Analog emulation compressors I would actually use...
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 3 Jul, 2016
Hi all,
I am looking for a vintage/analog compressor bundle that would fit my downtempo/house/techno needs. Specifically I am interested in (but not limiting myself to) the Native Instruments Vintage Compressors or Waves CLA Classic Compressors - to have a selection of different character compressors, for instruments, vocals etc.
Currently I have the Waves Platinum bundle, but the compressors in it are not that spectacular (like the V-Comp or H-Comp). Though I separately purchased the API 2500 (I like it when I need to smack some drums). Also I have the PSP Mixpack2, but it's quite an old bundle and I am not using it that much anymore and the Vintage Warmer 2 (usually use it for the drum bus).
Any suggestions?
I am looking for a vintage/analog compressor bundle that would fit my downtempo/house/techno needs. Specifically I am interested in (but not limiting myself to) the Native Instruments Vintage Compressors or Waves CLA Classic Compressors - to have a selection of different character compressors, for instruments, vocals etc.
Currently I have the Waves Platinum bundle, but the compressors in it are not that spectacular (like the V-Comp or H-Comp). Though I separately purchased the API 2500 (I like it when I need to smack some drums). Also I have the PSP Mixpack2, but it's quite an old bundle and I am not using it that much anymore and the Vintage Warmer 2 (usually use it for the drum bus).
Any suggestions?
Last edited by Virgiauskas on Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Beware the Quoth
- 33109 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/DC8C/DC8C.php
and/or
https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/MJUC/MJUC.php
and/or
https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/MJUC/MJUC.php
Last edited by whyterabbyt on Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
my other modular synth is a bugbrand
- KVRAF
- 10187 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
I would look at U-he Presswerk. It's a single plugin, not a bundle, but it's very versatile in terms of applications and character.
Logic Pro | PolyBrute | MatrixBrute | MiniFreak | Prophet 6 | Trigon 6 | OB-6 | Rev2 | Pro 3 | SE-1X | Polar TI2 | Blofeld | RYTMmk2 | Digitone | Syntakt | Digitakt | SX7
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 3 Jul, 2016
I actually used it for a while, but for some reason didn't like it in the end, didn't use it too much and sold it.cryophonik wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:02 pm I would look at U-he Presswerk. It's a single plugin, not a bundle, but it's very versatile in terms of applications and character.
- KVRian
- 527 posts since 22 Sep, 2016
That’s a tough question to answer. The CLA stuff is definitely good. You have Platinum. Have you tried the Renaissance Compressor? I like that one a lot. It seems like a lot of focus now is on Consoles emulations, lately. Like Brainworx, and Waves to a lesser extent, have really been pushing a different one a week. Acustica Audio makes stuff on a whole other level, right now. The Acustica stuff will also bring your CPU to its knees. Softube makes some compressors that many folks are happy with, and they would love to sell you their Console 1 as well. I also hear good things about Sound Radix and U-he. The Empirical Labs and Kush Audio compressors get raves all over. Have you been over to the gearslutz site? This subject gets pored over at length, and many of the guys who post there are prominent in the recording industry. I’d check there for what gets talked about, and get on some mailing lists. A lot of those plugs are expensive, but they DO go on sale.
I have a ton of Plugin Alliance plugs. I really liked almost every thing I’ve bought from them, but they have moved over to a subscription model, and I am not all that crazy about recommending them anymore. They DO make good compressors though. I use the BxOpto and the Townhouse Compressor a lot.
It’s funny because, there are so many good good compressors that come stock with DAWs now. I’ve used Ableton’s, Cubase’s, and Logic’s compressors just as often as I would reach for a Brainworx or a Wave’s compressor, to be honest. I’ll usually just reach for something else when I’m not all that happy with the way the stock compressor is treating my track.
I have a ton of Plugin Alliance plugs. I really liked almost every thing I’ve bought from them, but they have moved over to a subscription model, and I am not all that crazy about recommending them anymore. They DO make good compressors though. I use the BxOpto and the Townhouse Compressor a lot.
It’s funny because, there are so many good good compressors that come stock with DAWs now. I’ve used Ableton’s, Cubase’s, and Logic’s compressors just as often as I would reach for a Brainworx or a Wave’s compressor, to be honest. I’ll usually just reach for something else when I’m not all that happy with the way the stock compressor is treating my track.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 3 Jul, 2016
Ok so I updated the title to be more specific. In Ableton I like to use the Glue compressor, it's one of my favorites, but I thought about adding something to my arsenal few analog emulations that would give me a different character.
W23, do you have any favorite compressors from Plugin Alliance? I recently added a few plugins from them, but I have few EQ's, the Transient Designer and few utility plugins.
Is the RenComp modeled on anything or is it just clean comp? I have used it on vocals on some tracks, but haven't noticed any character added to it.
W23, do you have any favorite compressors from Plugin Alliance? I recently added a few plugins from them, but I have few EQ's, the Transient Designer and few utility plugins.
- KVRAF
- 2752 posts since 15 Feb, 2017 from a worn out vinyl groove
On sale at the moment is this from Boz Digital..
https://www.bozdigitallabs.com/product/10db-bundle/ at $39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pY_Xtvs_WI
the compressor is basically their ADR's Compex F760FX compressor..
which was used in the 1970's Helios console...
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It is quirky... I love it... maybe a bit of nostalgia.
It certainly has it's character.
EDIT:If you demo it, be sure to read this article... especially the "In use" section.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ad ... x-f760x-rs
https://www.bozdigitallabs.com/product/10db-bundle/ at $39
It models a British uniot called the vocal stressor>>+10db is a channel strip plugin meticulously modeled after one of the industries most iconic hardware compressors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pY_Xtvs_WI
the compressor is basically their ADR's Compex F760FX compressor..
which was used in the 1970's Helios console...
#
It is quirky... I love it... maybe a bit of nostalgia.
It certainly has it's character.
EDIT:If you demo it, be sure to read this article... especially the "In use" section.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ad ... x-f760x-rs
- KVRian
- 527 posts since 22 Sep, 2016
Of all the PA compressors, probably the Acme Opticon is the most “characterful”, but the Townhouse compressor and Zip are both very worthy. Both the Townhouse and Zip lend themselves toward the “abuse” side of signal processing in a good way. The rest of the PA stuff like the Opto, PE-700, and mPressor tend to be on the transparent side. I think that’s why PA are going so hard on console emulations right now. There is often a preamp/saturation in front of the compressor. I have a couple of those too (the Neve, and SSL-G), but I tend to like using a mix and match approach rather than a single channel strip.
I have the 10db bundle too. I think I paid almost $70 for it on sale a couple of years ago. It’s good, but I still found it to be on the surgical/transparent side (think “clean, warm and loud”) of analog (like PA’s SPL and Elysia modules), which isn’t bad if that’s what you are looking for. I really like Boz’s Manic Compressor and Wall limiter. Those two are serious contenders.
I would almost steer you toward some of the SoundToys stuff, like Devil-Loc (plain, or Deluxe) or DeCapitator, which isn’t a compressor but compresses all the same. Those two are like magic fairy dust you can sprinkle on anything, and who cares what you put after DeCapitator (if anything) for compression?
I have the 10db bundle too. I think I paid almost $70 for it on sale a couple of years ago. It’s good, but I still found it to be on the surgical/transparent side (think “clean, warm and loud”) of analog (like PA’s SPL and Elysia modules), which isn’t bad if that’s what you are looking for. I really like Boz’s Manic Compressor and Wall limiter. Those two are serious contenders.
I would almost steer you toward some of the SoundToys stuff, like Devil-Loc (plain, or Deluxe) or DeCapitator, which isn’t a compressor but compresses all the same. Those two are like magic fairy dust you can sprinkle on anything, and who cares what you put after DeCapitator (if anything) for compression?
Last edited by W23 on Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:17 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 3 Jul, 2016
Btw anyone have any experience with PSP oldTimer and compared to similar compressors?
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Winstontaneous Winstontaneous https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98336
- KVRAF
- 2344 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Berkeley, CA
- I like OldTimer a lot, especially for taming vocals, or low ratios on busses, but it doesn't have either the fast distorted grabbiness of an 1176 or the gooeyness of an LA-2 emulation. The PSP comps for getting closer to these are the FETPressor for a bit more aggression, and the Twin Limiter for either quick or gentle, musical leveling.Virgiauskas wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:09 pm Btw anyone have any experience with PSP oldTimer and compared to similar compressors?
- I would have recommended u-he Presswerk for an all in one but that doesn't gel with you
- I've heard nothing but good about the DMG TrackComp others have mentioned
- I like the NI comps and haven't felt the need to try any other 1176/LA-2/160 emulations. LA-2 is great on vocals
- Maybe a little left-field because it doesn't really distort in a vintage way, but Tokyo Dawn Labs' Kotelnikov is such a musical-sounding problem-solver that it's at the top of my "actually used" list regardless of genre
- Voxengo Marquis isn't a 1:1 emulation but is one of my favorites for grittier compression
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- KVRian
- 886 posts since 11 May, 2004 from cologne,germany
https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/h ... -plus-mk2/
5 compresion modes, great value for the money.
5 compresion modes, great value for the money.
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- Banned
- 658 posts since 4 Oct, 2018
Keep using Waves thenVirgiauskas wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:13 pmI actually used it for a while, but for some reason didn't like it in the end, didn't use it too much and sold it.cryophonik wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:02 pm I would look at U-he Presswerk. It's a single plugin, not a bundle, but it's very versatile in terms of applications and character.
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- KVRist
- 118 posts since 14 Apr, 2019
Here’s an advice : if you want your mix sounds better any compressor even stock plugins would do just fine. It’s all about your technique and skills.
Although, a high quality plugins helps to do the job much easier. Ditch the waves.
Listen to my mix.
Although, a high quality plugins helps to do the job much easier. Ditch the waves.
Listen to my mix.
Check out some of my latest mixes and remixes:https://soundcloud.com/thinkmusic007
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 3 Jul, 2016
I am steering myself to OldTimer and/or the NI VC. Need to find proper deals to get them all
Last edited by Virgiauskas on Mon Sep 16, 2019 8:58 am, edited 1 time in total.