Best glue for under 3K?

[yumdrum]

I'm going to purchase a compressor the the mix bus and was wondering what you think the best all round sounding one is.
Music style will be varied from acoustic,jazz, blues and POP rock.(nothing too heavy)
3K is my max and here is what I've considered so far.
Also, used is fine as well.

API2500
Smart C1
Manley Vari-Mu
older G384 SSL (if I can find one)
Thermoinic

Anything else?
Thanks.

[cosmos]

used STC-8.

[yumdrum]

Thanks, doing some reading on the cranesong and it is definetly peaking my interest. Lot's of glowing reviews. Although there are three different versions, so more research is in order.
Thanks again
Davethumbsup

[neil33]

Drawmer 1968ME.

[Darth Fader]

Thumbs up to this one.

http://www.buzzaudio.com/products/soc1.1.htm

[jdjustice]

there are two ways to go here that are both great:
a used STC-8 if you want a more transparent sound, and an Alan Smart C2 for the more 'modern' SSL sound (these are generalizations).

neither unit should disappoint you.



cheers.
~j.d.

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

Although there are three different versions, so more research is in order.

the three versions really all just have different degrees of resettability.
the STC-8 (regular) is the non-mastering version.
the STC-8/H has detented output gain, and the STC-8/M is the full 'mastering' version with all pots having detented control.

[Robert Sands]

How about the Roll 755? I'm just now thinking of buying one instead of the Smart C2. It's about $1000 cheaper. Will I get it and then someday still be saying I need the Smart or will the Roll do enough of what the C2 does to have that base covered (modern, SSLish, record sounding, glue comp). I already own a VariMu so I'm looking for variation on that style of 2 buss comp. Hope I'm not highjacking this thread bit it is kind of the same question. Thanks in advance.

[animix]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

I'm going to purchase a compressor the the mix bus and was wondering what you think the best all round sounding one is.
Music style will be varied from acoustic,jazz, blues and POP rock.(nothing too heavy)
3K is my max and here is what I've considered so far.
Also, used is fine as well.

API2500
Smart C1
Manley Vari-Mu
older G384 SSL (if I can find one)
Thermoinic

Anything else?
Thanks.

Portico 5043 (or 5042-not a compressor but nice on the MB)

[1monkey1]

i was talking to a converter designer at one of the converter companies, and he was lamenting the compression that is designed into the circuit by certain market dominating converter companies that will remain unnamed.

my recommendation would be to make sure that your converters have the least number of op amps in the d/a path, and that there is no 'in the box' compression going on, so that when you apply your fancy ass compressor box you're not doing it after a $2.00 op amp has already done a bad job of it.

steven walcott
www.engine-studios.com

[mac black]

thermionic ! the phoenix .

[CKK]

Go Gyraf!!!

[GYMusic]

The best!

[yumdrum]

hearing more great things about the API2500. Anyone that has owned and used both the STC-8 and the 2500 on the MB care to comment on the differences?
Thanks

[zimv20]

i can't compare them, but i recently got a 2500 and mixed an album through it on the 2-buss. i like it a lot.

per previous posts, i was just kissing the signal, 1-2 dB at most. couldn't hear it working, until i bypassed it -- then the balls would just drop off the song.

[AB3]

The carpenter's glue is much better and sticks to the mixes longer.

Originally Posted by GYMusic

The best!

[yumdrum]

Originally Posted by zimv20

i can't compare them, but i recently got a 2500 and mixed an album through it on the 2-buss. i like it a lot.

per previous posts, i was just kissing the signal, 1-2 dB at most. couldn't hear it working, until i bypassed it -- then the balls would just drop off the song.

Nice. Can you by any chance provide a sample of the ball-less and then mongo-balled versions so I could hear the difference?

[zimv20]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

Can you by any chance provide a sample of the ball-less and then mongo-balled versions so I could hear the difference?

i'll be putting a few of the mixes back up for tweaks, i can do it then. (probably this coming week)

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by GYMusic

The best!

beat me to it. LOL

Originally Posted by zimv20

i'll be putting a few of the mixes back up for tweaks, i can do it then. (probably this coming week)

that would help....
IMO try it out, one mans drink is...
I like my 2500 but certainly not on everything.
also consider other gear with opamps, and/or transformers, that will impart a footprint. (old eqs)

[u b k]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

hearing more great things about the API2500. Anyone that has owned and used both the STC-8 and the 2500 on the MB care to comment on the differences?
Thanks

api has a stronger sonic footprint and a more obvious grab when doing anything other than very light compression. it de-digitizes the highs, fattens the bottom, and makes the mids grainy... grainy in an old school analog way, not modern digital way. more motown, less mos def. can get very fast and aggressive if desired, or slow and lumpy if that's the ticket.

stc has subtler sonic footprint but still sounds very analog, and in terms of its action it can dig in more while being less obvious. it's much more flexible for tracking, much less flexible for buss and mix compression but it does not lack in that regard, not at all.

both compressors are equally gluey in their own ways. api is just more amber and thick, stc is creamy and whipped.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[Flying_Dutchman]

parrallel compression is the key for me, i got the stc-8 and the 1968me, i usually chain stc-8 and than 1968me on parallel bus, sweet for me

the stc-8 has a very clandestine sonic print, compared to others, very special imao, i really love it,you can do "invisible" gain reduction
the drawmer fattens up more, low end + low mids, much more visible compression,

but ok, its class-a a gainst vacuum tube Everything got its place sometimes

i like the la2a on parrallel bus a lot, too....
im still working on the gyraf ssl (waiting for the vcas) , i hope its great, but ill see

if you´ve got to do the mix, too, not just mastering, you´ve got so many opprtunities in the mix, go for it, imao

the mix buss compressor isn´t that holy grail in making good sounding records, but it can help a lot, imao

i hope this helps,

best reagards

[SiliconAudioLab]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

I'm going to purchase a compressor the the mix bus and was wondering what you think the best all round sounding one is.
Music style will be varied from acoustic,jazz, blues and POP rock.(nothing too heavy)
3K is my max and here is what I've considered so far.
Also, used is fine as well.

API2500
Smart C1
Manley Vari-Mu
older G384 SSL (if I can find one)
Thermoinic

Anything else?
Thanks.

Older G384 SSL

[yumdrum]

Originally Posted by SiliconAudioLab

Older G384 SSL

know where i can find one?

[dwaynedelario]

How do you guys feel about a pair of Trakkers? Bob Katz was talking about their versatility in another thread....

-Joe

[darkwater]

Portico 5043. Greg Wells sold me with that Mika record. Wow.

[SiliconAudioLab]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

know where i can find one?

Well there's one at my studio but it'll NEVR get sold. Vinatge King has one or two, or can get 'em.

http://vintageking.com

[feyshay]

Originally Posted by dwaynedelario

How do you guys feel about a pair of Trakkers? Bob Katz was talking about their versatility in another thread....

-Joe

I'll let you know when I get my second. I would think there would be some possibilities there, although Crane Song built the STC-8 more for glue purposes.
I'm so impressed with the Trakker that I am drooling over the Ibis and Hedd.

[zimv20]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

Can you by any chance provide a sample of the ball-less and then mongo-balled versions so I could hear the difference?

i made some clips of a song i'm mixing just now. all files are 16-bit WAVs of the exact same clip:

- 2500 enabled
- 2500 w/ the In button out*
- with Bypass pushed**

* still going through 2500 circuitry, but no compression enabled
** 2500 still in chain, but hard-wired from ins to outs

i've not volume matched anything or changed anything in the chain, i just hit the In and Bypass buttons. please note that i am not using the 2500's makeup gain in this song.

to review: i enable the 2500 early in the mix session and mix through it. i hope the examples are helpful.

[yumdrum]

zimv20,
very helpful indeed. just what i was wanting. man the api really does round things out nicely especially in the low end.
thanks very much!

[zimv20]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

thanks very much!

no problem!