager

2 new processors available.

-
why not make it clearer? it doesn't change anything and you don't piss off users, i wouldn't mind a bit if you'd said '2 new xtra processors available to purchase'. is pretty simple.

its very dubious and frankly cheeky behaviour,
such unpleasant marketing tactics of IK make their reasonable products less appealing tbh.

a token existing user discount would also help shift units, but nope.
100 negative JAM points for you

Sorry about that but our site does specify that these are add ons and not a part of the free update.

BenK-msx · 06-02-2011, 07:09 PM

cheers for responding, though 'specify' is a touch ambitious! - you can see that - even if you won't admit it publicly

- need i say more:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/forum/vi...hp?f=13&t=1390 (3rd post onwards)

if you: read your first post, then visit the links you put up, then go into a user area,downloads etc, all the blurb implies and says 'available'. none of the blurb says add-on or purchase.

its just a bit unnecessary and a bit of an own goal, thats all i'm saying and only serves to irritated customers, i'm clearly not the only one (in fact did anyone not think they were bundled?), as shown byt the above link:

you'd have not irritated anyone by saying "fab new plugins available, they're awesome and are good value and they integrate nice with the new t-racks 3.5"

I can imagine research has found that people are a bit more likely to pay-up for 'surprise Xtra costs' than 'known in advance' ones, and hence all your marketing is based on that.

thats fair enough i guess - but i also don't have to not think its devious bordering on creepy. with respect.

sorry for OT forumites. mans gotta do...

BenK-msx · 06-02-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObiK IK marketing dude

We just released the new LA2A and 1176 comps in the new T-Racks 3.5 update.... something your going to want to check out plus tons of cool info on those two comps too!

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/black76.php

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/trsingle...fo/white2a.php

stop the bus: no you didn't -
you meant to say you've made them available to integrate into tracks 3.5 when you've bought them for £132!

funny how everyone finds that out only after downloading the update and asking "so where are the 2 new processors?".

none of the release info/blurb mentions this and clearly positively MISLEADS users into thinking they come bundled free with the upgrade.

to quote the 3.5 release notes:
2 new processors, 64-bit support and Authorization Manager

2 new processors available.

-
why not make it clearer? it doesn't change anything and you don't piss off users, i wouldn't mind a bit if you'd said '2 new xtra processors available to purchase'. is pretty simple.

its very dubious and frankly cheeky behaviour,
such unpleasant marketing tactics of IK make their reasonable products less appealing tbh.

a token existing user discount would also help shift units, but nope.
100 negative JAM points for you

kindafishy · 06-01-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camerondye

...
1176 - It's good on everything. This is the best compressor ever IMO. It makes things just sound better hence some using it with no compression just for the sound. Vocals, bass, guitar, drums can all be done with these. I just got a real one the other day and still messing around with it.
...

Jealousy...

Cam, which unit did you get? Channel strip? Stereo? LN? Details, man! Pics if ya got 'em.

slops · 06-01-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camerondye

LA2A - vocals and decent on just about everything else, hence it's in almost all major studios. Easy to use and easy to get to sound good. I think it kind of softens the sound a touch.

1176 - It's good on everything. This is the best compressor ever IMO. It makes things just sound better hence some using it with no compression just for the sound. Vocals, bass, guitar, drums can all be done with these. I just got a real one the other day and still messing around with it. It keeps the highend intact and probably adds a touch of highend also which is super cool because most compressors rob the highend a little too much. The thing about the 1176 is it adds just a touch of attitude which is so cool almost always. The thing I would say I don't use 1176 type compressor on is acoustic, I have a Taylor and adding highend isn't necessary.

DBX 160 - When I think of any DBX unit I think bass and drums. This is going to have the effect of accenting the transient on anything and add punch...it's the only reason to use a DBX...add punch. They can clamp down a little too much but just watch it.

Fairchild - I'm not a huge fan of the Fairchild models I've used. It makes things almost too soft. If I use it its on acoustic guitar and then maybe drum buss and vocals but not often does it beat out something else.

Distressor - This is the swiss army knife compressor. Now that I have a 1176, the distressor sounds like it robs high end. If you want a compressor that can soften a touch, add punch, add grind...this is the one to get. I don't think you can use it on everything on a mix because it definitely imparts it's sound on anything you use it on but if you use it correctly...it is amazing. Works really well on my Taylor acoustic guitar...good stuff. This is also an awesome bass compressor but it's great on just about everything though.

SSL G-Comp - This is the ultimate buss compressor, the term Glue is permanently attached to the SSL Buss Comp. I use it on 2:1 and just get a couple db's of reduction and it does it's job making your music sound like a record. I also use this occasionally on drum busses on 4:1 to get a little bit of punch and glue.

LA3A - I honestly consider this the mix of a LA2A and an 1176. It keeps the high end like the 1176 but is an opto. It works on bass for me more often than an LA2A. It's not as soft as an LA2A but is pretty versatile. This is more of an invisible compressor than the other Universal Audio stuff IMO.

cam

wow, thank you for taking the time to give clear explanations for each of these.
this is exactly the type of response i was hoping for.

thanks again.

musicroom · 06-02-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camerondye

LA2A - vocals and decent on just about everything else, hence it's in almost all major studios. Easy to use and easy to get to sound good. I think it kind of softens the sound a touch.

1176 - It's good on everything. This is the best compressor ever IMO. It makes things just sound better hence some using it with no compression just for the sound. Vocals, bass, guitar, drums can all be done with these. I just got a real one the other day and still messing around with it. It keeps the highend intact and probably adds a touch of highend also which is super cool because most compressors rob the highend a little too much. The thing about the 1176 is it adds just a touch of attitude which is so cool almost always. The thing I would say I don't use 1176 type compressor on is acoustic, I have a Taylor and adding highend isn't necessary.

DBX 160 - When I think of any DBX unit I think bass and drums. This is going to have the effect of accenting the transient on anything and add punch...it's the only reason to use a DBX...add punch. They can clamp down a little too much but just watch it.

Fairchild - I'm not a huge fan of the Fairchild models I've used. It makes things almost too soft. If I use it its on acoustic guitar and then maybe drum buss and vocals but not often does it beat out something else.

Distressor - This is the swiss army knife compressor. Now that I have a 1176, the distressor sounds like it robs high end. If you want a compressor that can soften a touch, add punch, add grind...this is the one to get. I don't think you can use it on everything on a mix because it definitely imparts it's sound on anything you use it on but if you use it correctly...it is amazing. Works really well on my Taylor acoustic guitar...good stuff. This is also an awesome bass compressor but it's great on just about everything though.

SSL G-Comp - This is the ultimate buss compressor, the term Glue is permanently attached to the SSL Buss Comp. I use it on 2:1 and just get a couple db's of reduction and it does it's job making your music sound like a record. I also use this occasionally on drum busses on 4:1 to get a little bit of punch and glue.

LA3A - I honestly consider this the mix of a LA2A and an 1176. It keeps the high end like the 1176 but is an opto. It works on bass for me more often than an LA2A. It's not as soft as an LA2A but is pretty versatile. This is more of an invisible compressor than the other Universal Audio stuff IMO.

cam

I demo'd the Old Timer and was impressed. Where do you see this comp in relationship to your list?

DM

_

Coachz · 06-02-2011, 03:29 AM

i love the old timer for a track compressor.

Does anyone make a Distressor VST ?

pipelineaudio · 06-02-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coachz

i love the old timer for a track compressor.

Does anyone make a Distressor VST ?

For distorted electric guitar duty, Rocket is very close, its got a knob on there to see how much of the effect you want instead of all or nothing

Wolffman · 06-02-2011, 04:38 AM

Great post camerondye !

I'd just like to add that the Fairchild in Lat-vert mode( mid-side ) works really well on a drum buss, especially if you want to get a big roomy type of drum sound, because you can compress the mid and the side of the stereo signal separately.

Cheers

camerondye · 06-02-2011, 05:41 AM

I actually have a Distressor and I just got the 6176 which has a 610 preamp and an 1176 (and a free UAD-2 Quad card). I also own just all the UAD plugins except the new 224 reverb which I'm not super psyched about. I also own all the FMR comps and a DBX 160a.

The Distressor is a super complicated, super versatile compressor that happens to be easy to get a good sound out of surprisingly enough...that's probably why it's a studio staple already. I don't think anybody who is just fooling around will make an accurate model and it will take one of the big boys to make it right...probably UAD since they work with Dave Derr anyway.

I actually just bought the Old Timer on it's last sale about a month ago and it is awesome, it might be better than UAD stuff on certain things. I figured it was going to be an LA2A type thing but they made it so you can make drums punchy with it. I'm not sure what it's close too honestly...I think it is it's own great thing.

I will try and take pictures tonight of my new rack and throw them up. The 610 preamp is pretty damn cool also. I wasn't super excited about getting it because I have an ADL600, but the 610 is totally rock and roll. I plugged my bass into it and turned on a touch of 1176 and it was the closest thing to a mic'd amp I've ever heard going direct. I recorded a Marshall JCM800 the other day with it and it did the right things and the minimal eq on it helped to shape things a touch. A touch of 1176 on it made it a little bit more angry...just a touch but enough to notice. I'm more excited about than I thought I would be honestly...I just wanted the great deal with the free $1500 card initially but I'm super happy with it. Gain staging it is a little funny but not near as bad as some people have bitched about it....hell it's a full channel strip, by just a pre if you want easy.

ngarjuna · 06-02-2011, 06:16 AM

Just to add to some already good information:

The Fairchild is a very unique compressor that is extremely useful for lead voices (both vocal and instrumental). In addition to nice leveling it really brings out the sheen and can make your signal much easier to place into a mix. Just the saturation from the unit without any clamping is gorgeous. You can get a super silky, smooth kind of clamp down that is very pleasant on the human voice. Some people love the Fairchild on buss compressor duty; I have never been able to make it useful there, personally, but it is done.

Due to the age and build process, my understanding is that no two Fairchilds are the same (a real 660 or 670 will run you in the 5 figures, they're very expensive so I've never had the pleasure). Even the clones tend to be pretty expensive (I think the ADLs are considered very authentic at about $9k for a 660 and Anamod makes an interesting digital hardware unit that's also well thought of for thousands of dollars). The rarity certainly affects the market price but people don't shell out $30,000+ for a 2-channel compressor that sucks no matter how rare it is.

For dbx style compression, add to the list de la mancha's sixtyfive. It's based on the 165a as opposed to the 160 (which I think is what Major Tom is based on). My understanding is that the 165 was the first of the 16x series to offer soft knee and a variety of other adjustable controls but that it's essentially the same compressor (in terms of the VCA, transformers) although as the manufacturing modernized it did change the design a bit. In addition to bass and drums these things can be very useful on some vocalists. Also an inexpensive plugin choice (I think it was 15 or 20 bucks).

1176s, while certainly one of the most famous compressors out there, has never really struck me as a versatility compressor; not that it can't be used on a wide variety of material (like almost any other compressor) but the attitude it leaves on a track is pretty heavy. There are, in my view, other compressors which are far more versatile than the 1176 (mostly more modern designs). Of course, this is a fairly subjective measure. Some engineers love to use 1176 on everything. When the 1176 was first released it was basically the first all solid state peak limiter; today there are lots of excellent compression choices including many units which can nail multiple characters/sounds with the flip of a switch. But that said, if you could only have one single compressor, the 1176 would at least be a great choice (not my first as I said, but it would be better than a great many others for your "only compressor" choice).

It's also difficult to talk about 1176s as a single compressor when, in reality, it more often refers to a class of compressor design (FET feedback, all button mode). The original Urei design underwent several major revisions (including faceplate changes, hence the blue face, silver face and black face 1176s) and reissues. And that doesn't include the probably hundreds of clones that have popped up ranging from 1176ish to exquisitely modeled. So an 1176 != an 1176 necessarily (although they should be in the same ballpark at least).

SSL G comp, to me, is a great character compressor. I suspect its widespread use is mostly based on availability: the 4K is a hugely popular board and so engineers had G comps available without patching anything; that sounds lazy but when you have a finite number of compressors to patch to and/or a huge ass mix going on and you just need a little off the top, it's a really big deal to have something nice sitting right there. It also nails a particular sound (and it's a useful character to have in your toolkit for many kinds of modern music). One place the G comp can really shine is buss compression duty (including the two buss). Again, a matter of taste (some people despise the sound of the G comp on the main buss) but it's a sound I really like on some things.

karbomusic · 06-02-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coachz

i love the old timer for a track compressor.

Does anyone make a Distressor VST ?

Antress has one:

Ref: http://antress.blogspot.com/

Karbo

planetnine · 06-04-2011, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coachz

i love the old timer for a track compressor.

Does anyone make a Distressor VST ?

Liquid Mix has distressor emulations too...

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatfinger

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep0...ompressors.htm

A classic article about classic compressors. This is very worth a read, I was going to recommend this SOS article, but Flatfinger beat me to it. Not just What to use, but why -and comments from many named SE/Prod about their preferences...

>

puke · 02-02-2015, 11:55 AM

OK,
I have to humor you, since I don't think anybody has yet.
If you had enough $ for a fairchild, and thus, a fairchild, you wouldn't be asking .

Or are you speaking of a fairchild emulation??? I don't own one,..but so far, even though the compressor emulations can sometimes work and sometimes not,...they do a poor job of emulating analog.

my 2 cents.