Fatso

[JamesTinney]

I know this isn't a new piece of kit, but i always find these types of comparison's useful! This example is not pushing the fatso hard & slightly undoing the Warmth Effect by adding high EQ afterwards but hey I like it! (Samples are adjusted for volume differences)


For this example:
----
Out from Cubase, via Mytek ADDA

Via SSL Logic FX 383 mic-pre

Filter on around 20 (Split in)
Impediance button out

INSERT - Fatso

Warm 2
Bus Compressor
Tranny - out
Input 3.5
Output 5.5


Back into:
SSL Logic FX 383 EQ

Green
up 0.6 (re the dials) at 7 with x3 on,
Q at 0.5 (far right)

Pink
Up 0.5 (re the dials) at 10

---------------------------------------

[Bump Music]

I got a Fatso as well. Love it more every day. I really like what it did to your track. But if the Fatso had a threshold control for that buss comp AND a saturation control you could do some SERIOUS damage (in a good way).

[Mitch Deason]

thanks for posting this

[u b k]

Originally Posted by Bump Music

But if the Fatso had a threshold control for that buss comp AND a saturation control you could do some SERIOUS damage (in a good way).

stick a simple gain controller, like an atty, on the insert. slam the input as hard as you want for the saturation, then use the inserted gain control to hit the comp as needed.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[lostinmusic]

I use the FATSO on pretty much everything but IMO it has two distinct uses. On the master buss it's great for a subtle rounding off of edges - Tranny on and a bit of warmth (basically a de-esser). I'm not a huge fan of the compressor section - maybe used it two or three times.

For tracking though, it's a completely different beast. Try routing your drums through it (compression off again) and cranking up the input to around 9. Sounds far, far better to me than any plugin limiter. I'll be checking out the Anamod as soon as I can but this second use of the FATSO is the closest emulation of what tape does that I've heard so far (ok, different - sometimes worse, sometimes better).

The compressor section isn't actually all that bad - sounds kind of expensive really but seems to push things back in the mix too much for my taste.

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by JamesTinney

I know this isn't a new piece of kit, but i always find these types of comparison's useful! This example is not pushing the fatso hard & slightly undoing the Warmth Effect by adding high EQ afterwards but hey I like it! (Samples are adjusted for volume differences)


For this example:
----
Out from Cubase, via Mytek ADDA

Via SSL Logic FX 383 mic-pre

Filter on around 20 (Split in)
Impediance button out

INSERT - Fatso

Warm 2
Bus Compressor
Tranny - out
Input 3.5
Output 5.5


Back into:
SSL Logic FX 383 EQ

Green
up 0.6 (re the dials) at 7 with x3 on,
Q at 0.5 (far right)

Pink
Up 0.5 (re the dials) at 10

---------------------------------------

Yes the Fatso track sounds better, but more than that I think that track is killer!
I would like to hear more of that!
Great job!

[Zuewi]

Thanks for the stuff. Yeah the fatso clip sounds more like a record.
Btw. what is that instrument what starts at 00:13 and sounds like a singing voice? a moog?

[u b k]

Originally Posted by lostinmusic

The compressor section isn't actually all that bad - sounds kind of expensive really but seems to push things back in the mix too much for my taste.

that's it's strength, imo, but it's only helpful if you need something pushed back.

it absolutely KILLS in parallel, though, just bring back a little of the transient and you have hugeness only a few other comps can rival.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[lostinmusic]

Originally Posted by u b k

it absolutely KILLS in parallel, though, just bring back a little of the transient and you have hugeness only a few other comps can rival.

Interesting - I'll try that..

[undermind]

Yes, the Fatso track definitely sounds better. I thought perhaps it was the old volume thing where the louder one will always sound better, but this is not the case. They seem to be volume matched. There is better separation and the instruments all just sound bigger. Like mentioned previously, it sounds more like a record.

Makes me wonder about all the people that say they don't like it across the mix. I think they may not be using it subtly enough like this was. It is probably used too much as an effect rather than an enhancement.

[lucasmusic]

wow, its like adding warm butter to popcorn...really polishes up the mix nicely! Great test!

[Roman]

It is not subtle IMO. Why hasn't anyone mentioned this?
And louder.

[Schaap]

Originally Posted by Zuewi

Thanks for the stuff. Yeah the fatso clip sounds more like a record.

+1. Without the Fatso it sounds like a mix, with as a record.

Henk

[d1rtynyc]

WOW!
Thanks for the post.
Kinda subtle, but definitely glues it together nice!

I like the track as well. (what was there at least)

[undermind]

I can't wait to hear some opinions on the Fatso UAD plugin when that comes out. I might have to get some UAD cards, getting too tempting!

[JamesTinney]

great discussion going on here, the parallel compression idea, nice

Yeah, I agree with Roman the Fatso does bring the bass end out, so much so that on mixes if I use the tranny aswell I feel the bass end becomes too much. Has anyone on thoughts on this?

Zuewi - the instrument that comes in is a theramin emulation (Super
Spooky Keys VSTi - it's a freebe VSTi & a lot of fun to play with)

Lostinmusic - In what do you feel it pushes the track back in the mix, be great if you could shed further light! Thinking off the top of my head, is it the way a compressor deals with the high frequency transients? Great to have ur thoughts,

Cheers

James

[lostinmusic]

Originally Posted by JamesTinney

Lostinmusic - In what do you feel it pushes the track back in the mix, be great if you could shed further light! Thinking off the top of my head, is it the way a compressor deals with the high frequency transients? Great to have ur thoughts,

Oops, I've done it now :-) to my ears, the compressor section doesn't have any bite which is probably exactly what they had in mind. Perhaps it's a lack of distortion, I don't know really but the effect, at least to my ears, is one of pushing the sound 'back' in the mix (which as ubk rightly pointed out makes it the perfect compressor for when that effect is required..!). You know, having said this now, I'll probably end up using it all the time

[bcgood]

plus...

[undermind]

Originally Posted by bcgood

plus...

What's this??

[JamesTinney]

wow!! that's awesome, it now sounds soooo smooth!!

Very excited about what you've done to it!!

You must tell me!! What processes have you done on it & with what gear? I'm all ears!!

[bcgood]

Hi James, I'm glad you liked it. I used around 7 different subtle processes on your track that all add up in the end. I slightly expanded the stereo image and also bounced it to tape. I then adjusted some parameters that are honestly at this stage something of a black art. I'm currently working with a well known mastering engineer to refine and then patent some of the processes; so needles to say I'm not going to talk about some of the specific processes in detail right now...

[Crandak]

I must have really fried my hearing at some point. I can't hear any difference at all on all 3 versions through my bm6's... oh well... It's a good thing my forte is song writing rather than engineering.

[Zuewi]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Hi James, I'm glad you liked it. I used around 7 different subtle processes on your track that all add up in the end. I slightly expanded the stereo image and also bounced it to tape. I then adjusted some parameters that are honestly at this stage something of a black art. I'm currently working with a well known mastering engineer to refine and then patent some of the processes; so needles to say I'm not going to talk about some of the specific processes in detail right now...

Well the last file sounds best i mean, but i doesn't think that it was that far away from the second file.
There is a big improvement from the first to the second.

[JamesTinney]

Roman - Regarding the bass becoming louder, that's probably the tape emulation element of the fatso kicking in,

j

[mdjice]

I was considering it but in the 2 samples, it s doesn't like a huge improvement. It sounds like something that could have been done simply with a eq. yes the fatso track sounds better but it;s not like the fatso is bringing something exceptional. A bit brighter to me that;s all. I don't think I will get one now. maybe 2 distressor.
thanks for the test

[AMIEL]

I prefer the AFTER FATSO better!
Now, the after Fatso sounds brighter,,,,so please can you guys elaborate about this...because i constantly hear that the Fatso cut off some harsh top end...or the Fatso can also make a source.. sounds brighter?

[mdjice]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

I prefer the AFTER FATSO better!
Now, the after Fatso sounds brighter,,,,so please can you guys elaborate about this...because i constantly hear that the Fatso cut off some harsh top end...or the Fatso can also make a source.. sounds brighter?

good point...

[khai]

I've got a Fatso. Because of the compression and saturation involved some frequencies can be enhanced. But if you're listening with attention, they're not the very high and harsh ones. Also the "warm" in the fatso works like a harsh frequency limiter so it depends on the dynamic of these very high frequencies.

[mdjice]

Originally Posted by khai

I've got a Fatso. Because of the compression and saturation involved some frequencies can be enhanced. But if you're listening with attention, they're not the very high and harsh ones. Also the "warm" in the fatso works like a harsh frequency limiter so it depends on the dynamic of these very high frequencies.

So to you it's a good buy? if today I would give you your money back, would you get the fatso again or would you get something else?
do you use it in the mix? where?
thx

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by khai

I've got a Fatso. Because of the compression and saturation involved some frequencies can be enhanced. But if you're listening with attention, they're not the very high and harsh ones. Also the "warm" in the fatso works like a harsh frequency limiter so it depends on the dynamic of these very high frequencies.

Actually the very high frequencies are not the very harsh...
and anyway ..would be more noticeble the 'Warmth" effect in the Fatso....I feel puch, vibe and prescense in the After Fatso clip...but ....

What I want to know what and how using the Fatso makes the source sound brighte, like in this "after Fatso" example.